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VINTAGE BENCH TEST

FACING PAGE The Jaguar
has retained its bridge
mute but the foam rubber
has dried and shrunk so much
ƇĩÝƇ ĭƇ ĩÝž ōŕ ĈƷĈûƇɚ ­ĩĭž
won’t be a deal-breaker, even
for Jaguar fans, but it’s worth
noting that functioning mutes
can produce very cool textures
when used in combination
with spring reverb

Some argue that the claws have little or no audible control back – there’s something fuller and bouncier
effect but, if that’s the case, we wonder why there’s so in the lows and low-mids that makes the rhythm
much body to the sound and the treble isn’t excessive circuit better suited to comping jazz chords.
when the Jaguar, like the Jazzmaster, is equipped with Granted, that’s a little niche. But try activating a
one-meg control pots. Anybody who has played a Strat fuzz pedal and the rhythm circuit actually sounds
or Tele with one-meg pots will know that the treble fatter, smoother and clearer. Start exploring delay and
can be challenging. There’s clearly something else extreme reverb effects, and you’ll be in ambient heaven.
going on here. Under the influence of a Big Muff, the Jazzmaster
Fans of the much-maligned rhythm circuit will hits 1990s indie-rock territory, but the Jaguar sounds a
be relieved to hear that it’s getting an evaluation too. few decades older, channelling mid-1960s garage rock
We can’t replicate the rhythm circuit tone simply as readily as Morricone-style soundtracks, especially
by selecting the neck pickup and dialling the tone with the mid/bass cut of the strangle switch engaged.

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