LeftyBassist.com

So, after a month my Fender Jaguar bass finally arrived. It came in tip-top shape, no problems at all, and it sounds and plays great! Almost immediately after taking the bass out of the box, I took off the stock bridge and replaced it with a Hipshot A style bridge and some DR lo-rider strings. Much better! Here are some pics:

Wow very nice, it's a Japanese one?

All jag basses are CIJ, but mine was shipped directly from Japan since they don't offer lefties here in the US.

Beautiful! And the matching couch is a very nice touch!

Nice looking bass!

Get yourself a decent case for it. That's too nice not to protect and the poor excuse of a gig bag they give you is crap!

Yeah, get a rectangular Jazz bass case, it's a perfect fit. Congrats on that beauty

Sah-weet!!
Looks like a keeper to me. congrats

So what's the Jag bass count among peeps here now?

Thanks guys. And thanks again for all the advice and help throughout the purchasing process, especially to pjmuck and agent00soul, who inspired me to take the plunge. I'll be picking up some strap locks and a nice case for it in the next few days.

As far as I know, there are 4 LB members who own a Jag. There may be more.

Four of us? Who's #4? (I feel like "The Prisoner" asking that question!)

Anyway, enjoy the bass. I had no doubt everything would work out fine with the dealer. Despite the fact that Jags more than most instruments are frequently coveted for style over substance, I've found it to be a real versatile workhorse! Leftie Jags are so rare in the US and are so stylish that it's easy to be tempted to keep it at home, but I say stick in a J-bass hardcase and take it out as much as you can.

It's a beautiful bass and I'm tempted to get one, I just wish they did lefties in hot rod red too.

BTW What does the Hipshot bridge do?

Great looking bass! Congrats

Can you say who you ordered it from? Curious about good source for ordering Japan Fenders to ship to the USA. I got a lefty CIJ Japan Fender from Ishibashi back in '04 but I don't think they will sell and ship those to the USA now.

Whoops! I didn't know this thread was still alive.

Agent00Soul:

The hipshot is a high-mass brass bridge. It's principle purpose (beyond merely holding the strings down) is to increase sustain and attack and improve the tonal range of the instrument. Like the Badass II, I have control over string spacing, but without the burden of having to get slots filed for the saddles. Plus it's not as ugly or huge as the Badass, which on jag basses encroach on the edge of the body. I highly recommend hipshot as a replacement for those flimsy stock fender bridges. And as an added bonus, the A style bridge is available in Fender mounts, meaning you won't have to drill any holes into your bass to change the bridge. Just swap them out and you're good to go!

ADSR:

I got it from http://www.guitarshogun.com, but they do not currently list the jaguar bass. I had to beg them to send one to me. They offer a variety of lefty basses and have free shipping! Jo's music shop on ebay also has a good selection and is currently offering jag basses.

UPDATE: A few days ago I briefly swapped the neck of my Jag with the Warmoth neck that is currently on my Jazz bass. The neck is made of goncalo alves and has an ebony fretboard and quilted maple top. Before I swapped the necks back, I took a few shots just to get a good look at it:













What was amazing about switching the necks was how immediately different the tone of the instrument was. It actually sounded very similar to my Jazz (where before it sounded almost nothing like it).

Did you try your Jaguar neck on your Jazz bass? And did that sound like the Jaguar?

(old thread, I know, but this is the internet)

I never tried that! However, since this thread was last active I did modify the Jaguar again - I replaced the hipshot bridge with the classic Fender bent metal bridge, threw Aguilar pups/preamp on it, and changed the control layout from the on/off and series/parallel switches below the pickguard (which I was constantly hitting when I played with a pick) to a stacked V/T V/T knob setup. It sounds great, plays much better and looks cleaner IMO. PICS!!!

Great stuff on the mods!

Is the Aguilar combo a '1+1=3' kinda deal? And good to read your stacked knobs are working for you!

Cool mods!

RE: the photo, are you playing in a Devo tribute band?