Fender Stratocaster VS Fender Jaguar (direct comparison)

With two guitars as similar as the Stratocaster and Jaguar, especially if you're comparing within the Fender Player series, you aren't really going to find that one is better then the other. In fact, it's tricky to find much distinction between these guitars, outside of the obvious aesthetic differences.

The biggest discrepancy is the humbucker installed at the bridge position on the Jaguar, compared to the three single coils in the Strat (though some Strat models have a humbucker in the bridge position as well). 

Bridge hardware and electronics are also different between these two guitars.

None of this means one is better than the other, as your decision will be mostly a matter of tone and perhaps even which one you prefer in terms of how they look.

In this comparison, we'll look at the two guitars side by side to help you make your choice.

Fender Stratocaster VS Fender Jaguar Comparison Section

This table lets you compare the two guitars and see some basic specs, along with pricing. The Jaguar retails a little higher than the Stratocaster, but it's not enough to make much of a difference for most buyers. Note the differences in pickups and bridge hardware between the two guitars.

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Watch the Comparison

How do they sound? Video Comparison

These two videos, both by Fender, do a great job of giving you a picture of how the Player Stratocaster and Player Jaguar sound. You can definitely hear the thickness in the Jaguar, compared to the Strat. It's far more grungy and better at handling gain than the Stratocaster. 

Specs Sheet (side-by-side)

The construction and base of these two guitars are essentially the same. Alder tonewood, no top piece, and Maple necks with a bolt-on setup. Of course the aesthetic difference and the shape of the two bodies will make for some subjective appeal, depending on which one you like better.

But the main differences are the bridge type and the pickup configuration. The Jaguar has a fairly unique pickup configuration with one humbucker at the bridge and a single coil pickup in the neck position, creating a heavy and warmer tone profile.

The Stratocaster - at least this particular version - has the familiar three-part single coil pickup configuration that produces a lighter and more brisk tone profile.

So which one is better?

When comparing these two guitars, you're not really going to get one that's better than the other, because that really depends on what you're looking for. We would recommend making a decision based on the type of tone you're trying to achieve. For a brighter, more bell-like lead tone, the Stratocaster is your better option.

On the other side, for a more warm and mellow tone, perhaps that'll handle some higher levels of distortion, the Jaguar with the bridge humbucker is more likely to suit you.

• For bright, lead tone: Go with the Stratocaster
• For warm, rhythm, and grunge tone: Go with the Jaguar

Both are great guitars with a similar spec sheet, so make your decision based on your own playing style and tone preferences.

If you have questions about the Fender Player Stratocaster or Fender Player Jaguar, feel free to drop them in the comments section below and we'll help out as much as possible.

We'll see you there.

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