The Ultimate Fender Squier Jaguar Shootout | Classic Vibe vs Vintage Modified

Today, we look at (and hear) the differences between the Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar and it's more 'up-to-date' sibling the Classic Vibe...

If you're looking for an affordable Jag, you could grab a used VM... or spend a bit more on the newer Classic Vibe.. but is it worth the extra cash?

Let's find out..

Pickup sound comparisons: 3:00

To hear the Vintage Modified in action, playing some Smiths, check out;

[DarinCates]

SOMETIMES a dude makes a video containing the EXACT info you need. Thank You my Friend :)

[AireSound]

Thanks for the comparison. I got the Classic Vibe last week. Put 10s on and had to increase shim thickness in the neck joint to achieve correct geometry. Tightened truss rod, raised and intonated the bridge, tickled up a few frets and we're off to the Zoo 😊 Pickups are fine but sound best not too close to the strings, I'm really liking it. At first I thought of changing the pots for 500kOhm but I think they are fine for now.

[zacharywatson]

Just bought one of these. The one I took home is amazing quality. There wasn’t a single American made Fender in the store that had anything on it; absolute gem. However, the other one I played (which is exactly the same model even down to color), was utter garbage. Unbelievable difference. Highly recommend playing before buying if you can or making sure the shop has a solid return policy.

[WillyWP]

Same here, my CV was completely unplayable when I received it new. But, once the nut was properly cut and the frets were level this guitar plays great and stays in very tune well. Its actually my favorite guitar. I love the neck profile and binding. Feels great. I actually like playing this more than my American made Fender Mustang or Jazzmaster.

[pupmusic]

I got my CV Jaguar last 2020. It sounds jangly than my Fender Am Pro Jaguar. For me, I can hear a more vintage sound from the CV. The VM’s Duncan designed sounds similar to American Pro’s Vmod pups. Thanks for this comparison Vid. Cheers!

By the way, the set up of the Squier is terrible when I got it. Rough fret wires, high action, had intonation issues.. but after I brought it to a guitar tech, problem solved.

[LRHutch]

Good video man. I got a 70s last week. The neck was perfect. The bridge however I shimmer the poles so it won't rock and stabilized the intonation and adjusted the action and that was it, a perfect playing Jaguar. Lucky I was. I've had to do a lot of work on Squiers before. Have a good one.

[charlieebarb]

I purchased the squier classic vibe with dot inlays. Yea, the nut was cut too high and I had fret buzz on the high B and E strings in the upper frets.
Since I purchased mine from guitar center, it was fixed in a few hours and was free since it classifies as a warranty issue. 😁👏👏👏

This is why you don’t buy musical instruments, amps, pedals, clothes, shoes, and cars online. If you can’t try that exact thing out before you buy it, you are setting yourself up for failure.

[jasonwebster]

I’ve got both. I prefer the classic vibe overall really nice guitar. The mustang style bridge on the cv is the much improved 52mm E to E string spacing to help avoid the high E slipping off the edge of the fretboard. I also prefer the tort pickguard (both are sunburst jags). Also I have the 70’s neck with blocks and binding on the CV. However, while I’ve set them both up as best I can (Stewmac shim, set of 10’s, filing nut slots, loctite on bridge, etc.. neither are as good as my Crafted in Japan 90’s jag. The neck on that is sublime.

[DimiLeventis]

One thing I really love about the oroginal Jaguar and Jazzmaster circuits, is that I can leave the almost all the way down/closed for the lead circuit/pickup, and the tone all the way up/open for the rhythm circuit/pickup, which you just cant get in Strats, Teles, etc.

[MakerMark]

I went into the store on Wednesday to try out all the offsets, even tried those rerelease Harmony guitars, I really have always wanted an offset but end up with some else at the time it came down to it. They had the bullet mustangs (all junk frets), a couple VM 60s Jag, the J Mascis, and the Daphne blue 70s CV. Going in I thought if I would buy anything, it would be a J Mascis but it just didn’t have everything, just missing what the 70s CV had. This guitar plays better or at least as good as my American strat! They guy at the store even said, yeah I play that one all the time, it just feels amazing! I couldn’t agree more, so that was 3 days ago and I’ve barley set it down!!! I just love it! I threw 10-52s on it and it stays tune really well and I use the bar a lot!! Hope this helps anyone with their future purchases. Please play before you pay!!! Even the same guitar models can vary SO much!

[adventureawaits]

love the sound of the classic vibe, will order one soon and hope the free 55 point inspection will take care of odd frets and such. Love my Strat, but so intrigued by the Jag, I have to have one...

[ectoplasma]

Thanks ! Exactly what i was looking for.Great comparison !

[leascaart]

I prefer the Indonesia made Jaguar. I wish it had the bigger inlays. Those square/rectangle inlays look beautiful.

[BoltRM]

Vintage Modified has medium jumbo frets vs narrow-tall frets on the Classic Vibe.

[MississippiDave]

Terrific vid! In the sound comparison I am hearing more versatility in the Vintage Modified through my headphones. The CV seems to have clarity, but the differences between pickups are much less noticeable. I like the tones you’re getting from the VM better! More variety and a larger palette to play around with especially recording wise... That’s my super subjective opinion! 👍

[surfysonic]

Excellent review! I've had a couple of VM Jags in the past but have since moved then on. While I'm not a block inlay fan, I'm thinking about getting the black CV Jag. I tend to prefer the chunkier VM necks, but I'll get along fine with the CV's slightly slimmer neck.

[CupofCloud]

not to toot my own horn too much, but i own and adore my olympic white 2012 squier vm jaguar. i like to think i have a collector’s item on my hands as this was the first traditional-modeled jag that squier manufactured, which is 50 years later after fender released the jaguar in 1962. the only tweak i felt i wanted to do was replace the bridge.
I do like the improvements that the cv line has, and wouldn’t mind getting one eventually, but what i find alarming is that it seems like almost everyone who buys a new cv jag says that out of the box you have to file the nut, shim the neck, and possibly file some frets. This is supposed to be highest-end squier here. Hopefully fender quality control is taking note of all these reports i’m seeing and will iron out these issues in the next year or so and when they do i’ll go ahead and buy a cv jag.

[seanhershey]

i have the same surf green VM... looks like I'm about to get a black CV.... nice review....nice notes on the setup...( my new
shell pink Jazzmaster needed a proper setup..

[ivygardiner]

I've just acquired one of these built in jun 2021, and it seems the quality control issues seem to have been resolved. And was playable out of the box, Still needed a setup though. (which guitars don't.) but the nut is cut a lot better than what you've reported. Also I do recommend getting the neck shimmed, so there is a bit of pitch back to increase the break angle.

[richthetrashpicker-upper]

You have the all-time Best Demo Ever on this Planet Amazing Job thank you I've watched it several times over the last couple weeks tomorrow I'm picking up a used red jaguar modified