Classic player HH vs. Special Edition HH

vincientjames

Been looking to upgrade from my squire for quite awhile and I'm set on a Jag, only propblem is I can't decide from the Classic Player HH and the Special edition HH. I know they have their obvious difference but what I'm really interested in finding out is the difference in pick up and the bridge. I was able to play a special edition at my best buy but no one around here has a classic player so has anyone played both that could weigh in on the difference of the tone?

And my second question is because of the difference in the bridge, is one less prone to problems then the other?

Any help would be great.

dirtkahuna

I upgraded from a Jagmaster to a Jaguar Classic Player HH last year and have been extremely pleased with the guitar.

I don't really use all of the switching, but for my style of playing I really needed the tremolo. It has never given me any problems.

I also appreciate the versatility of the humbuckers (as compared to a Jazzmaster with single coils). If I were to make the purchase today, I'd seriously consider getting a Blacktop instead because of the simpler switching.

I play a lot of surf and classic rock. If you are interested in hearing my guitar and seeing me play, I have a video here.

HNB

dirtkahuna said:
I upgraded from a Jagmaster to a Jaguar Classic Player HH last year and have been extremely pleased with the guitar.
I don't really use all of the switching, but for my style of playing I really needed the tremolo. It has never given me any problems.
I also appreciate the versatility of the humbuckers (as compared to a Jazzmaster with single coils). If I were to make the purchase today, I'd seriously consider getting a Blacktop instead because of the simpler switching.
I play a lot of surf and classic rock. If you are interested in hearing my guitar and seeing me play, I have a video here.

I have always been mystified when I look at a standard Jaguar. I see all those switches and wonder what do they all do? There are like six of them for two pickups and I can't really think of what they would do. I like the options being there, but I would likely use it the same as a Blacktop one since guitars with that many options tend to get unused by me. I get one setting I really like and leave it alone. I wired my Jagstang to have the lower switch coil split my red/red dually and almost always leave it in humbucker mode. The other switch is wired as a pickup selector. Honestly I am tempted to buy a new pickguard with no switches and just add a toggle switch instead.

HNB

I am kind of torn since I last posted the above. I have a Jaguar HH Special that I love. The switches are actually useful. (More so in my opinion than my Mustang and Jagstang.) I am thinking Jazzmaster next and don't know if I would want to do the CP road or the BT road. On my Jaguar I love the tone change with the rhythm switch on my Jag and the tone switch is really cool. I could always just add the tone switch and rhythm switch and leave off the rollers since I leave them both at 10 normally. Not sure yet. A BT would be nice and simple. I am interested in having a pair of nice Jazzmaster pickups in whatever option. They seem to have a neat quality not unlike a P90 and I dig it.

Anyone who has played a CP and BT have advice? Sounds like wood and necks are basically the same. Main difference is the upper switch, the bridge, and the bridge pickup. I am comfortable routing, so that doesn't bug me. Part of me thinks a simple Jazzmaster with just a toggle might be kind of cool. More time playing and less time fooling around with switches.

kidwaJstang

I've played both and think the classic player is just overall better. You have a blendable coil tap on those rotary knobs that allow you pretty much any combo of single coil and humbucker tones that simply don't exist on any other guitar which offers a level of flexibility that will make it appeal to most anybody. Yr pretty much guaranteed to find a tone or tones that will suit whatever you happen to be doing. The action is also much better as it is 'pre-shimmed' by it's angled neck. The trem can be blocked if you prefer to have a hard tail, so on and so forth... Just over all superior.

HNB

kid w/ a Jstang said:
I've played both and think the classic player is just overall better. You have a blendable coil tap on those rotary knobs that allow you pretty much any combo of single coil and humbucker tones that simply don't exist on any other guitar which offers a level of flexibility that will make it appeal to most anybody. Yr pretty much guaranteed to find a tone or tones that will suit whatever you happen to be doing. The action is also much better as it is 'pre-shimmed' by it's angled neck. The trem can be blocked if you prefer to have a hard tail, so on and so forth... Just over all superior.

What about that vs. building one with Warmoth parts. I think I could do it for about the same price.

kidwaJstang

HNB said:
What about that vs. building one with Warmoth parts. I think I could do it for about the same price.

If its about the same price, may as well get the Fender which has a warranty and will save you time in having to build it yourself. Would imagine that to get that "pre-shim" neck angle on the pocket might be a tad tricky too. If your dead set on build it yrself, definately look up the wiring diagram and get familiar, its very different. I've never seen a blendable coil tap before, but I love it and think its a shame no one seems to have done it before... Good luck with whatever you decide!

HNB

kid w/ a Jstang said:
If its about the same price, may as well get the Fender which has a warranty and will save you time in having to build it yourself. Would imagine that to get that "pre-shim" neck angle on the pocket might be a tad tricky too. If your dead set on build it yrself, definately look up the wiring diagram and get familiar, its very different. I've never seen a blendable coil tap before, but I love it and think its a shame no one seems to have done it before... Good luck with whatever you decide!

Thanks!