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Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
VS
Playability
68
Sound
71
Build
64
Value
78
Score
68
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Playability
72
Sound
81
Build
74
Value
81
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H vs Fender Player Plus Precision Bass Specs Comparison
Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
General
Brand: Fender Squier Fender
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: H S
Strings: 4 4
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: Affinity Player Plus
Colors: Black, Blue, Gray White, Sunburst, Green, Silver, Red
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Alder
Bridge: 4-Saddle Standard Fender HiMass with Chrome-Plated Zinc Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Standard Open-Gear
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 32" 34"
Shape: Bass C Shape Bass Modern C
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 38.1mm (1.5'') 41.3mm (1.625'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Player Plus Noiseless Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Player Plus Precision Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup:
Switch: 0 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome

Reasons to Get
Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H over Fender Player Plus Precision Bass

Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Pickups
H vs S
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Nut Width
1.5'' (38.1mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Preamp
Passive vs Active/Passive
Doesn't require a battery, so it's more dependable
Scale Length
32'' (812.8mm) vs 34'' (863.6mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass over Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Pickups Brand
Fender vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
S vs H
For twangy sounds and simplicity
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.5'' (38.1mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Preamp
Active/Passive vs Passive
Providing the best range of tonal options
Scale Length
34'' (863.6mm) vs 32'' (812.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
81 vs 78
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H vs Fender Player Plus Precision Bass

Bridge Pickup
Ceramic Humbucker vs Fender Player Plus Noiseless Jazz Bass
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Alder
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H vs Fender Player Plus Precision Bass

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
4
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Price History Comparison

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SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both are balanced for most hand sizes.

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H meets 4 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H

Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Woods Used in the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H has an H configuration while the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass has S pickups.

A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

On the other hand, A single single-coil pickup is not a configuration commonly found in modern electric guitars because it lacks versatility. But if you only want a guitar that sounds very thin and twangy, this might be good enough.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Player Plus Precision Bass pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Preamp Circuit

A preamp in an electric bass functions as an electronic circuit that acts as an interface between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its main purpose is to amplify and customize the bass's initial signal before it reaches the amplifier, offering enhanced control over factors like tone, volume, and sound attributes. Preamps typically come equipped with tone adjustments, equalization options, and sometimes built-in effects, empowering bass players to fine-tune their sound to suit their personal preferences and the musical environment.

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's preamp is Passive while the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's is Active/Passive.

Passive: A bass with a passive preamp lacks an onboard electronic circuit for tone shaping and signal boosting. Instead, it relies solely on passive pickups and basic tone controls, typically consisting of volume and tone knobs. Passive preamps don't require an external power source like batteries, making them low-maintenance and dependable. While they offer a simpler and more straightforward tonal character, passive basses are appreciated for their warm and vintage sound, often favored in genres like classic rock, blues, and funk. They are an excellent choice for musicians who value the simplicity and timeless appeal of their instrument's tone without the need for active electronic components.

Active/Passive: This type of circuit combines both passive and active electronics in one instrument. This versatile setup allows the player to switch between passive and active modes, providing a wide range of tonal options. In passive mode, the bass relies on traditional passive pickups and tone controls for a warm and organic sound. In active mode, the onboard preamp circuit is engaged, offering enhanced EQ shaping capabilities and sometimes a signal boost. This flexibility caters to a broader spectrum of musical styles and playing preferences, as it allows the bassist to switch between the classic, vintage tone of passive operation and the more versatile and finely tuned active mode, all within the same instrument.

Winner: Fender Player Plus Precision Bass.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Player Plus Precision Bass.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 71
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 81

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H compares to the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H is built in Indonesia while the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass is made in United States.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Fender Player Plus Precision Bass

Nut Material

If you want your bass to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's are Standard Open-Gear

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a bass is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Active Preamp
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
  • Made in United States
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Active/Passive Preamp
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H
Quality of materials 56
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 64
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
Quality of materials 66
Features 75
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 74

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a bass might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a bass feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H Nut Width
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass Nut Width
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass has the wider nut with 41.3mm (1.625'') vs 38.1mm (1.5''). This is a 3.2mm (0.125'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's Scale Length
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's Scale Length
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Fender Player Plus Precision Bass has the longest scale: 34". The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H is only 32" long. This is a 2'' (50.8mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the bass sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's neck profile
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass Neck Profile
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H and the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's Fingerboard radius
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass Fingerboard Radius
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's Fingerboard radius

Most bass fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Player Plus Precision Bass.

Fret Size

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H and Fender Player Plus Precision Bass Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jaguar Bass H
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68
Fender Player Plus Precision Bass
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72