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Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V
VS
Playability
73
Sound
84
Build
64
Value
84
Score
74
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Playability
72
Sound
84
Build
72
Value
76
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
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Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH vs Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V Specs Comparison
Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V
General
Brand: Fender Squier Fender
Year: 2023 2022
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 4 5
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: Paranormal Player Plus
Colors: Pink Sunburst, Blue, Orange, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Alder
Bridge: 4-Saddle Mustang Bass Strings-Through-Body Fender HiMass with Chrome-Plated Zinc Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Standard Open-Gear
Fretboard: Laurel Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Offset Pearloid Dot White Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 30" 34"
Shape: Bass C Shape Bass Modern C
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 38.1mm (1.5'') 47.6mm (1.875'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Designed Wide-Range Bass Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Player Plus Noiseless Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Player Plus Noiseless Jazz Bass (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Designed Wide-Range Bass Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's switch options
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V's switch options

Reasons to Get
Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH over Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V

Release Year
2023 vs 2022
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Strings
4 vs 5
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
21 vs 20
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.5'' (38.1mm) vs 1.875'' (47.6mm)
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
30'' (762mm) 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
Value Score
84 vs 76
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V over Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Strings
5 vs 4
Allows you to play lower notes
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.875'' (47.6mm) 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 30'' (762mm)
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

Other Key Differences
Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH vs Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Wide-Range Bass Humbucking vs Fender Player Plus Noiseless Jazz Bass
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4 vs 4-1
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH vs Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
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

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Prices

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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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH meets 5 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V 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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut

New Player Friendliness

Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V
  • 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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

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 Jazz Bass V

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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH has an HH configuration while the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V has SS pickups.

Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's preamp is Passive while the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V'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 Jazz Bass V.

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 Jazz Bass V.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 84
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 90
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 84

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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH compares to the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH is built in Indonesia while the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Tie

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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V'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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 Jazz Bass V
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Active/Passive Preamp
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH
Quality of materials 56
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 64
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V
Quality of materials 66
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 72

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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Nut Width
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V Nut Width
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V has the wider nut with 47.6mm (1.875'') vs 38.1mm (1.5''). This is a 9.5mm (0.375'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V, 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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's Scale Length
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's Scale Length
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V's Scale Length
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V'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 Jazz Bass V has the longest scale: 34". The Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH is only 30" long. This is a 4'' (101.6mm) 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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Neck Profile
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's neck profile
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V Neck Profile
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V'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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH and the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V 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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's Fingerboard radius
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V Fingerboard Radius
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V'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 Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V'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 Jazz Bass V.

Fret Size

Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH's Frets Size
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V Frets Size
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Rascal Bass HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Fender Player Plus Jazz Bass V
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72