How small and light is Fender's Mike Kerr Jaguar bass?

mojofilters

Last year I did something I'd never expected to: I walked into a guitar store to shop for a brand new instrument, found the Squier Rascal short scale bass with a beautiful brace of phat Wide Range humbuckers (I know they're not really, but...) I was looking for, then paid full sticker price upon finding the instrument exceeded my already high expectations in terms of everything from sound quality and ease of playability, to appearance and build quality...it was a brilliant experience which continues to pay dividends! 

When an identical, barely used model appeared locally for nearly half the sticker price a few months later, I simply noted the irony re relative scarcity. Then I decided to save my money for when the version I really now want, an FSR Fender online exclusive metallic red model eventually turns up, hopefully at a similarly fair price! Even then, I've no real need for another; I could simply use my old, perfectly playable Yamaha BB series P-bass if I required any kind of back up instrument for gigging etc. 

However as I'm enjoying noodling around, finding my own (bass guitar) voice playing my first short scale instrument and the first bass to genuinely inspire me – I've also noticed how popular the Mustang bass seems to be nowadays, with a neat PJ pickup model plus the beautiful WR humbucker Pawn Shop series appearing frustratingly rare given how perfect it looks. 

I'm also now really interested in Jaguar basses, after discovering their 30" compact, short scale variants look as cool and inspiring as my Rascal. The most appealing so far, right out of the box, no mods needed and so forth would seem to be the Fender Mike Kerr signature Jaguar bass.

The skinny satin neck reviewers rave over, and the bespoke slightly more compact Jaguar body (presumably mostly compared with other Fender Japan versions) combine with that big fat beautiful middle humbucker to give me everything I think I'll ever need in such an instrument. 

It all seems too good to be true! I've read all about the common issues certain new production models faced, mostly relating to string and pickup alignment and certainly very fixable for any Fender tinkering type person.

I'm concerned the body is still going to feel very heavy, especially in comparison with all kinds of Mustang basses available. I'll not have any chance to try before buying, however a Reverb seller is offering 7 days whereby I can post it back at my own expense which seems reasonably fair, assuming the mandatory 14 day period doesn't apply. 

I'm hesitant to take advantage of the great price I've been offered for a tidy Mike Kerr Jaguar, in case it turns out to be virtually as heavy and unwieldy as my Squier Rascal, which is very big and incredibly long for a short scale instrument.

Hopefully this particularly and notably more compact short scale Jaguar bass design will help make the whole instrument feel more comfortable on a strap, both for seated playing and some standing up if my knackered old hips can cope! 

I'd really appreciate anyone with knowledge or experience of these less common basses offering their perspective on my thoughts here. Am I thinking along the right track, or is it unrealistic to expect any Jaguar bass design to offer the lightweight and compact playing experience I'm looking for? Have I overestimated the lightness of Mustangs as well; am I actually looking for an instrument that's not practical to build properly? 

Maybe I'm overthinking the whole thing?

fretmeister

Weight varies too much for anyone else’s bass to have an influence on the one you are looking at.

It’s entirely possible to build excellent super light basses. My own Sandberg Lionel shortscale P is 5.7lb / 2.58kg and it sounds like a fat P should.

You’ll have to try the one you want I’m afraid.

Mustangs vary a lot too, from about 7.5lb to over 9lb and there’s no way to tell until it’s in your hands.

Weight reduction can be achieved if the stock specs are with things like traditional larger plate tuning heads, then a swap to Hipshot USA Ultralites can save a third of a pound and it makes a surprising difference in comfort. But if an instrument already has lightweight hardware but is still too heavy, then there is nowhere to go.

Alexlotl

Look for a "Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special SS" - Mike Kerr used to play a heavily modified one of those before Fender made him a signature model, based on his gigging bass. Satin neck, PJ pups, 30" scale. Hopefully there are still some out there for not too much.

I had one in a past life - I remember it being pretty light, if anything a bit of extra mass in the body might have been nice, as it was a bit headstock-heavy, but a good strap prevented neck-dive. From memory people used to put hi-mass bridges on them partially for this reason. The stock P pickups were great, the J was a bit weedy - another thing people commonly replaced.

It was a really good bass, particularly with flatwounds on. I only sold it as I was moving back from NZ to the UK. I have a Japanese Mustang these days (conventional pups), but despite costing some multiples, of the Squier, I'm not sure it's any better - I miss that neck!

I wish Fender had made the Jaguar Bass SS their short-scale PJ model and left the Mustangs with the normal spec, TBH.