Jazzmasters

stimpsonslostson

Love em? Hate em?

 I've been offered one as a part exchange. I've never had or even played one before. What should I be looking out for? (The potential incomer has a Buzzstop, Mustang bridge and upgraded harness). 

Oh, and while we're at it, to build my anticipation: SHOW ME YOURS! 

stickyfiddle

They're wonderful guitars and they're not as esoteric as many would have you believe. You can take the buzzstop off and sell it. Probably keep the other bits. 

What model is it? 

Mine:

Old, departed MIJ



New, shiny and completely gorgeous MJT...

GavRichList

I'm a total convert. For as long as I can remember I swore that nothing would top a Jaguar for me, but I bought my Jazzmaster at the very end of 2015 and have utterly fallen for them. I'd have about ten given the finances. 

My 2008 AVRI w/ Staytrem, Mojo pickups, Mastery OMV and Spitfire. 

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff193/guitarsforminnaars/3B57B6D5-F4FC-4D8E-8ED6-3A623BBC3867.jpg

dogload

Mine...

Modded Squier JMJM #1

Modded Squier JMJM #2


2008 Fender Thin Skin Lake Placid Blue

Just check all the usual stuff. What type of Jazzmaster is it?
The Squier VM ones can be a bit ropey but that's mostly just the hardware.

riscado

I really like them. I agree that you should drop the buzzstop, as it kind of defeats the whole purpose of these guitars.

Jazzmasters themselves are slightly overhyped. What they are in fact, is a great rhythm instrument with a bridge design that gives them a really cool reverberation/feel.

Here's my 1965:

Neil

OP, I would definitely try one out if it's not a FTF trade and you haven't played one before.

Personally I found them to have a weird feel with that long body, everything feels further to the left.

Again the bulky body can make them heavy too.

They are pretty trendy which makes them more expensive in general compared to a Strat.

andrewaward

I think they have the best trems

stonevibe

They are the 'devils work', so I have a few...

http://i.imgur.com/bNFfpa3.jpg

GavRichList

4 or 5 in this thread already that I'd do questionable things for 

stimpsonslostson

More info: it's a partscaster, but the price reflects this & all the components are good quality (mostly Fender). 
I'll be able to examine it in person at the weekend. 

Some of the guitars you're posting are making me quite like the idea of having one. 

Tonally I'm expecting something between a Strat & my SG Jr... Is that reasonable? The only Jazzmaster player I'm really familiar with is J Mascis & his tone seems to be built on layers of fuzz & distortion. (I do like the chimey clean bits too though). 

GavRichList

Tonally (all subjective of course) a full, woody sounding single coil. Typically Fender, but obviously not a strat or a tele. That said, you can get close to the former in the middle position. On record, a quick listen to something like the latest Thurston Moore album is great for reference. They sound superb clean, just at the point of break-up. 

dogload

riscado said:

Jazzmasters themselves are slightly overhyped. What they are in fact, is a great rhythm instrument with a bridge design that gives them a really cool reverberation/feel.

Admittedly they are a bit on the 'far-too-trendy' side at the moment, but no more over-hyped than anything else that I can think of (apart from DeArmonds!).
They're also much more than rhythm instruments. Especially the J Mascis ones and CPs etc with the re-positioned trems. Although putting a Tune-o-matic on them is rubbish.

Nice JM btw @riscado ;

BintyTwanger77

Love them, absolutely love them. I've got the Roadworn JM and it's stunning. I'll be fitting it with Mojo or Curtis Novak pickups in the very near future.

https://imgur.com/a/I9Ry9

dogload

I have Mojo's in the bridge position of both of my J Mascis JMs, and they are superb - bright and clear when clean and very precise when dirty.

stickyfiddle

+1 for Mojos; I have them in my MJT. I'm planning some WRHBs but only out of preference. THe Mojo JMs are the best JM pickups I've ever tried.

GavRichList

Yep, Mojos are stunning. Mine are the 58-64 set with overwound bridge option. Also A3 magnets instead of the usual A5s. 

Jack_

/thread.

GavRichList

Jack_ said:

/thread.

Disqualified on grounds of AOM bridge 

BintyTwanger77

GavRichList said:

Yep, Mojos are stunning. Mine are the 58-64 set with overwound bridge option. Also A3 magnets instead of the usual A5s. 

How do they compare to Curtis Novaks?

dogload

BintyTwanger77 said:

GavRichList said:

Yep, Mojos are stunning. Mine are the 58-64 set with overwound bridge option. Also A3 magnets instead of the usual A5s. 

How do they compare to Curtis Novaks?

Cheaper and British!

GavRichList

Never tried Novaks, but they're much better than the SD Antiquity I's I had in my JMJM.