Lets talk Jazzmasters!

Squidgy Black

Who here has one?

I'm currently saving up to get one, not sure which model, at the moment the new J.Mascis squire is really enticing me, it'll be either that or one of the blacktop series. The new Marauder in the modern player series looks cool, but the body shape's a bit funky.

seachto7

I have a crafted in Japan one. I love it. I bought and sold many guitars, and that's my sound. I love it. It gives me my jangle, but on the look out for a sonically different guitar now with humbuckers. I won't sell the Jazzmaster though, that's a keeper.....

Ravelleman

Do you want a real Jazzer or just the body shape? There's a big difference between, say, the Blacktop and the 62RI!

Squidgy Black

Ravelleman wrote: »

Do you want a real Jazzer or just the body shape? There's a big difference between, say, the Blacktop and the 62RI!

Definitely looking for that Jazzmaster neck pickup as a minimum, wish I could afford a 62RI! I think the blacktop series are quite good, the neck p90 sounds amazing, and the bridge humbucker makes it very versatile for the price. The trem system gets horrible reviews with the stock saddles though.

seachto7

There's also a squier jazzmaster......

Squidgy Black

seachto7 wrote: »

There's also a squier jazzmaster......

Yep the J.Mascis one, it's been getting amazing reviews online, it's supposed to be as good of not better than the classic players. Haven't had a chance to try it yet, they've only been released.

seachto7

I don't want to start a new thread, maybe resurrecting this one would be ok???

I have a CIJ Jazzmaster with the old style tuners on it, which are doing my head in!!! Such a hassle to put on a new string quickly.

Are there any recommendations here for newer style tuners?

rcaz

seachto7 wrote: »

I have a CIJ Jazzmaster with the old style tuners on it, which are doing my head in!!! Such a hassle to put on a new string quickly.

I've got a CIJ JM with the slotted tuners, and a Telecaster with more usual tuners with just a hole through the middle, I prefer putting strings on the JM, much tidier and doesn't take any more time...

Just cut the end off the string two tuners behind the one you're putting the string into (if you're putting in a new E string, cut the end of the string off at the D tuner, etc.). Stick the string down into the hole in the middle of the tuner, bend it 90 degrees so it's coming out of the slot sideways, and turn on as normal.

You don't have to worry about the loose string ends tearing up the inside of your gig bag that way, or wrecking any clothes that get caught in them.

Ravelleman

My G&Ls have slotted tuners and I prefer them to regular ones. I find them a lot easier to handle.

MetalDog

Ive developed serious GAS for a Jazzmaster lately, but they're dear (if your skint like me) even 2nd hand now.

That Squier J Mascis is getting good reviews though in print and on youtube, so maybe I'll try one out. Huge fan of Dinosaur Jr as well, so that helps.
Am I correct in saying you need to replace the JM bridge with a tune o matic straight away if you want it to stay in tune with bends etc? Do some models come with this done already? It makes no sense to me to have to mod an already expensive guitar.

Also, anyone know of JM clones/knockoffs that a) won't break the bank, and b) aren't a heap of 5hite?

Also visit www.offsetguitars.com for all things Jag/Jazz Mustang etc.:D

zafo

Xaviere

http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-JT-Series-Offset-Electric-Guitars_c_208.html

seachto7

Gah, I prefer the normal tuners where you slip the string through, rather than the slotted ones........

Squidgy Black

I bought the J Mascis squier about a month ago now. Basically I walked in looking to buy either one of the Blacktop series, or buy a used American one.

I played the blacktop and the US ones first and they played great, but I picked up the J Mascis just for the laugh. I found the neck was a lot more comfortable that the others, it had a slightly wider neck and the pickups were a little bit hotter.

Granted it doesn't bear the Fender logo and won't have a good resale value, but I'm not selling this thing.

Just my 2c.

MetalDog

zafo wrote: »

Xaviere

http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-JT-Series-Offset-Electric-Guitars_c_208.html

you seriously shouldn't have sent me that link . . . but thanks!

Have you played one, and if so are they any good?

Ravelleman

Mixed reports on Xaviere guitars. They're fairly standard low-end Chinese imports but with more adventurous and exotic features than most. Their customer service has also been criticised upon occasion.

MetalDog

Ravelleman wrote: »

Mixed reports on Xaviere guitars. They're fairly standard low-end Chinese imports but with more adventurous and exotic features than most. Their customer service has also been criticised upon occasion.

Might just either get the J Mascis or save for a MIJ one so.

Ravelleman

The new Squier Vintage Modified Offsets look amazing too. I'd love to try one of the Jags.

MetalDog

Can you think of any other budget offsets?
I remember a cousin of mine had a really retro looking one years ago, possibly Japanese, with enough switching options to confuse a fighter pilot and a JM - esque trem. Maybe he still has it . . .

Edit: Wasn't an Aria.

rcaz

Was it something like a Hopf Telstar?

seachto7

This is a bit long but Nels Cline of Wilco gives a commentary on his rig. He talks about some of his Jazzmasters, custom Jazzmaster lookalikes, and some offset random axes he had built for him and picked up along the way.

MetalDog

rcaz wrote: »

Was it something like a Hopf Telstar?

Unfortunately no, would love to get that though. It's unusual in that the strap button is located on the back of the neck, as opposed to the upper horn, that I do remember. Doesnt have as many switches as that one.

seachto7

Nels Cline vid has a green offset guitar that looks a lot like that Hopf.

Buzz Stop worth getting?

MetalDog

Ok I hope ye dont mind me resurrecting this thread. I've since had the chance to try the Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster

http://www.fender.com/products/vintage-modified-jazzmaster

As you can see it has the full switching system and vibrato system unlike the previous Squier JM that was just a JM shaped body with 2 x P90's.

Now I gotta say the quality is very good and the tonal varieties you can get out of it are excellent. Now just before I go on, I havent played a US or Mex JM in a while, but to me the Squier is on a par with them at least in terms of feel, playability and build quality. If I'd the money which I don't, I'd probably get it, even though the resale value wouldn't be great due to brand snobbery.



Next stop is to try out the J Mascis JM and see how it stacks up.

seachto7

Didn't want to start a new thread, as this seems to be choc full of Jazzmaster info anyhow, so could be good to run with it?

Basically I'm looking to replace the tuners on my CIJ Jazzmaster. I don't like the vintage tuners at all, and would like to upgrade to modern tuners. I couldn't care less what it looks like.

Do I have to be careful buying tuners for a Jazzmaster as opposed to a tele or strat or are they all "standard" enough.

Any recommendations?

seachto7

No point starting a new thread.
A Jazzmaster with humbuckers! Opinions.
I love the feel of my jazzmaster, but what options for a humbucking guitar?
One option could be a blacktop jaguar, maybe stick some seymour duncans in it to mod it.

Squidgy Black

Blacktop's probably your best bet. Best of both worlds, the prized neck pickup from a jazzmaster and a humbucker in the bridge.

Or you could just buy something like a Novak humbucker in a jazzmaster pickup enclosure.

seachto7

I was talking about the blacktop jaguar, which errr, isn't a Jazzmaster at all.

Seziertisch

Not really an answer to your question Seachto, but the Wide Range humbuckers for Jazzmaster that this guy offers look very interesting.

http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/custom-handwound-pickups-from-the-creamery/vintage-custom-jazzmaster-replacement-pickups.html#.UnAYlHC-zE0

MetalDog

I have since bought the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster and I f***ing love it. Gigged it several times and it's a damn solid guitar.

Squidgy Black

seachto7 wrote: »

I was talking about the blacktop jaguar, which errr, isn't a Jazzmaster at all.

Oh right, I have one of those so I can help with that too I suppose :P

It won't feel anything like your jazzmaster though. It's a short scale guitar as opposed to the longer scale of a jazzmaster which means it'll feel completely different, and the neck profile is miles different to my J Mascis jazzmaster and the MIJ jazz I was playing a while ago.

The standard pickups and pots etc are muck. But set it up with some nice beefy strings and decent pickups, you've got yourself an awesome guitar.

seachto7

Is it anything like the Jag with humbucker that was out a few years ago, with all the knobs and dials in it.

I would welcome a shorter scale guitar! I like the look of the blacktops, and yeah, would mod it to bejaysus...

Squidgy Black

seachto7 wrote: »

Is it anything like the Jag with humbucker that was out a few years ago, with all the knobs and dials in it.

I would welcome a shorter scale guitar! I like the look of the blacktops, and yeah, would mod it to bejaysus...

Far from it, it's just tone and volume knob. None of the circuitry that's in the Kurt Cobain Jag etc.

seachto7

Sounds good. Of course when I have cash to buy it there will be none left.

Seeing as it's a jazzmaster thread I got the back of the neck on my CIJ one sanded down so it has a very natural feel. Must get some pics up...

seachto7

Ok to chime in on this same thread again?

Bridge issues! I have a tuneomatic bridge and whizzo buzzstop. Some awful buzzing still, and to be honest I prefer the "feel" when the buzzstop wasn't on.

So, I'm going to take that off, I may still have issues with the bridge though. I have been informed I'd be better off getting a wilkinson roller bridge (£25) or a staytrem bridge (£65).

I can't really afford a mastery. Not sure. I might hold out and try and get the staytrem, but my head is done in at this stage!

Gregor Samsa

I have a Staytrem bridge on my Squier Bass VI. It's a really solid piece of kit. Well worth the money.

seachto7

Yeah, I fear I might have to just take the plunge.

Squidgy Black

seachto7 wrote: »

Yeah, I fear I might have to just take the plunge.

Yeah you should. And then tell us how you get on so we can take the plunge :P

Dord

I wonder would this work. Locking roller trem bridge from Hallmark Guitars.



US$95 in chrome

http://hallmarkguitars.com/parts/parts.shtml

seachto7

I've gotten advice on other forums that a wilkinson roller bridge would work, a staytrem would work, and a mastery would work. I suppose it's each to their own and every guitar will be somewhat different, but I think I'll try a staytrem.
I even got advised to stick a tuneomatic on, which I did, but doesn't seem to be 100% there yet...

Dord

Jazzmasters just seem fiddly to me in general. I've got a Yamaha SGV800, and that just works. What a wacky bridge though! Not quite a Jazzmaster, but it has a vibrato and soapbars. :pac: