Is the Jazzmaster for me?

astrozombie

astrozombie

KatyPerryologist
As most of you know, I'm a fender dude. It's not that I go out and buy everything fender on purpose, but it does seem to happen. Thinking about it now, I guess I never realized- I dig the tone. Maybe that's why I never get along too well with gibson: I like jangly, bright, cutting guitars. I've got a telecaster with a hot rails that I'm going to put a neck humbucker in, a strat with an Invader, and a Jaguar HH with dirty fingers. as you can tell, I like to hot rod my guitars, but I don't think that's going to be the case with this guitar, as I'm looking for something moderate so it will work well live as well as in the studio. with that being said, do you guys think the Jazzmaster is for me? I've been listening to a few bands I realy dig, such as Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., The Cure and Smashing Pumpkins, which I've all seen with jazzmasters, at least at some point in time. with this being said, i've got the following options:

This guitar will be mine, eventually, though maybe it isn't next in line:

606143.jpg


Fender Lee Ranaldo Jazzmaster Electric Guitar (Sapphire Blue Transparent)

$1,500

Fender Lee Ranaldo Jazzmaster Electric Guitar Features:

* Model Number: Fender Lee Ranaldo Jazzmaster
* Series: Artist Series
* Body: Alder
* Neck: Maple, "C" Shape, (Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish)
* Fingerboard: Rosewood, 7.25" Radius (184 mm)
* No. of Frets: 21 Vintage Style Frets
* Pickups: 2 New Fender "Wide Range" Humbucking Pickups Re-Voiced to Original Vintage Spec, (Neck/Bridge)
* Controls: Master Volume, Pickup Switching, 3-Position Toggle:
* Position 1. Bridge Pickup
* Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
* Position 3. Neck Pickup
* Bridge: American Vintage Jazzmaster Tremolo with Mustang Bridge and Tremolo Lock Button. Uses U.S. Jazzmaster Tremolo Arm
* Machine Heads: Fender/Gotoh Vintage Style Tuning Machines
* Hardware: Chrome
* Pickguard: Black Anodized Aluminum
* Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
* Width at Nut: 1.650" (42 mm)
* Unique Features: Satin Lacquer Finish, Satin Black Painted Headstock, Single Master Volume with Black Speed Knob, Mustang Style Bridge,
* Re-Voiced Wide Range Humbucking pickups, Black Anodized Aluminum Pickguard
* Strings: Fender Standard Tension ST250R, Nickel Plated Steel,
* Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046), (P/N 0730250206)
* Accessories: Standard Black Hardshell Case, Strap, Cable, Sonic Youth 'Zine, Special Jaguar/Jazzmaster String Set
* Case: Standard Black Hardshell Case.


=========================================


that was an honorable mention. :)

now lets get down to bussiness:

557622.jpg


Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar $799.99

Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar Features:

* Body: Alder
* Finish: Polyester
* Neck: Maple
* Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5" (241mm)
* Frets: 21, Medium-Jumbo
* Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
* Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
* Hardware: Chrome
* Tuning Keys: Fender Vintage Style Tuning Machines
* Bridge: Fender Adjusto-Matic Bridge With Floating Tremolo Tailpiece
* Pickguard: 4-Ply Brown Shell

Pickups
* Neck: Special Design Hot Jazzmaster Neck Pickup
* Bridge: Special Design Hot Jazzmaster Bridge Pickup

Pickup Switching 3-Position Toggle:
* Position 1. Bridge Pickup
* Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
* Position 3. Neck Pickup
* 2-Position Slide:
* Up: Lead Tone Circuit
* Down: Rhythm Tone Circuit
*
* Controls
* "Lead" Circuit: Volume, Tone,
* "Rhythm" Circuit: Volume, Tone

Strings: Fender Standard Tension ST250R, Nickel Plated Steel,
* Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046),
* p/n 0730250206

Accessories: Deluxe Gig Bag


=========================

268372.jpg


Fender '62 Jazzmaster Electric Guitar (Olympic White Brown Shell Pickguard)

$1,889.99

Fender '62 Jazzmaster Electric Guitar Features:

* Alder body
* Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
* Maple neck
* Fender/Gotoh vintage-style tuning machines
* Rosewood fingerboard
* 21 vintage-style frets
* 2 special-design Vintage Jazzmaster single coils
* Lead circuit volume and tone
* Rhythm circuit volume and tone
* 3-position toggle
* Chrome hardware
* Vintage-style floating tremolo with lock button

kind of way out of my reach.

===============================
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

of course, theres always the "why the hell are you spending so much money on a guitar?" option:

276305.jpg


yeah, I went there. I'm kind of seeing myself gravitating towards the player's one, seeing as its got an attractive price and some features I'm familiar with. then again, am I really getting something different? maybe not. I'd say in my mind, its between the classic player and the lee ranaldo.

but I'm open to suggestions, so go ahead. :thanks:
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

Black Jazzmaster, tortoise guard, SD Jazzmaster pups

I had a '66 Jaguar as a teen, I really wanted a Jazzmaster I just didn't know the difference at the time.
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

Dammit, now I need the Classic Players Jazzy. YOU need that one too. IMHO, the Jazzmaster needs to have the wide, flat singles to get that plunky twang those axes are known for.

And here I thought I was done buying axes. O well, here we go. :burnout:
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

IMO I would say go Olympic White. I always thought those were a gorgeous guitar. As far as pickups go, you have to keep the original taste of the flat-wound singles in it. Those pickups are so unique and really give it that JM sound. I would either go original or Antiquity I's.

I think any person who likes Fender products could easily gravitate towards a JM. Though, it doesn't have a tone like any other Fender product, it rides (smooth and great) like any other Fender, but with a moderate mellow smooth sound. You won't find as much twang on your high strings, but that is what I really dig about it.

Happy hunting man,

A fellow JM lover
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

The classic player Jazzmaster is fantastic. Its the first guitar I've bought in quite some time that will be staying completely stock. I can't really say a bad thing about them, and I'm primarily a Les Paul guy.
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

although the ranaldo one is HOT looking, it's not gonna give you the classic jazzmaster sound. The wide range humbuckers however good they may or may not sound, WON'T sound like the orginal 1972 wide range buckers if they dont use CuNiFe magnets like the originals. And I dunno how FWR humbuckers compare to jazzmaster pickups. Plus the ranaldo one doesn't have the standard jazzmaster control layout.

The classic player one does have the right control scheme, but it comes with overwound pickups. Maybe that's you thing, but if you want classic tone you could just go get the duncan jazzmaster set.

You may still want to go for the ranaldo one now though! You'd better determine if you want the classic jazzmaster tone up front, of if you just want a kickass axe you can play to death!!!
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

Given that all your Fenders have humbuckers if I were in your shoes I'd opt for a Classic Player Jazzmaster or even the Jagmaster to throw Phat Cats in. If you haven't got a guitar with P-90s, you should really consider getting one! The Jazzmaster is definitely a good option, but the Lee Renaldo would seem a bit redundant unless you threw Phat Cats (or something similar) in place of the stock pickups. If you gig in sketchy areas the Jagmaster or GFS guitars would fit well as you wouldn't have to worry about it as much as your more expensive guitars.

Just my $0.02
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

I love Jazzmasters, but IMO there's really no point unless you get one with true Jazzmaster pickups. The pickups are what really make the JM special. They kind of sound like a cross between a Strat single coil and a P90.
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

I've been gassing for a white one BAD! But the one that really gave me a bonaaarrrr was the Elvis Costello one. I'm a sucker for walnut stain.
 
Last edited:
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

I find myself in agreement with FuseG4 once again. The Renaldo JM looks great but the Wide Range pickups will give it a bright, clear sound that is neither classically Gibson or Fender. Astrozombie-fying (is that even a real word?) this guitar would involve installing a high output HB in the bridge position.

Two problems:
1) The dimensions of the WR HB and its pickguard cut-out are unlike any other HB out there.
2) Do you really want to botch up a brand new $1500 guitar?
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

Funkfingers said:
I find myself in agreement with FuseG4 once again. The Renaldo JM looks great but the Wide Range pickups will give it a bright, clear sound that is neither classically Gibson or Fender. Astrozombie-fying (is that even a real word?) this guitar would involve installing a high output HB in the bridge position.

Two problems:
1) The dimensions of the WR HB and its pickguard cut-out are unlike any other HB out there.
2) Do you really want to botch up a brand new $1500 guitar?
Click to expand...

no high output needed here.

I put that stuff in my live guitars because it drives the amp harder and so I dont need to pile on so much gain to get a moderately distorted sound. Honestly, I don't go for modern metal distortion. I go for the kind of distortion sounds Iron Maiden has: distorted, but clean and clear.

I want the jazzmaster for what it is: a classic fender design, with unique pickups and a trem.

I wish I could put a wide range humbucker in the neck of my tele. :(
 
Re: Is the Jazzmaster for me?

btw Ric Ocasek says yes as well (Ric is a great rhythm player so he knows:-)



Never saw the Elvis sig, AWESOME!!!!

My buddy John uses a Jazzer almost exclusively and he kills with it, monster player sort of Prince meets Perry.
 
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