NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

[FuseG4]

So those in The Bassment know I am looking for a bass. Well I didn't buy that yet, I'm still looking at my options.

However I had a burning urge to get a jazzmaster since the start of the year. I kinda wanted a CIJ one but I wasn't going to dish out 900$ until I'm dead sure I know whether or not I want one as my main instrument.
In fact, this may sound dumb but I have never played a jazzmaster. Could never find one locally to play it! So I figured I'll go through a big retailer with a return policy and see if the jazzmaster is my thing as much as I hope it will be.

Inbound and due to hit me on Friday is a squier vintage modified jazzmaster! I got the sonic blue one.
I didn't like the look of the Mascis one nor did I want hot pickups. But it was tempting.
So hopefully soon I'll be reporting a happy new guitar day!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

hurry up fedex guy. :burnout:

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Nice. I hope you dig it.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

The Jazzmaster and Jaguar are something of a minority sport. They hang differently on a strap compared to a Stratocaster. The bridge design generates a special set of metallic overtones and sets certain limitations in the bend range. If you opt for big strings, this very much determines the ride. Suddenly, those guitar instrumentals of the Sixties make perfect sense.

In short, these two Fender designs are spot on for some things and utterly hopeless for others. I have a Jaguar for a very specific set of sounds that nothing else can make. I love my Jag but I would not want one as my single main guitar.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

those metallic overtones I believe are what drew me to the sound. pretty cool looking guitar too.
But yeah, I'm fairly sure my strat will remain my main guitar for the foreseeable future. But I want to have that unique sound too. Mostly as a rhythm guitar

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

BWA HA HA HA metallic overtones galore. I'll make a quick review before work, I gotta get going in a minute.
Action is a bit high! truss rod way loose. Needs a good setup. Fretboard is dry.

VERY resonant!!! Super lightweight (basswood). Love the neck, comfy C and glossed like I've missed while playing my satin-back fender. No sharp fret ends.

neck pickup is phat. bridge pickup is tight and ballsy and has good qualities of strat and tele bridge sounds. It has brightness, edge, and jangle. A tinge of harshness but the tone control is very very useful and there's a wide sweet spot between 3 and 7 on the tone control.

Rhythm/lead circuit is cool. Getting used to the switch locations!
I like the way it sits on the strap, I feel comfortable with it low.

In short I won't be returning it and I like all the sounds I've made with it so far. Awesome!

Pics later.
happy NGD to me!!!

 

[Kais]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

I'm GASSING for the purple Mascis JM, Congrats tho!

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

For now I have some Dr pure blues 9s to stick on there. Part of the fun of NGD is changing strings, oiling the rosewood, and taking the ugly plastic off the pickguard and pickups.

Those Duncan designed pickups are nice but fender avri jazzmaster pickups are pRobably in the future. Lots to do but for now I can't wait to get off work and get back to playing this!
Thinking of a name. I name all my guitars. Ao, Rika, Hana, or Phyress are what I've narrowed it down to.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Trem arm didn't fit. Sandpapered it a tiny bit and now it's nice and snug.
Research suggests this is another common quirk aka problem with jazzmasters sometimes.
Trippy vibrato system.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

That was some setup. I discovered that one must lower the saddles and raise the bridge to keep the screws from touching the string. There were two layers of plastic on the pickguard. I removed the Duncan designed logos from the pickup covers and reset the pickup height to 1/8" so i can tweak it by ear from there. I straightened the neck out and put the Dr strings on it. Also it was my first time using vintage tuners and having to pre cut the strings, but it was surprisingly easy!
The fretboard soaked up that first oiling in two minutes so I waited a bit and did it again.

Could not have gigged with it out of the box but a few hours of TLC and now I love life.

I named her Kureha.
Here's the whole famn damily!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Stop it! I'll get GAS. My local Fender dealer has the Squier Antigua JM.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Stop it! I'll get GAS. My local Fender dealer has the Squier Antigua JM.

I didn't know those existed til just now. Cool!
...
...
Jazzmasters.
:naughty:
...
... Jazzmasters!!!




(Jazzmasters!):27:

 

[Wattage]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Cool I hope you dig it. I love the Sonic Blue color, totally classic. JM's are very cool guitars!

I love my Squier JMascis JM, fantastic guitar and other than a string tree change and a re-wire with CTS and Switchcraft parts it is stock. I looked at a few of the VM's but realized I really prefer the bridge and trem placement on the Mascis plus the neck is just outstanding, one of my favorites ever.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

This guitar could use the same upgrades, CTS pots and switchcraft switch and jack.
Also I could use a bit MORE bite, clarity, and harmonics from the pickups.

The bridge grub screws tend to slip and lower my action while I sleep. I woke up this morning and my B string was bottomed out against the front of the bridge and was getting terrible buzz. I was like WTF IS THAT when I noticed my B string sound, took me a minute to figure out the problem. May just say F it and get a mastery bridge or at least a mustang bridge.

Me likey though. Me likey a lot. Surprised to find it sounds more Clapton-y than my Ash Strat (which has a warm sound but is mid-dipped).

I also am really digging the color. It just looks and feels right to me.

 

[Wattage]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Once you get the action where you want it try a little expanding foam under the barrels. Keeps them in place and you can trim it really easily so it isn't very noticeable.

My buddy uses 1k pots in his JM's so they bite hard but can be dialed back.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Once you get the action where you want it try a little expanding foam under the barrels. Keeps them in place and you can trim it really easily so it isn't very noticeable.

My buddy uses 1k pots in his JM's so they bite hard but can be dialed back.

Foam eh? I was gonna look for blue loctite or nail polish. Where do they have this foam, hardware store or something? I'm an unabashed foam n00b

Fortunately mine's got 1K pots stock. I like the way they roll off a lot of treble as they are turned down, that and the rhythm circuit give me 2 very easy ways to go from "definitely a rhythm tone" to "that's a LEAD tone!". It makes me almost want to undo the 50's wiring on my agile.
I'm gonna play with pickup height some more but chances are I'm gonna drop some AVRI or Antiquity II pickups in. Both are purported to be nice and bright while still being full which sounds like what I want. Stock sound is definitely passable though!

also,
have they heard of "perpendicular" in Indonesia? The pickguard screw guy must have been hung over or actively drinking on the job. one near the control cavity does extend through the wood and into the control cavity proper.
wiring guy's middle name must be "rat's nest".
setup guy was missing in action.

If I had never owned or modded a cheaper guitar before I'd be kinda disappointed in Squier and might have even returned the guitar. But I love the look, love the sound, love the price, so she stays mine!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

Never been a big fan of Jazzmasters from a practical point of view, but I must admit that is pretty cool. I like it! Congrats!

Bill

 

[FuseG4]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

yeah I gotta say I thought the strat and tele had their quirks. It's hard to imagine Leo Fender wasn't on some kind of mind-bending substances when he made those offset models.
Owning a Jazzmaster so far seems kind of like having a pet, like a cat or something. If you can put up with all the dumb crap they do they are solid companions.

 

[Wattage]

Re: NGD incoming: squier jazzmaster

1k pots stock? wow didn't realize they did that. Can't help you with the pickups really. The Mascis ones are a little more P-90 from what I gather, I like them well enough.

Foam can be had at any hardware store or home center. You won't need much but it seems to work.

The Squier Mascis is made in China and I have to say it was made really, really well. No issues I can remember. I don't find it to be a quirky guitar but obviously having a TOM helps with that.