Fender Jazzmaster Experience?

I've decided to get a Jazzmaster, but I don't know much about them. Of course I'd like an American and I'll freely admit I'd rather it say "Fender" on it if I have to look at other sources. I was aware of MIM and MIJ Strats, I have one, in fact, but I did not know there are legitimate Chinese made Fenders; "Crafted in China" actually. From my research thus far, Squiers are now made in Indonesia, but are a more accurate copy of 60s era JMs.

As I said, I'd rather have a "Fender" than a Squier, but I also don't want a guitar that isn't playable nor do I want modern humbuckers in a JM. I stopped at three music shops today and no one had a single JM much less several to compare quality or play. Anybody see American/Mexican/Japanese/Chinese/Indonesian Fenders side by side to compare? For reference, I specifically want an Elvis Costello JM tribute from several years ago - checked eBay/Craigslist/Reverb. No dice.

Anyone have a JM for sale/trade and want a Gibson SG?

I was hoping this was a fender rolling thread

No direct experience with the Jazzmaster, but I wouldn't be afraid of the Squier line - you just need to go and put hands on the one you intend to buy. I have a bottom of the barrel Squier 5-string bass that I got because "why not?" and it has been rock solid. As long as you play it and make sure the action isn't screwy, go for it.

I know plenty of regular touring musicians who use things out of the Squier line. Let your playing speak for the instrument and not the name on the headstock.

I understand the halo that a "Fender" logo has over "Squier" on the headstock but don't discount the Squier Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified guitars. I know for sure they currently sell a Vintage Modified JM. I like my Classic Vibe Tele over a standard Fender and the Vintage Modified series guitars I've played are, in my opinion, as good as or better than their MIM Fender branded counterparts.

That being said, my advice is to find a good local guitar shop, see what they have and compare for yourself. The best guitar is the one that you like best. Not the one that some guy on the internet says you should get.

I get the "Fender" thing. It is funny, I have no issue with Epiphone, but Squire turns me off completely.

If you're dead set on a Costello model, then I'd just be looking at Ebay, Reverb, GBase, Dave's, Elderly, Gruhn, and then the other "boutiquey" shops like Cream City, Chicago Music Exchange, Mandolin Brothers, etc., every single day. Also check out the Fender forums, Jaguar forums, and similar in their classifieds.

If you aren't dead set on a Costello model, I really think I'd be looking for a MIM or MIJ model. Just because it seems that they are half the cost of a US model. I do not understand Jazzmaster/Jaguar/Mustang pricing.

How heavy is your right hand? Jazzmasters take a really light pick hand. There is very little break angle over the bridge. This gives them a bit more jangle in their sound but it also means you can knock the strings out of their grooves with what I consider "average" pick attack.

Folks have been fixing this for years with different types of bars to add pressure

But this makes them sound a bit less like a jazzmaster.

I guess what I am saying is try before you buy. I personally cannot play a stock JM/Jaguar, which sucks because they are the only fenders I am attracted to.

Also. I am sorely tempted by the $229 Xaviere "offset" that GuitarFetish sells

I would personally go that route before a Squier based on a guitar shop experience I had a few years ago. It was a shop in Portland. They had at least 20 of the then new squire JM guitars in all sorts of sweet pickup configurations. Problem was that 7 of them had such bad fretwork that the necks felt like sawblades. Upon inspection you could tell that the fret ends were dressed properly but it seemed that the necks had shrunk afterwards leaving over 1/16" of sharp metal fret hanging out on both sides of the neck. I would have chalked it up to a piece of bad wood but it was so many of them that it had to be improperly dried lumber.

In reply to Jumper K. Balls:

That's why I definitely wouldn't buy a guitar in that price range that I hadn't inspected in person. When it comes to new guitars I've found that great value for money comes at the cost of poor quality control.

In reply to Jumper K. Balls:

Could also be poor humidity control in the store. My American Standard Strat had a "shapr fret ends" issue for years after it and many of my other guitars were flooded in my basement. A couple of months ago I finally got around to having a repair guy fix it.

Not much opinion on Jazzmasters... I'm more of a Strat and Les Paul guy.

Ian F wrote: Les Paul guy.

Want to buy an old gold top?

mtn wrote:

Ian F wrote: Les Paul guy.

Want to buy an old gold top?

I have 3 Les Pauls already... I'm afraid that will have to suffice for awhile. My next solid body will probably be a Tele. Although since I'm a picky SOB when it comes to guitars, it looks like I may end up building one from Warmoth parts...

Ian F wrote: In reply to Jumper K. Balls: Could also be poor humidity control in the store.

I would usually consider that but the place has been open and selling guitars since 1927 and has a good reputation. It was only the squiers that had the issue. The Gibsons, Gretsches and Martins I played that day were all fine

Look at the J. Mascis. Word I've been getting is that it really is the sweet spot for a killer Jazzmaster at a good price.

However, Jazzmasters are deeply quirky guitars. Make sure you're going to get along with them.

And I still regret selling the '62 I practically gave away.

Ian F wrote:

mtn wrote:

Ian F wrote: Les Paul guy.

Want to buy an old gold top?

I have 3 Les Pauls already... I'm afraid that will have to suffice for awhile. My next solid body will probably be a Tele. Although since I'm a picky SOB when it comes to guitars, it looks like I may end up building one from Warmoth parts...

I think my next guitar will probably be a Warmoth tele.

But you really want this gold top. It is older than yours

In reply to mtn:

Ok, how old and how much. I know a guy(actually a few)...

In reply to mtn:

I have a '71 sunburst now that I rarely play...

petegossett wrote: In reply to mtn: Ok, how old and how much. I know a guy(actually a few)...

It is a 1954. Not mine, but I am affiliated. I believe that the price is about 6 challenge cars, but less would be taken.

Not in original condition--otherwise it would be a $25,000 guitar--but a phenominal player, just had about $1,500 worth of updates/backdates/fixes done at Gruhn guitars.

(and no, that is not a typo, nor is it a shake-your-head price)

In reply to mtn:

Thanks! I'll pass the info along.

Definitely go put your hands on 'em. After reading a godzillion posts about how "great" the newer Squire teles are, and how you're just paying for the name if you buy a fender, I was totally convinced I wanted one. Went to the guitar store and played a couple, they were absolute garbage.

In reply to mtn:

Umm... yeah... the most I've ever paid for a guitar was $1300 for my Custom Shop Explorer 20+ years ago. It bugs me to spend more than $1K on a guitar... not saying I never will (I'm really hankering for another mid-90's American Std Strat), but I tend to beat on and modify my guitars too much to buy vintage stuff. I'm already tempted to send my brand new Fender Dave Murray model Strat out to get re-fretted (to better match my Strat). I can rarely leave well enough alone. It's a sickness. Only my '80 Les Paul Firebrand has managed to stay original. Partly because my old bass player has threatened bodily harm if I were to change anything.

Have you ever played one? Try calling some pawn shops, no seriously.

My brother bought a Chet Atkin's Gretsch that cost about twice what I paid for my 914, but it is a pretty ratty 914. No rust, but it is not pretty, even for a 914. The guitar sure is a beauty though.

Les Paul aside, I've checked three guitar stores and one pawn shop. No one has a JM. I don't recall seeing one (or a Mustang, Jaguar, or Jagstang) for ages. I'm going to the last and largest shop in my area tomorrow. I considered the J Mascis and while the bridge is upgraded over the Vintage Modified, I don't know if it's $100 better. Plus, I like the soap bars better and from what I've read a Mustang bridge pops right in and fixes the issue there. I figure a $300 Squier might be a reasonable mail order gamble, but hopefully I find one locally.

What is your general location?

Because it hasn't been mentioned yet... Jazzmaster pickups (at least in my experience) are super sensitive to that annoying 60-cycle electrical hum. More so than almost any other type of pickup.

On a related note there's a VM Special Telecaster (Tele body with Jazzmaster neck and rhythm pickup) on local Craigslist right now that I'm thinking about picking up because this thread got me thinking about Jazzmasters.

Johnny Zoom has to be one of my favorite Jazzmaster players. Plus he's a super-nice guy.

https://youtu.be/ECd_7GzMIVY