Jazzmaster GAS

[natelux]

I posted this same conversation piece at Harmony Central, but the people over there seem more interested in brootz content.

Any way, I'm considering selling my MIJ E Series Strat and Tele to fund a AVRI Jazzmaster. The JM would then be my only guitar.

This is the particular guitar that has my interest:

http://cgi.ebay.com/62-RE-ISSUEUSA-F...item1e5ae2d6ac

I hate to buy a guitar without playing it. Does this sound like a horrible idea? I think Jazzmasters might be the guitars for me.

[fjwiv]

Have you played a Jazzy? What gauge strings do you prefer? What kind of amp do you play? My #1 is an AVRI Jazzmaster and it has really changed what I play. IMO, the guitar works best with at least 11 gauge strings, and the electronics sound the best flatwound strings. It's a very bright sounding guitar. I prefer it through a tweed or marshall amplifier. If i use it in a blackface I'm rolling the treble control way back, but I do prefer darker tones. The sound of the flatwounds through a tweed is very "thuddy", which I really dig. They don't have massive sustain due to the small frets, but they are great for chording. Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $1100 for that guitar. It is a great color, and somewhat rare as they've only been making white, black and sunburst in the AVRI line for the past three years or so. If it gets into the $1300 range you can get a used thin skin which has different frets and lots of color options.

[natelux]

mmm. Bright, really? I heard the neck Jazzmaster PUP has a darker, more mellow tone than say, a strat.

[fjwiv]

With the Rhythm switch up it is dark, but it's more of a muted jazz tone. With the rhythm switch down and using the three way it's considerably brighter than a strat. If you roll the tone control back 50% it will be comparable to a strat in brightness.

[natelux]

How's are the midrange freqs. More or less prominent than strat?

[GreenKnight18]

I like Jazzmasters, but I do not like flatwound strings on them.

In general I think Strats have a bit more midrange.

[rocklibrarian]

I am a big Jazzmaster fan and advocate, but I'd caution you to really get to know one before you sell a Strat and Tele for it. Though they're more versatile than a lot of people actually give them credit for, the JM vibe is pretty specific compared to a strat or tele. I only say this cause you mentioned it would be your only guitar. I love JMs but they are not for everyone, and I wouldn't want you to regret it.

[natelux]

Yeah. It's a bad idea. I should just wait a few years until I can afford a new AVRI, rather than selling off what I have.

[yabasta]

ok i'll just say this.

i loved the way jazzes sound, close to P90 territory for me.

Thats where my love for it ended.

If you are an agressive player forget it, your strings will slip every way you can imagine.

Most techs i talked to recommended we try a few things to tame it, there are a lot of problems with the bridge and the string tension BUT thats where it gets a lot of its tone from.

I dont know I just dont like buying a guitar i have to fix in order to play.

This may only be my experience, but Im fine with a lp strat or tele, which i can play as hard as i want and I wont have to worry about the guitar going out of wack on me.

just my opinion!

[fjwiv]

"If you are an agressive player forget it, your strings will slip every way you can imagine."

Not if it's properly set up. I imagine the 11s i use help too though.

[ford]

There are some takes on the Jazzmaster out there that can get past some of these concerns if that is what you want...

Of course most are boutique or small builders, so they aren't always cheap.... though K-Line can build a jazzmaster for you to have two p90's or humbuckers and different types of bridges other than the traditional jazzmaster bridge... which I just don't like.

I currently have a Fano JM6 that is a jazzmaster body with a LP style bridge and two Fralin p90's.... what a great, great guitar it is....

I am also having Creston build me what is his take on the jazzmaster body.. which he calls an offset... it is going to have a toploader bridge, a humbucker in the bridge position and a p90 in the neck... can't wait!

rock

bford

[enocaster]

Originally Posted by yabasta

If you are an agressive player forget it, your strings will slip every way you can imagine.

I filed a deeper groove in my E and A string saddles 10 years ago and have not had a string slip since. I've played some pretty aggressive rock and noise in that time.

[straightblues]

I like my Jazzmaster. I have lots of guitars. I couldn't live with it as my only guitar. It has a bright thin sorta tone. It is great for doing somethings, but not everything. They have 1 meg pots. So with everything on 5 it is like a strat on 10. You can tame them by turning the knobs. They have lots of settings.

They do not have a lot of sustain. So, you play differently on them. They are fun and look great. I am very glad I have one.

[Lublin]

My JM GAS passed as soon as I bought one. Wasn't for me. Tele's and LP's are my territory.

[yabasta]

Originally Posted by fjwiv

"If you are an agressive player forget it, your strings will slip every way you can imagine."

Not if it's properly set up. I imagine the 11s i use help too though.

give it to me i'll make em slip.