Why a Jazzmaster?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:31 am

The JM neck is standard Fender length, too...maybe a bit too long for your hands, Alisha (although you seem to have no trouble with a bass...)

The Jag neck has a scale closer to a Rick--24", to be exact. Same shape, nearly the same switching (just looks more complicated; substitutes slide switches for the toggle, that's all; provides a bass-cut circuit that the JM lacks. That's all, folks.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:27 pm

I don't see why you;d have any trouble with a Jazzmaster's neck, Alisha. Like Paul said, the Jaguar does have a smaller neck, but IMO the Jazzmaster's sound is superior.

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:54 pm

As you search...The USA made ones cost more then the MIJ's but you will want to get new pups if you buy a MIJ..good choice is Curtis Novak..I think about $60/pair. US build overall better in general in regards to internals and fretwork. MIJ are great also just are often upgraded a bit. "Go for it" price on a MIJ I'd say under $600 USA..under $900...go girl!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:53 pm

I have had a stock MIA Jazzmaster and currently have a fully upgraded CIJ Jazzmaster - they were comparable instruments in every way. USA JM's pop up on eBay with $900 BIN's now and then, i'd keep my eye out for one of those. No upgrading required, though a little bit of care on the saddles may be needed. Paul W. can talk you through that.

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:11 am

Another vote for the CIJ/MIJ models. The p/up swap is easy enough (even a hardware-challenged guy like me was able to do it). I currently own an A/VRI '62, but previously had a 2004 CIJ in that great blue finish they offered.

I'm really a big fan of Fender Japan--I'm not knocking any of the USA Fenders in the least, it's just that reality is FJ can save you some decent money, and often offer colors, etc., not avail here in the US.

I just bought my first Fender directly from Japan through Ishibashi--a '69-'72 Mustang. The whole shopping experience was perfect--friendly, fast, secure. I've honestly never seen a guitar more carefully packaged than this one.

No issues whatsoever with fit, finish, hardware, etc..

I think the Japanese pickups on the 'Stang are quite good as they are--no plans of swapping them. I did think my JM p/ups were a bit tinny, so I put A/Vs in the guitar.

Only other real difference that may or not be important to you is the finishes will almost always be poly (some very high-end custom stuff from Japan is avail in nitro, but most of the stuff you see on the 'bay, etc. is poly). To, me it's a non-issue. If my playing ever gets to the point where the paint is making a difference to me, someone will be paying me to play there gear.

Bill

steve_hershberger · Post by **steve_hershberger** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:33 am

Bill - Were there any size problems in putting the AV pickups in your CIJ Jazzmaster? I'd love to have one but don't know it I'd go MIA or CIJ.

Actually, I *really* wish I'd never sold my old ("real") '63 Daphne Blue JM, and I'd love to run across it somewhere someday. I'd buy it back in a heartbeat as long as it was in the same shape as when it got sold off. Not likely though. ;-\

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:27 am

Bill, I've had the same experiences with Ishi and FJ. Ordered both my FJs on the 'net from them and got them Courier from Japan in only 2 days. One is a 'burst '59JM with aluminum guard replica and the other a 'burst '69 Mustang. Both had nearly flawless polyester finishes. Neither color available at the time in America.

Both had pickups that sucked. The JM had about ten turns of #42 around huge rectangular bobbins; the Mustang's pickups were the same anemic deal--bobbins nowhere near at their limit. Is copper that pricey in Japan?

The JM was immediately treated to a pair of Curtis' Vintage pickups, which have about (no exaggeration) five or six times as much wiring as the Japanese stockers.

The Mustang's pickups remain "as delivered", but will soon receive bobbins from an American Strat that I've had in my parts bin.

I say "finishes were nearly flawless", because the JM had some scratches remaining from guard installation--aluminum guards have a bit of sharp burr from the stamping process. These were not obvious, but bothered me, so I disassembled the guitar and buffed 'em out--took as much time as buffing out an entire Rick does. That polyester is insanely tough. And thick. Thin shell these finishes are not.

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 6:17 am

Steve, no problem at all with the routes/cavities. At the same time I changed the p/ups, I also changed the pickguard cover (I didn't like the bright white guard it came with). I bought an after market p/g in mint green--looked beautiful against the Lake Placid Blue and with the A/V p/up covers--but I did have to trim the p/g a bit at the bridge pickup and the upper (low E side) post hole for the bridge. I tend to think this was more of an issue with the p/g I bought though--the A/Vs fit perfectly into the stock CIJ cover.

Even at that, the trimming was minimal and not visible when I finished.

Paul, those sound like beautiful guitars. At one time I owned 4 CIJ guitars, all bought used on the 'bay--a '57RI Strat in sonic blue, the '62 JM I mentioned here in LPB, a '62 Jag in LPB, and another '62 Jag in 3TS. All received A/V p/ups and new pickguards. I sold all three of the offsets in fit of gear guilt.

I still have the Strat, which now sports a set of Fender Vintage Noiseless p/ups, and the Mustang in "YWH", which is just like Fender's Vintage Blonde. I haven't disassembled her to look at the p/ups--I guess I should, but they sound good to me for now.

I think there will be another CIJ Jag at some point in my future...

Bill

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:39 am

Bill, my main surf band guitar is a CIJ Candy Apple Red Jag with hot Duncan pickups; backups are a CIJ Antigua Jag that George told me I HAD to have (he was right!) and a couple of vintage American Duo-Sonics.

I dream of Sonic Blue. Maybe my next Duo-Sonic...I think it'd look good with a maple neck and gold anodized guard.

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:22 am

Found one

American. Pictures to follow in a week or so.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:23 am

Way to go Alisha! What color is it?

Paul, i'm glad i'm not the only one who dreams of Sonic Blue.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:52 am

Well, JB, it is Fender's answer to Blue Boy.

Congrats, Alisha!!!

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:45 am

Sonic Blue is my favorite Fender blue. Looks great on Jazz / Jag bodies.

Did anyone happen to see Dinosaur Jr. on Conan last week? J. Mascis used his sparkly signature model Jazzmaster -and it was without a doubt the single worst performance I have EVER seen on television. Fender should abolish that model as a result.

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:13 pm

yay!!

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:48 pm

Alisha, congrats! I think you're going to be very happy.

Paul, sonic blue with maple is a terrific combo--that's what my CIJ '57RI is. I'm a big sucker for all those Fender pastels--my A/V JM is Surf Green, got the blue covered by the Strat, and my eye is always on the lookout for a Classic '60s Strat or Tele in Shell Pink.

Bill