Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Carpet fuzz! Haha, too true Mitch.

Noel, you are 100% on the mark. A *really* good setup is essential on a Jazzmaster, and this one (see above) is the first one i've owned which has been set up the right way.

I'm not sure what the previous owner did to the saddles, but they NEVER slip and there is very little buzzing if at all. I think he said something about nail polish on the saddles? Anyway, he also changed out the pickups and pots (it's a CIJ guiitar) and it's simply the best Jazzmaster i've owned.

Strung up with flatwounds too, naturally!

The setup is pretty simple, actually. Make sure the bridge is centered in the sockets in the body when the vibrato is at rest, strung to pitch. Put a slight bend in the whammy bar in a vice just about 1/4" from its insertion point--this keeps it firm and is especially important of the Japanese reissues, which, except for pickups (VERY WEAK--go with Curtis Novaks) are better made than the supposed "classic" JMs of the '60s.

Note the positions of the strings in the threaded saddles and deepen the thread slightly where each sits with a nut file of appropriate width. This prevents the "popping out" problem that has sent so many to using Mustang saddles.

Locate the strings in the saddles, set the heights and intonation, make sure there are no rattles, and then lock the Allen setscrews into place with a tiny spot of red Loctite applied with a toothpick. Get the pickups up close and check for balance...there should be about 1/8" clearance to the strings.

Mebbe a bitttt off-topic, but then again...

Here's a link that George sent me, to Mickey Baker playing back in the early '60s with the Coleman Hawkins quintet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U24238Vo2jY

Amazing thing here is that, were you to add bounce echo to this track, it would be very close to his sound with the JM on the "Wildest Guitar" CD that I reference above.

...Except he's playing a late '50s single-coil Gretsch Country Club, with DeArmond pickups, through a '59 Bassman!

Signature Mickey Baker style, though.

Walter, I think the buzzstop is ugly and unnecessary if the guitar is set up properly. It was really a fix-all when guys were using .008 and .009 strings--there was not enough tension to keep the bridge in place properly. With .011 flatties (a MUST), a JM is really in its element.

The pickguard on Lanham's guitar indicates that it is a VERY early (perhaps pre-production) "artist tryout" model--there were not a lot of JMs made with the black anodized aluminum 'guards.

Here's one with the Novaks in it... although he's added a third pickup in the middle for "extra flavor." Nice little demo to hear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KK8I2BmZsE

Hmmm and I thought I came up with the idea of a strat pup in the middle as I have on my Tikimaster..I'll post a pic when I can figure out how to make it smaller....the added pup adds a nice touch,,,

I believe I see your Tikimaster... if it's the surf green one you're holding on your band's home page.

That's the one Andrew...one of two guitars that Bill Nash built for me to my specs...this one has a JM body with some neat Shag art stuff..reverse headstock, Lollar pups, Strat vibrato, Graphtech saddles,,also special switching so all pup combos are available...

Thanks for the info, George... I was wondering about the bridge and what looks to be 2 toggles for switching.

No rhythm circuit...yes?

No rhythm circuit..yes...I think Paul W is the only one that knows how those work...the two 3 way toggles let me play all combos..singles/pairs and all three..the pups are Lollar P-90's and a Lollar Blackface Strat...

I'm a big fan of the Fender offsets...I currently have an A/V 62RI Jazzmaster, and I always have a casual eye open for a good deal on Jag (sold a couple CIJ Jags I had to finance a Ric fix .

Here's a pretty good site offering some great gouge on the guitars (including an "interactive Jaguar" in the "Goodies" section that helps explain how the controls work (slightly different for the Jag and JM, but it will give you an idea of the lead/rhythm circuits, etc.).

http://www.webrocker.de/jaguar/cms/the-jazzmaster/

Bill

Hey thanks for that link Bill,very interesting.I want a Jazzy like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxfWuneXWhY&mode=related&search=

Yeah Mitch, very cool...mine doesn't work as well as his...

There is absolutely no mystery at all about the lead/rhythm circuits...all those switches and knobs do look daunting, but if you consider this as a guitar with two separate tone circuits, it's no problem. The knobs in the "usual" place control the main lead circuit. On a JM, the toggle selects the pickup(s) just like a Rick, LP, etc; on a Jag, it's the three slide switches on the plate--the front two are for pickups, and the back one cuts in a cap to thin out the sound (as if it needs it!).

On the upper wing on both guitars, are controls for the second circuit, which has its own tone and volume pots, along with another slide switch. In upper position, it engages the rhythm circuit, in lower position, it engages the lead circuit.

I set 'em and forget 'em. It's a handy little sucker, and in fact, much simpler than George's PRS-like JM. His tones are great--don't get me wrong, so it is a matter of "horses for courses".

I can't make a siren sound on mine though!