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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 12, 2021 5:23:20 GMT -7
Ever since Elvis Costello broke out with "My Aim Is True" around '77 I've dug the Jazzmaster but strangely enough I've never played one. I got an email from Chicago Music Exchange yesterday and now I've got the hots on for this Squire Classic Vibe Jazzmaster. You know that the new Squires are way better than they used to be; I've got a Squire Jazz Bass that is great. So I think I'm going to go for this one...
So I'm seeking advice from Jazzmaster fans here...what do you think?
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Post by Ridgeback on May 12, 2021 5:46:40 GMT -7
I've owned 6-7 of them over the years, from a Squire that didn't work out to several vintage ones. My last\best one left with the big '20 gear purge. The vintage configuration ones, like the Squire you pictured, definitely have their own thing going on. I like them for their unique tone and feel. They are not for everyone though and I found that folks either loved them or hated them, which is why there are so many "Jazzmaster for those who don't like Jazzmasters" models out there (e.g. stop tails or strat style vibratos, no rhythm circuit, HBs, P-90s etc.). You are not dropping a lot of $ on that Squire or I would have really recommended that you play a few before buying. Good luck.
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Post by pcns on May 12, 2021 6:27:51 GMT -7
my son Joshua's #2 is a MIM Jazzmaster with a couple of upgrades.
Great sounding guitar. It's a bit finicky to keep set up but otherwise they are great.
I've heard good things about the Squires and they are lots of upgrades available if there is something you don't like.
We can bring that up next time we visit
Todd
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 12, 2021 7:42:12 GMT -7
That would be cool, Todd...I was looking at the website and saw the "In Stock Date" to be 04/28/22 and my mind read it as being this year, not next. So I thought it was going to ship right out. Glad I caught my mistake in time, and cancelled the order.
But I did come across a great fuzz pedal, the JHS "Bender" which is inspired by the Tone Bender. That'll be here in a couple of days, and I'm stoked about that. Being a gain pedal junkie, I'm always on the lookout for THAT FUZZ, and this might be it!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 12, 2021 8:16:44 GMT -7
So I can't get the purple one for a year. Hmmm, how 'bout Sonic Blue or Sunburst?!?
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Post by "Z" Steve on May 12, 2021 8:29:27 GMT -7
Wow, very timely Dave. I was just watching some Doheny demos last night, and though I've never had a Jazzmaster these G&L Doheny's look and sound great. Something to consider!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 12, 2021 11:39:34 GMT -7
Those G&L's look nice. I had a G&L ASAT with the MFD pickups about 20 years ago, it was really well made. Sounded great too. I just bought a sunburst Squire CV 60's Jazzmaster...it should be here tomorrow. That'll be fun!
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Post by Norrin Radd on May 12, 2021 11:40:32 GMT -7
I love JMs - but a different beast for sure! I’ve assembled 2 of them vintage style and they are quickly becoming my favorite guitar. This is currently my favorite guitar: And my other JM:
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Post by Ridgeback on May 12, 2021 11:59:01 GMT -7
While I'm a long time G&L fan (still own two), the Doheny clearly falls into the "looks kind of like a JM but isn't even close" category. I played one once and liked it but it wasn't anything like a JM. All it has in common is scale length and the offset body.
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Post by sharkboy on May 13, 2021 18:55:22 GMT -7
I have a beautiful shell pink JM with a maple fretboard. I like the shape and was also deeply affected by Elvis Costello and Adrian Belew’s playing. Observations: 1. the P90s, which are growing on me; 2. the body size, which looks appropriate to my own size; 3. The weird bridge is mostly a positive, once you get used to it. 4. I’ve kinda figured out the byzantine switch configuration, but have had difficulty really making switch settings work in my flow.
I don’t play mine as much as I play Gibsons, which I don’t play as much as Strats, which I don’t play anywhere near as much as Rickenbackers, which are my favorites.
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Post by zpilot on May 14, 2021 15:00:23 GMT -7
That would be cool, Todd...I was looking at the website and saw the "In Stock Date" to be 04/28/22 and my mind read it as being this year, not next. So I thought it was going to ship right out. Glad I caught my mistake in time, and cancelled the order. But I did come across a great fuzz pedal, the JHS "Bender" which is inspired by the Tone Bender. That'll be here in a couple of days, and I'm stoked about that. Being a gain pedal junkie, I'm always on the lookout for THAT FUZZ, and this might be it! My JM is not my #1 guitar. That would be my Nocaster. But until I started playing my JM I never realized how many classic recorded tracks were actually done with one. I have flatwounds on it now to better capture that vintage vibe. Don't remember the exact gauge but they are heavy enough to not need a Mastery bridge. The few times I have seen Kenny Vaughan playing one with The Superlatives I have really liked those tones. I think that is what directed me to get one. Mine has Lollar Pickups which were a great improvement. I don't have much use for a fuzz but one of the first and certainly the best one I ever owned was a Vox Tone Bender so that type is what I identify as what a fuzz should sound like. If JHS has captured that with the Bender you may have a winner.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 14, 2021 18:20:27 GMT -7
It came today, and what a cool guitar! I really dig the tone, it seems like it's somewhere between a Tele and a Strat, only with a wider range of tones. I did need to do just a few strokes with a fret file in a couple of places, but I was being totally anal about it. If I hadn't had the files I wouldn't have worried about it. It's really playable, balances nicely and it's got this TONE that's unique. It rings the notes out in a special way that has to be the tremolo and bridge combination. I've never played a guitar set up like this is. Very unique, very cool. I'm diggin' it!
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Post by Ridgeback on May 14, 2021 19:29:13 GMT -7
Yes, besides the unique design of true JM pickups, the notes ring out in a special way due to the distance between the vibrato and bridge. Be careful, the Jazzmaster is a gateway to the Jaguar. The Fender offset vibrato is my favorite, even though I no longer own one. Enjoy!!
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 15, 2021 5:19:40 GMT -7
I like it that Sweetwater gives the weights of their guitars online. I picked out the lightest one, 7lb. 8oz. It's really lively and has a nice loud acoustic voice. Love the way it resonates, the new Squires are very, very nice. I can see myself playing this more than my Custom Shop Strat...
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Post by zpilot on May 16, 2021 2:51:37 GMT -7
Very nice. Consider some Lollar pickups.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 16, 2021 6:43:28 GMT -7
I put some Lollar Mini Humbuckers in a Les Paul tribute that had P-90s in it, and they're great. I bet it would be a huge upgrade.
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Post by Ridgeback on May 16, 2021 7:56:18 GMT -7
Darn this thread. After continuously owning JMs and Jags for the past 10-12 years, I finally went offset-less last year. No sooner does this thread show up and make me get a bit misty about not having a Fender offset, my local shop gets in an exact duplicate of the best JM I ever owned (down to the color). GAS is a terrible thing. Must resist. Just checked the SN, it is my JM up for sale (minus the Mastery bridge) and come alive to haunt me again. Rats, rats, rats.
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Post by Norrin Radd on May 16, 2021 8:58:05 GMT -7
Just checked the SN, it is my JM up for sale (minus the Mastery bridge) and come alive to haunt me again. Rats, rats, rats. nothing sounds like a jazzmaster. And it’s a beautiful sound.
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Post by walt on May 16, 2021 14:17:54 GMT -7
My son's number 1 for 10 years has been a MIM classic player,he loves it.From 86-90 I had a 66 jazzmaster and it was a killer guitar,I used the trem alot,and it held tune 90 % of the time.First guitar I owned with a usable neck pick up,sure wish I still had it.
I have read good things about j mascis's sig model-and he insisted they do a Squier model,which is supposed to be a bang for the buck guitar
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