'62 Jazzmaster RI

[Heather Anne Peel]

I played one just like this at GC today. I must say it is one incredible guitar! The array of available tones is staggering. Serious GAS, here!!!

[Ben Harmless]

Please don't post pictures of those where I can see them. They get me all worked up.

Mmmmmm.........

[BritishBluesBoy]

Originally Posted by Ben Harmless

Please don't post pictures of those where I can see them. They get me all worked up.

+1

[Heather Anne Peel]

The Jazzmaster is one incredible guitar. I'm so glad Fender re-issued it. It was woefully underrated for too long. Let's not forget, it was once Fender's top of the line guitar, and after playing it, I can certainly see why.

[lewis]

My old JM is the best sounding guitar I own but not the easiest to play.

[Targ]

Originally Posted by lewis

My old JM is the best sounding guitar I own but not the easiest to play.

We asked for mercy, so he posts up some vintage gear....
I'm doomed

[Heather Anne Peel]

The RI I played today played like a dream.

[Targ]

Originally Posted by Heather Anne Peel

The RI I played today played like a dream.

I look at those all the time, Maybe a silver one?

[neocaster]

I've been dreaming of one of those, and a Ric 360.

[Joe-Bob]

I've always wanted one with the block inlays...way classy.

[Rob J]

This is the first I've ever heard of an actual Jazzmaster sighting at a Guitar Center.

Everytime I go into a GC, or any other music store for that matter, I scan the walls for a Jazzmaster or a Jaguar, and to date, have never come across one.

I once asked a Guitar Center salesdude if they ever get them in, and he replied "Dude, if we ever got one in, I'd snap it up myself, dude".

I'd love to run across one to try it out. Never played a JM or a Jag, but have wanted one (or both) forever.

[spaceghost]

this is what i ordered. i love jags and i will finally have one soon!!!!

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item-...0900-806.html#

mint PG and everything. the wait is literally killing me.

[tiktok]

I used to have a '66 JM, with the neck that gets skinnier towards the body. Last year I picked up a MIJ RI in Olympic White for a pittance, and it's a great change of pace from a Tele, or really any solid body electric. The decreased sustain courtesy of the wacky bridge design puts it somewhere between an acoustic and an electric, which can really be useful (contrary to the "There's no such thing as too much sustain!" crowd).

A lot of people report problems with light guage strings (.010 or lighter) popping out of the slots under heavy playing, so the recommendation is develop a light right hand, install a Buzz Stop or switch to .011's. I went the Buzz Stop route myself.

[Jelly]

Heather Anne Peel - what was the price tag at GC? And was it made in the US or in Japan?

[AZMike]

I have been gassing for one of those for a couple of years now. The '62 AVs are out of my league, so I figured one of these days I would get an MIJ/CIJ. Now that it seems new Japan Fenders can't be shipped or whatever, I notice the price of the used ones on eBay has really gone up. The only negatives I hear about the MIJ/CIJs are that they pickups are not true JM pickups, but closer to being strat pickups in JM covers. So, a lot of people go aftermarket for the pickups. I do recall that in a 2001 Guitar Player article about Los Straitjackets where they were promoting their then-new live album, Damas Y Caballeros, that Danny Amis said he used a Japanese JM. That's a ringing endorsement to me.

There are a couple of other import alternatives. Dillion makes a JM-like model, and Malden has just introduced something called the "Liquid" that was reviewed in GP last month. Also, Wilson Brothers guitars is supposed to be coming out with a Korean-made Bob Bogle model in their Ventures line. Like the MIJ Ventures models of the 90s, the Bogle model looks like it dispenses with the switches on the upper bout. Evidently Bogle loved JMs but hated the switches.

Mike

[Jelly]

Originally Posted by lewis

My old JM is the best sounding guitar I own but not the easiest to play.

Could you elaborate on the "not the easiest to play" part? Is it the bridge?

[Arc Angel]

What do all of the switches and knobs do

[lewis]

Wildwood has a bunch of Jags with medium frets, 9.5 necks, and matching headstocks. If they come out with the same in the JM I will be whipping out the credit card.
Nothing against Jags, I just prefer the longer neck.

http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/elect...guar/index.php

[EunosFD]

I really dig JM's & Jag's too & one of my best buds has a nice vintage white (might be Oly White) w/tort guard MIJ Jag from the early-mid 90's (which he may be selling soon as he doesn't really play it much at all). On those I just can't deal with the short scale length, but the JM's feel awfully nice. I haven't played one in years though, but a block'd, bound, and matching headstock JM is definitely in the cards for the future. :D

Too bad you can't order 'em from Japan anymore.




PS. Just a heads-up: there was an Ice Blue JM (US) for sale over on The Gear Page very recently (may still be) which looked fantastic. No affiliation with the seller (I post under this same name there), but just wanted to give a heads up.

[brillocaster]

uhnnnnh...GAS building...wallet getting hot...must.click.off.thread

My GC never has Jazzmasters or Jaguars, either. I don't understand why...they always have a couple of cool Firebirds on the wall though. Maybe the Firebirds are big doctor/lawyer guitars and it's smart to keep them around.

If I have to order one special I will order it through the Mom & Pop.