Jazzmaster

[tommyc]

Just got a new Jazzmaster and wondered if anyone else has one and if so do you use a buzz stop ? How does it sound with one as opposed to not having one ?

[Tele295]

Yes, I have a Buzzstop on my L-series Jazzmaster. I love it. The sound is a little punchier, and it feels 10x more solid. I wish it would fit on a Bass VI, but the strings are too fat. Maybe with a little shim....

[SixString821]

i have a cij JM, but without a buzzstop, and im really thinking about getting one... the thing buzzes like crazy when i play it acoustically.

plugged in i dont really notice it at all though.

jazzmasters are awesome guitars welcome to the club!

[neocaster]

I only played in-store. I'd definitely buy one, and I'd absolutely put a buzz stop on it. Die-hards say it's a tone suck, but then they don't have to play my guitars. In about 10 hours total time on various JMs, I've had 2 sting dislocations and overall I feel like the break angle and downforce over saddles isn't right for me, on JM and Mustang saddles alike.

[tommyc]

Yeah I got the new purple sparkle model with the gold pickguard , I love the sound and feel of these things . Ive never had a Jazzmaster and always used Teles and Esquires but grew up with the Ventures and all the surf stuff and just had to have one !

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by neocaster

Die-hards say it's a tone suck, but then they don't have to play my guitars.

If there was ever a mod which "added tone", it's putting a Buzz Stop on.

You lose a bit of the light-weight shimmer of the JM, but you gain a lot of punch while still sounding like a JM. It's cheap, completely reversible, and anyone who can use a screwdriver can install it.

If you don't want to try using .011's (the other standard suggestion for stopping buzz and string pop), you should definitely give it a try.

[neocaster]

That J Mascis (purple sparkle) is the one I played the most in-store. Felt great, sounded great, a lot of switching versatility for two pickups. Having a whole seperate vol/tone control in that rhythm circuit is what pushed me over top from thinking I might want to try one to thinking I really have to get one.

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by neocaster

That J Mascis (purple sparkle)... thinking I really have to get one.

Yes, you do. I got one; LOVE it.

[neocaster]

I'm real partial to the CIJ Vintage White. They make a 66 with a bound neck and block inlays. I like the look of it a lot better. I'll give the stock pickups a fair chance, but I'm prepared to not like them. I have read all over the place that they're too "stratty" and I already have a STrat I love so I don't need that sound in a Jazzmaster.

[ramblinmike]

I have a warmoth jazzmaster that I put lollar p90s in. Kinda wish I had gone with the actual Jazzmaster pickups and circuitry. Wonder how much effort it would be to put jazzmaster pickups in, aside from a new pickguard. Definitely think that buzzstop might help, as even with 11's and the mustang bridge the strings love to buzz and jump.

[SMPTE]

If you're not using flatwounds it's an absolute must, it's the only way to get the proper tension with light strings. I use flats on mine (and I did alot of work on the bridge), and I don't have a buzzing issue. But when I put on regular wounds even with all the work and proper setup it buzzes a bit. Bottom line is that it wasn't designed for light (less than 11/12s) strings, but flats (even in 10s)have enough tension in them to keep the buzz away.

[serialsteve]

+1 on the Buzz Stop. I have one on my '65 JM and it took it from a fun but frustrating guitar (saddle popout on strings) to a completely fun, solid, stable guitar.

[johnnydeformed]

Here's mine: AVRI 62 Surf Green. It's my fourth Jazzmaster. No buzzes or string popping so no Buzz Stop (I did use it on another JM and it worked very well). This one is my favorite and it sounds amazing.

[Dennis68]

Johnny, Your AV62RI in the Surf Green color is it! Wow! I need one of those! What strings are you using on yours?

[Dennis68]

Originally Posted by Tele295

Yes, I have a Buzzstop on my L-series Jazzmaster. I love it. The sound is a little punchier, and it feels 10x more solid. I wish it would fit on a Bass VI, but the strings are too fat. Maybe with a little shim....

Great Shot John! If you don't mind I made that my desktop pic of the week!

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by Tele295

In related news, I think we need to hear the backstory on your single-speaker Showman...combo?

[Dennis68]

Originally Posted by tiktok

In related news, I think we need to hear the backstory on your single-speaker Showman...combo?

Yes, Yes! Do tell...

[wooderson]

offsetguitars.com is a good community/resource for Jazz/Jag info

[serialsteve]

Originally Posted by wooderson

offsetguitars.com is a good community/resource for Jazz/Jag info

Agreed. Most of the guys over there are Anti-Buzz Stop, but I've owned/played Jags and JMs for over 20 years and these guitars (the ones I've owned) DEFINITELY benefit from one. I've fiddled around with the bridges and made every adjustment known to man, taken these things apart and put them back together (and have a pile of vintage JM and Jag parts to prove it!) to get them to work better and the Buzz Stop did the trick in a matter of minutes.

Before that, I used the old Mustang saddle trick, which isn't bad.

[Telegazer]

I may need to dodge a few heavy knurled Tele knobs, but believe a Gotoh TOM is a wonderful addition to a troublesome Jazzmaster. We personally have few complaints with the difference in radius (either individual string volume or neck feel), and with the addition of an ivory nut, the thing rings like no other guitar on our rack. Of course, you also get:

1. Great sustain

2. Secure bridge saddles

3. Not a buzz in sight.

4. Surprisingly excellent tuning/intonation even with moderate trem usage.

5. All the fairy dust-laden behind-the-bridge chiming resonance.

[Stratsrgood]

I shimmed the neck on mine (0.015") at the bottom of the pocket and use 9/46 strings and it sounds good with no buzzes. I think it all depends on how you play. Do buzzstops change the action of the trem?

[Knucklehead]

Just got one of the J. Mascis Purple sparkle pimp jobs; what a great guitar!

Put on some Pyramid Flatwounds .11/.48s and I'm off to the races! That's the way to go with this Jazzmaster, it eliminates any buzzing or loose action, and is the key to all the cool surf tones.

If you're looking for a Jazzmaster it's worthwhile to check this model out. I like the purple sparkle paint job with matching headstock, gold anodized guard, jumbo frets, and the pickups/electronics as well.

It comes in one of those cheesy Asian triangular cardboard boxes, no manual or instructions, only a small inspection hang tag dangling off the tuner.
But aside from that, everything about the guitar is very impressive, fine workmanship, great feel and outstanding tone, right out of the carton.

[serialsteve]

Originally Posted by Knucklehead

Just got one of the J. Mascis Purple sparkle pimp jobs; what a great guitar!

Put on some Pyramid Flatwounds .11/.48s and I'm off to the races! That's the way to go with this Jazzmaster, it eliminates any buzzing or loose action, and is the key to all the cool surf tones.

If you're looking for a Jazzmaster it's worthwhile to check this model out. I like the purple sparkle paint job with matching headstock, gold anodized guard, jumbo frets, and the pickups/electronics as well.

It comes in one of those cheesy Asian triangular cardboard boxes, no manual or instructions, only a small inspection hang tag dangling off the tuner.
But aside from that, everything about the guitar is very impressive, fine workmanship, great feel and outstanding tone, right out of the carton.

Are they CIJ or MIM or what? I assumed CIJ.

[octatonic]

I have a 90's Japmaster with Seymour Duncan's.
I've put a mustang bridge and a buzz stop on it- stays in tune despite my abuse.

One word on the buzzstop- if you are the sort of person who does the shoegazer 'hold the trem-bar while playing' technique, the buzzstop can get in the way.
Aside from that, it does what it should.

[SMPTE]

Originally Posted by serialsteve

Are they CIJ or MIM or what? I assumed CIJ.

They're CIJ. It uses a TOM copy for the bridge too. I wonder if you can order those and the PGs separate...

[Tele295]

Originally Posted by tiktok

In related news, I think we need to hear the backstory on your single-speaker Showman...combo?

Not much backstory on it. I had the head, and I paid a guy (Paul Lamb aka Lambo, before he went to work for Mojo Parts), to build a combo cabinet back in 1992 or so. There is a JBL 15" D140F speaker in there, but I'm not thrilled with it. I tend to use that amp more to handle the low end on my Hammond XB2/Motion Sound Pro3T setup.

Looks cool, though, eh?

I should add that there is a 62RI Strat neck on the L-series Jazzmaster in that pic. The JM neck had been refretted with stupidly large frets, and need to have that fixed (Plek machine or whatever it's called, or perhaps simply refretted) before it's comfortably playable.

[Buckocaster51]

I'll chime in here on those purple sparkle Jazzmasters.

I got one last summer.

I can't find a thing wrong with it.

Doesn't sound at all like a Telecaster...but then it is not supposed to.


Surf's Up Dudes!

[purpletele]

I just picked up a J. Mascis sig. It really is a great guitar , maybe one of the nicest Fenders I've played in a long time. For $899, it's a heck of a deal. The color is very close to my purple telecaster, but with bigger flake.