Stripes

More cool stuff from the Japan end of Fender. There are currently two offset models featuring competition stripes at the elbow rest area, this Traditional 60s Jaguar is one of them. The black version has this partial stripe with the ends disappearing into a burst effect.

The other offset is the Jazzmaster. For both models, the sunburst finish feature the full length stripes as depicted here. I'm just of the opinion that the burst finish does not accommodate the stripes well.

Pics: Fender Japan

Silent jazz

These are Seymour Duncan's Silencer pickups for Jazzmasters. Of course, if your guitar is not a Jazzmaster but features such outlines, these are worth checking out. Unlike regular P90 pickups, I hear more hum coming from the JM style pickups & it might be down to the wider coiling. On that note, as this pickup utilizes a stacked technology, please be mindful of the thicker-than-standard depth.

Pic: SD

Player II: J & J

The relatively new Player II instruments (released by Fender recently) included the Jaguar & Jazzmaster models. Note the simplicity: 1) Both models do not feature the tone circuit at the bass side cutaway 2) Both models also feature simple 3-way selectors. Reality check - these feature are somewhat preferred by many players who do not wish to meddle with switches during play. They like what the Strat & Tele have to offer in this aspect & Fender made it happen with the Player II iteration. Neat.

Adjusto price

Fender's Adjusto-matic (Japan) Jazzmaster is now available at Swee Lee ($1,999). This guitar was last mentioned here on September 2023. I was interested in this guitar due to its no-frills bridge but that price is a deal breaker. Something with a simple bridge system / assembly should cost less, yes?

Pic: Fender Japan

Offsetting September

Besides the Squier Paranormal Rascal bass, Fender Japan has two other offset models this September which we should know of. This 30" scale length Jaguar bass you see above is the signature model for Mike Kerr (Royal Blood). I don't know him, of course. I have a soft spot for offset basses, especially the scaled down ones but this being a signature offering, it's just visual fodder in the mean time. Expect a S2K + listing for this if it ever makes its way here.

I have no idea what the big deal is with this tune-o-matic / stop tail Jazzmaster, really. First time seeing an offset with dual humbuckers & a non-whammy bridge?

A similar take was done to the Jaguar; equally Japanese but back in 1995, nobody cared because Japanese Fenders were less accessible to the rest of the world (especially State-side) unless your dealer has a special arrangement to bring those in.

Fast forward 2011, Fender's Blacktop Series simplified the HH Jaguar in terms of the electronics & look at how close this was to the aforementioned Japanese HH Jazzmaster. 

At this point in time, it's interesting to see how the Japanese Fenders are being made available outside Japan & Fender has no issues with these being in competition with the American / Mexican counterparts. Prices for Fenders are going up so having a slightly more competitively priced alternative in the guise of the Japanese iteration, with on-par quality compared to the Americans, helps push sales. People are not buying some Fenders but they are buying other Fenders which are still Fenders so in the end, Fender still wins. Get it?

Pics: Fender Japan / Kurnia / G-list

Palyers' Jazz

The Acoustasonic Jazzmaster joins the Player Series (Mexico), so it's now more 'affordable'. Yes, this is one of those Jazzmasters that's not sporting the traditional Jazzmaster headstock. Wait... is it the only  iteration that's not doing so? Anyway, this will be about $1.6K judging from the current Player Series Acoustasonic pricing (Tele / Strat). 

Pic: Fender

Junior appearances

Fender Japan Junior models are now available at Swee Lee. Here are the breakdown of prices:

• Stratocaster: $1,499
• Telecaster: $1,499
• Jazzmaster: $1,549
• Jazz bass: $1,549

I'm doing a re-think in the mean time with regards to the purchase of any one of these models. A shorter-scaled Jazzmaster? But the Jaguar is already a shorter-scaled offset model with no compromise in body size. Shorter-scaled Jazz bass? Same thing - the Mustang bass is already a shorter-scaled offset bass. Shorter-scaled Strat / Tele? You won't get the exact snap of the standard 25.5" versions. Hmm...

Pic: Gearnews

Selling: Jazzmaster (SOLD)

For immediate clearance - my Fender American Performer Jazzmaster. This finish is referred to as Penny. I'm gravitating towards the Jaguar, I just prefer the scale length, so this one is better off with a new owner. The vibrato arm & other accessories are still in a sealed plastic pack you see there. I'm dealing with my final bout of unemployment & medical review so thanks in advance for your support.

• Fender American Performer Jazzmaster (bag, COA & accessories included)
• Condition: 9/10
• Self-collect: CCK / Yew Tee mrt station
• Confirmation / query: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• No reservations / trades
• Final price: $1,400

Offset FSRs

 I've never been distracted by Squiers this much. These FSR Classic Vibe offset models are something.

I think I'm quite a sucker for block inlays in a Jaguar  ($719) / Jazzmaster ($729). They are just likeable quirks to me. These are of course available at Swee Lee in the mean time. Again, those prices are potential deal breakers (for me especially) but guitar prices are trending upwards these days & they are gonna get more 'unreasonable' soon. For that kind of prices, we could get a Japanese guitar in a relatively good condition. Decisions, decisions...

Pics: Music Radar

Modern re-string

Had been spending time with my offsets lately, this one got the most play time.

This isn't an upgrade but just testing to see the benefits of a less resistant set of string saddles. Yes, these helped. Yes, these promote a comfortable hand placement on the bridge. Yes, the strings stayed in place due to the notch / slit. FYI, the Chinese Modern Player JM was equipped with a tune-o-matic type bridge, not the traditional Fender offset version. This is the wrong bridge type if you often whammy, if you don't then it's good. Nothing expensive, this roller version is a Chinese product that works. 

I also like the Seymour Duncan Phat Cats in this guitar. I thought these would be closer to the P-90s in its strict translation but they sound humbucker-esque instead, very suitable for heavy, distorted stuff.

GHS 9s for this one. Old packaging means it's a leftover pack with the freshness still in tact. I believe this was from a June 2020 purchase. 

New Affinity (2)

Following the release of the new Affinity series Squier models recently, there is a current dissent in cyberspace pertaining to the Jazzmaster. Fans are unhappy Squier did not include the Jazzmaster vibrato bridge system & opting for the Strat-type version instead. However, this version is already available in the American Performer series. The Affinity is just a reproduction in this case. I think some people fail to understand Squier is going for variety here. The traditional Jazzmaster design has already been covered by the Classic Vibe take. So in the Squier range now we have Jazzmaster models featuring 4 bridge types; Tune-o-matic, Strat-type vibrato, fixed bridge & the traditional Jazzmaster design. Isn't it good that Squier covered all the bases instead of just offering one bridge type? Hmm...

Pics: Music Radar / Guitar World

Acoustasonic JM

This was basically in all my guitar-related news feeds yesterday - Fender's new Acoustasonic in Jazzmaster form. The fact that the Acoustasonic is now offered in a third iteration implies a certain degree of popularity which is making the manufacturer happy $$$. In any case, the JM version is the first to offer a humbucker & it's a Tim Shaw product so it adds significance to tone belief. It is also equipped with an internal body sensor pickup that captures all your taps & knocks on the body making it a good percussive segue in addition to being a normal guitar. The irony here is that, players prefer to hear the hollow resonance of the acoustic body when it is given this treatment compared to this not-so-solid / not-so-hollow design.

I noted the missed opportunity for the Acoustasonic to truly fly the Jazzmaster flag as that headstock design (L) is quite off the mark compared to the traditional Jazzmaster outilne (R). In fact, that headstock is more Strat-ish & we note the iteration before the Jazzmaster was the Stratocaster version.

I am still not interested in any of the Acoustasonic models not that it isn't a genius hybrid combining the best of both acoustic & solid body voicings but to begin with, the price is excessive. The instrument is also a niche appeal, you would not ditch every acoustic & solid body instruments you own just to embrace this hybrid design. I'm leaving you with this clip of Ola's off tangent belief of what the Acoustasonic JM should be. Have a good midweek, everyone.

Pics: Fender International

All that (faux) jazz

I talked to someone a few days ago regarding having good single coil tones in the neck position. I specified a beefy & rather treble-ish response. If there's any P-90 in mind, maybe that learned person could rattle some recommendations. His outright response was that P-90s won't give that kind of tone in the neck. They tend to mud-out for that wooly tone which is the reason why Gibson favour them in their early hollow bodies. He was right.

I have no issues with P-90s in the bridge but in the neck position, it needs more bite for solos. My best reference for a P-90 neck tone along this requirement would be my Seymour Duncan Phat Cat. This pickup isn't quite a P-90 but it's very close to something else which I could not pin-point until this morning.

This morning was a morning with my Jazzmaster (above - American Performer Jazzmaster). This is the kind of single coil tone I favour; thick & treble inclined. It doesn't wool-out for that Les Paul-esque woman tone pioneered by a certain Eric. Nothing jazzy transpired this morning. Instead, I'm still after that crunchy tap tone which I believe only a single coil could champion. How about the standard, Strat single coil, wouldn't that solve everything? Not for me; it's twang excessive. I'm moving away from that tone but still staying in the non-humbucking territory. 

Rosy jazz

This is a limited edition model, I'm not hoping in any way that it gets here. That all dark neck you see there is a rosewood affair, we can correctly refer to this as a rosewood neck. Unlike the common confusion where a rosewood fretboard is referenced as a rosewood neck. The guitar in question is the Fender American Pro Series Jazzmaster with that special edition neck. OK, won't dwell on it too much since there's a chance it won't make it to the stores. 

The good performer

Beginning April on a good note. I actually purchased this one two weeks ago, was in no hurry to update. Gave it a good go before saying something. Well, it's time to say something.

This guitar is the Fender American Performer Jazzmaster. This pinkish, burgundy-ish finish here is called penny. Whatever it is, it's a welcomed variation. As you've known by now, the American Performer is new for 2019 & we are glad to see the instruments from this range available by the first quarter this year. I remember waiting for a new release by a certain manufacturer to only be available here after eight months into the year. That was bad. 

This is how the rear looks like- that back plate cover is so Strat-ish. I have always wanted a JM without the traditional JM bridge appointments. In addition to having limited replacement spares out there for that type of bridge, I feel that the entire design somehow inhibits resonance. The whammy is a wobbler instead of manifesting wide vibrato changes. I'd rather not have it there, I'm willing to settle for any efficient alternative. I nearly bought an American Special version that featured a tune-o-matic type assembly but on that fateful day when I set out to buy it, it was sold off. 

So come late 2018 when Fender announced this addition to the American Performer series, I had set my mind on buying it after a very close G&L Doheny consideration- it's about the price. 

Performance notes:

• The guitar is slightly heavier than the Strat owing to that offset design. Wonderful sustain from this one.
• With reference to my other JM (the Chinese Modern Player), the neck here feels a little slimmer & fast runs are a joy. It might be down to the fact that the American Performer has a thinner satin finish as opposed to the Modern Player's glossed out affair.
• The pickups- these are the highlight. The Yosemite models fitted in all American Performer series, are new. You'd expect the Texas Special to be brought over from the American Special but hey, that wouldn't justify the slight price hike here, would it? Regardless of the 'upgrade' politics, these Yosemites aren't vintage but sure as heck could be dialled to sound like it; an overwound-ish type of vintage take which is definitely awesome sounding. I also like the fact that they can handle gobs of gain/ distortion without sounding muffled. Cleans, it might be due to the wider JM pickup dimensions, things sound fat & warm. This might allude to why it's called a Jazzmaster to begin with. Thank you, Fender, for excluding those excessive, semi-confusing JM control circuits. It's a straight up 3-way selector here ala Gibson.
• The not so pleasant encounter remains to be the protruding action adjustment screws at the string saddles. This is expected as the bridge in its entirety is the traditional type, no modern niceties to address comfort. It might not bother those of us who exercise demure right hand movements but personally, in black metal mode, the right palm suffers. 

To end it all folks, let's take a look at the evolution of things in this segment of the Fender camp. What started as the sub-$1K H1 series are now the $1.5K-ish AP series. In the course of about 15 years, prices went up this much. On the manufacturer's end, they justify the price difference by saying upgrades happened along the way & that involved more money which were then passed on to the buyers. At our end, we see the changes that happened, some were uncalled for & defied the spirit of affordability. Mind you, the series started as Fender's affordable take on an American made version. As time passes, affordability here is subjective & slowly being removed from the series' marketing philosophy. 

In any case, I'd like to say that the American Performer series are good instrument after playing them in person. The price-feature worthiness remain personal.

All that jazz

I finally managed to sit down & discover what the new Fender American Professional Jazzmaster (OK, not that new since it debuted @ January 2018) has to offer. I would like to pre-empt readers out there that this is not a formal appraisal of the instrument but a documented impression more like it. On that note, I make no apologies for being personal with certain perspectives.

Thumbs up to the QC standards of an American Pro instrument. I expected no less than the American Standard bearings & this Jazzmaster did not disappoint. The immediate feel was very impressive; flawless, so to speak. Volume & tone controls were smooth & functional, ditto the tuners. The darn pitfall here is the 3-way selector which was super stiff in the neck selection but no issues with the midway & bridge options. I'm pretty sure this is just a little glitch but it bothered me excessively as I constantly needed to toggle the pickup options for adequate tonal evaluations but I was hampered in this aspect. Bummer.

Moving on to the pickups- the other let down. I'm rather surprised with how praiseworthy these are deemed to be in established gear literature & online references. Having heard them in person, they sound nasal even under the slightest hint of drive. I feel they are only outstanding in clean mode but we know how the Strat clean is the standard to beat. Certainly not recommended for those who thrive under lots of gain/ drive. It's certainly not an amp issue because I played it through two amps just to confirm how trashy things are & I wasn't proven wrong.

My take- the American Professional Jazzmaster received some fanfare when it debuted this year. A less confusing electronics layout, functional bridge features & pickups wound to manifest contemporary tones were the key upgrades. I still couldn't get over the fact that the tone let me down because this guitar was shortlisted as a possible year-end acquisition for me. I would urge you to check out the Japanese version first before committing to this American. The Japanese is still sticking to the traditional Jazzmaster formula but it's in my opinion a more honest rendition of a Jazzmaster. Mind you, there's at least a $900 difference between the two so some thinking & an informed decision is due. 

So all that jazz comes to nought. At least for me. 

Pink jazz

New for Fender's Japan offering. Want. Checks pocket. 😓

Of bridges

The Fender American Pro Jaguar & Jazzmaster received a feature refinement in 2017 with the addition of a 'new' bridge which isn't new. Seen above is the aforementioned bridge which is clearly visible at the manufacturer's website.

The hardware in question is actually the Mustang bridge which retrofits into the Jaguar/ Jazzmaster  readily due to identical measurements.

As you can see, the original Jaguar bridge (right)  features saddles which do not have a dedicated string slot unlike the Mustang's (left). Players with a dedicated bending technique often face the frustration of having their strings dislodged & causing unwanted tuning issues during play. This is a DIY 'upgrade' if you wish to avoid such contentions, simply purchase the Mustang bridge (available at TYMC by the way) & do a swap over. Done. 

Anniversary JM

Commemorating its 60th Anniversary, Fender has a trio of limited edition Jazzmasters for grabs, beginning with this '58...

Classic...

And the triple. Limited edition stuff so may not be available here. Just looking, then.

Squier 2017: Offsetting

We're still in offset fever as Squier revealed its 2017 listing. This is the most affordable Jazzmaster
 by the manufacturer, an Affinity model. 👍

A little above the tier, we have this Mustang in HH format. Apparently targetted at distortion fiends hence the humbucker format.

Jazzmaster Deluxe- nothing new as Squier has the Vintage Mod versions currently running which is quite well-received. 

Squier is doing the right thing by supplementing its Fender releases. Late 2016 we saw the Mexican offsets being released followed by the American Pro models which will be officially unveiled at Winter NAMM 2017. Now we have a range of offsets by Squier in case your pockets are not deep enough to join in the fray. Both Fender & Squier are enticing the buyers away from the usual Strat & Tele offerings not that they ran out of ideas but they are cleverly telling the new generation of guitar dweebs out there, hey, we have some other models going as well. For frustrated players like me, we had always wanted a reputable range of offsets in the market which didn't happen in the '90s, let alone the turn of the century. Offsets could be had from the Japanese market which wasn't well supplemented in terms of online presence as well as dealers here due to distributorship issues. Things are looking good in this camp 👌