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Author
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Topic: jazzmaster questions
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On the Guest List Posts: 13
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 13, 2004 05:58 PM
  
i just received an 82 fender jazzmaster that my granddad has had since it was new. i don't know if its got any huge value, but the sentimental value is enough to make me want to learn to play. my questions are, he played nothing but country on it, and i'll be playing a pretty good range, from blues to some metal for my own amusement. what i'm wondering is, what might be some good pickups (humbuckers) that'll fit this guitar for a better low-end, and crisper high end?
i don't need phenomenal gain, just more dynamics than the stock p/u's give. or am i looking the wrong direction? for now, i'm just playing thru an arion headset type practice amp, but i've heard it thru a vibrolux and a fender twin, and it suits older country style picking a lot more than more modern songs call for it seems. should i look into a wider range set of pots? also, i need to learn how to adjust the bridge sections, as the strings don't space correctly when placed in the grooves they're meant to.some TLC will come first, then the upgrades, i just want to start checking out options now. any help is greatly appreciated!IP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 1459
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted June 13, 2004 06:01 PM
If I was putting 2 versatile humbuckers in a guitar, I'd get for the bridge a Seymour Duncan JB and for the neck a Seymour Duncan '59.IP: Logged |
On the Guest List Posts: 13
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 13, 2004 06:46 PM
would a pearly gates bridge have any advantages over a jb? or would it be too close to the 59 in tones and get muddled?
would i gain much from coil splitting either or both? too many thoughts!!!IP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 226
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted June 13, 2004 07:43 PM
Hey Steve,
New, the Jazzmasters are going for around $12 or $1300.00, and that's from discount stores like musicians friend. I've seen used ones for a little less, but not much, still around $1100.00 or so. Reviews I've read rate it a 5 star and people who like the "surf" sound absolutely love this guitar. Personally, for the sake of it's value in money AND sentiment, I would not change a thing. The bridge can be fine tuned by a good shop as is explained in the review posted below. One of the best features of the guitar seems to be it's ability to stay in tune when using the trem bar. The pickups (unless changed already) should be the big "soap bar" single coils and I'm not sure you could replace them with Hums that would fit without modification or leaving a gap around them AND, if you were willing to live with the gap, the pole pieces probably wouldn't line up with the strings. This is just a guess from looking at the size and spacing of the soap bars vs. humbuckers.
Here are the links
This one is a '62 re-issue http://www.1800instruments.com/archive/ghGuitar08_2.htm
and these are the new ones. Once you get to the page, click on the link for "reviews" http://www.wwbw.com/Fender--62-Jazzmaster-i56623.music?t=4#tab
Hope this helps.
See yaIP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 537
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted June 13, 2004 08:09 PM
Hey, you have to ask yourself wheather or not you can live with all that infernal humming and buzzing the JM pups make. I replaced the single-coils in my Tele for that reason.If you want a better top-end in a humbucker, I'd go with Dearmond Goldtones, or even better, some of those Gretsch Filtertron pups. IP: Logged |
On the Guest List Posts: 13
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 14, 2004 01:20 PM
thx for the link mustang...i had no idea it would be that valuable! i am going to try it for a while, of course. i may just be surprised, and drop thoughts of altering it...a good tune up i won't be able to avoid though...for the little bit of unamped picking i've done, the trem doesn't seem to affect the tune much, i have brand new gibson flatwounds on it right now, still breaking in. the factory single PU's are still in it, and probably will stay there, since it has more than just sentimental value obviously...and if that many ppl love them, i'm willing to give it a whirl!
kitt, i appreciate it...i may (if i can learn enough to be worth it) see about building a guitar, and i'll keep those in mind. i am also a car gearhead, and i bench build cars as much as instrument setups...you should have heard me when i was drumming!
appreciate the help guys!
IP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 226
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted June 14, 2004 04:50 PM
Hey Rodie,
Glad to help, I have a lot of time on my hands.
Another thing that might help get a beefier tone without too much alteration is a larger low end string guage and of course pumping a little distortion through it. If it is anything like my Mustang it sounds like crap un-amped. Very tinny and toy like. But these gutiars have been used for everything from country to surf to rock and punk.
Anyway, larger string guage usually only requires filing the nut and the bridge saddles. There are probably some "hot rod" Soapbar pickups out there somewhere too that you could look into. Changing pickups is not a problem, in my opinion, as long as you don't alter the body to do it. I just meant that you have a 22 year old, fairly valuable guitar and should leave the body alone to retain it's value. Anything you do change, keep the old part! Collectors will like that you have it if you ever do decide to get rid of it.
I'm an old gearhead too. I used to do some "fantasy" engine building with a computer program I had and I can't tell you how many "dream" cars I've built over the years.
See yaIP: Logged |
On the Guest List Posts: 13
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 14, 2004 05:14 PM
yeah, anything i upgrade, i hold on to the old parts. thats why i have 3 factory dodge and 1 factory pontiac car radios in my pile o' crap...i'm about to look around for some upped soapbars...i pondered the heavier strings a bit yesterday, whilst picking a little waiting for my hotwatt headphone amp to show up (it came today)...its not anything special, but it beats not having any volume or effects, and i don't have to "turn that damn thing down!!!"
*new guys-musicians friend-arion hotwatt-$30*
i guess i'll need to see fender about new switches and pots, mine are noisy and the rhythm/treble switch at the top cuts out with the slightest bump. of the double side sweep knobs at the top, the rear doesn't do anything and the front cuts my volume, so i'm not sure yet what they're meant for...
and no worries, stang my friend, the body will not be touched!IP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 226
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted June 14, 2004 08:26 PM
Hey Rodie,
Here's another place you might want to go:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html#jazzmast
It will take you through the history of the Jazzmaster, (and most other fender guitars). You can even go to a page that goes step by step through the guts and all of an old Jazzmaster.
See ya
IP: Logged |
On the Guest List Posts: 13
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted June 15, 2004 02:30 PM
wow...this guitar is older than i thought...my understanding was that he bought it new in 82...i'm gonna go look harder for some info....thanks for the link!update! i ran numbers, it seems to be a 67 jazzmaster according to the serial...no wonder the switches are poppy! hehe, sorry for the uninformed info i gave guys...the pic in that link is exactly what mine looks like, right down to the pull tab on the accesory box lid in the case...yeah, my case is orange lined as well...my jazz has more wear on it than the one pictured though... one more update, upon deeper research, it appears to be probably early 66, has white binding but still has pearl dots and kluson tuners...*blink* talk about misunderstanding! hey stang, thanks for the kick in the pants...i needed to know this stuff!
[This message has been edited by rodie (edited June 15, 2004).] [This message has been edited by rodie (edited June 15, 2004).] IP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 1362
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted June 15, 2004 05:05 PM
ooo. vintage is nice. I've got a vintage '62IP: Logged |
Band Member Posts: 226
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted June 15, 2004 05:28 PM
We do our best.IP: Logged | |
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