I'd be lying if I said there wasn't just a jazzmaster I found for sale that made me seriously consider buying it even though I absolutely do not need it hahaha
This is one of my favourite videos for a while. The Benson Preamp examples really showed how, like you say albeit at unity settings, certain sounds push certain guitars into incredible territory. The clean neck I also loved the strat (which surprised me), most of the rest I loved the Jazzmaster and when the Walrus pedal was on for the gain - wow the Jazzy was phenomenal in that setting (but that strat was great too) - the video showed how different they can be but also why both are great options. Really great examples and explanations throughout and was a lot of fun :)
As we have talked about a few times, we are in full agreement. The Benson and the strat neck pickup is one of my favorite combinations of all the options I have here, just perfect. The walrus and the jazzmaster however blew my mind, i was NOT expecting that! I also fully agree any potential buyers should try both and pick the one they feel more comfortable with... with a strat it's common to find a model with a humbucker in the bridge to beef things up a bit
@@AudiomoMusic oh absolutely yeah - my old guitar teacher had a HSS Strat and it could do pretty much everything if I'm honest - he was very minimalist he had that, a pacifica for gigs he didn't wanna take his favourite guitar to and a Musicman he got bought for his 40th birthday I think it was - dude could gig with one guitar, amp and a very small pedalboard and sound amazing - he knew how to dial a tone in and make the most of his (admittedly excellent and well chosen) gear.
This was on the the best comparison videos on RUclips. I also love that you rolled off all the extra ice-pick brightness from the Jazzmaster (or changed pots) for a fair comparison. Most other videos just leave the tone knob on the Jazzmaster at 10, but the more accurate comparison is to roll the tone knob down to match the strat, which is how most people are using them. Great job!
A Squier 40th anniversary Jazzmaster found me in a guitar shop and I haven't stopped playing it ever since. I'm using a BOSS GT-001 with a JBL Partybox 110 and my phone with the RE equalizer app. It sounds better than a Twin Reverb or Jazz Chorus amp. I love it and I can highly recommend it to everyone!
Thanks Nora I appreciate that, honestly it was just something I kinda improved for the video. I can make a quick lesson video about it if you want but that's the style of music I really dig and play the most
It really seems you can't go wrong with either. I like the JM a little more, but it might just be the appearance that I like. And I tend to like things that aren't so common.
So happy to hear your opinion on the trem , the jazzmaster trem is definitely the best and so smooth, my 62 jazzmaster stays in tune better than anything I have known
I have an American Pro Strat and Japanese Hybrid II Jazzmaster and agree with all of that Jim. The only thing I would add is that I think the Jazzmaster has some really cool harmonics that are apparent in the sound (I believe due to the sting length behind the bridge / vibrato system resonating?). I think this is associated with the ‘surfy’ sound, but I also feel like it adds a ton of character whatever I am playing (loud indie rock lead guitarist here) - Am I right? Really like the Strat for the chimey cleans though.
Hi, can I ask you what you think about the JM Hybrid II? I'm thinking of getting one, but there's not a lot of info online. Pros and Cons? Does it do surf guitar and vintage clean tones well?
Hey James I missed this one, the vibrato has a bit to do with it yes. I think part of the surf sound really can be attributed to that combined with the 1meg pots and the different pickup design. A complete accident from Leo to have it work out so well for that style of music but absolutely amazing how well it handles it due to having great high end frequencies as well as a bit more bottom end than a typical strat bridge pickup does
I also think it works the other way round. By that, I mean that the sound of the guitars they were using (designed and built as jazz guitars, adopted by surf bands) became associated with the surfy music just as much as the guitar sound ‘fit’ with the music (because that’s what they were using!) if that makes sense? As you say, a series of happy accidents!
@@marrzipan might not be the right person to ask, as it’s my first Jazzmaster so hard for me to say. The build quality is great. There is a good in-depth review on this channel. As mentioned above, the most noticeable thing to me is that it packs a bit more punch than the strat while still maintaining clarity, and the harmonics that I get coming through that aren’t there with my other guitars (that I attribute to the vibrato in my comment above). Whether it will give you ‘vintage’ cleans… I don’t know. I’d have to sit down with a bunch of Jazzmaster and do a fair comparison!
Hey Jim! Love your work mate, thanks for your vids. I love the sound and look of the jm, just yet to experience it with a band. In your experience, which do you think would sit best as rhythm in indie/soul mix with drums, bass, keys and lead (strat or HH tele)? Cheers!
Play that JM in the middle position and you will sit absolutely beautifully 90% of the time, for that extra 10% split between the neck pickup and bridge when the situation calls for it ( neck when the composition is a little less busy/full, bridge when you need to add a little bite ).
At least one final remark of the video is interesting - my Stratocaster sounds like a Jazzmaster - that's what I like and have always wanted: the sound of a Jazzmaster
What is that punk riff you play on both toward the end? It's on the tip of my tongue and I just can't recall what it is. Great, articulate review. Love the details and polish you put into this. I've got one of each of these and most def prefer my Jazzy.
@@AudiomoMusicyes! The Vandals! Thank you for playing it in your demo. You've got a new sub and a fan. Haha. Great song from a great album by a great band.
Yeah when you said the Vandals I got a laugh, I grew up on punk rock but when I heard Hocus Pocus I knew from an older family members records that was a Focus song. Funny enough if you ever buy that album, every other song on it is in a completely different style and I was caught really off guard expecting more super energetic rock haha
I now have finally a Strat... But I found out, that a Jazzmaster would have been the better Oppertunity for me. And I'm a bit on a Budget, so i can't just buy a Jazzmaster too... Any Ideas to make the Strat sound more like a Jazzmaster? Please HELP!! Thanks!❤❤❤
As well as EQ-ing, would adjustments to pick up heights, to compensate for differences, bring them closer together? Love the sound of both for sure! 🙂🙂🎸🎸
It would do a little bit, but the pickup design is different enough that you'd never really "nail" either of them outside of of course EQ being added after the fact. I find the strat to be much easier to mold than the jazzmaster when working in a mix but both are great indeed
Very intersting video, have only owned and played S style guitars, i have looked at the alternatives and tried a few in a shop, but they were just not for me. My preference these days due to my age i must have a slim wide radius neck, which rules out Fenders of any style. Thankfully other brands have looked at the Strats weak spots and improved them to a point that there are enough choices for most players.
Hard to make up my mind between the Jazzmaster on the bridge pickup and the Strat with that Benson preamp. I'm actually not a fan of the Strat until that preamp is used - too jangly without it.
once again, the Strat has its own unique voice which nothing else can get. The JM gets other tones too but not anything a Strat cant get without some Eqing but just like les paul vs strat. You can always get a strat close but you cant go the other way.
I agree, the strat really is the benchmark on many levels. The JM has some of it's own thing going on which is cool, but between the two if I have to pick it'll always be a strat.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Man that Jazzmaster keeps calling my name saying buy me; ones not enough buy three.
I'd be lying if I said there wasn't just a jazzmaster I found for sale that made me seriously consider buying it even though I absolutely do not need it hahaha
This is one of my favourite videos for a while. The Benson Preamp examples really showed how, like you say albeit at unity settings, certain sounds push certain guitars into incredible territory. The clean neck I also loved the strat (which surprised me), most of the rest I loved the Jazzmaster and when the Walrus pedal was on for the gain - wow the Jazzy was phenomenal in that setting (but that strat was great too) - the video showed how different they can be but also why both are great options. Really great examples and explanations throughout and was a lot of fun :)
As we have talked about a few times, we are in full agreement. The Benson and the strat neck pickup is one of my favorite combinations of all the options I have here, just perfect. The walrus and the jazzmaster however blew my mind, i was NOT expecting that! I also fully agree any potential buyers should try both and pick the one they feel more comfortable with... with a strat it's common to find a model with a humbucker in the bridge to beef things up a bit
@@AudiomoMusic oh absolutely yeah - my old guitar teacher had a HSS Strat and it could do pretty much everything if I'm honest - he was very minimalist he had that, a pacifica for gigs he didn't wanna take his favourite guitar to and a Musicman he got bought for his 40th birthday I think it was - dude could gig with one guitar, amp and a very small pedalboard and sound amazing - he knew how to dial a tone in and make the most of his (admittedly excellent and well chosen) gear.
This was on the the best comparison videos on RUclips. I also love that you rolled off all the extra ice-pick brightness from the Jazzmaster (or changed pots) for a fair comparison. Most other videos just leave the tone knob on the Jazzmaster at 10, but the more accurate comparison is to roll the tone knob down to match the strat, which is how most people are using them. Great job!
agreed, i've been trying to decide between the two and this vid is perfect!
Thanks guys I appreciate it and I’m happy you noticed I did that!
I was always a Strat guy. Im not saying I'm not still a Strat guy, but I now I also have 3 jazzmasters.
A Squier 40th anniversary Jazzmaster found me in a guitar shop and I haven't stopped playing it ever since. I'm using a BOSS GT-001 with a JBL Partybox 110 and my phone with the RE equalizer app. It sounds better than a Twin Reverb or Jazz Chorus amp. I love it and I can highly recommend it to everyone!
Best video on the web comparing these. Good stuff!
Wow, thanks! I always have fun with these kinds of videos Im happy it was useful for you
Great video Jim. Well thought out, some great info and points 👍🏾
Thanks 👍
Great video, esp. your playing. I just bought the Squire J Mascis JM and so far am loving it.
Fantastic, enjoy that guitar they are fun with gain!
what's the first riff that you played? i really like it :) also great video!!
Thanks Nora I appreciate that, honestly it was just something I kinda improved for the video. I can make a quick lesson video about it if you want but that's the style of music I really dig and play the most
@@AudiomoMusic yes please i would love a quick video lesson on the chords :)
I preferred the Jazzmaster overall. Makes me wanna have one!
Good demo, keep up the good work on your channel!
Thank you I appreciate that, and they are great just gotta find the right one and it may just stay with you for life like this one will for me
It really seems you can't go wrong with either. I like the JM a little more, but it might just be the appearance that I like. And I tend to like things that aren't so common.
So happy to hear your opinion on the trem , the jazzmaster trem is definitely the best and so smooth, my 62 jazzmaster stays in tune better than anything I have known
it is the best in the business, period. Jags and jazzmasters are truly the best vibrato guitars, they really nailed them from the start.
I have this same JM and would love to hear a comparison video with a Tele. You're capturing great stuff here. Way above average.
I have an American Pro Strat and Japanese Hybrid II Jazzmaster and agree with all of that Jim. The only thing I would add is that I think the Jazzmaster has some really cool harmonics that are apparent in the sound (I believe due to the sting length behind the bridge / vibrato system resonating?). I think this is associated with the ‘surfy’ sound, but I also feel like it adds a ton of character whatever I am playing (loud indie rock lead guitarist here) - Am I right? Really like the Strat for the chimey cleans though.
Hi, can I ask you what you think about the JM Hybrid II? I'm thinking of getting one, but there's not a lot of info online. Pros and Cons? Does it do surf guitar and vintage clean tones well?
Hey James I missed this one, the vibrato has a bit to do with it yes. I think part of the surf sound really can be attributed to that combined with the 1meg pots and the different pickup design. A complete accident from Leo to have it work out so well for that style of music but absolutely amazing how well it handles it due to having great high end frequencies as well as a bit more bottom end than a typical strat bridge pickup does
I also think it works the other way round. By that, I mean that the sound of the guitars they were using (designed and built as jazz guitars, adopted by surf bands) became associated with the surfy music just as much as the guitar sound ‘fit’ with the music (because that’s what they were using!) if that makes sense? As you say, a series of happy accidents!
@@marrzipan might not be the right person to ask, as it’s my first Jazzmaster so hard for me to say. The build quality is great. There is a good in-depth review on this channel. As mentioned above, the most noticeable thing to me is that it packs a bit more punch than the strat while still maintaining clarity, and the harmonics that I get coming through that aren’t there with my other guitars (that I attribute to the vibrato in my comment above). Whether it will give you ‘vintage’ cleans… I don’t know. I’d have to sit down with a bunch of Jazzmaster and do a fair comparison!
@@jameslord1 Thanks, much appreciated!
Hey Jim! Love your work mate, thanks for your vids. I love the sound and look of the jm, just yet to experience it with a band. In your experience, which do you think would sit best as rhythm in indie/soul mix with drums, bass, keys and lead (strat or HH tele)? Cheers!
Play that JM in the middle position and you will sit absolutely beautifully 90% of the time, for that extra 10% split between the neck pickup and bridge when the situation calls for it ( neck when the composition is a little less busy/full, bridge when you need to add a little bite ).
At least one final remark of the video is interesting - my Stratocaster sounds like a Jazzmaster - that's what I like and have always wanted: the sound of a Jazzmaster
What is that punk riff you play on both toward the end? It's on the tip of my tongue and I just can't recall what it is.
Great, articulate review. Love the details and polish you put into this.
I've got one of each of these and most def prefer my Jazzy.
That's "hocus pocus' one of the greatest songs ive ever heard. If i could get away with playing it everytime i did a review/comparison i would haha
@@AudiomoMusicyes! The Vandals! Thank you for playing it in your demo. You've got a new sub and a fan. Haha. Great song from a great album by a great band.
Actually just found out it was covered by The Vandals. Original was Focus.
Live and learn!
Yeah when you said the Vandals I got a laugh, I grew up on punk rock but when I heard Hocus Pocus I knew from an older family members records that was a Focus song. Funny enough if you ever buy that album, every other song on it is in a completely different style and I was caught really off guard expecting more super energetic rock haha
When I record I like to use my Jazzmaster for rhythm sounds and my strat for leads
It's a great way of going about it, Jazzmaster fills it up and the strat sits on top nicely.
Do you have the tabs or just the chords for the first song/lick you played? I really like the sound of that progression
i want to know too
I now have finally a Strat... But I found out, that a Jazzmaster would have been the better Oppertunity for me. And I'm a bit on a Budget, so i can't just buy a Jazzmaster too... Any Ideas to make the Strat sound more like a Jazzmaster?
Please HELP!!
Thanks!❤❤❤
As well as EQ-ing, would adjustments to pick up heights, to compensate for differences, bring them closer together? Love the sound of both for sure! 🙂🙂🎸🎸
It would do a little bit, but the pickup design is different enough that you'd never really "nail" either of them outside of of course EQ being added after the fact. I find the strat to be much easier to mold than the jazzmaster when working in a mix but both are great indeed
Very intersting video, have only owned and played S style guitars, i have looked at the alternatives
and tried a few in a shop, but they were just not for me.
My preference these days due to my age i must have a slim wide radius neck, which rules out Fenders
of any style.
Thankfully other brands have looked at the Strats weak spots and improved them to a point that there
are enough choices for most players.
That's the beauty of strats and teles, so many great builders that will offer whatever you want at this point neck shape and pickup configuration wise
For Neo Soul and RnB do you recommend the Jazz or the Strat or both?
neo soul either will work perfect, all about the amp for that kinda stuff it'll have a way bigger impact than these two guitars will
@@AudiomoMusic I have the Boss Katana Mk2. Can it cope with this stuff?
absolutely, I don't see why not just hit it with a little bit of on board spring reverb and use a clean fender based amp model
I only have a Squier Classic Vibes Jazzmaster. How can I easily make it sound more like a Stratocaster ?
EQ on the amp will get you there with the least amount of money put into it
Do you think the output level of the Jazzmaster pickups higher than the Stratocaster ?
For sure!
I'd like to get a Jazzmaster.
They are great guitars that can really mellow out as well with the rhythm circuit
Which models are these?
The jazzmaster is a 2012 american vintage 65, the strat is a 2022 fender japan takashi kato stratocaster
Hard to make up my mind between the Jazzmaster on the bridge pickup and the Strat with that Benson preamp. I'm actually not a fan of the Strat until that preamp is used - too jangly without it.
Yeah the right preamp with a bit of low end added in really brings the best out of a strat to be honest
Both awesome!
The guitar on the wall makes it look like you have horns.
It's fitting
The strat tone just has more, not that the jm isn't cool bc it sure is, just sounds stiffer to me.
The jazzmaster sounded better to me.
A little mud is what I like
once again, the Strat has its own unique voice which nothing else can get. The JM gets other tones too but not anything a Strat cant get without some Eqing but just like les paul vs strat. You can always get a strat close but you cant go the other way.
I agree, the strat really is the benchmark on many levels. The JM has some of it's own thing going on which is cool, but between the two if I have to pick it'll always be a strat.
strat
The strat is definitely more articulate...
But the Jazzmaster looks cooler! 😊
Jazzmasters have a low end clarity I dig. The low e string always sound tight.