Elitism is all perspective. In 1985, I bought a 1985 Fender Contemporary Squier Strat, Japanese made, for $300. At the time it was a cheap guitar. In fact, it was being discontinued cause they really weren’t wanted. Today a stock one goes for $700 on eBay because Japanese made is “superior”. Uh, really? What changed? Only the perception. It’s still a cheaper model, but I love mine and still own it. Not because it’s “collectible”, but because I enjoy playing it, it feels great in my hands, and I remember how hard I worked that summer while in college to save the money to buy it.
Good video. It's odd but I see elitism a lot with people who buy cheaper guitars and bag on the people and guitars that maybe higher in price. And you are right it's based on fragile ego.
These types of suggestive opinions go both ways. It’s the Hey You wasting money on that, then when you have money, it’s the this is better than that cheaper thing. Both the wrong and both are right.😅 same thing goes in audio file world or automotive world. People think something is better just because they think it is. If you let someone they will sell you speaker wire that’s $150+ a linear foot. 😅
I see way more folks talking up cheap gear & making fun of people that have high end gear. I have both & are of the opinion you usually get what you pay for. If you’re taking shots at people with nice gear or saying your “x” is just as good you’re either coping or letting jealousy get the best of you. I’m sorry but I’ve played lots of Squier Jazzmasters; none of them were even close to my main JM which is an American Original. That’s not to say they’re bad guitars but you get what you pay for. Yes there are deals out there but they are the exception not the rule. Edit: I would never say anything rude to someone playing inexpensive gear. My issue is when they start being rude because they’re biased against high end gear.
@@donewithmodernlife I agree with you 100%, I think a lot of why people say things like that and do things like that is because of insecurities. But that's not our problem.
Ha I have a 80s Squier Strat that I love and just bought a classic vibe jazzmaster that plays great. I had never played a jazzmaster and picked one up and just loved how it played and didn’t know enough to worry about it. Play what you like don’t worry about it not that many people even care anyway.
I wish I still had my Mexican Strat, I learned to play on, from the 90’s. My favorite guitar I own is my Squier Jag, and I usually play on a 6120! That jazzy sounds great!!!
Thanks for watching!!! Ah yes, the one that got away. Have you searched for something similar on Reverb? And I wanna try a Squier Jag! I haven’t played a Jag before so it would be my first time. Appreciate the kind words!
@@coffeefoxx my old strat , I beat up, took apart and have now idea what happened to the parts. I only had one guitar for years and it was my gretsch 6120, but over the last couple of years I ventured into assembling a jazzmaster and a tele. After that I got hooked on the Fender type guitars. I bought a CV 70’s squier jag earlier this year, out of the box it was pretty good. I did change pickups, tremolo and locking tuners and my nephew set it up and it’s an absolute dream. I can’t put the Jag down, and even for being a big guy the short scale is very comfortable. I have a feeling you will dig a jag!
I completely agree with you. I spend alot of time on guitar forums where people have opinions of whats good and whats not good. From my experiences trying many different guitars. Just try shit out. Dont listen to what people say about feel or sound on an instrument. Its all subjective. I could say the neck is too big and chunky or the pickups are too dark. However you might not experience that at all. Try what you want to try and play what you like to play.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing your feelings! We definitely align here. I've always had a problem with hearing anyone put down things other people love; regardless of how much it costs. I'm actually in the process of making a video talking about how all of that differs from purists. Really appreciate you!!!
Man, these days I am on a bunch of forums and Discords about gear. The latest pedals, vintage amps and nicest PRS guitars. It's all a discussion about diminishing returns and how much more you can pay for smaller and smaller differences. It's definitely a hobby and interest to optimize to your own taste and learn the preferences and tastes of others. When I was young, my guitarist friend that I looked up to just had one guitar: a Gibson SG. OK, not a cheap guitar, but kinda mid water guitar these days. But he just played on that and did everything on it. So that's what I did when I bought my first strat. Just played it and it was all about the music. I had no idea about radius, scale length or fret size. Now I've bought and sold some gear the last 5 or so years and back to just play "what I have" and focus on the music more than the gear. I still think tonewood makes a difference, but just not for me. Love the look and sound of Jazzmasters but the offset feels alien to me when sitting down and trying them, pushing the neck very far away from me. Maybe I should try a reverse body one haha.
@@AlmostGrewMyHair dude your comment is amazing. You summed up exactly what I’m internally feeling about guitar hobbies these days. I’ve spent so much time and energy researching, where it could’ve been spent on playing music. That’s what it’s all about. It’s like researching the best hiking trails from your hotel in a city, and never stepping foot outside. Thanks again for watching - I truly appreciate it!!!
I buy, collect, and sell vintage guitars. Not all vintage guitars are great. I have a 1985 E series, made in Japan Squier Strat that was bought new, and it is every bit as good as my 1960 slab board Strat. A good guitar is a good guitar no matter where it's built, or what it costs. If you like it, that is all that matters.
I’m a Jazzmaster guy, been playing them for 30 years now, and you my friend have one of the best looking black JM’s I’ve ever seen. The matching headstock & gold guard are 🤌. This is also the best sounding demo of the noiseless pickups I’ve heard so far. They usually sound thin & extremely bright but yours are great. Just bright enough to be chimey but fat enough to sound good distorted. Edit: that Spark is impressive. I’ve been looking for something small to take on vacations/travel but that still sounds good. Definitely going to check these out.
This is a great video. I recently tried a gold foil p-bass and to my surprise after previously seeing multiple bad reviews of it, it was the best bass I’ve ever played, and one of the best looking imo. A great lesson in trying everything before saying anything about it.
I don't see it, calling on Fender's shit isn't putting you as a musician or as a person down. That guy Mike you mentioned as a reference when it comes to Jazzmaster stuff covered the ultra on his channel and addressed the issue with the bridge, how it's insane that they used a bridge more rounded than the fretboard AT THE NUT when it's a compound radius and it gets flatter as you go down, so you can't really set it up correctly (you can play it, mind you, it just won't play as nicely as it should). If you can work around it or don't mind, good for you, enjoy your guitar. It's just a damn shame Fender has the gall to sell a top of the line production item like this with such disregard for detail. Then, some people will go on about how that's not a real Jazzmaster 'cause it doesn't have a rhythm circuit, but that's not elitism either, those are purists. Squiers have rhythm circuits and are appreciated in the community, even (if not specially) modded variants like the J. Mascis with a TOM instead of a floating bridge, which then some people replace for a rolling bridge with a matching radius, but that's a whole other thing. Those are way cheaper, but have "the sauce" or whatever, tick the boxes, pass the vibe check, makes their hearts sing, whatever. The American Performer doesn't have rhythm circuit nor a Jazzmaster trem&bridge, they put a 6-screw Strat bridge on it, as if it was a Paranormal series or something. That's meant to piss the fans off, like it or now, and again it's not about the money.
Well said! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch, and write this comment. I agree with you on your points! There's a major difference between quality control issues, build design preferences, purists and elitists, hands down. I think the major difference is always whether those preferences & purists look down upon those who don't find major issues with those stated above. In all the videos I've watched of Mike @Puisheen, he's not once made me feel as though he's an elitist. He's someone who states what he sees, feels and hears through his expertise. I love what you said in your comment, "if you can work around it, or don't mind, good for you, enjoy your guitar" - I believe that's the essence of what's often times missing in any community, and you laid it out perfectly. Thanks again for your really well thought out comment - I hope others see it!
1. It's the internet, and nothing will ever escape criticism. Don't forget - the loudest voices are usually vocal minorities. Most normal people just don't care enough to engage in discourse. 2. If we're talking anti-elitism, I was kind of expecting to see a video championing something like a cheap Squier or maybe even a Japanese or Korean made jazz-master style guitar lol, not a friggin $2k guitar. Otherwise, yeah sure good points. It's true that there are lots of negative voices in the world, but it's also our choice as to whether we tune into them. Too much internet is bad for anyone!
Thank you!!!! I think everything in life is so divided. Good or bad. There’s so little room for nuance in lots of peoples minds. I think everyone should be empowered to love what they love. Regardless of what it costs. Appreciate you watching!
i have not! i'm not 100% sure that i won't, though - i've heard incredible things about a mastery, but have just been loving this as is. have you played on a mastery before? what are your thoughts? how will/should it affect the ultra's playability? thanks for watching!!!!
I have a friend who works at Fender and I was able to order it direct! It was either that or find someone to refinish it here and I didn’t wanna go through that whole process lol
I disagree with the review part, i think its like the same analogy you used with the restraunt. if *all* the reviews say that a guitar is flawed or bad, then steer clear, but if only a few are bad, then take it with a grain of salt. locking yourself into "reputable sources" puts you in that echo chamber of only taking in one review. That review might complain about quality control, but then that might just be a rouge one that slipped through and doesn't affect the whole line. multiple sources will always be more unbias than one or two imo. that being said the rest of the video is cracking, keep it up man
@@hiroprotagonitis oh you’d be surprised! It’s not about the cost, it’s more about people putting things down because it’s not to their spec likings (vintage, better bridge, etc).
@@coffeefoxx i get that then, a tool is a tool, and art is art. these things are allowed to change and still exist, especially with all the alternatives around at different price points these days still, squier vm/cv > though lool
It’s never a waste if you can afford it and it makes you happy. I agree that you won’t be a better guitarist just because you have a $2,000 guitar but there’s no point in judging someone for having expensive tastes.
Absolutely. Expensive does not equal good/great. Everything is subjective. I’ve played incredibly amazing guitars, and they were cheap. I’ve played super expensive ones, and I didn’t like a thing about them. My issue isn’t concerning cost, it’s more about people putting others down for their personal feelings. Appreciate you watching!
I’ve been playing longer than some of you have been alive. If I want to spend $3k on a guitar that’s my business. I’ve played the gigs, paid the dues & frankly thinking you have any right to tell someone how to spend their own money is pretty arrogant. People can play whatever makes them happy. This gatekeeping attitude is childish.
Jazzmaster people are genuinely the most elitist ones out there. You're video is so backwards, you're literally using an fender brand expensive guitar. Who are you kidding???
You're have elitism too thinking your jazzmaster is the best guitar out there. In fact, In fact, jazzmasters has the fewest players. Kurt Cobain - mustang, Radiohead - telecasters, strats, metallica - jackson, esp, les pauls, ac/dc - gibson sg, ledzep - les pauls, jpetrucci- music man, ibanez. Besides, you will sound and look ridiculous playing a metallica song in a jazzmaster. Actually, i would advise you beginners not to buy a jazzmaster as your first guitar otherwise you will be like coffee fox here - deluded.
beautifully said.. and played!
Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate your kind words, and you watching & listening. Hope you’re doing well!
Elitism is all perspective. In 1985, I bought a 1985 Fender Contemporary Squier Strat, Japanese made, for $300. At the time it was a cheap guitar. In fact, it was being discontinued cause they really weren’t wanted. Today a stock one goes for $700 on eBay because Japanese made is “superior”. Uh, really? What changed? Only the perception. It’s still a cheaper model, but I love mine and still own it. Not because it’s “collectible”, but because I enjoy playing it, it feels great in my hands, and I remember how hard I worked that summer while in college to save the money to buy it.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this
My mates 90s japanese strat is awesome. Feels amazing in the hand.
@@lukenovotny5638 i have got to try a made in japan! thank you for watching!
Good video. It's odd but I see elitism a lot with people who buy cheaper guitars and bag on the people and guitars that maybe higher in price. And you are right it's based on fragile ego.
These types of suggestive opinions go both ways. It’s the Hey You wasting money on that, then when you have money, it’s the this is better than that cheaper thing. Both the wrong and both are right.😅 same thing goes in audio file world or automotive world. People think something is better just because they think it is. If you let someone they will sell you speaker wire that’s $150+ a linear foot. 😅
@@cconnon1912 nope
I see way more folks talking up cheap gear & making fun of people that have high end gear. I have both & are of the opinion you usually get what you pay for. If you’re taking shots at people with nice gear or saying your “x” is just as good you’re either coping or letting jealousy get the best of you. I’m sorry but I’ve played lots of Squier Jazzmasters; none of them were even close to my main JM which is an American Original. That’s not to say they’re bad guitars but you get what you pay for. Yes there are deals out there but they are the exception not the rule.
Edit: I would never say anything rude to someone playing inexpensive gear. My issue is when they start being rude because they’re biased against high end gear.
@@donewithmodernlife I agree with you 100%, I think a lot of why people say things like that and do things like that is because of insecurities. But that's not our problem.
Ha I have a 80s Squier Strat that I love and just bought a classic vibe jazzmaster that plays great. I had never played a jazzmaster and picked one up and just loved how it played and didn’t know enough to worry about it. Play what you like don’t worry about it not that many people even care anyway.
1,000% !!! The best guitar in the world, is the one you want to play. Love it!!! TY for watching!
I wish I still had my Mexican Strat, I learned to play on, from the 90’s.
My favorite guitar I own is my Squier Jag, and I usually play on a 6120!
That jazzy sounds great!!!
Thanks for watching!!! Ah yes, the one that got away. Have you searched for something similar on Reverb? And I wanna try a Squier Jag! I haven’t played a Jag before so it would be my first time. Appreciate the kind words!
@@coffeefoxx my old strat , I beat up, took apart and have now idea what happened to the parts.
I only had one guitar for years and it was my gretsch 6120, but over the last couple of years I ventured into assembling a jazzmaster and a tele.
After that I got hooked on the Fender type guitars.
I bought a CV 70’s squier jag earlier this year, out of the box it was pretty good.
I did change pickups, tremolo and locking tuners and my nephew set it up and it’s an absolute dream.
I can’t put the Jag down, and even for being a big guy the short scale is very comfortable.
I have a feeling you will dig a jag!
I completely agree with you. I spend alot of time on guitar forums where people have opinions of whats good and whats not good. From my experiences trying many different guitars. Just try shit out. Dont listen to what people say about feel or sound on an instrument. Its all subjective. I could say the neck is too big and chunky or the pickups are too dark. However you might not experience that at all.
Try what you want to try and play what you like to play.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing your feelings! We definitely align here. I've always had a problem with hearing anyone put down things other people love; regardless of how much it costs. I'm actually in the process of making a video talking about how all of that differs from purists. Really appreciate you!!!
Man, these days I am on a bunch of forums and Discords about gear. The latest pedals, vintage amps and nicest PRS guitars.
It's all a discussion about diminishing returns and how much more you can pay for smaller and smaller differences. It's definitely a hobby and interest to optimize to your own taste and learn the preferences and tastes of others.
When I was young, my guitarist friend that I looked up to just had one guitar: a Gibson SG. OK, not a cheap guitar, but kinda mid water guitar these days. But he just played on that and did everything on it. So that's what I did when I bought my first strat. Just played it and it was all about the music. I had no idea about radius, scale length or fret size.
Now I've bought and sold some gear the last 5 or so years and back to just play "what I have" and focus on the music more than the gear.
I still think tonewood makes a difference, but just not for me.
Love the look and sound of Jazzmasters but the offset feels alien to me when sitting down and trying them, pushing the neck very far away from me. Maybe I should try a reverse body one haha.
@@AlmostGrewMyHair dude your comment is amazing. You summed up exactly what I’m internally feeling about guitar hobbies these days. I’ve spent so much time and energy researching, where it could’ve been spent on playing music. That’s what it’s all about. It’s like researching the best hiking trails from your hotel in a city, and never stepping foot outside.
Thanks again for watching - I truly appreciate it!!!
My mains are two Troy Van Leeuwen JMs. MIM. I love them. Great straight in, lovely with pedals. Good video
Love it! I never played either, but have heard nothing but great things. Appreciate you watching!!!
This is so refreshing 🙌
Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate your kind words.
I buy, collect, and sell vintage guitars. Not all vintage guitars are great. I have a 1985 E series, made in Japan Squier Strat that was bought new, and it is every bit as good as my 1960 slab board Strat. A good guitar is a good guitar no matter where it's built, or what it costs. If you like it, that is all that matters.
Thank you so much for watching and for this! I love it so much, man. Hope all is well with you!
I’m a Jazzmaster guy, been playing them for 30 years now, and you my friend have one of the best looking black JM’s I’ve ever seen. The matching headstock & gold guard are 🤌.
This is also the best sounding demo of the noiseless pickups I’ve heard so far. They usually sound thin & extremely bright but yours are great. Just bright enough to be chimey but fat enough to sound good distorted.
Edit: that Spark is impressive. I’ve been looking for something small to take on vacations/travel but that still sounds good. Definitely going to check these out.
Thank you so much!!! This means a lot to me. Really appreciate your kind words!!!
I adore the rhythm sounds of a Jazzmaster. Those pickups are hard to beat. Clean and articulate, but warm too.
Love your positive speech. Your excellent guitar playing is proof that you don't need to play a red special to make killer queen sound great.
@@penitentmanmedia4726 thank you so much!!! I really appreciate you watching, and your kind words. Brian May is my all time favorite ❤️
This is a great video. I recently tried a gold foil p-bass and to my surprise after previously seeing multiple bad reviews of it, it was the best bass I’ve ever played, and one of the best looking imo. A great lesson in trying everything before saying anything about it.
YES! I've been burned so many times. That's where social media lacks - it's truly impossible to virtually try something out like a guitar
.... You... only have 74 subscribers? How? This is a very well made video. You made your 75th in me
Thank you so much for your kind words!! I truly appreciate you watching and commenting. I’m stoked for this community together!!
@@coffeefoxx 102nd over here!
@@ProDoc18omg thank you SO MUCH!!!!
great clean video man! KEEP GOING!
Thank you! Means a lot coming from you.
I agree with you completely! And Squier rocks :)
❣️🎸 love it!! Thank you for watching!!!
such a great video! love this
Thank you so much, man!!! Really appreciate you watching!
the best guitar is the one you have homie, shred on
Absolutely!! Thank you for watching.
I don't see it, calling on Fender's shit isn't putting you as a musician or as a person down. That guy Mike you mentioned as a reference when it comes to Jazzmaster stuff covered the ultra on his channel and addressed the issue with the bridge, how it's insane that they used a bridge more rounded than the fretboard AT THE NUT when it's a compound radius and it gets flatter as you go down, so you can't really set it up correctly (you can play it, mind you, it just won't play as nicely as it should). If you can work around it or don't mind, good for you, enjoy your guitar. It's just a damn shame Fender has the gall to sell a top of the line production item like this with such disregard for detail.
Then, some people will go on about how that's not a real Jazzmaster 'cause it doesn't have a rhythm circuit, but that's not elitism either, those are purists. Squiers have rhythm circuits and are appreciated in the community, even (if not specially) modded variants like the J. Mascis with a TOM instead of a floating bridge, which then some people replace for a rolling bridge with a matching radius, but that's a whole other thing. Those are way cheaper, but have "the sauce" or whatever, tick the boxes, pass the vibe check, makes their hearts sing, whatever. The American Performer doesn't have rhythm circuit nor a Jazzmaster trem&bridge, they put a 6-screw Strat bridge on it, as if it was a Paranormal series or something. That's meant to piss the fans off, like it or now, and again it's not about the money.
Well said! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch, and write this comment. I agree with you on your points!
There's a major difference between quality control issues, build design preferences, purists and elitists, hands down.
I think the major difference is always whether those preferences & purists look down upon those who don't find major issues with those stated above.
In all the videos I've watched of Mike @Puisheen, he's not once made me feel as though he's an elitist. He's someone who states what he sees, feels and hears through his expertise.
I love what you said in your comment, "if you can work around it, or don't mind, good for you, enjoy your guitar"
- I believe that's the essence of what's often times missing in any community, and you laid it out perfectly.
Thanks again for your really well thought out comment - I hope others see it!
1. It's the internet, and nothing will ever escape criticism. Don't forget - the loudest voices are usually vocal minorities. Most normal people just don't care enough to engage in discourse.
2. If we're talking anti-elitism, I was kind of expecting to see a video championing something like a cheap Squier or maybe even a Japanese or Korean made jazz-master style guitar lol, not a friggin $2k guitar.
Otherwise, yeah sure good points. It's true that there are lots of negative voices in the world, but it's also our choice as to whether we tune into them. Too much internet is bad for anyone!
You’re right. Thank you for watching
Giving a negative review about peoples negative reviews..lol..good looking jazzmaster!
Thank you!!!! I think everything in life is so divided. Good or bad. There’s so little room for nuance in lots of peoples minds. I think everyone should be empowered to love what they love. Regardless of what it costs. Appreciate you watching!
Did you replace the ultra bridge with the mastery? The only hold up I have in buying this guitar is the bridge.
i have not! i'm not 100% sure that i won't, though - i've heard incredible things about a mastery, but have just been loving this as is. have you played on a mastery before? what are your thoughts? how will/should it affect the ultra's playability?
thanks for watching!!!!
Would love to hear some Johnny Marr and J Mascis on your Jazzmaster..
Any songs in particular? I’ll learn em! Thank you for watching!
@@coffeefoxx “This Charming Man” by The Smiths (Marr’s olde band), “Out There” by Dinousaur Jr. (J Mascis’ band).. Both popular songs by them..
Or do something nobody has done before Johnny was the guitar player for Electronic!! Anything from them would be cool. PS blink-182 sound great!!
You got it!! Thank you so much for watching!
@@rickg8015 I'd like to see him struggle through the intro of "Girl Afraid".
I play my squier strat more than my usa strat. the neck just feels better to me. Both great guitars tho
all that truly matters is that you love playing something, right!? love it!
Never seen that finish on an ultra before, are they still available?
Hey there! Thanks for watching! I have a friend who works at Fender so I was able to ask for a custom color scheme. Appreciate you!!
@@coffeefoxx It is badass and exactly what I would ask for :)
Nice playing, where did you get it with the matching headstock?
I have a friend who works at Fender and I was able to order it direct! It was either that or find someone to refinish it here and I didn’t wanna go through that whole process lol
Nice! I would love an all black JM ultra! Jealous
100%
Thanks for watching!!!
@@coffeefoxx for sure bro! looking to get something with p90s but never meshed with fender. Might check out reverend. Sick JM btw
Thank you so much, Diego! Keep me posted on what you end up getting.
I play squiers. They are awesome.
They sure are! Hell yeah! Keep playing ❤
SEXY GUITAR!
🥹♥️🥳
I disagree with the review part, i think its like the same analogy you used with the restraunt. if *all* the reviews say that a guitar is flawed or bad, then steer clear, but if only a few are bad, then take it with a grain of salt. locking yourself into "reputable sources" puts you in that echo chamber of only taking in one review. That review might complain about quality control, but then that might just be a rouge one that slipped through and doesn't affect the whole line. multiple sources will always be more unbias than one or two imo. that being said the rest of the video is cracking, keep it up man
Well said! Really appreciate it. Thank you for this, and for watching. You’re totally right!
Who tf is elitist about a $2k USD guitar, lawyers?
@@hiroprotagonitis oh you’d be surprised! It’s not about the cost, it’s more about people putting things down because it’s not to their spec likings (vintage, better bridge, etc).
@@coffeefoxx i get that then, a tool is a tool, and art is art. these things are allowed to change and still exist, especially with all the alternatives around at different price points these days
still, squier vm/cv > though lool
Don’t waste your money on expensive stuff. It doesn’t make you play any better, or learn any faster.
It’s never a waste if you can afford it and it makes you happy. I agree that you won’t be a better guitarist just because you have a $2,000 guitar but there’s no point in judging someone for having expensive tastes.
Absolutely. Expensive does not equal good/great. Everything is subjective. I’ve played incredibly amazing guitars, and they were cheap. I’ve played super expensive ones, and I didn’t like a thing about them. My issue isn’t concerning cost, it’s more about people putting others down for their personal feelings. Appreciate you watching!
@@coffeefoxx completly agreed
I’ve been playing longer than some of you have been alive. If I want to spend $3k on a guitar that’s my business. I’ve played the gigs, paid the dues & frankly thinking you have any right to tell someone how to spend their own money is pretty arrogant. People can play whatever makes them happy. This gatekeeping attitude is childish.
Jazzmaster people are genuinely the most elitist ones out there. You're video is so backwards, you're literally using an fender brand expensive guitar. Who are you kidding???
You're have elitism too thinking your jazzmaster is the best guitar out there. In fact, In fact, jazzmasters has the fewest players. Kurt Cobain - mustang, Radiohead - telecasters, strats, metallica - jackson, esp, les pauls, ac/dc - gibson sg, ledzep - les pauls, jpetrucci- music man, ibanez. Besides, you will sound and look ridiculous playing a metallica song in a jazzmaster. Actually, i would advise you beginners not to buy a jazzmaster as your first guitar otherwise you will be like coffee fox here - deluded.
Bad take