JAZZMASTER REVIEW #7: Fender American Original Jazzmaster
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2022
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Time for another Jazzmaster Review! This time we'll be having a look at the American Original '60s Jazzmaster in all its glory, discussing specs and some great things about the model, as well as a few minor complaints.
www.fender.com/en-US/electric... 
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Big thanks to Carlos for allowing me to use his guitar for this review, and for trusting me to do the work. After posting, I had a loooong think about my recommendation here based on my discoveries after the vid had already been filmed. The issues I found were disappointing to say the least, but my conclusion is this:
I've worked on scores of AO '60s Jazzmasters and this is the very first one on which I have seen roached pickup terminals, a loose ground, and a broken tone cap. This particular guitar should have been given a lot more QC time at the factory--arguably, it should not have left in this condition--but overall my experience with the line has been positive. The rec stays, but as always the maxim "buyer beware" applies.
UPDATE: finally got the story on this. Carlos bought this direct from Fender with a coupon, so it came straight from the factory! No dealer involved. Yeesh!
I bought that exact Jazzmaster. Same color etc. had to send it back after my luthier looked at for setup. The neck was all jacked. Was super disappointed with the quality for a USA fender.
I own this same model and color. My ground wire was also not connected and there was chunk of finish missing on the treble side of the neck right by the nut. Still my favorite fender I have ever played but the QC bug might be an issue.
I should also add, I own a Jazzmaster exclusively from what I learned in this channel.
Gotta say, your review of this guitar felt obligatory more than anything, like you didn't really have much to say about it or get excited over. It's really turned me off getting an American Original and I'm now leaning towards a Pro II more than anything, am I wrong?
@Paul Will yeah I prefer a slimmer neck, and the neck shape seems to be what makes or breaks this guitar for a lot of people, thanks for the insight
Every piece of content you put out is a treat, Mike. Thank you!!
Great Review Mike! I truly appreciate it and learn so much from them. Will I retain it all I hope so, but that's why we have this cool thing called channels and Video lists. I can always come back a watch again. Stay safe, healthy, and happy yourself.
Hey Mike, I just wanted to say that you are, by far, the best at demonstrating what a guitar can do when you play during reviews, regardless of it being an offset, tele, acoustic, les paul, whatever....you are the best at it! Your wealth of knowledge of jazzmasters has help me so much modifying my own guitar and I'm really grateful your channel exists. Thanks so much!
Exceedingly kind of you, Kieran! Thanks for watching. Means the world!
Over the years I have had over a dozen Jazzmasters: American, Mexican, and Japanese-made, modern, as well as a couple of vintage ones. My American Original JM will forever be my desert island guitar. The chunkier neck feels very comfortable to me and overall the guitar is a true joy to play. I have installed a set of Lollar JM pickups and it blows my mind every day how good it sounds.
What do the lollars do for you that the pv65s might not? I love my AO, and considering upgrading the pups soon!
@@alexanderwall9265 the PV65 sound a little brittle and thin compared to other brands. Lollar pickups have higher output and sound fuller to me. They excel especially in the lower mids. I am mostly a neck pickup player, so this is a very important feature to me. They’re also A LOT more responsive to picking dynamics and work much better with the pedals I have in my current setup (it is astonishing how much better Lollars are than PV65 with a Bluesbreaker-style overdrive for example). I also have an AVRI65 with Novak pickups and that guitar is a close second. If you’re looking for vintage-correct tones, Novaks are probably a hair better than Lollar, but it ultimately boils down to personal preference: Lollar are a little overwound and that’s what ultimately made me like their sound more.
@@adearcang Thank you for taking the time for the thoughtful reply! Absolutely leaning towards the Lollars.
@@adearcang did u install the regular “lollar jazzmaster” pickups? I know they have a few jazzmaster type pickup sets (p-90’s, regal etc).
I’m debating installing the lollar jazzmaster pickups vs the black bobbin lollars
@@court2488 Yes, regular Lollar JM pickups
Yes! Been waiting for more installments in this series
Gotta say, you are one THOROUGH RUclipsr! I don’t think I’ve seen such thoughtful, thorough, knowledgeable and concise reviews! (I’m currently obsessed by the thought of owning a Jazzmaster, hence why I’m here 😊). Thanks for your time 👍
Appreciate this a lot, Paul!
Paul! I love your channel! Welcome to the offset tribe! You may find you play your strat a lot less (and your new JM a lot more).
@@MatthewSpringer Well thank you Matthew, appreciated 👍
Hi Mike! Just as a feedback: You alone awoke my interest in offsets over the last couple of months. ... and I simple like your point of view and how you explain your struggle in a fair manner. Your playing is honestly awesome. Greetings from Germany.
I have a fairly early example of the AO I bought in 2018 & has become my main guitar. Mine is a stellar example, great craftsmanship & very well made. I changed the pickups to some custom wound jobs & installed Mastery everything, even string tree. She’s starting to age beautifully now, really showing wear as the finish is very thin on mine. I prefer fat necks so this one is perfect for me, if anything I wish it were a little beefier at the nut. I did take some fine grit sandpaper to the back of the neck to get rid of the top layer of very sticky nitro.
After years of one Jazzmaster after another I finally found my forever JM (my Pancake if you will.) I also have a Ranaldo sig that got the same Mastery treatment & will soon be getting some of the Cunife Wide Range pickups Fender is making again.
Thanks for the awesome content Mike, I love this channel. It’s so nice to have a place just for us offset nerds on RUclips.
love the demos but I am here for the riffs! Love the tone, mood and overall vibes of the riff you choose to use 🍻
The Lilac tail was so cute! Excellent video and riffs .
Love to see you reviewing this guitar! I own this specific model and upgraded the bridge and trem to mastery. The original trem is pretty good but I found the mastery more smooth. Now it is the perfect guitar for me. The neck is a medium C and I used to play slim necks. But now I've fully adapted to more chunky necks and even found slim necks uncomfortable. The board, the bindings, and the finish are beautiful. I considered the lollar pickups but the PV65 are amazing already - they are slightly brighter. The guitar stays in tune very well. Interested to see how fender's new vintage line jazzmaster will compare to the original 60s!
Dig the heavy vs clean riffs towards the end.
Really highlights the dynamics of your playing, but also the capes of the Jazzy.
The problems you describe are exactly what I like in a jazzmaster. Fat neck? Check. Low output pickups? Check. Bridge high off the body? Makes for the perfect jazzmaster for me. I went the squier classic vibe route and put in the 65 pure vintage pickups and musikraft neck. Couldn't be happier with my jazzmaster
That’s me too. I feel the lower output pickups gives you more range with gain stacking
@@dorianford6227 exactly. I like the pedals too add their flavor rather than the pickups dominating to get one sound. That's what humbuckers and p90s are for. Different for each player
@@larrykhulmann6262 spot on yeah. I am a classic fuzz user and with low output pickups you get a wider shade of tones on the volume knob
@@dorianford6227 me too. I love to control the fuzz into a glassy clean to mild glassy overdrive with the volume knob on my guitar
@@larrykhulmann6262 yeah man also if need to get louder that’s what a “BOOST” pedal is for lol.
At long last I have been waiting ages for this
Thanks Mike. Been playing that very guitar for 2 years and was hoping to see this review! Took me awhile to adapt to the fat neck, but besides that it’s an amazing guitar. Absolutely love the neck pick up
oooh.... a tease for what's coming out...
Nice review, btw.
It's the only JM I own currently and I love it
I’m quickly becoming a JM fan, and your channel helps!
Worth sticking around for the jam at the end 👌 Explosions in the Sky vibes- love it!
Been waiting for this review, was wondering why there wasn't one on your channel a week ago
Another banger by Mike!! Keep it up, you are the go to offset guy!
Love it! Great to see another JM review from you Mike! I’m wondering how big a difference there is between the MX Vintera and this model, how many upgrades you’d need to do to bring it to the same level…
my learning guitar is a burgundy mist squire jazzmaster affinity that I painted the pickgaurd black... I'm in love with offsets already!
Loved the video, and LOVED the end jam!!! The sound of that fuzz is amazing. If you ever need a topic for a video: I would love to hear your philosophy on how to deal with fuzzes in band contexts. I always have trouble with placing it, and with how to make it audible.
That's a very interesting idea! Thanks!
Awesome review!
Great video, I wish I'd seen this back in 2019, when I autoshimmed my jazzie and spent months trying to set it up. 😂😂
Awesome vid as always - your guitar reviews & demos are 2nd to none (some dreamy tones & playing too). Would love to know your technique for holding the pick while you finger pick (seamless switching like at 0:26). That was some Brian Setzer level wizardry there. :)
I hope I'm not calling myself out for not knowing some great song, but that kind of doomy finger pickin' jam around the 15 - 16 minute mark was one of the coolest riffs I've heard in a while.
It’s like folk mixed with Soundgarden! I don’t know if this is a song or not though. This is probably my favourite thing Mike has ever played on his channel.
I also wanted to know as well! It seems to be in drop tuning. I tried to replicate it in standard but it doesn’t sound correct
I say! What a spanking tune!
Great vid, cheers. On my AO jazz you can rotate the volume and tone silver labels to align with one’s fingertip. I also rotated knobs to align with 10 visible to the player as you talk of. My vibrato arm doesn’t bottom out which is a bonus. Love the neck, love the frets, love the weight. Set up well and stays in tune with original bridge. BUT, I agree with you re: pickups. Leaning towards Antiquity II’s from all the shootouts I’ve heard via some kind folk on OST forum. Will be adding additional shielding when changing pups.
FINALLY ANOTHER JAZZMASTER REVIEW! I would even watch them if you did one every day.
I bought one of these used from GC in super rough shape. I still love it, it’s my favorite JM!
my dream guitar right down to the color as well. one day i’ll be able to afford this beauty.
I’m just here to advocate for a Mike Adams Signature JM and to say that mike is one of the best human beings in the world! ❤
Hey Mike great video! hope to see you review the new Squier cv70's jazzmaster next!
Magnificent playing on that intro!
1:00 You for real Puisheen ?!
We love your review xDD even Hour long ahaha
But for sure this must be a lot of work recording and editing !
Thank you so much, always nice to chill will listening/watching your video
That Pro II was SO much work. Thanks for sticking with me!
Awesome video. I have one of these, but the journey to get it was interesting to say the least... One got sent back due to neck binding finish chips (tonnes of these seem to have that!) The replacement turned up with yet more finish chips, a soldering iron burned pickup, a hair in the clearcoat finish, extra pickguard holes where the drill "missed" and a neck pocket crack. The 3rd replacement had the same issues to a lesser extent. 4th one I bought online had more neck binding chipping and a bent tuner. 5th one that I kept was second hand, has some chips (nothing like the new ones), headstock paint overspray and a bit of a factory paint touch up by the pocket, which I accepted due to the big price difference new vs second hand, but I think the QC in Fender needs a tighten. Interestingly, the new line of AVii also seems to have the neck chips, which is sad.
I had to come back and watch this episode again after being traumatized by the new American Vintage II review! Ah, a return to quality. I love your reviews and teachings.
All hail the riff king. Monster chords at 21:30 sound like Helms Alee covering The Space Between by Dave Matthews and I couldn't be more here for it.
Love a bound neck with dot inlays, I always think block & bound necks on offsets is a bit too much for my taste 👌🏼👌🏼 Great review Mike & it’s a treat to see your lovely face looking so Happy healthy & safe 😁
I snagged the OW one in 2020 to support my local store during lockdown…..loved it so much,that I sold my original 66 JM…..
Mike As always, Nice Work! WooF!
Maaaaan I’m not even 2 minutes into it but I had to just say that intro playing bit sounded phenomenal tone-wise and playing-wise!
I'm VERY happy with that intro bit! I have about 35 minutes of footage of me just working out what I wanted to play. Came together nicely. You rule, Eric!
That intro was fire 🔥
Very interesting! I've been considering this model for a while but haven't had a chance to play it. The neck is right up my alley. The pickups it's hard to say, but I really liked the SD Antiquity II's that appear in another video. The neck angle is the tough part. I'd want to be using heavier strings, flat or nickle and don't want to get into using reverse shims.
Bro, you out here getting absolutely jacked, hell yeah!
lol thank you Rob
Love that jazzy intro!
you know mike, I LOVE the way you play. I don't know how you approach your tone and technique and some people prefer not to talk about it (which is a-ok). But I'd love if you did a tone dialing video on your pedalboard and maybe another one to get into how you play (I noticed you use chords with lots of distortion in many cases). Maybe other people would like it as well. Stay safe bearded man
Dan, thank you so much! I'll give that some thought. Good ideas all around!
I’ve been furiously refreshing the Fender site since you dropped hints a new one may be coming. We now absolutely require your thoughts on the Vintage II. That red one is screaming my name.
I tried so hard to get my hands on one before they dropped. No dice! Hopefully soon!
I have the ice blue metallic version and love it! You and I differ on our opinions of the neck, as I love a thicc neck and a fat nut! But we definitely agree on the pickups. I’m planning on swapping them for the Novak JM- fat and JM-V that you recommended in another video.
I have this guitar. I got lucky on weight at just under 7.75 lbs. I upgraded mine with a full Mastery bridge and tremolo system. Also dumped the pick ups and went with aged Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Antiquity 2s. These are not cheap upgrades. Only defect on mine is a little decal lift/bubbling. Other than that, throw some strap locks and shielding on it and you have a beast.
I hear you on the string tension. My Nash T63, for which I have a machined bridge for use with a Bigsby (which is not installed at the moment) also has holes for top loading and that's how I string it. Low tension, and SLINKY. My Novo has a Mastery and as buttery smooth as the neck is it does require more effort to bend (both strung with 10-46).
I always adore these. I know it's unlikely since it was a small UK only run, but if you ever run across a Squire Mus-Uar, that would be a fun review.
I've always wanted to try one of those but they're so hard to come by in the States
mike never fails to make me want to pick up my guitar
Man I love this channel, I have a blacktop JM and a Classic player but was hardly using them because of various issues. Now I'm learning to fix them from you and they are both back in rotation. One question, the bridge humbucker in the Blacktop kinda sucked so I got a humbucker sized P90 in bridge (not authentic but at least closer), it sounds way harsher than sound clips would suggest. Should I switch to a 250K or 300K tone pot?
I think it's probably a 1K in there? Also the neck pickup sounds devine, if I change pots will it mess that up?
That last piece was BEAUTIFUL
Can’t wait for your review of the new Vintage ll Jazzmaster.
I can't wait to get my hands on one!
Amazing review as always.. If rumors are true, i’ll cross my fingers for a new review soon! I’m dying for an avri62 but i think i’ll wait a bit just in case…
Another great review! I have to say that bridge height, and how taut it would make the strings would be a problem for me too. I’ve seen reports that even the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster has that angled neck pocket. A guy on a popular offset forum had got one that caused the bridge to have to sit over an inch above the pickguard!
AN INCH! Holy crap, that's way, way too high! Ack!
I quite like the angled neck pocket and the high bridge. I saw that forum post too and thought it quite exaggerated.
@@Steven-kj7xq Yeah, I would agree that there was probably more the guy in the forum post could do to address it. He kinda gave up without following advice that was given.
I think the neck pocket angle is a good idea in theory but it looks like a few of them didn’t come out so good. But if you do like a high bridge in your setup, it’s not a bad thing.
I'd love to see you get your hands on a TVL Jazzmaster or even a JMJM Squier and see what you think of them!
Great review, Mike!! That's a beautiful guitar. I can wholeheartedly recommend EP customs Fat Jazzmaster pickups...they are the best I've ever played.
I have some EP Jazzmaster pickups but nothing to throw them in! (YET)
@@Puisheen I’m sure you’ll find something to put them in! I would love to hear your thoughts on them when you do!
Guitar looks awesome and you made it sound great. Not having played it, my only complaint is that it doesn’t have 22 frets. Thanks for the review!
Hey Mike great review as usual.
I have a Squier CV Jag and it great after a set up (I followed your formula). Looking at a Jazzmaster next.
Just a thought have you reviewed the Noventa Jazzmaster?
Not yet!
Nice playing at the end of the video.
Lots of great sounds in this video but the outro jam was incredible.
Hi Mike! Great channel & inspiring playing! I really appreciate your insight on Leo Fender's most fascinating creations. When adding a rhythm circuit to a CME Player Jazzmaster, is it possible to retain the series/parallel function of the four-way blade in the lead circuit? And if so, where would one find a proper wiring diagram to do so? Thank you!
Yep, it shouldn't be too tough to make them work together. I'm sure there's a good wiring diagram out there but I don't have one at the ready
Thanks for an awesome review! Can you explain a bit more how shortening the arm will make it stand out more? I would expect the opposite, that it would go deeper. Completely agree about the pickups being weak, what about replacing them with SD Antiquity I? Will they sound more like the AVRI62? About the knobs, I think they do it so that you don't see the screw, because the screw is located at 10; I also hate it : ) Finally, what's your view on the narrow tall frets? -Keep up the good work!
Great review, can I ask where you stand on Nash JM63 guitars. They seem to have the lollars etc?
Thank's for your beautiful way to explain and play! (And please come in Italy!! So I could take you my JM TVL oxblood...😉)
I own this one and yes, the neck is not thin, but not too big either. Not bigger than my baja telecaster and not so big that I can’t play it.
Everything else is pretty perfect as far as what I wanted from this high-end guitar: perfect clean sounds, quality everywhere and a lot of soul. I only swapped the bridge for a Mastery and the pickguard is now mint green. Plays and looks like a dream guitar, can’t recommend enough.
Mint would definitely look nicer on this guitar than modern tort, but I'm picky about tort!
It took me a minute when I heard PV65, thinking you were saying Peavey 65.
Interestingly, I have an AO Jag and I absolutely do not have this problem with the tremelo arm. It bottoms out on the pickguard at the tip of the arm. After watching all of your vids I def expected to encounter this issue.
Great video as always! Is it just me or do the pickups sound hotter than the usual Jazzmaster?
Great review! I had this one for a bit and decided to part with it (mostly the beefy bound neck) and grabbed a custom shop JM. Curious what your thoughts are on Chicago Special JM pickups?
I have a set! They're really nice-sounding pickups and if memory serves, Shelby had them modeled after his personal set of... was it '61? '63? I don't recall which year, but the pickups in his guitar--like this one--had the hotter pickup in the neck position. When I installed them I thought they sounded lovely, but I would probably switch the pickup positions the other way with the hot pickup in the bridge. Otherwise, if you can grab a set they'll have a really great, warm, classic sound. Thanks for reminding me what's lurking in my pickup drawer!
i’ve had my eye on this exact guitar for a while, in this exact finish. my only hang up is the price. being a poor kid with little money to her name makes american fenders a pipe dream at best. maybe one day i’ll be able to afford one, but for now i’ll keep dreaming of this guitar while playing and loving my cheap squiers.
I just got a MIJ traditional 60s jazzmaster, which I love but I feel I should of considered this as well🤔
Having both wouldn’t hurt🤷♂️
Those are some wonky issues you brought up at the end with the shielding and broken cap.
I do love the Ocean Turquoise! I have a Player Series P Bass in that color and I love looking at it.
Amazing review here! What's the name of the song you play around 4:00?
cheerz! 🤟
Great video! Can you please help me with what jazz master I should buy? A pro 2 or American original are out of my budget unfortunately. I'd love to get one with the rhythm circuit but it's not deal breaker. I'd like to buy a cheaper JM and get it set up well with aftermarket pickups etc. I basically just need a JM for professional use that's has the real jazz master sound - on a budget of €1000-€1500, hopefully a lot less though. any info would be greatly appreciated 👍
Agreed on the volume and tone knobs!! What the heck is that about?? Got my tech to fix that. Also switched up the tortoise shell pick guard for a pearl white one. Looks great on that sea foam green.
Great videos. I am tempted to order a Curtis novak tele pup for the bridge on my Troy Van Leewuen oxblood. Will it sound truly like a tele on the bride? And which tele sound would it sound like? Thanks for any info and or advice.
Considering my first ever Jazzmaster at the moment and your channel is just invaluable - thanks for all your advice! Having watched both this review and the American Pro II video today (and all the trem saga!), would it still be fair to say that the Pro II, though flawed, ending up exciting you more than the Original? Your reaction here seemed like the Original was maybe a bit vanilla? I'm not sure what to take away from all this really - AVRI or bust?? Or would you say generally that it pays to explore non-Fender Jazzmasters/partscasters for example, if one can't quite stretch to Custom Shop or AVRI? Any tips appreciated!
Great video. I would love for you to demo a Novo (JM Style) sometime. I always wonder if a guitar costing that much is really that much better than a fender. I modded a J Masics squire for p90s. It's my budget Novo.
Another great video, Mike! I know you put the EP pickups in the coke bottle jaguar but what do you like best for jazzies? I have the Wildwood 65 Jazzmaster in Aztec Gold. It has taken me a couple of years to reckon with neck but have grown to love it. Mine is a tad skinnier than the one in the demo though.
Haha...should have watched it all the way through for your recommendations.
Novak, Lollar, Antiquity, EP Custom, and At The Creamery are my usual go-tos. Big fan of each of these brands!
I have the same Wildwood Thinskin, my measures at .84-.94 and weighs in at 7.8 Lbs.
Would love to see a vintera Jazzmaster review!
Great review. I have the vintera jazzmaster for over a year and out int the jm-V and jm-fat you seems to love. Curious your thoughts on the historic compared to them
I have Historics in Artoo now and I have to say, I adore them. The bridge pickup especially is a little deeper but retains more of the Jazzmaster response. The OG Fat is still great, I love that pickup, but Pancake's getting a set of Historics soon.
@@Puisheen curious which of the historic sets you picked and why! We need Novak to sponsor you so you can do a full comparison haha
There are so many versions of the Jazzmaster and I hardly see any in the shops around town. Just a few Squiers here and there. I’ve never seen an American Jazzmaster in person since I first became interested a few years ago.
Any recommendations for a go to American made version to seek out? This was looking good until the thick neck comment. I prefer a thinner neck, prefer dots over block inlays, and would prefer a traditional rhythm circuit (otherwise I’d just try an Am Pro II).
that bend in the intro duuude
I got a new AO JM a few months ago. Mine had a damaged saddle height adjustment screw, and wouldn’t adjust past a certain point due to the thread being smashed.
I also noticed there was no ground wire installed in the trem cavity. I wouldn’t have even known to look for that if I hadn’t seen your AO Jag video beforehand.
Overall I still like it a lot. I planned to swap the bridge for a Staytrem anyway so I didn’t worry too much about the stock bridge, and wiring up an extra ground wire is easy.
Oh boy! That first issue sounds unpleasant, sorry you had to deal with that. The trem also wasn't grounded on this one, but they do that at the bridge with this model. I often add one just in case, but it isn't necessary with the bridge ground in place.
@@Puisheen I can understand that. Mine did have the bridge thimble ground so it was good to go on that department.
Hey!
Thanks for the great content - you were a hugr part in my acquiring my first jazzmaster a couple of months back!
Any chance of a review of the Squier 40th anniversary jazzmasters?
I bought the gold/Olympic white and it plays like a dream. The neck pocket is angled to such a degree that is set up with 9s. And that's by one of the better techs in DK. so yeah.
I'd love to get your thoughts on it. The only gripe with it so far is the trem arm being loose and the trem bottoming out. And the looming anxiety of how I'm gonna source a golden tremolo to upgrade with🙄
I'm limited to whatever comes to me for work, but I'd love to check out that model!
@@Puisheen I wish I could send you mine! Hope you get your hands on one before they run out of production.
My identical Jazzmaster has same issue with knobs, I wondered if it was intentional or a factory error as my MIJ Jazzmaster does not have this issue.
Love the videos. I’m starting to get the offset bug. Watch many vids and I’m torn between the Jag or Jazzmaster. What would you recommend? I really don’t want to go above 1k, in case in don’t bond with it. So looking at classic vibe. What would you recommend between the 70’s jag or 60’s jazz? Changing pickups, electronics etc isn’t an issue for me to do (was an electronic engineer). Any help would be MUCH appreciated!!!!
Both are killer. One significant difference is the Jag’s short scale neck. The jazz has that sound though. If possible try playing them at a shop and proceed from there.
I'll echo Biff here! If you can play both, I think the scale length is the biggest single deciding factor between them. If you're used to Strats and Teles, or you just like the overtones that come with the "standard" scale, go Jazzmaster. If you like a guitar that's more focused and "deeper" you might really like the Jag! Either model you mention would be a great start
Just got this model a few months ago, swapped the bridge for an American Pro bridge and the pickups for the Novak JM-V/JM-Fat combo. Love how it sounds, but my only gripe is how THICC the neck is. After a while it can get a bit uncomfortable depending on what I’m doing. Would you recommend a neck reshape or just shelling out for a new neck entirely?
Hmmm. I'd probably go with a replacement neck rather than altering the original IF you ever plan on selling it. But me? I've reshaped necks and still have the guitars, so have a good think about it and see which option seems best!
Hi Mike love your reviews of offsets. I was just wondering would you recommend between CV Jazzmaster or a CV Jaguar as first ever offset purchase
That's tricky because of the scale length difference--1.5" is a big change, so I would point to the other guitars you enjoy and use that as a reference, or simply play both and see which speaks to you more. If you like Strats and Teles the Jazzmaster will feel very similar, while the Jaguar might be more in line with your expectations if, for example, you're more used to playing Gibson scale guitars.
@@Puisheen thank you so much for the advice I have squier strat an Harley benton 335 copy so I think your right going to a shop an trying them both out is smart thing to do. I’m leaning to Jazzmaster as something about them is so cool
Am I halucinating or is that a Squier J Macsis in your guitar rack? You mentioned you may do review on it when you get your hands on one some day. Is the day coming close? Have the gods finally spoken?
Also great review!
I don’t think so-the vibrato on the Squier jmjm is closer to the bridge and that guitar’s vibrato looks like it is in the regular position. I’d also love to see a jmjm video.
I agree with you 100% Mike. I had the same turquoise guitar for about a year and then sold it and moved on. I didn’t like the neck and I didn’t like the pickups.
I purchased a Classic Vibe Jazzmaster just to see if I liked it! I did, so I sold it.
I was currently saving up for the American Pro 2!….now I’m confused as to whether to get this one.
Any help guys?
Is the neck thicker on this one over the Pro 2?
I have one of these. I put Novaks and an anodized guard on it and now it's noticeably hotter and sounds amazing and it's quieter than a strat. Personally I really love the radius and the neck and I don't have big hands either! I played an AO 60s tele neck that was similar just without the binding, the difference feeling exactly how you describe. The 62 tele reissues I thought the neck and spacing a bit too thin and narrow for me. Yet on a AV65 jaguar or an early 60s my friend owns I get along fine with the vintage radius, so it all depends. Unlike the AV65 Jaguar, because of the built in neck angle you discuss, the bridge on this model did not actually need to be replaced to get rid of buzzing, but I put an American pro staytrem copy on it (the newer one with the proper string spacing) with marginal improvement. It is stable even in E flat tuning with 10-48s, where the tension is easy on the fingers, and the action is perfect down the entire neck. I did do some fret end work in the first winter, which I find typical of Fender guitars. The neck finish on the AV65 series I think is slightly thinner, also less toner. But the AO I got is quite a bit lighter than the AV, which seems to be a trend. In short I think there is room for both vintage specs and custom shop influenced AO guitars with the flatter radius and thicker necks. Every review of the AO strats I've seen has been very positive.
For me, the fat neck is a huge selling point!
Have the identical guitar! No issues with the vibrato bottoming out on 11s
Oh, this has nothing to do with string gauge--totally different issue than the Pro II. This is about arm length, I believe, but I have to confirm rout depth on my other guitars to be sure