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  #1  
Old 08-10-2017, 10:45 AM
BeerHunter BeerHunter is offline
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Default My Squire Jazzmaster doesn't sound like a Jazzmaster

Back in the 60's I played in an R&B group in Calgary. One of the members had a Fender Jazzmaster and I played in a bit. Had wonderful sound and easy to play.

Recently a Squire Jazzmaster cropped up for sale.I read the reviews on the guitar ad most seemed to be 3xtremely positive , comparing it to the 1960's version. The price was really good (about 1/3 that of a new one) so I grabbed it. I spent quit a bit of time investigating all the battery powered amps and finally decided on a Blackstar FLY 3.

This combo is perfectly suited to my needs (just playing around with back tracks) but the tone doesn't seem to match my friends through his Fender Tremolux amp.

I guess I'm wondering if if the amp can really make that much of a difference.

Txs
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Old 08-10-2017, 11:07 AM
Rodger Knox Rodger Knox is offline
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If one is a battery powered solid state amp and the other is a Fender tube amp, I'd say the amp cam make quite a difference.
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Old 08-10-2017, 01:08 PM
muscmp muscmp is offline
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i think you may be expecting too much from the guitar, and, possibly the combo of guitar and amp. not only that but how well do you think you can really remember the exact sound from so long ago.

a lot of people take those guitars and mod them with better pickups, etc. that ramps up the cost but may get you there.

play music!
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Old 08-10-2017, 01:22 PM
frankhond frankhond is offline
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The original jazzmaster pickups are likely to be quite different from todays cheap copies. It could be that the squire pups are simply single coils in larger plastic boxes, which would not give you that sound. You could try some higher end replacement pups that implement the original specs. This only makes sense if the guitar otherwise plays well and you want to keep it.
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Old 08-10-2017, 01:42 PM
paulp1960 paulp1960 is offline
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I have a Squier Vintage modified special telecaster which has a standard telecaster body and bridge pickup but a Jazzmaster neck and neck pickup.

The pickups are labelled "Duncan designed". The Jazzmaster neck pickup is constructed like a Jazzmaster pickup should be.

It sounds ok but I will replace the pickups with something better later on.

I suspect the amp is your main problem.
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Old 08-10-2017, 02:27 PM
FrankHudson FrankHudson is offline
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Hey I have that amp! I use it for low volume songwriting-duty strumming with an electric guitar. While the Fly3 is fine for what it is, no, it not going to sound like a nice full size Fender combo.

It's common for people to underestimate how much stuff outside the guitar itself impacts the sound of a solid-body electric guitar.
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Old 08-10-2017, 03:26 PM
Steel and wood Steel and wood is offline
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Right amp with the right settings will mostly get you there.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:23 PM
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Guitar, pickups, amp & speaker are really parts of a single instrument - in reverse order of importance to the final sound.
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Old 08-10-2017, 09:56 PM
BeerHunter BeerHunter is offline
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Thanks for the feed back. Since I'm not about to try opening for the Stones , guess I'll just carry on and enjoy what I've got. One day I'll upgrade the amp.
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Old 08-11-2017, 06:23 AM
ghostnote ghostnote is offline
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I agree with these guys. I have a Fly 3, and for what it's meant to be, it's a fun little amp with decent sound. But comparing it sound-wise to a Tremolux - yikes. A Tremolux is a great amp that almost anybody would love to own. I know I would. It's like comparing a skateboard to a Ferrari. So I would agree with you to enjoy it for what it is, and upgrade when you're ready.
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Old 08-11-2017, 01:23 PM
paulp1960 paulp1960 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeerHunter View Post
Thanks for the feed back. Since I'm not about to try opening for the Stones , guess I'll just carry on and enjoy what I've got. One day I'll upgrade the amp.
Hi, what is your guitar model? If it is the Squier Affinity Jazzmaster HH then it doesn't have Jazzmaster pickups. Instead it has 2 humbucker pickups.
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Old 08-11-2017, 02:00 PM
clintj clintj is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostnote View Post
I agree with these guys. I have a Fly 3, and for what it's meant to be, it's a fun little amp with decent sound. But comparing it sound-wise to a Tremolux - yikes. A Tremolux is a great amp that almost anybody would love to own. I know I would. It's like comparing a skateboard to a Ferrari. So I would agree with you to enjoy it for what it is, and upgrade when you're ready.
+1. Nothing sounds like a Fender amp with a Fender guitar, and a Tremolux is a very, very good sounding amp.

There's another good point here: of the guitar + amp combo, which one do you actually hear? The amp colors and shapes the sound from what the pickups produce into what your ear gets to enjoy.
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  #13  
Old 08-11-2017, 11:50 PM
BeerHunter BeerHunter is offline
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It's made in India and as far as I can tell from researching , it's the "Vintage Modified".
So what type of pickups does it have?
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  #14  
Old 08-12-2017, 05:24 AM
guitararmy guitararmy is offline
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Looking at the specs on your guitar, I suspect that the amp is making all of the difference. Can you try it out with the Fender amp?
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  #15  
Old 08-12-2017, 08:57 AM
BeerHunter BeerHunter is offline
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That's something I plan on doing out of curiosity.
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