Jazzmaster

[Don W]

If you wanted to get a 1962 jazzmaster... not an expensive original or a custom shop instrument, which of the models offered by Fender would be the closest to the original 62 Jazzmaster?

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by Don W

If you wanted to get a 1962 jazzmaster... not an expensive original or a custom shop instrument, which of the models offered by Fender would be the closest to the original 62 Jazzmaster?

What made a ‘62 JM different? I’m interested in knowing. Thanks.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Fe...tric-Guitar.gc

[M Sarad]

My MIM Sunburst seems pretty spot on. Excellent set up, decent pickups,and indestructible finish.

For $450, I’m totally satisfied,

[Don W]

Originally Posted by Chickee

What made a ‘62 JM different? I’m interested in knowing. Thanks.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Fe...tric-Guitar.gc

First and most importantly...it is the guitar that I sold many years ago for next to nothing that I would love to replace. Other than that, the neck is a bit different...not as chunky at the first few frets. Cosmetic differences - maple headstock on all colors, no binding on the neck and slab rosewood board. Minor things I agree.

[Chickee]

Originally Posted by Don W

First and most importantly...it is the guitar that I sold many years ago for next to nothing that I would love to replace. Other than that, the neck is a bit different...not as chunky at the first few frets. Cosmetic differences - maple headstock on all colors, no binding on the neck and slab rosewood board. Minor things I agree.

What did you think about the ‘62 reissue in the attached ad I pulled for you? Is that close to what you were looking for and to spend?



As an aside, I have a MIM Classic Player JM from 2017. Great neck and beautifully finished in three tone sunburst. It was one of the last sold with a rosewood fretboard before fender changed to another source of wood. Even with some beautiful Stratocasters here, it has become my number one electric. The Vintera series looks terrific and may fit the bill for you.

[FrankHudson]

I dunno. I've never played a range of 62 Jazzmasters to give me a comparison point. If anyone reads this thread who has done that and has a remarkable memory of their sound and feel (or has a current collection), then they may not have played a sufficient number of the various reissues that one might find at less than vintage prices.

I like my current Jazzmaster* and admire a lot of players who use them. I don't know if this will help the OP, but maybe someone else is reading this and wonders what makes a Jazzmaster "Jazzmastery."

First off, the classic Jazzmaster like a real one made in 62 would have a bridge setup that is a bit finnicky to setup with common modern strings. A Steve DeRosa kind of player would grab some .012 flat wound strings and use it like it was designed for and call it done. On the other hand someone looking to use modern strings will need to account for the rocking bridge with shallow break angle meant for those heavier strings. There are all kinds of ways to deal with this, and some more current Jazzmasters come with those mods.

The original vibrato design (outside of the bridge) works well. Leo Fender probably thought it was improving on the Stratocaster's, and some Jazzmaster players think he had a point. The originals have a "lock" for the vibrato that's sometimes a bit tricky to engage. Reissues often don't bother with that feature.

The next thing that is often omitted from more modern Jazzmasters is the extra set of switches on the upper treble bout. I happen to like them. The idea is that a second bassier sound can be set and and switched to. The original idea was to be able to set a warm "jazz" rhythm tone, and that sort of works, but a lot of experimental guitarists like the second circuit for driving gain and other effects differently.

The pickups are something that I would like someday to know more about from experience, but I expect like a lot of vintage pickups there are variations from example to example, but in general they are a wider but still single coil design that has a sound different from other Fender single coils.

In summary, most of the more modern guitars that are named Jazzmasters omit things that an actual 62 Jazzmaster came with, and some people prefer some of those changes.

.

*I own a Squier line J Mascis signature model Jazzmaster. This guitar is an extraordinary good value! It uses a common mod for the bridge issue when used with modern strings: a tune-o-matic bridge in place of the original. I retains the extra pickup circuit. The pickups are said to be more P90-ish than a good vintage Jazzmaster would have, but I like P90s anyway and they sound great, and despite the reputation of wide single coils being the worst for picking up hum, mine is quieter than any other P90 pickup guitar I own.

[Brent Hahn]

Would your wish for '62 authenticity include the tiny fretwire?

[Don W]

Chicken...the 62 reissue is the one!!! They discontinued those but will look for a barely used one in Olympic white when I have the money. That would be my first choice. I find the Ventera MIM models interesting...may be a less expensive option. You have a player...haven't looked yet but will. Thanks for your input guys.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

Would your wish for '62 authenticity include the tiny fretwire?

Mine would, and set up with flatwound 12's as per factory spec (thanks for the props, Frank... ) - not to mention the many other pro-level "jazz" instruments of the '50s/60s so equipped - it actually makes a good deal of sense if you're looking for clean articulation at breakneck speed; in addition, with flats the action can be set far lower than with roundwounds - something the Bop-era jazzers and rockabilly cats all knew and used to great advantage - which IME still allows for tasteful blues/country bends, without the tone-sucking tendencies of the 9- and 10-gauge plain-G sets most players prefer on long-scale electrics...

[Brent Hahn]

Interesting. My Orange County surf buddies both do Jazzmasters with 12 flats, but they went to Jumbo frets. Me being primarily a bass player, their guitars feel great to me. Blazing speed's not really an issue with them, though.

[blue]

I had an early 2000's avri 62 jazzy and jag. Both were spectacular guitars. I was able to take some of the shimming out of both with no ill effects to the saddle/bridge situation. Both were great guitars. I wouldn't hesitate to look for an early-ish 62 AVRI if I were on the quest.