Heading for an Offset....help me!

JonHosker

Looking at the Fender USA Jazzmasters.
Happy to go Japanese but U shape neck?
Anyone encourage me fir a particular model?
Prefer Rythm circuit slide switch etc ... old school.
Ta Jon

Philtre

The modern Fender USA "Professional" JMs are not "real" ones if you want to go old school. They don't have the right pickups or the other circuit. Aim for a AVRI or "American Original"?

JD50

Go AVRI, if you go Japanese you won't get the full experience mainly due to the pickups.

Whitecat

+1 for secondhand AVRI or American Original (new or used, depending on what you find...)

chrisj1602

The American Originals look great. I’d also look at the MIM 60th Anniversary models, TVL, Lacquer and Road Worns too.

Philtre

BTW, you do have a beard and a plaid shirt, right?

JD50

chrisj1602 said:

The American Originals look great. I’d also look at the MIM 60th Anniversary models, TVL, Lacquer and Road Worns too.

But do they have the proper pickups or just Strat pickups in disguise?

sweepy

Don’t dismiss the Mexican Lacquer series, excellent guitars

Philtre

JD50 said:

chrisj1602 said:

The American Originals look great. I’d also look at the MIM 60th Anniversary models, TVL, Lacquer and Road Worns too.

But do they have the proper pickups or just Strat pickups in disguise?

I think they're the renamed AVRIs. Edit - the American Originals, I mean. Don't know about the MIMs

JonHosker

No beard or plaid shirt...!!!

Philtre

JonHosker said:

No beard or plaid shirt...!!!

Forget it, then ;-)

Grunfeld

JonHosker said:

Prefer Rythm circuit slide switch etc ... old school.

I don't know anyone who actually uses that circuit [cue everyone coming out of the woodwork now to say how great it is...]

You can buy a little bracket from ebay for a couple of quid which really tidily fits on its underside and prevents it from sliding.  That way you get the look of the switch, which is nice, without the major inconvenience of unknowingly flicking it on in a gig and wondering where all your sound has gone and thinking your guitar has died.  This is because you rolled the rhythm pots to zero months ago and forgot all about them... or even that they do anything. 

Or was that just me?

Philtre

Grunfeld said:

I don't know anyone who actually uses that circuit [cue everyone coming out of the woodwork now to say how great it is...]

I've just crawled out the woodwork to say how great it is.

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Gerz6558

JD50 said:

chrisj1602 said:

The American Originals look great. I’d also look at the MIM 60th Anniversary models, TVL, Lacquer and Road Worns too.

But do they have the proper pickups or just Strat pickups in disguise?

All of those contain some form of "real" jazzmaster pickups. They are all good and no absolute need for swapping. I do have a set of mojo's in my parts jazzmaster, and they are a really nice upgrade for relatively little outlay.

Best bang for buck I would say is the lacquer Jazzmaster without a doubt.  I have an American Original Jaguar which is just about the best I've had, and I've read good thinks about the Jazzmaster.

meltedbuzzbox

I really don't like the avri 62 model. I found it to be generally worst model I've played.

I like the Japanese models after a pickup change (in fact I would never keep the stock fender pickups on any of the modern offerings as they aren't in the same league as mojo pickups).
The custom shop stuff is great.
The lacquer Mims are good too. 
The VM is ok but generally need attention past the 12th fret.
Even the classic player is alright with it's shifted vibrato system and funny bridge.
I've not tried a new pro one. They look alright though

Oh and don't forget the mascis, it's kind of the most player/wallet friendly

mikeyrob73

I have a Mascis and it’s a tremendous guitar, I have no point of reference as it’s the only JM I have ever owned but it’s a great guitar so don’t feel the need to upgrade it 

adampeter

sweepy said:

Don’t dismiss the Mexican Lacquer series, excellent guitars

this.....fantastic guitar

dindude

Thinking of letting this beauty go soon....American Pro Neck (ebony board) and pickups/electronics, Warmoth Body, Schaller locking heads, Mastery trem. It’s a stunner. Whatever you go for, don’t get too wrapped up in vintage spec rabbit hole is my take. Advice from offset lovers can be more conservative than Les Paul fans!

https://i.imgur.com/aZ2AcKc.jpg

meltedbuzzbox

dindude said:

Thinking of letting this beauty go soon....American Pro Neck (ebony board) and pickups/electronics, Warmoth Body, Schaller locking heads, Mastery trem. It’s a stunner. Whatever you go for, don’t get too wrapped up in vintage spec rabbit hole is my take. Advice from offset lovers can be more conservative than Les Paul fans!

https://i.imgur.com/aZ2AcKc.jpg

That's beautiful!

stimpsonslostson

mikeyrob73 said:

I have a Mascis and it’s a tremendous guitar, I have no point of reference as it’s the only JM I have ever owned but it’s a great guitar so don’t feel the need to upgrade it 

I've got a Squier Deluxe (it's essentially a Mascis, but in red rather than white). 
Lovely guitar, for £325 it's exceptional. 

gringopig

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