Got a bit of a gap in the stable for something that isn’t SC or humbucker and fancy a Jazzmaster because they look awesome and love the sounds.
However, people seem to use them with heavier strings and I’ve always been under the impression they need a slightly higher action that other guitars due to the trem. Is this a total misconception I've picked up from who knows where?
I tend to use 9.5s on a strat and a lowish action due to bad hands making anything higher/heavier a real chore. Need it not shredder low but on the lower side of things and 10s would be fine.
Can you get a Jazzmaster fairly low and would 9.5/10s work?
Comments
wish I hadn’t sold it tbh
It's worth checking out the Guitar Manifesto on youtube he does endless videos about jazzmasters and jaguars and how to deal with the issues.
Thus, my Jazzmaster is 010-048 and my Jaguar is 011 or 012 to fifty something.
Additionally, there is the inability of the vintage style “threaded” bridge saddles to prevent the strings from hopping over the “thread” ridges during vigorous playing.
What I did was work out where I wanted the strings to be and then filed a deeper groove.
It is stock except for one groove filed in the low E saddle - like that mentioned above - which happened long before I got it. The other strings have no problems with saddle-jumping. The guitar is about 40 years old, no shims or anything special, I've played it for over a decade.
I reckon you might get away with 9.5s too. Worth a go, I've never actually tried anything lighter than 10. If you run into trouble with slippage (has only ever happened on the low E for me) then maybe migrate to a light top and heavy bottom set and see how you get on.
I've a very heavy right hand and even I only skipped the string out once through all the times I gigged my JMs. And it's not like its hard to slip it straight back in (oo err missus).
Jazzmasters are wicked. You'll love it. I've only got a Jag at the moment but the darker side is calling to me again!
Is there anything that is an absolute must? People talk about replacing the bridges with Staytrem or Mastery and, to be honest, I've no idea why or the differences between them. Are these considered essential to get the best out of the guitar or a desirable/preferential upgrade for some point down the line?
The cheapest Chinese replacement bridges can be a little flimsy but when everyone's changing out their original Fender bridges it means you can pick up a genuine US one for pence (mine cost a tenner off here).
I'm convinced people change their offset bridges only because they've read that's the thing to do. Many claim improvements to sustain but that to me would be like sacrificing the quacky inbetween Strat tones by putting in two humbuckers and claiming the tone is improved. Of course it's technically "fatter" or whatever but that's not the point.
I will concede that a correctly radiused Staytrem will make setup a little quicker and easier and basically eliminates the possibility of string slippage but a well setup guitar will play just as well.
Which model are you thinking about? Either way, give it a go and see how you like it before you automatically spend £150+ on just a replacement bridge.
If you have any doubt about how it plays and aren't confident setting it up yourself then a good setup at £40-£50 will be the best value, IMO.
If you're getting a model with the trem lock I'd also make sure that is set right. If you break a string you slide the trem lock on and it returns to correct pitch!
the 2 point people will say that theirs is a logical improvement and can't understand why the 6 screw people use an outdated system, the 6 point people think that original is best...
Maybe that's a bit of a tortured analogy.
The Mastery is a more complex piece of engineering. I have not tried one. Hence, I shall leave it to those who have to comment upon it.
Also, my American Standard Strat grub screw did some self-lowering the other day so it's not just offset bridges that are susceptible.
Always had 10s on it - plays perfectly.
What are the go to ones for someone wishing to dip his toe? I did try a Vintera but the shop set-up was pretty rank and put me right off. Tried one of the American Pro ones as well and played pretty well but sure I've read somewhere they're not actually Jazzmaster pickups (although they can obviously be swapped out). Anyone got an American Original?
May be best hanging on a while though - not really seen any reductions on them as yet.