"New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
- 74Offset
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"New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
Hey all,
I've had a few days with my latest acquisition, an all original 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster. I'd describe it as closet vintage...it's got a few knicks here and there, but it wasn't played or abused. There's some slight checking on the finish here and there, but overall it's in fantastic shape. Beautiful 3 color burst that is really growing on me the more I look at it. I have very little experience with late 60s/70s era JMs, but I'm in love with the way this guitar sounds and plays. The pickups are nice and plunky, but have a real edge to them when desired. The neck is narrow and slim, and the guitar can be set up with an extremely low action with no buzzing whatsoever. I anticipated switching the bridge out for a Mastery, but I'm going to live with the original for now...it sounds great and is not exhibiting any issues.
I've had a few days with my latest acquisition, an all original 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster. I'd describe it as closet vintage...it's got a few knicks here and there, but it wasn't played or abused. There's some slight checking on the finish here and there, but overall it's in fantastic shape. Beautiful 3 color burst that is really growing on me the more I look at it. I have very little experience with late 60s/70s era JMs, but I'm in love with the way this guitar sounds and plays. The pickups are nice and plunky, but have a real edge to them when desired. The neck is narrow and slim, and the guitar can be set up with an extremely low action with no buzzing whatsoever. I anticipated switching the bridge out for a Mastery, but I'm going to live with the original for now...it sounds great and is not exhibiting any issues.
- Gavanti
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
Gorgeous! The blackguard JM’s are my favorites in sunburst.
- garyfanclub
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
It's beautiful, congrats!
Played one of these at CME last year and LOVED it, but not in my price range, unfortunately. Wish I'd been able to compare the pickups to the mid-60s Jazzys they had, but didn't have the time to do it. Would love to hear your thoughts on that if you've got another to compare it to.
Enjoy it!
Played one of these at CME last year and LOVED it, but not in my price range, unfortunately. Wish I'd been able to compare the pickups to the mid-60s Jazzys they had, but didn't have the time to do it. Would love to hear your thoughts on that if you've got another to compare it to.
Enjoy it!
- 74Offset
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
I'd say that the pickups are higher output overall. It's just a different flavor of the mid-60s stuff...not necessarily better or worse.garyfanclub wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 2:24 pmIt's beautiful, congrats!
Played one of these at CME last year and LOVED it, but not in my price range, unfortunately. Wish I'd been able to compare the pickups to the mid-60s Jazzys they had, but didn't have the time to do it. Would love to hear your thoughts on that if you've got another to compare it to.
Enjoy it!
- sunburster
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
Very nice! You nabbed that one on CME (the headstock grain gives it away). Looks like it's lightweight too. Great find.
- 74Offset
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
Yep! CME guitar. Beyond impressed with them on the deal. Guitar was better than represented.sunburster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 4:06 pmVery nice! You nabbed that one on CME (the headstock grain gives it away). Looks like it's lightweight too. Great find.
- bterry
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
love it!!
CME is great - for some reason they often undervalue their vintage gear even or will take lower offers even though they know the score. Great customer service and nice guys/gals.
CME is great - for some reason they often undervalue their vintage gear even or will take lower offers even though they know the score. Great customer service and nice guys/gals.
- PJazzmaster
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
that's a nice looking one !!! enjoy!!
- Despot
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
Happy NGD OP - I had a '76 myself for a while ... ended up selling it to fund my '62.
I get what you mean about being a different flavour - I've had a few '60s Jazzmasters (my '62 and two '66s) and while there are big differences between the earlier and later pickups in the '60s, there was an even bigger difference between the '60s and that '76 - it was a lot louder and darker sounding overall, which seems to mesh with what you say about pickup output.
My old one was quite heavy - but while it was heavy it was also super resonant ... something that I can't recall having encountered before or since in a heavy guitar.
Re: Mastery fitting ... I had trouble fitting one to mine - the bridge thimbles were a little off (the treble side wasn't 90 degrees - it canted a little off to the right) and the Mastery took a bit of messing to get in there (and then there was a 'floor' on how low I could set the action because of the way that I'd had to bodge it with the out of line thimble). I went back to the standard bridge and everything just worked again.
I get what you mean about being a different flavour - I've had a few '60s Jazzmasters (my '62 and two '66s) and while there are big differences between the earlier and later pickups in the '60s, there was an even bigger difference between the '60s and that '76 - it was a lot louder and darker sounding overall, which seems to mesh with what you say about pickup output.
My old one was quite heavy - but while it was heavy it was also super resonant ... something that I can't recall having encountered before or since in a heavy guitar.
Re: Mastery fitting ... I had trouble fitting one to mine - the bridge thimbles were a little off (the treble side wasn't 90 degrees - it canted a little off to the right) and the Mastery took a bit of messing to get in there (and then there was a 'floor' on how low I could set the action because of the way that I'd had to bodge it with the out of line thimble). I went back to the standard bridge and everything just worked again.
- debudavid
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
Very nice. Any closer to that fire though...
- s_mcsleazy
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
mon the black guards
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'
- Embenny
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
That's a beauty. Congrats!
The artist formerly known as mbene085.
- leokula
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
The black guard over sunburst screams 70's! Amazing, man, congrats!
Jaguar > Jazzmaster :)
- Kent
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
There is something about those models that really works for me. It hosts a number of things that I don't like on Fenders but when they come together on the Jazzmaster, it looks lovely.
I tend to dislike:
sunburst
block inlays (quite a bit)
Non-matching headstocks (minor preference)
black guard with white plastic parts
three tone sunburst with bright red (preferring, by a large margin, a faded '50s two tone burst)
On this era of JM, it all comes together in a striking way and looks
I tend to dislike:
sunburst
block inlays (quite a bit)
Non-matching headstocks (minor preference)
black guard with white plastic parts
three tone sunburst with bright red (preferring, by a large margin, a faded '50s two tone burst)
On this era of JM, it all comes together in a striking way and looks
- LossyShades
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Re: "New" 1974 Sunburst Jazzmaster
She's a beaut! Looks like you had a nice fireside chat with her.