60th Anniversary Jazzmaster

[StrangeIdols]

Not my first post but my first topic, been following OSG for a while and happy to be a part of the forum!

I've posted a couple of times about the 60th Anniversary Jazzmaster (I promised pics in another thread, but I'm still getting used to this format, beyond the mods I've mentioned it's stock in black, with a mid to dark pau ferro board), and my one has finally arrived, set up with twelves, a MIJ trem I had sitting around, and a staytrem arm.

I can't go too in depth since I've not got a spare set of strings around, but I wanted to say a few quick things about the guitar.

First, the pickups are definitely the AV65s, I've played enough of them before hand to know they're not the J Mascis / Classic Player P90s, or the Duncan Designed pickups in the Squier VM. The sound is brilliant, middle position kills my other guitars. Only thing is that the neck pickup is a lot louder than the bridge, but that can be dealt with, works perfectly fine in the middle. Through a twin reverb they're more or less perfect, ideal balance with the clarity that you'd hope for from a guitar like this. Bit buzzy with gain but it's a quirk not a flaw.

The string spacing is fine along the neck, I think the pictures Fender released suffered from a similar issue to the silverburst American Pro jazzmaster - either the strings were slack, or no one noticed they'd moved in the saddle. On that front it's sound. Same old "trouble" with the standard bridge, but that's nothing a good set up can't fix.

In terms of build quality as far as I can tell it's good. Closest comparison I have is a black HH standard jazzmaster, you can see slight buffing swirls on the LE's nitro, but it's faint and only shows up under certain conditions, nothing particularly serious in my opinion. Beyond that, the body itself seems to have fewer pieces than my HH standard, having visible seams that are absent on the LE. The body is a lot lighter and feels more resonant, I'm a sceptic, I doubt that it has anything at all to do with the finish. Plus classic trem placement! I can do the Nels Cline / Sonic Youth stuff properly now!

All in all a very nice guitar, neck feels like home, and with the 12s it plays like a dream, plus the entire look of the guitar is stunning!

Again, happy to be here, and hope to get some photos soon!

[jdr1014]

Congrats! Looking forward to the photos and further reports .

[audiopablo]

appreciate the review. I am full of the gas now.

[DavidG]

I was so close to pulling the trigger on one of these, great overall package.

[gringopig]

Looking forward to pictures! I know that Fender Japan are putting out 2 models for the 60th anniversary which are quite unique:





Rosewiid fingerboard and, interestingly, a U shaped neck! I can't think of a Jazzmaster which might have that kind of neck profile other than these.
They look quite cool.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

Yesterday I received a call from my local music store that both the DBA Echo Master I ordered and some new Jazzmasters arrived.
so I went there. The unboxing moment (was really just being delivered so still in a cardboard box) and especially when we opened the case together felt a bit like the suitcase scene in pulp fiction!




I played both. Somehow they never insert the Vibrato-Arms in that store... but I didn't bother that moment. They both played really really good. Stunning looks! But the Pau Ferro still needs time to grow on me (aesthetically) the blond one had a darker fretboard but both to light for me.

I really liked the pickups in every position and had no problems with the bridge even though the string gauges were pretty light.
The neck bindings appeared a bit bright to me. But they're even brighter on the Surf Green US Jazz-Tele they also had in stock (plays great too, has a satin feel neck in comparison to the lacquer on the 60th Ann. JMs) But the necks felt good in the hand, comfortable - but maybe I'm just used to lacquered necks by now!

Now I'd like to compare them to a TVL model.

[BlueMelody]

Those look awesome! I just picked up the blue flower traditional, it’s a stellar guitar...flawless build, plays and sounds great!

[gringopig]

How is the neck? Is it really a big U shape? Would love to see some pics!

[BlueMelody]

How is the neck? Is it really a big U shape? Would love to see some pics!

Just uploaded a pic to the post Definitely not what I think of as big...in fact, it feels more like a medium size C to me. My Mascis JM has a much bigger neck. I love bigger necks, but this one is extremely comfortable...feels just right with this guitar. The quality is right up there with the best USA Fenders I’ve owned...I anticipated having to do a detailed setup like most JM’s I’ve owned, but this one literally needed nothing out of the box.

[gringopig]

Beautiful rosewood!
Very cool indeed. I'm jealous...
These haven't landed in the UK yet I don't think. Love it!

EDIT: Just seen the other pic. It actually looks better than the stock photo! Wow. Getting GAS now bad man...

ArrgHhH

[BlueMelody]

Beautiful rosewood!
Very cool indeed. I'm jealous...
These haven't landed in the UK yet I don't think. Love it!

EDIT: Just seen the other pic. It actually looks better than the stock photo! Wow. Getting GAS now bad man...

ArrgHhH

The pictures can’t do it justice honestly! It’s really gorgeous in person, the blue finish has a metallic quality and pops in certain lighting. My number one guitar for years was a 1987 MIJ ‘57 Reissue Strat, the quality surpasses that one The rosewood board is super nice and really surprised me, beautiful grain.

[StrangeIdols]

I don't know if this'll work, if not I'll post another reply with the imgur link, but finally got a few photos!

I also have a short video recorded that I'll edit together, might get the first 60th anniversary LE review on youtube

[StrangeIdols]

Yeah, didn't work right, hopefully this works!

https://imgur.com/a/HPwwKYg

[StrangeIdols]

Also, those paisley Jazzmasters are lovely, the blue one looks brilliant! hope you're enjoying it BlueMelody!

[SonicATX]

The PF fretboards are bothering me less and less. There is such a huge variation of shades on these guitars. Wildwood had a few listed that looked very dark. I’d take one of those paisleys if the shell pink dream ever dies (it won’t). Nice guitars!