Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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surfin_bird
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Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by surfin_bird » Mon Aug 27, 2018 10:22 pm

In 2014 we had the topic called "let's talk about 70s jazzmasters"
Which was mostly related about pacafeliz his new purchase - but I'm just wondering if we could have a topic with some reviews and experiences on it.

I've been fascinated about them for a long time but they seem so rare that I'm just wondering if we can get to know something about how they play in general, sound difference, until when to when they used black strat knobs etc.

Thanks!

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by Paul-T » Tue Oct 30, 2018 2:02 am

i'm sorry we don't have more collective experience on these.

Mine is sadly ancient; when I was a kid I worked in a guitar shop and treasured a late 70s catalogue, which had a sonic blue Jazzmaster on the cover. I did get to try a couple at the time; but they did feel clunky, especially the bound necks. They felt very, very different to the '63 original, which had been tielman-ised, I managed to find in 79 or so. I would love to try one again now that they've worn in. I also wish I'd kept that catalogue.
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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by otis » Tue Oct 30, 2018 9:52 am

I had a '76 a couple of years ago, and while it sounded very good, the neck had a thick shape and it just felt uncomfortable to me.
I thought I'd adjust to it, but in the end I didn't really. It was heavy as hell too.
This said, I think (i hope) that there are other examples to be found. The neck being too thick would be the major drawback for me.
The one currently on marktplaats (a 73) seems nice, but the asking price seems way too high. I sold mine for 2000 or 2100 euro I think.

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by s_mcsleazy » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:45 am

i actually really want a 70's blackguard jazzmaster one day. but im no expert. i've only ever played one. it was honestly the best vintage jazzmaster for my style.

i like heavier guitars and some/most had ash bodies. i tend to like the mid 70's shape fender necks and the bigger headstocks. the pickups were a little hotter than 60's jazzmasters and im sorry but the look of a black guard on a sunburst body looks great. now, if i was to get one, i'd actually try finding one that has a fair amount of wear on it because i would most likely turn it into a "players guitar" and that player is me. so i'd stick a sentell jm03 in the neck.

sadly, i turned one down when i was in finland a few years ago because it was 200 euro out my price range (i think it was 1000 euro)
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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by Towomba » Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:07 am

Here is a nice lookin ‘73 in CAR:

Image

Look how it faded! And pretty light too, even compared to some 60s models.

Source: https://www.vintage-guitar.de/detailsvi ... aster.html

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by Kinx » Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:37 am

I've never encountered any late 70s JM in person, but I LOVE my '72. The neck is a bit chunkier than on AV65 and pickups are quite hot for jazzmaster (I've got treble pickup very close to the strings and it sounds almost like a tele), however it has great midrange presence and sounds killer both clean and distorted. I actually sold her once and had hard time buying her back - that won't happen again :D

Image

It is actually only guitar I have that doesn't go out of tune ! I can use the whammy bar all day long and it remains absolutely stable, like a rock. I would love to measure those pickups up and have strat-sized clones made up, but I'm too afraid to take them apart.

here's song from our last record where I can hear the bridge pickup bite most prominently

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by offkeyericdee » Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:47 am

I used to own a 1978/79 Jazzmaster for a few years - sort of a brown sunburst with a black guard and black strat knobs, all in mint condition and not too heavy. The pickups were ever so slightly more powerful than average ones (pre-1975). I traded it last year for one of the rarest Jaguars in the world, but still miss it a great deal, at least once a week. If anyone has any questions about late-'70s JMs, by all means ask away! I also owned a '75 that was even better than the '78.
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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by N0_Camping4U » Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:38 am

Towomba wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 3:07 am
Here is a nice lookin ‘73 in CAR:

Image

Look how it faded! And pretty light too, even compared to some 60s models.

Source: https://www.vintage-guitar.de/detailsvi ... aster.html
Jeez that's nice but that price is absurd.
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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by s_mcsleazy » Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:28 am

N0_Camping4U wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:38 am


Jeez that's nice but that price is absurd.
i get that the 70's jazzmasters seem to be rarer and that is technically a custom colour but fuck me sideways.
saying that, i think chicago music exchange are taking the piss with this blackguard.... even if it is a mid 70's rather than a late 70's
https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/li ... 9/15888124
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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by surfin_bird » Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:35 am

Wow those prices are intense, the reason i started this topic was because i've seen multiple 70's jm's for a little over 2000 euro's.
The 1978 JM that made me start this topic sold for 2200. Which I couldn't buy because I was abroad and the seller wanted to sell it pronto :'(

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by Paul-T » Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:07 am

N0_Camping4U wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:38 am

Jeez that's nice but that price is absurd.
Absolutely. You are paying for a nice paintjob, not the guitar.
"classic marked down to 20 pence bargain bin fodder'

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by Mechanical Birds » Thu Nov 01, 2018 8:06 pm

offkeyericdee wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 4:47 am
I used to own a 1978/79 Jazzmaster for a few years - sort of a brown sunburst with a black guard and black strat knobs, all in mint condition and not too heavy. The pickups were ever so slightly more powerful than average ones (pre-1975). I traded it last year for one of the rarest Jaguars in the world, but still miss it a great deal, at least once a week. If anyone has any questions about late-'70s JMs, by all means ask away! I also owned a '75 that was even better than the '78.
Off topic I know but how you gonna throw around a phrase like “rarest Jaguar in the world and not post at least one picture? Do you know where you are? It’s nowhere near a jungle but oh my god please let me see this guitar and know why it’s so rare/link me to a NGD thread you did or something :)

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by simonhpieman » Fri Nov 02, 2018 3:09 am

I had the same thought. What a tease!

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by 74Offset » Mon Jan 14, 2019 5:11 pm

s_mcsleazy wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:28 am
N0_Camping4U wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:38 am


Jeez that's nice but that price is absurd.
i get that the 70's jazzmasters seem to be rarer and that is technically a custom colour but fuck me sideways.
saying that, i think chicago music exchange are taking the piss with this blackguard.... even if it is a mid 70's rather than a late 70's
https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/li ... 9/15888124
First post...I actually bought the 74 CME had listed. Been eyeing it for a while but wanted the price to come down to earth a bit. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. All original and very clean.

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Re: Can we talk again about late 70s jazzmasters?

Post by s_mcsleazy » Mon Jan 14, 2019 9:42 pm

74Offset wrote:
Mon Jan 14, 2019 5:11 pm
s_mcsleazy wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:28 am
N0_Camping4U wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:38 am


Jeez that's nice but that price is absurd.
i get that the 70's jazzmasters seem to be rarer and that is technically a custom colour but fuck me sideways.
saying that, i think chicago music exchange are taking the piss with this blackguard.... even if it is a mid 70's rather than a late 70's
https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/li ... 9/15888124
First post...I actually bought the 74 CME had listed. Been eyeing it for a while but wanted the price to come down to earth a bit. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. All original and very clean.
i'll be interested to see it when it arrives.
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?'

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