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Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:37 pm
by RocknRollShakeUp
Greetings to all.
I got to thinking. I have settled upon Jazzmasters as my go to guitars.
I have two, one with roundwounds and one with flats incidentally, and with those two I could record a whole album, even using a JM for faux bass, or at least baritone, type lines (on the jazz circuit w the tone rolled all the way off - especially using the flatwounds).
If I were to expand on the theme, but look for something a little bit different, what would you recommend?
I was thinking of a thin line Bilt maybe?
Does Fender or anyone else make a high quality USA Marauder?
I would even go for a 25.5” Jaguar, or JM with Jag style pickups..
Watchu’all think?!
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:09 pm
by charmonder
build a semi hollow jazzblaster or starcaster w/trem.
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:11 pm
by CaptainCrunch
I recently got a Squier BassVI, and if you haven’t played around with one, it’s worth your while. It’s very much The Offset Zone, but with some incredible tricks up it’s sleeve.
Not sure it’s is about Jazzmasteriness that appeals to you, though. Can you elaborate?
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 5:24 pm
by Jaguar018
JMs and/or Jaguars with 25.5” necks and Jaguar pickups sound pretty close to Strats from my experience.
While they aren’t technically offset (despite what all those filthy casuals think
) Firebirds might be a fun route to travel.
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:08 pm
by HarlowTheFish
A Bilt might be fun, but I'd say go with WRHBs or something non-single-coily to have a different flavor.
Texas Toast can hook you up with a Marauder if you hit them up, I know they've done a couple -- IIRC Sonichris here on the forum works there, you can probably ask him how that'd go if you're interested.
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:36 pm
by jvin248
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Get a Jazzmaster set up like a Les Paul Junior .... one bridge humbucker controlled by a volume knob and a tone knob with a simple wrap tail piece.
There is something very freeing about a simple Junior platform. I found a Junior (and Esquires) made be a better player because I used the knobs more and changed pick location and pick attack to get a wider spectrum of tones.
Variations on a Junior:
-Keep a Jazzmaster trem and bridge
-Rotate the single bridge humbucker 180 degrees so the screw poles are on 'the inside' or neck side, lower the pickup and raise the screw poles 3/16ths of an inch. Gives a strong P90 tone while still providing noise reduction. I have a LP Junior set up this way. It's my most often played guitar.
-Push/pull tone pot to split the humbucker, choose 'a side' for which bobbin
-4-way blade switch and a four-wire humbucker so you get all the combos: 'neck' single/parallel/'bridge' single/humbucker. I have a Tele-H built this way and it my second most often played guitar.
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Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 10:17 am
by Kihtaristi
Bilt surely makes good guitars and offer versatility when compared to standard Jazzmasters. One other cool option in offset category to compliment standard Jazzmaster theme is Novo guitars. My Novo serus J and BilT Relevator LS are my number #1 and #2.
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:38 am
by smjenkins
I've seen Vuorensaku guitars pop up on my Instagram from time to time. I really dig the design of their carved offset bodies and their take on the traditional T-style headstock is one of my favorites.
https://www.vuorensaku.fi/custom-guitars-and-basses/
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 11:56 am
by robroe
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 3:22 pm
by jorri
Bilt are pretty much a dream guitar for me. Maybe customisation of other pickups.
Or otherwise the ECG aluminiums (some customisation available again)
Possibly an Eastwood TG-64 but i hear things about quality on that. Im sure its better state than a beat-up Japanese weird guitar.
Baritones too. Yes maybe a VI? I use one as a guitar plenty of the time- can even put higher strings on. Come to mention it TB-64 is the Eastwood VI version (and i jsut think they look cool to be honest!)
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 4:24 pm
by HNB
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 5:31 pm
by OmarAfzaal
I'd really love to try out a Deimel Firestar someday. They look beautiful and all the customization options can get wonderfully wild.
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:07 am
by kgbAttack
jvin248 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:36 pm
.
Get a Jazzmaster set up like a Les Paul Junior .... one bridge humbucker controlled by a volume knob and a tone knob with a simple wrap tail piece.
There is something very freeing about a simple Junior platform. I found a Junior (and Esquires) made be a better player because I used the knobs more and changed pick location and pick attack to get a wider spectrum of tones.
Variations on a Junior:
-Keep a Jazzmaster trem and bridge
-Rotate the single bridge humbucker 180 degrees so the screw poles are on 'the inside' or neck side, lower the pickup and raise the screw poles 3/16ths of an inch. Gives a strong P90 tone while still providing noise reduction. I have a LP Junior set up this way. It's my most often played guitar.
-Push/pull tone pot to split the humbucker, choose 'a side' for which bobbin
-4-way blade switch and a four-wire humbucker so you get all the combos: 'neck' single/parallel/'bridge' single/humbucker. I have a Tele-H built this way and it my second most often played guitar.
.
Not to derail the thread, but this is what I would love to have next - I don't care much about the shape either, Tele body or JM body - but I'd imagine this would have to be a partsmaster/caster?
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:15 am
by Ftoronado
Not expensive enough maybe, but I saw this Harmony Guitar reissue.
Something like a mix between old guitars and firebirds. Seems to play and sound nice.
https://www.harmony.co/pages/silhouette
Re: Alternatives to a Jazzmaster?
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:56 am
by Lost In Autumn
They are typically not very expensive either which is cool.
