Squier 40th anniversary Jazzmaster (impressions on p. 8)

[Wucan]

Dropped by one of my local guitar dealers, noticed a Seafoam Green version of this model on sale. Pretty sweet instrument actually, really liked how well it sustained even tho it wasn't particular heavy, looks awesome and the neck, as some say, played like butter. Not a JM person so I passed but if I had a guitar dungeon to stash hoarded gear I would've been tempted.

Ya know... I wasn't an offset person until my buddy Josh brought a couple of his over for me to do setups for him. The first one was his Jaguar and I became interested. He also brought over his Gold Foil Jazzmaster and I caught the bug. He still hasn't brought his TVL JM over, but I told him if he ever sells it I have dibs. 🤪

Since then I got my CV Jag, bought a Tonebomb JM body to put a FAT 40th JM neck on, then got a loaded CVJM body and CVJM neck, and Tonebomb had a sale for Memorial Day Weekend so I ended up getting a Jag body that I'm waiting for a VM Jag neck to arrive for.

Writing this reply makes me feel like a drug dealer that got into his own supply and is a terrible enabler...

I do own a JM, but it's the Japanese Junior since I find it more wieldy than the average JM. But the 40th Anni was the first "normal" JM that I played and I was like "huh, this feels manageable".

[madmarcus1960]

I bought a 40th Anv JM from Pro Audio for $310 Open Box( really new) and after a few improvements, I love it.

First the set up, ugh, I went through the neck and cleaned up any fret issues, got the bridge the right height, used heavier strings. Now it plays how I prefer my guitars to play

Secondly, I got a lower profile replacement for the 3 screws directly under the tremelos string saddle area that often touch and break strings. They are a smaller pancake head with metric hex for securing. I also ordered and installed Graphtec Tusq saddles.


Third I replaced the tuners with staggered inline Hipshot Griplocks


Fourth, I ordered and received a set of SD Vintage JM pickups and a pair of true white JM PuP covers, an import white pearloid pickguard(which I shielded w/copper tape), and these nylon bushing that install into the bridge ferrules to limit the amount of travel the bridge can have. I'm not really planning on using the trem until I can afford a better one.(I tightened the trem spring to make the setup stiffer)

After installing everything, I'm happy with how it plays, sounds, and looks.

[GilmourD]

I bought a 40th Anv JM from Pro Audio for $310 Open Box( really new) and after a few improvements, I love it.

First the set up, ugh, I went through the neck and cleaned up any fret issues, got the bridge the right height, used heavier strings. Now it plays how I prefer my guitars to play

Secondly, I got a lower profile replacement for the 3 screws directly under the tremelos string saddle area that often touch and break strings. They are a smaller pancake head with metric hex for securing. I also ordered and installed Graphtec Tusq saddles.


Third I replaced the tuners with staggered inline Hipshot Griplocks


Fourth, I ordered and received a set of SD Vintage JM pickups and a pair of true white JM PuP covers, an import white pearloid pickguard(which I shielded w/copper tape), and these nylon bushing that install into the bridge ferrules to limit the amount of travel the bridge can have. I'm not really planning on using the trem until I can afford a better one.(I tightened the trem spring to make the setup stiffer)

After installing everything, I'm happy with how it plays, sounds, and looks.

Nice!

Any possibility that you can take a good, large close-up pic of those saddles? Are they all the same size or are they different sizes per string like the stock Mustang-type saddles? How do they compare in size to those saddles?

Also, there's two problems with the stock trem that are easy(ish) fixes. The biggest issue with the "action" of the trem is circled in blue in both of these pics. On the CV (generic MIC-sourced) trem unit that plate is basically just stamped out, bent, threaded for mounting screws, and thrown on the trem. The edge of it is rough on a lot of them and really just needs to be cleaned up. Puisheen did it using a belt sander, but a piece of sandpaper stuck to a flat surface and a little bit of elbow grease can do it.




The other (not quite as bad) problem is in the red circle. Notice that the spring perch (cup?) is a cone in the illustration but cylindrical (with a chamfered top edge) on the actual trem? This causes the spring to catch when it compresses and sometimes feel a little hitchy or make mechanical noise.

This can be fixed in a couple different ways:

• Replacement altogether (it's an easily purchasable piece for a few bucks)
  OR
• Stick a screw you don't care about through it from the top side (as oriented in those pics), stick the other end of that screw in a drill chuck, and use that sandpaper on a flat surface/block from fixing the pivot edge as a makeshift lathe, holding the drill at an angle to make the cup even ever so slightly conical

NB: If you're going to perform that makeshift lathe surgery, WEAR SAFETY GLOVES AND GLASSES!!! It's not fun to lose an eye or a finger and makes playing your guitar more difficult!

[madmarcus1960]

Thanks, I've been an electromechanical engineering assistant for 20+ years. I feel pretty comfortable doing my own work correctly and safely.
Thanks for the tips on the trem, but being spoiled by Super Vee Bladerunners and Vega Trems on my Strats. I might just leave this a virtual hardtail.

I have a reasonable collection and have trem guitars that work.

I like everything else about this guitar now. It's pretty stable now

[madmarcus1960]

Graphtec JM saddles


These are what I bought.

Are saying I can buy a conical perch cup? link?

[GilmourD]

Thanks, I've been an electromechanical engineering assistant for 20+ years. I feel pretty comfortable doing my own work correctly and safely.
Thanks for the tips on the trem, but being spoiled by Super Vee Bladerunners and Vega Trems on my Strats. I might just leave this a virtual hardtail.

I have a reasonable collection and have trem guitars that work.

I like everything else about this guitar now. It's pretty stable now

The only reason I would try to convince you to get the trem up and going is that it's a different thing. I've got six-screw Strat trems and Floyd Roses all over my house, and I love them for what they do, but they don't do the offset trem thing, either.

[madmarcus1960]

So round off the edges of the fulcrum plate and bevel the perch cup will fix the repeatability of returning in tune?

I actually owned and sold a 2021 American Ultra JM and didn't think it was worth 2K. Plus too F'n heavy. This Squire is much lighter. I'm more than familiar with how the trem should work properly. Not a big deal to me. The tone of a JM is very different.

[GilmourD]

Graphtec JM saddles


These are what I bought.

Are saying I can buy a conical perch cup? link?

I was mostly curious how yours compared to the what's on the CV/40th bridge. You know how sometimes official product photos don't always give you a perspective on what they really are.

AllParts sells a set of spring, perch, and screw.

Spring Set For Fender Jaguar, Jazzmaster Tremolo - CHROME

Interestingly Fender doesn't seem to sell it as an individual part themselves. Even Darren Riley doesn't have it. Possibly a different screw (metric vs imperial) but probably the same spring.

[GilmourD]

So round off the edges of the fulcrum plate and bevel the perch cup will fix the repeatability of returning in tune?

I actually owned and sold a 2021 American Ultra JM and didn't think it was worth 2K. Plus too F'n heavy. This Squire is much lighter. I'm more than familiar with how the trem should work properly. Not a big deal to me. The tone of a JM is very different.

Not even round off, just clean up the edge. I linked to Puisheen's video cued up to the part about the trem above. He shows the before and after.

[madmarcus1960]

I'll get a pic up later, the saddles line up perfectly with the bridge pickup magnets and have height adjustments instead of being different sizes per string position. Same string spread as the OEM ones.

Thanks for your help on the trem, appreciate you since I'm a "newbie", here anyways. Too many forums under my Favs...LOL

[GilmourD]

I'll get a pic up later, the saddles line up perfectly with the bridge pickup magnets and have height adjustments instead of being different sizes per string position. Same string spread as the OEM ones.

Thanks for your help on the trem, appreciate you since I'm a "newbie", here anyways. Too many forums under my Favs...LOL

No prob! Always glad to help and share information!

[madmarcus1960]

Here's the saddle pic you asked for. Not 100% lined up but close enough for those w/o OCD...LOL
I bought the spring kit. I assume the perch cup is the proper shape?

[GilmourD]

Here's the saddle pic you asked for. Not 100% lined up but close enough for those w/o OCD...LOL
I bought the spring kit. I assume the perch cup is the proper shape?

OK, cool. Just wanted to make sure those saddles weren't the wimpy ones that come on the MIC adjustable height bridge. They're larger, and I think they're the same dimensions as the EYGuitar brass ones.

Yeah, the perch cup with that looks conical like the AVRI one.

[madmarcus1960]

I've used the Graphtec Tusq and black graphite coated saddles for years, plus their graphite nuts work the best in my trem guitars.

[GilmourD]

I've used the Graphtec Tusq and black graphite coated saddles for years, plus their graphite nuts work the best in my trem guitars.

Same! I've got saddles on a few guitars and TusQ nuts all over the place.

I even sent my brother this pic and said "Hey, check out my nut bag."



Just sometimes seeing the product picture and seeing the product in actual use are two different things, ya know?