| In the beginning, Leo created the Telecaster. Keith and | | | | for all three models and hardware is Fender/Ping |
| Bruce were happy. On the second day, Leo created | | | | vintage style. |
| the Stratocaster. Jimi and Eric were in ecstasy. On the | | | | As for looks, be aware that the Jazzmaster is |
| following days, Leo created the Jazzmaster and the | | | | available in black or sunburst finishes with a 4-ply |
| Jaguar, which, although intended for jazz, found | | | | Brown Shell pickguard, the Jaguar special (single coils) |
| followers within the surf music scene of the 60s and | | | | in red or sunburst, and the Jaguar HH (humbuckers) in |
| the rock music scene of the 90s. Today we'll be | | | | white or sunburst. Lastly, the guitars are delivered in a |
| testing the 2008 edition of these mythical guitars ... | | | | gig bag and hardware is chrome. |
| A Little History Lesson ... | | | | Sound and Playability |
| The history of these two models is not trivial. In 1958, | | | | As for electronics, the Jazzmaster has two |
| Leo Fender, father of the famous Telecaster and | | | | independent circuits (lead and rhythm) via a selectable |
| Stratocaster, decided to take advantage of his | | | | 2 position switch, each with their own volume and tone. |
| reputation and try to seduce jazz guitarists with a | | | | There's the classic three-position switch for selecting |
| model logically called the Jazzmaster. With a | | | | pickups (neck, bridge or both). The Jaguar with single |
| rosewood fingerboard, a floating vibrato, new pickups, | | | | coils replaces the 3-position switch with a system |
| and a warmer sound than the Stratocaster, Leo | | | | combining three 2-position switches. The first two |
| thought he'd please jazzmen at the time. Unfortunately, | | | | switches enable/disable the bridge and neck pickups |
| its tendency to feedback prompted them to ignore it. | | | | respectively while the third switch activates a |
| However, the Jazzmaster began to interest groups in | | | | high-pass filter. This filter lets you easily pierce through |
| the surf movement like The Ventures and The | | | | a mix! Lastly, the Jaguar with humbuckers has even |
| Fireballs. Leo, always on the lookout, took advantage | | | | more possibilities! There's, in addition to the adjustments |
| of this interest and came out with a model specifically | | | | mentioned above, a master kill switch that lets you |
| designed for the surf music scene in 1962: the Jaguar. | | | | completely cut the sound of the guitar, and two |
| With a shorter scale (24 inches), single coil | | | | controls to mix the humbucker sound with the split |
| Stratocaster-type pickups, 22 frets, a spring-loaded | | | | sound( Humbucking/Single-Coil Blend Control), and this |
| rubber string-mute, and a notched side plate that made | | | | for each pickup. The sonic possibilities of this guitar are |
| it less prone to interference, it was the ultimate surf | | | | enormous! |
| guitar. Unfortunately, the surf music scene went out of | | | | The craftsmanship on these guitars seems flawless |
| fashion in the 70's and production of Jaguars and | | | | and there weren't any intonation issues during the test. |
| Jazzmasters was stopped in 1980. | | | | The neck is agreeable to play and one will quickly find |
| These models were then set aside for a few years | | | | their bearings, while the hardware seems built to last. |
| until indie rock bands in the early 80s such as Sonic | | | | As for controls,only the Jaguar HH may pose some |
| Youth or My Bloody Valentine saw in this guitar (which | | | | problems at first: for novices, the number of knobs |
| was affordable at the time and gave ample | | | | switches takes some getting used to, especially in gigs |
| feedback), a good way to satisfy their experimental | | | | where stress can complicate things. |
| sound cravings. By strumming the strings behind the | | | | Once plugged in, one is surprised by the power |
| bridge they could get a unique chiming sound as well | | | | delivered by the pickups. The Jazzmaster has a |
| as produce sympathetic resonance due to the low | | | | sweet sound but which is quite thick and with a |
| break angle over the bridge. Following this rediscovery, | | | | significant output level for single coils. It allows you a bit |
| the Jazzmaster and Jaguar were reintroduced into the | | | | of versatility in terms of sound with good clean tones |
| Fender catalog in 1986 with Japanese 1962 Reissue | | | | that are rich and full. |
| models. | | | | The few sound samples were recorded with a |
| 2008 saw the birth of the "Classic Player" series, | | | | Sennheiser MD 421 microphone in front of a Brunetti |
| made in Mexico and at relatively affordable prices. To | | | | Mercury EL34 amp. Here's a sample of the "clean" |
| celebrate their 50th anniversary a "revision" was in | | | | sound palette of the Jazzmaster: clean1, clean2, clean3, |
| order ... This test will be of a Jazzmaster, a Jaguar | | | | clean4, cleanchords and cleanfunk. And three |
| with single coil pickups, and a Jaguar with Humbuckers. | | | | examples in overdrive: ovd1, ovd2 and ovd3. |
| Face Lift | | | | The Jaguar with single coils is similar to a Telecaster |
| For those who have never laid their hands on a | | | | with its chimey sounds; true happiness for clean-sound |
| Jazzmaster or a Jaguar, the first striking feature is the | | | | lovers! Nevertheless, distorted/overdrive sounds are |
| size of its asymmetric body, larger than that of a | | | | also quite nice: it's got that twang that we all know and |
| Telecaster or a Stratocaster. However, the balance is | | | | love! Examples: dist1, dist2 and dist3. |
| perfect, because the guitar was originally intended to | | | | Lastly, the Jaguar HH, with two humbuckers, is the |
| be played seated (the jazzmen, remember!). The | | | | overdrive king. It's simply a joy to play in drop D with |
| traditional main differences between the two models | | | | the distortion pedal on! It's heavy and fat with sparks |
| are both the short scale on the Jaguar (24 inches as | | | | flying everywhere (ex1, 2 & 3)! Cobain fans will be |
| opposed to the 25.5 inches on the Jazzmaster), and | | | | thrilled. The opportunity to mix in the split pickup sound |
| different pickups: P-90-type single coils on the | | | | gives some interesting results in clean and overdrive |
| Jazzmaster differ from the single Stratocaster-type | | | | (ex1, 2 & 3) and, as said before, gives the guitar |
| ones on the Jaguar. The pickups on the Jazzmaster in | | | | enormous sound possibilities. The knobs can certainly |
| fact have a warmer and rounder sound than those of | | | | be difficult to master at first, but it's worth the effort. |
| the Jaguar, which are brighter. | | | | Conclusion |
| As far as changes go, there are new pickups (Special | | | | It's difficult to to be picky when confronted with these |
| Design Hot Single coils on the Jazzmaster and the | | | | guitars! They look and sound great and are a joy to |
| Jaguar, and Enforcer humbuckers for the Jaguar HH) | | | | play. The only criticism that can be made by |
| with a higher output level and thicker sound than the | | | | Jazzmaster/Jaguar traditionalists might be about the |
| original models. Note that the pickups on the | | | | changes made to the bridge and tremolo location. |
| Jazzmaster have height adjustment screws, as do the | | | | While they facilitate adjustments and improve |
| P-90-type pickups. A Tune-O-Matic-type bridge | | | | intonation to some extent, they slightly change the |
| resolves the "jumping strings" and intonation issues of | | | | original character of these models . But for an average |
| previous models. In addition, the floating tremolo has | | | | price of around $900, Fender delivers high quality |
| been moved in closer to the bridge and the angle of | | | | guitars. Yes, they're made in Mexico, but hold their own |
| the strings in relation to the bridge is now greater. This | | | | when compared to certain more expensive models. It's |
| will increase sustain and reduce sympathetic string | | | | a good reason to take the plunge and buy one of |
| resonances behind the bridge. You lose that little | | | | these mythical guitars! |
| characteristic chiming sound that was obtained by | | | | [+] Look |
| strumming the strings behind the bridge (Sonic Youth | | | | [+] Finish |
| loved that sound). With this new bridge and the the | | | | [+] Neck |
| fact that the tremolo has been moved in closer, it | | | | [+] Pickups |
| loses a little of the character of the original guitar, but | | | | [+] Intonation |
| gains in accuracy and stability. | | | | [+] Price |
| For the maple neck, Fender has chosen a "C" shape, a | | | | [+] Changes that bring the guitars up to date ... |
| rosewood fingerboard, a 9.5 inch radius (flatter than | | | | [-] ... But slightly change their original character |
| the original), 21 medium jumbo frets (for the | | | | [-] I'm hooked. I want one now! |
| Jazzmaster and 22 for the Jaguar). The body is alder | | | | |