Why should I get a FENDER Jazzmaster?

[sirspens]

So, I have a (few) Squire VM Jazzmaster(s). I have one set up with 12-60 jazz style strings and one set up with 10s, which give me two completely different but fantastic sounds. Honestly, I'm not sure how I could be more happy with them.

In your experience / opinion, what does a Fender Jazzmaster offer me that my Squire VM Jazzmaster does not?

Assuming I got something like a Fender Classic Series '60s Jazzmaster, so it is the same basic "real Jazzmaster" setup.

[sunburster]

With a real American Fender you can get a vintage 7.25" radius and vintage-size frets, which are my two favorite features in a neck. If you get an AVRI you also get a killer nitro finish, the best quality parts, wiring and tremolo, and excellent pickups. Not to mention necks that have rolled edges, bone nuts and several other accoutrements. American Fenders feel like quality, plain and simple.

The Classic 60s Lacquer is Mexican-made, and is also a big step up from a Squier. However, you don't get the shielding plates, good tremolo, bridge, or bone nut. The fretboard edges aren't rolled either and the tummy cut is much more shallow and thus less comfy. The case is also of poorer quality, and not MIA. But for the price it's a good upgrade and a fine guitar.

With all that said, unless you really like nitro finishes, you seem quite happy with your two Squiers and therefore I don't see the need for you to buy anything else. I'd wait until you play a MIM or MIA in a store, and see if one blows you away enough to the point you think "I need this".

[mackerelmint]

You get the name. And a finish that melts in your guitar stand. And several levels of quality at varying price points.

There's a reason I prefer modded Squiers.

[TeenageShutdown!]

^ Here comes the Squier Talk noobs...

[Larry Mal]

Nothing! You figured it out. You cracked the code!

[Larsongs]

If you're happy with your VM's a Classic Player isn't gonna be a significantly better Guitar. If you're like most of the other VM Modders you've upgraded to almost American Standards anyhow. Which is great for you to play but not so great when you want to sell it.

In my experience VMJM's have good Pickups & look ok. But the QC is poor. Everyone I bought had something wrong with it. In some cases they weren't worth fixing. They feel & play exactly like they are, an inexpensive Entry level Guitar. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lot of guys just want a Platform to Mod. Great for that.

If want the real deal get an AV65. USA Built & as excellent a Jazzmaster as you can buy. QC in my experience is excellent. IMO they're as good as you can get. If you shop around great deals can be had on Used & sometimes even New.

[mackerelmint]

^^^

Every one he bought had something wrong with it, to wit: none had a flawless setup out of the box for $300. I remember that thread.

[spacecadet]

This is like asking "why should I get a Lexus LS? My Toyota Corolla gets me where I want to go just fine!"

And that's an inarguable point. It most definitely does, and if that's all you want, you should just keep it and not worry about it anymore.

But it's also *not* the point at all. It's not why people buy higher-end stuff, to just get you where you want to go.

I've owned both Fender and Squier Jazzmasters. Fenders have all the things over Squiers already listed, and more. And all that adds up to them looking, feeling and sounding better. Now again, to you these differences may seem minor or even inconsequential, in the same way somebody might not care about having wood and metal panels in a car instead of plastic, or leather seats, or refined and tuned suspension, or acceleration that's a couple seconds faster in the quarter mile. If that's the case, then just stick with your Corolla again - there's no reason for you to upgrade.

Beyond feel, though, even practically speaking Fenders are theoretically more reliable and gigworthy out of the box. They have wood that's dried out for longer before it's used, meaning it shifts less with the seasons. They're better shielded and have thicker wiring. They have better pickups, better pots and better switches that should last longer under harsh playing conditions.

That doesn't mean that every Fender is going to be more reliable in gigging conditions than every Squier, in the same way you might see a 2 year old Lexus in the shop while a 5 year old Corolla's happily motoring along. But it's a generality you can make. And the experience of using one over the other is still different, even if that happens.

It's one of those things where you can either immediately tell the difference or you can't. And if you can't, then just stick with what you've got. But it's not like Fender and Squier are competitors; they're part of the same company and there are reasons why a Squier JM costs $300-$400 and a USA Fender JM costs over $1,000.

btw, the Classic 60's model is missing some of the features of a traditional JM, like the shielding and the trem-loc. Although these can always be added, same as your Squier. But once you add those and a proper case to a Classic 60's, you may as well just consider an MIA Fender of some kind. At that point, you've got basically the same guitar as a 62 AVRI, at the same price. All of these things are part of the cost of an MIA Fender.

[FightingPlankton]

Personal opinion: if it sounds good/plays well for you, don't bother. Personally, I'd upgrade the pickups and be done.
like previous replies, out of the box, fenders are better. But I have a Squier affinity strat that SOUNDS almost as good as my friends highly modded American strat... I got lucky on that one though. We did a blind test of 10 guitars and picked it as our #2 favorite. SD o, if you're happy with tone... don't bother.
if you want a fender because it says fender... u should just buy a PRS

[Embenny]

Look, I own everything from a modded $150 Squier Bullet Mustang to a stock, great-condition "real deal" '66 Jaguar, with Mexican, Japanese, and modern American Fenders in between. I'm no less happy playing my Squier than any other guitar.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a Squier over a Fender. Keyboard Warriors will regurgitate all sorts of "facts" - like that a CP JM will have better build quality than a Squier. But then they'll tell you the CP has a terminal case of bridge radius mismatch that renders it unplayable (I have a stock one, it plays great). So a MIJ will get you those "vintage" specs like the "correct" radius (I have one. It's nice too). But that MIJ has a trem with the holes drilled slightly too close together! And those electronics are on the verge of mechanical failure at all times! (Never mind my '94 MIJ with stock wiring harness that still works a treat, 23 years later)...but you must simply experience the joy of a USA Fender that has rolled fretboard edges and superior American craftsmanship (I have an American Special). But that AmSpec is a crime against god with its tuneomatic! Burn it at the stake! (It plays and sounds amazing though). A vintage one is the only way to go, they just don't make them like they used to! Don't waste your time with anything else!

Except I can put that '66 down and play an entire set with the Bullet Mustang, and be just as happy.

My point is, Some things you can't explain. Like why we're all embracing conventional wisdom in a world that's so unconventional.

[nihilandvoid]

I use to own an AVRI Jazzmaster and a VM Jaguar (different models I know but similar where it counts for comparison), for me the biggest differences were me the quality of the hardware and the feel of the finish on the body and neck. The hardware on my AVRI was much better quality than the VM, the tremolo is more stable and solid, stayed perfectly in tune, the bridge never gave me any trouble, and the tuners held great. The VM tremolo if I used it would send the jag out of tune, I had to change the bridge to a mustang bridge after some of the threaded saddles feel apart, and I remember having to regularly retune it.

Finish wise the neck and body on the AVRI felt much more durable than the VM.

Overall sound wise I loved them both, electronics I never had issues with either. But the other difference was when I bought the AVRI, I got a sexy fender hard case, a vintage style fender strap, and a sense of buying a professional instrument. The jag was an impulse buy and my sort of beater (but was well loved).

The VM guitars are great guitars for sure, but my opinion would be to at least try a AVRI Jazz in a store and see how it compares to you.

I suppose one other advantage would be with what you save in buying a VM you can spend more on serious upgrades like Boutique pick ups and hardware etc :p

[leokula]

I got a single Fender, it's a CIJ candy apple red jaguar. I have other squiers. I would trade my CIJ for 2 squiers if I could, I mean the right ones, would take a CAR squier jag and something else, like a duo sonic or something.

[gusgorman]

I got a single Fender, it's a CIJ candy apple red jaguar. I have other squiers. I would trade my CIJ for 2 squiers if I could, I mean the right ones, would take a CAR squier jag and something else, like a duo sonic or something.

Important to note that Fender CIJ Jassmasters have poorer quality pickups and electronics than the AVRI or AV65 models, and indeed the new MIM Jazzmasters

[Despot]

If you're happy with your Squirer ... then you don't need a Fender.

I don't own a current run/new Fender Jazzmaster anymore - but I've owned a few over the years. My aim was always to find a vintage Jazzmaster, but it took me a while to work up to that.

The only reason that I would buy a Fender over a VM/Squirer is purely cosmetics and vintage correctness. I love dots and binding on a Jazzmaster - always have. When the 65 American Vintage came out I knew I'd buy one - purely based on cosmetics. They also happen to be great guitars, but they're not cheap new ... there are certainly deals to be had on the second hand market now though.

Things that bug me about guitars in order of importance:
1. Pickups that are weak or thin sounding or generally lack character
2. Heavy/dead wood with no resonance
3. QC issues that make it impossible to keep in tune

If your guitar ticks all the boxes in that trio then it doesn't matter what it says on the headstock or where it was made - the best new/production Gibson ES330 I've ever played wasn't even a Gibson ES330 ... it was a chinese made limited run Epiphone Casino as a '61 reissue. That guitar was astonishing it was so good ... and it cost 400 euro. The new Gibson that I tried right beside it cost 2,000. And it wasn't even in the same league as the Epi.

Trust your ears and go with the guitar that makes you smile when you play it.

[Larsongs]

^^^

Every one he bought had something wrong with it, to wit: none had a flawless setup out of the box for $300. I remember that thread.

The rest of the comment was, "compared to other Companies $300-$400 Guitars that are Set up great right out of the box." There's really no excuse for Squier's VM poor QC. Particularly in comparison to a CV in the same price range. Wish they made a CVJM & CV Jag.

Some just can't handle the truth.