AV 65 vs Am Original Jazzmaster

[northernlights]

I had am original 60s jazzmaster and didnt like the quality of guitar. I sold that and i wonder if i was unlucky and bought bad one. There are av 65 jazzmasters on discount, should i get it or buy another am original? Im leaning on to buy av 65 though i wonder what you think. Thanks

[Mechanical Birds]

I feel like without these threads this place would almost die but my god. I’m really not being a jerk, I swear, but it’s like, what freely available and easily attained info do people need to see us basically copy and paste in here?

These guitars are similar in a lot of ways. Differences seem minor to some and major to others - radius, frets, a big one is the finish but personally I like the way they do finishes in the nitro style that isn’t how they did the AV65s.

I’d say you got unlucky. They’re amazing guitars.

[Embenny]

I’d say you got unlucky. They’re amazing guitars.

Yep. Or you just don't like them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

There are lots of perfectly good guitars that don't gel with me for whatever reason.

Do you roll the dice on another? It depends. Can you return it? Will you be eating ramen noodles until St. Paddy's Day if you buy it? Will this be the guitar that breaks the camel's back, causing your significant other to set your instruments on fire in the dead of night and leave you to perish in a fiery inferno of nitrocellulose lacquer fumes?

There are many factors to consider.

[zip73]

AV65’s are great. Have the Wildwood version myself. Highly recommend.

[blackbox]

AV65 is in an odd place right now price wise, but I'm betting they do well for themselves as the years go by

[wooderson]

The real question is what didn't you like about the 'quality of the guitar'? Without knowing that, it's hard to guess what's better for you.

If you didn't like the pickups, bridge or tremolo, they're going to be the same on an AV65 as your AO.
If you didn't like the radius and frets, they're going to be different on the AV65.
The finish is different but if you can hear the difference in a flash coat nitro and one with an undercoat you should be studied by medical science.

[Francer]

I have AV65s and couldn’t be happier with them, I’ve heard similar things from AO owners (I’ve never played one myself) but I have no reason to doubt them. As others have said, maybe you got unlucky, maybe they’re not the guitars for you, or perhaps you just needed more time to bond and a decent set up. The specs are so similar you are very unlikely to notice a night and day difference between the two.

[northernlights]

The real question is what didn't you like about the 'quality of the guitar'? Without knowing that, it's hard to guess what's better for you.

If you didn't like the pickups, bridge or tremolo, they're going to be the same on an AV65 as your AO.
If you didn't like the radius and frets, they're going to be different on the AV65.
The finish is different but if you can hear the difference in a flash coat nitro and one with an undercoat you should be studied by medical science.

frets were needed to level they were really bad, the paint material on these series are really bad. i got also american original 60s strat. i got this issue on this guitar too. the guitar wasnt even 9.5 radius, it was 9 lol i've heard many great things about av 65 i think i'll buy it, thanks guys.

[Kwyjibo]

The finish is different but if you can hear the difference in a flash coat nitro and one with an undercoat you should be studied by medical science.

hahahahaa

[DavidG]

The real question is what didn't you like about the 'quality of the guitar'? Without knowing that, it's hard to guess what's better for you.

If you didn't like the pickups, bridge or tremolo, they're going to be the same on an AV65 as your AO.
If you didn't like the radius and frets, they're going to be different on the AV65.
The finish is different but if you can hear the difference in a flash coat nitro and one with an undercoat you should be studied by medical science.

frets were needed to level they were really bad, the paint material on these series are really bad. i got also american original 60s strat. i got this issue on this guitar too. the guitar wasnt even 9.5 radius, it was 9 lol i've heard many great things about av 65 i think i'll buy it, thanks guys.

Complete opposite experience with my AO jag, it's pretty much flawless. Replaced a Johnny Marr Jag with no regrets at all.

[sunburster]

You can find well-made and poorly-made Fenders at nearly every price point. You might pick up another AO and it's flawless, you might pick up an AV65 and it's got issues. Or vice versa.

[Debaser]

Without any other info, I’d assume you got a lemon. Keeping looking, try out other AOs, AVs. Only way to know. I’m picky when it comes to that kinda cash, and I try before I buy as much as possible, if not I bug the hell out of shops for more info and best selection.

[Marc]

I have a Firemist Silver Av65 (matching headstock not the Wildwood version the ltd run version with standard 7.25 radius). Quality is superb - it’s the closest reissue I’ve seen - the differences between it and the vintage 1965 LPB I owned some years ago are minuscule. The neck shape is spot on. It chips easily but I prefer the flash coat over the newer models. They only thing I want to change is the pickups... they sound excellent but don’t quite have that CBS era grey bobbin sound. I’m looking at either a set of Klein ‘65s or ‘69s but I’m leaning towards the ‘69s. The weight is about the same as my real ‘65 as well at about 8.2 pounds.

I’m looking for a Strat but I will be going for either an AV65 or AV59 I don’t like the newer finishes as the colours aren’t right on the newer models - they stopped doing the solid ‘targetburst’ where the yellow is opaque and the White looks too yellow. Also, the pick guards were super accurate on the Avs - correct bevel on the white plastic ‘65 and the ‘59 actually used real celluloid nitrate. Now they are back to mint green plastic. I just passed my probation in my new job today so I may even go custom shop now things are more stable... there’s a new model ‘59 NOS Stratocaster with correct chocolate burst finish and real green celluloid guard... having said that I’ve seen a beautiful metallic sky blueburst NOS ‘62 JM. Crazy money though!