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CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 8:24 am
by tune_link
I found a pre order page for this Ice Blue Metallic Jazzmaster that is a CME exclusive coming out later this year. Because I’m newer here maybe this discussion has been had before, but what’s up with things like this always having some clincher that ruins them in some way? This one has a blade switch like the Marr Jaguar and no rhythm circuit as far as I can tell. It seems like it could be cool to mod but the lack of that circuit makes me wonder if there’s no cavity up there and it’d require routing like the AmPro Jazzmasters where the lower half of the guitar is just wood since the switch was moved to the upper horn. Always wanted an ice Blue Jazzmaster or Jag, it has the AV65 pickups in it and looks pretty nice otherwise and the price is way lower than I expected (looks to be about $750 USD new).

Is it weird that this irritates me or is that just par for the course with these things?

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 8:28 am
by Unicorn Warrior
No link?

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 8:30 am
by sirspens
Public service announcement:

Image

https://reverb.com/item/24012435-fender ... -pre-order

Those look like Classic Player pickups, right? The specs say they are "Pure Vintage 65 Reissue Jazzmaster" pickups.

The tremolo placement is vintage, not Classic Player.

It says it is part of the Player series, but has Jazzmaster pickups. And, once again, the Player Series has the Classic Player tremolo placement, not the vintage placement. It also has a toggle switch, whereas this has a blade switch.

But of a unicorn.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 9:26 am
by Mechanical Birds
Hideous

If I were obsessed with the color I’d go with MJT and for another ~$200/$300 have an actual Jazzmaster

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 9:46 am
by Oliveeer
Well this is what the Player series should've been. No humbuckers and traditional trem placement on a low end mexican model.

Maybe these will be a second alternative to the other Player series JM? Just like the Teles come in both HH and SS configurations.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:02 am
by alexpigment
I kinda dig it to be honest. Sure, it's got some things I don't like on it, but it looks like a pretty good modding platform since the routing is all there. And I think the tele 4-way switch could be kinda cool (though that series position could easily sound muddy depending on the pots used). I would probably want to put an American Pro bridge on it as well as those American Performer vintage drop-in tuners, so that's a bit over $100 in mods.

Also, definitely not Pure Vintage 65 pickups in the picture. Either they changed their minds after the picture was taken, or the specs are wrong.

Another use for the route at the top - I do this to almost every Jazzmaster - get two of the same pickups (for example, two pure vintage 65 bridge pickups) and put them in the bridge and neck positions. Then, get a cheap telecaster neck pickup and wire it in after the toggle switch (hot from toggle to ground of pickup wire, hot from pickup wire to the input lug of the volume pot), and put it facing up inside the rhythm circuit cavity. You've then got a hum cancelled Jazzmaster.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:13 am
by tune_link
Is there a rhythm circuit route under there though? Looks like it might be more wood unless y’all know something I didn’t see or read about this thing.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:58 am
by alexpigment
tune_link wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 10:13 am
Is there a rhythm circuit route under there though? Looks like it might be more wood unless y’all know something I didn’t see or read about this thing.
It's listed in the specs.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 11:11 am
by wooderson
It's basically a cheaper American Pro JM, I don't really see a problem? The '60s Classic is still available for people who want a sub-$1k guitar with vintage appointments.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 11:17 am
by alexpigment
wooderson wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 11:11 am
It's basically a cheaper American Pro JM, I don't really see a problem? The '60s Classic is still available for people who want a sub-$1k guitar with vintage appointments.
Not to split hairs, but the price of the Classic went up over a thousand a while back. Not much more, admittedly, but after taxes you're looking at $1100+ USD

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 12:35 pm
by BoringPostcards
Is that a four way blade switch with an extra option of some sort?
Because that’s the only sensible reason to ditch the standard 3 way toggle. Toggle switches are way easier and quicker to change on the fly.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 2:05 pm
by alexpigment
BoringPostcards wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 12:35 pm
Is that a four way blade switch with an extra option of some sort?
Because that’s the only sensible reason to ditch the standard 3 way toggle. Toggle switches are way easier and quicker to change on the fly.
Yes, the specs say it's a 4 way with series and parallel options.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 7:37 pm
by sirspens
alexpigment wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 2:05 pm
BoringPostcards wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 12:35 pm
Is that a four way blade switch with an extra option of some sort?
Because that’s the only sensible reason to ditch the standard 3 way toggle. Toggle switches are way easier and quicker to change on the fly.
Yes, the specs say it's a 4 way with series and parallel options.
Alex is the only one reading the specs. haha

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 8:45 pm
by 601210
Mechanical Birds wrote:
Sat May 18, 2019 9:26 am
Hideous

If I were obsessed with the color I’d go with MJT and for another ~$200/$300 have an actual Jazzmaster
Or swap out the pickguard and the switch and for another ~$60 have an actual jazzmaster.

Or do nothing, and have an actual jazzmaster. Cause it's already an actual jazzmaster. Otherwise the Johnny Marr Jag wouldn't be an actual Jag.

Re: CME Ice Blue Jazzmaster

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 9:58 pm
by CROSS_guitars
Damn! I'm into it!.

Switch is cool. I probably would angle it but it's fine with me.