NGD Classic Player Jazzmaster

[dirtyclinic]

I picked this up used a while ago but never posted pics of it. Classic Player Jazzmaster. I really like the sound of it. It's very ballzy sounding. When I plug it in after playing a Strat or Tele, it's just louder and the pickups are not any closer to the strings than the others. It has that trem system that is closer to the bridge than the original spec, I don't notice it being weird or anything.

[Danley]

Like the Otamatone.

[alexpigment]

Looks really nice. I actually had two of these back when they first released them but each had issues with fretting out in upper frets, so I had to return them. I probably could have resolved it if had known what I know now, but that's how life works I guess. Either way, I always loved the look and feel of these - especially in '08 it was hard to find new Jazzmasters at all.

As for the trem placement, there are purists who will scoff at this. Personally, I think it's a big plus. Solves a lot of issues with no downsides.

Anyway, congrats on the guitar!

[leokula]

I love CP's, specially the sunburst ones, have a jag myself and was pleasantly surprised given the amount of crap they get in this forum.

Enjoy it!

[timiscott]

I own a few Jags and JMs (Squier, MIJ, MIM and AV) and my CP Jag is so obviously excellent that I can only think it's the modernised elements that annoy the purists. Weirdly, I've seen these purists on here quite frequently moaning that Fender don't have any new ideas... Fuck'em.

[Embenny]

Had a CP JM. Fantastic guitar. Can't say one bad thing about it. Yours looks great. JMs are one of the only fenders I still like in sunburst finished. It just looks right on them.

[chemattstry]

Beautiful guitar. I’m really wanting a sunburst JM after seeing some recent NGD in here. As said, it just fits on a JM.

[wproffitt]

Enjoy it! I’ve had a lot of fun with mine over the years. I’ve also modded it quite a bit, especially after a good setup, it has been rock- solid for the last 10 years.

[Danley]

~2007 or whatever, people hated the Classic Player - with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, and P90s.

~10 years later, people love the Mascis, with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, P90s... And gold guard! We're fickle sometimes. Personally - At this point I'd just about take a Classic Player over almost any MIJ Jazzmaster as a player's guitar, they just feel better to me and the MIJ hardware/electronics are flimsy/need to be replaced anyway. I'd change the bridge to a roller to abate paranoia, but that's about it.

[alexpigment]

~2007 or whatever, people hated the Classic Player - with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, and P90s.

~10 years later, people love the Mascis, with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, P90s... And gold guard! We're fickle sometimes. Personally - At this point I'd just about take a Classic Player over almost any MIJ Jazzmaster as a player's guitar, they just feel better to me and the MIJ hardware/electronics are flimsy/need to be replaced anyway. I'd change the bridge to a roller to abate paranoia, but that's about it.

Yeah, I think the bridge is the only thing I'd really want replace on these as well. The pickups were hot compared to my other guitars, but not as hot as the Mascis' pickups. I remember I could get them close to my preference by lowering them quite a bit. And the CP trem is mostly fine - I prefer the screw-in arm actually once you wrap a little plumber's tape around the threads. They clank a little bit when you push down hard, and the lock button is a little difficult to move, but those aren't really deal-breakers.

[wproffitt]

~2007 or whatever, people hated the Classic Player - with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, and P90s.

~10 years later, people love the Mascis, with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, P90s... And gold guard! We're fickle sometimes. Personally - At this point I'd just about take a Classic Player over almost any MIJ Jazzmaster as a player's guitar, they just feel better to me and the MIJ hardware/electronics are flimsy/need to be replaced anyway. I'd change the bridge to a roller to abate paranoia, but that's about it.

Yeah, I think the bridge is the only thing I'd really want replace on these as well. The pickups were hot compared to my other guitars, but not as hot as the Mascis' pickups. I remember I could get them close to my preference by lowering them quite a bit. And the CP trem is mostly fine - I prefer the screw-in arm actually once you wrap a little plumber's tape around the threads. They clank a little bit when you push down hard, and the lock button is a little difficult to move, but those aren't really deal-breakers.

Apparently, there’s a little set screw inside so you can control where the arm stops turning. I broke mine before I figured this out, but it seems like a great feature.
Agreed on the bridge. Mine was a rattly mess. There are lots of good (and not insanely expensive options) out there.

[601210]

~2007 or whatever, people hated the Classic Player - with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, and P90s.

~10 years later, people love the Mascis, with its mis-placed tailpiece, tune-o-matic, P90s... And gold guard! We're fickle sometimes. Personally - At this point I'd just about take a Classic Player over almost any MIJ Jazzmaster as a player's guitar, they just feel better to me and the MIJ hardware/electronics are flimsy/need to be replaced anyway. I'd change the bridge to a roller to abate paranoia, but that's about it.

To be fair, the Mascis was like half the price? I bet if they were priced the same as the CP with the same specs it would have been much harder getting them into people's hands in the first place.

Anyone who owns a CP pretty much agrees they're fine guitars, but not many people were willing to overlook the specs to begin with. The JMJM was the first (almost) proper Squier Jazzmaster so it kinda took the world by storm.

[hwestman]

Enjoy it! I’ve had a lot of fun with mine over the years. I’ve also modded it quite a bit, especially after a good setup, it has been rock- solid for the last 10 years.

Is that a Compton bridge? How did you get it to intonate since it isn't adjustable? I have one on a Gretsch but on that I could move it.

[BarnyardCoral]

Looks really nice. I actually had two of these back when they first released them but each had issues with fretting out in upper frets, so I had to return them. I probably could have resolved it if had known what I know now, but that's how life works I guess.

I had that same problem with my CPJM. I also found it odd that they would pair a 9.5" radius neck with a 12" radius bridge, and maybe that was part of the problem. I actually found a guy who was willing to trade his 12" radius Roadhouse Strat neck for my CPJM neck, and now my guitar plays better than ever. The 6105 tall/narrow frets might help too.

[Mechanical Birds]

Closer trem thing is annoying from a technical standpoint but in terms of what it actually does, in my experience, it helps with trying to get heavier stuff out of these guitars. That was my whole concept with modding my mascis thing and it slays in ways the typical trem-placement guitars simply don’t.