Which LH Jazzmaster?
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Which LH Jazzmaster?
HI all,
I'm new to this forum, and always loved fender's offset guitars.
Now I'm really considering getting my very first Jazzmaster. My only "problem"? I am lefthanded.
I was first considering ordering the parts from Warmoth and then put together the guitar myself, but I get the feeling it would me cost as much as getting a new one (if now even a bit more, with shipping an customs...).
Then I went to the next options: the Limited Edition MIJ traditional 60s JM (toward which I think I'll go), and the Squier Classic Vibe 60s JM.
The Squier behing cheaper, it's a cool way to then customize the guitar to my likes, but I?ve ready quite a lot mixed review about the built quality these instruments.
What options would you suggest?
I'm new to this forum, and always loved fender's offset guitars.
Now I'm really considering getting my very first Jazzmaster. My only "problem"? I am lefthanded.
I was first considering ordering the parts from Warmoth and then put together the guitar myself, but I get the feeling it would me cost as much as getting a new one (if now even a bit more, with shipping an customs...).
Then I went to the next options: the Limited Edition MIJ traditional 60s JM (toward which I think I'll go), and the Squier Classic Vibe 60s JM.
The Squier behing cheaper, it's a cool way to then customize the guitar to my likes, but I?ve ready quite a lot mixed review about the built quality these instruments.
What options would you suggest?
- timiscott
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
I'd say always get the best guitar that you can pay for - you won't regret it.
- lamp
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
This is great advice. As a fellow lefty, I’ve bought plenty of guitars over the years, and I have currently in my collection Squier, MIJ and US Fenders. Favourite has to be my Am Pro Jazz, But every Japanese guitar I have had been superb, but little things like left hand pots and knobs that make a difference. Having said that, my classic vibe Tele is just brilliant.
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
I can't say anything about the higher grades, but I picked up a Squier CV Jazzmaster a month or two back and it's great. The quality might be hit or miss, but for $400, it might be worth trying to find one that's good quality. Mine feels amazing, the neck especially. I'd say that it's at least worth it to try if you can find a local shop that has one to try.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
Being lefty that's the problem, since I haven't found any local shops with the Squier CV JM LEFTHANDED in stock... I only found it from a Swiss online music store, which has also the MIJ ones.Shadoweclipse13 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:32 pmI'd say that it's at least worth it to try if you can find a local shop that has one to try.
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
I totally understand. As a lefty myself, I'd never seen a lefty JM in person until July when my local shop had one. It felt great, and I grabbed it. Maybe see if you local shop can get one? If you don't like it, you wouldn't necessarily have to buy it. Or maybe Guitar Center? This is a good reason to go to them as they won't hurt if you don't buy it.gila_crisis wrote: ↑Sat Sep 26, 2020 3:39 amBeing lefty that's the problem, since I haven't found any local shops with the Squier CV JM LEFTHANDED in stock... I only found it from a Swiss online music store, which has also the MIJ ones.Shadoweclipse13 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:32 pmI'd say that it's at least worth it to try if you can find a local shop that has one to try.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
In end I pulled the trigger on the MIJ LE tradiional 60s JM! Also because a friend has a MIJ JM too, and he told me these are superb built instruments.
Looking forward to play it!
Looking forward to play it!
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
And MIJ it was! It just came in today.
First impresions (played unplugged, because I havn't yet got the time to plug it in):
- strings are way too thin for my taste (I suppose 009-042), but the factory setup and intonation are done very well (but I will change these to 013-060 and tune the whole down to B Standard)
- I love the neck profile! Super confortable!
So far super well impressed by this guitar!
First impresions (played unplugged, because I havn't yet got the time to plug it in):
- strings are way too thin for my taste (I suppose 009-042), but the factory setup and intonation are done very well (but I will change these to 013-060 and tune the whole down to B Standard)
- I love the neck profile! Super confortable!
So far super well impressed by this guitar!
Last edited by gila_crisis on Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- alexpigment
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
Congrats on the NGD! The picture is login-required on TGP, so we can't see it unfortunately. Also, 13-60 is a pretty huge leap in string gauge! I predict some serious nut filing in your futuregila_crisis wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:09 amAnd MIJ it was! It just came in today.
First impresions (played unplugged, because I havn't yet got the time to plug it in):
- strings are way too thin for my taste (I suppose 009-042), but the factory setup and intonation are done very well (but I will change these to 013-060 and tune the whole down to B Standard)
- I love the neck profile! Super confortable!
So far super well impressed by this guitar!
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
Try now, I set another photo link! Thank you, actually I putted on the new strings this morning (had setup a bit pickup height), and action and neck tension seams to be fine. Yes I only need to file a bite the nut.alexpigment wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:23 pmCongrats on the NGD! The picture is login-required on TGP, so we can't see it unfortunately. Also, 13-60 is a pretty huge leap in string gauge! I predict some serious nut filing in your futuregila_crisis wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 7:09 amAnd MIJ it was! It just came in today.
First impresions (played unplugged, because I havn't yet got the time to plug it in):
- strings are way too thin for my taste (I suppose 009-042), but the factory setup and intonation are done very well (but I will change these to 013-060 and tune the whole down to B Standard)
- I love the neck profile! Super confortable!
So far super well impressed by this guitar!
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
After few months having this guitar, I did some mods/upgrades to it:
- Mastery bridge and vibrato (wonderful improvement over tuning stability, sustain, and the Mastery vibrato is a wonder to play with, it's a lot more stable and reactive than the japanese unit, plus is built like a tank, I had the feeling it's almost double the weight of the original unit)
- Creamery Alt-88 mid range and 58 pickups (which turned the guitar into a sludgemaster, but without loosing its JM character)
- Gotoh SD91 vintage locking tuner (with thumbwheel and these C-A-R-D-6 fitting between the tuners and headstock, not that I disliked the original vintage tuners, but since ages I use locking tuners on all my guitars).
- I also swapped the tone control caps to SoZo NexGen Blue Molded Caps (maybe it's only me, but I found that caps rated for higher voltages, 400V in this case, have better detailed/consistent sound).
Super happy with the result! Now it's a fun and amazing guitar to play with!
Here's a picture after the first concert I played with it (I do live stream ambients every MOnday evening, as support/opening act for Nik Bärtsch's Ronin):
- Mastery bridge and vibrato (wonderful improvement over tuning stability, sustain, and the Mastery vibrato is a wonder to play with, it's a lot more stable and reactive than the japanese unit, plus is built like a tank, I had the feeling it's almost double the weight of the original unit)
- Creamery Alt-88 mid range and 58 pickups (which turned the guitar into a sludgemaster, but without loosing its JM character)
- Gotoh SD91 vintage locking tuner (with thumbwheel and these C-A-R-D-6 fitting between the tuners and headstock, not that I disliked the original vintage tuners, but since ages I use locking tuners on all my guitars).
- I also swapped the tone control caps to SoZo NexGen Blue Molded Caps (maybe it's only me, but I found that caps rated for higher voltages, 400V in this case, have better detailed/consistent sound).
Super happy with the result! Now it's a fun and amazing guitar to play with!
Here's a picture after the first concert I played with it (I do live stream ambients every MOnday evening, as support/opening act for Nik Bärtsch's Ronin):
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
Black body and white guard? Cool picture, but hard to see specifics.
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
Here you goShadoweclipse13 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:35 amBlack body and white guard? Cool picture, but hard to see specifics.
- Shadoweclipse13
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
Beautiful! I love that matching headstock!! Fender necks look SO good with black headstock faces!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384
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Re: Which LH Jazzmaster?
I'm also a big fan of matching headstocks! It shall be a standard option on fender guitars!
This model was also available in Surf Green and Flamingo Pink, also both w/ matching headstocks.
This model was also available in Surf Green and Flamingo Pink, also both w/ matching headstocks.