Re: Woohoo! Just ordered my first Jazzmaster - couple questions

spacecadet · Post by **spacecadet** » Tue May 01, 2007 8:37 am

So after 15 years of staring longingly through guitar store windows, I've finally taken the plunge and ordered my first Jazzmaster - a CIJ model in candy apple red (or, as the Japanese call it, "Old Candy Red") with matching headstock.

Now, a couple questions...

First, I really am gonna need a red tortoise pickguard at some point, but Ishibashi tells me that Fender Japan doesn't make them anymore and I know the US ones don't fit Japanese JM's. Does anyone know of a source for import red tortoise pickguards? Or is it just a question of watching ebay until one comes up...

Second, do US bridge covers fit CIJ Jazzmasters? Not a huge deal but I like the look of bridge covers and it's another item I can't find in any Japanese web shop.

Any other tips for a first-time JM owner? (I know about the Japanese pickups and whatnot; I'll probably replace them at some point.)

sexy andy · Post by **sexy andy** » Tue May 01, 2007 9:06 am

I've heard that the nice red tortoise pg's from allparts.com fit the japanese jazzmasters. the us bridge covers fit the CIJs as well I think

berlinbetty · Post by **berlinbetty** » Tue May 01, 2007 9:50 am

Did you go for the blocks and binding? I got my refund check yesterday, so it's just a matter of time...

spacecadet · Post by **spacecadet** » Tue May 01, 2007 9:58 am

berlinbetty wrote: Did you go for the blocks and binding? I got my refund check yesterday, so it's just a matter of time...

Nah, went for dots. The shipping is really a killer from Japan, so I couldn't see spending extra for b&b. Plus I think dots are just more my style. The blocks look a little too sort of old-school guitar bling for me, and I actually think they look kind of weird on Fender guitars - I'm more used to seeing them on Gibsons. I wish I could have gotten dots and binding, but then I probably wouldn't have wanted to pay extra for that.

sexy andy wrote:I've heard that the nice red tortoise pg's from allparts.com fit the japanese jazzmasters. the us bridge covers fit the CIJs as well I think

Thanks, I looked at allparts.com and seems like they've got em, but a little expensive. Still, if I can't find them anywhere else, I guess it's worth it. I gotsta have me some red tortoise!

Anyone else that can confirm that about the bridge covers?

Surfoverb · Post by **Surfoverb** » Tue May 01, 2007 10:21 am

Cools! Congrats. :

Im gonna buy a Jazz this year. Right after I buy a cab for my showman, then a reverb tank. So, 3rd on the list is a black Jazzmaster (avri)...The only thing Im afraid of is that I wont want to play my Jag after I get a Jazz.

Why doesnt the bridge cover come with?

spacecadet · Post by **spacecadet** » Tue May 01, 2007 10:34 am

Surfoverb wrote: Why doesnt the bridge cover come with?

CIJ's just don't, I guess. Unless they throw it in the box and don't show it or advertise it on the web site.

The CIJ's aren't strictly "reissues" from what I understand, so they're not really trying to be totally period accurate. I don't think the Japanese market really cares about period details like bridge covers, especially when most people probably just remove them.

The Baron · Post by **The Baron** » Tue May 01, 2007 11:22 am

Congrats Spacecadet. I just got my Jazzmaster from Ishibashi with b & b in old candy apple red.

Nope, they dont come with bridge covers. Better start looking now for a decent case if you dont have one.

The bag it comes with is a joke.

Enjoy the Jazzmaster as I am.

Dan

seasick croc · Post by **seasick croc** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:20 pm

I put a US bridge cover on my CIJ Jazzmaster. It was a little too big at first, but I bent it slightly with pliers and now it fits beautifully. Maybe wrap the bridge cover in a rag before attacking it with tools, to fend off scratches.

Daysleeper · Post by **Daysleeper** » Tue May 01, 2007 2:36 pm

Buy a red Tortoise guard from all parts. they are nice and they only fit import Jazzmasters. That's what I have on mine:

mjet · Post by **mjet** » Tue May 01, 2007 3:31 pm

The Baron wrote: Better start looking now for a decent case if you dont have one.

The bag it comes with is a joke.

Dan

I got one with an Ishibashi-ordered guitar as well. They're worthless for protection but they're good for when you want to sell something and not give up any of your hard cases, though - you can write "with original Fender gigbag" and you're not lying.

berlinbetty · Post by **berlinbetty** » Tue May 01, 2007 3:42 pm

Oh, man...seeing that red on red almost makes me want to give up my sunburst.

Maybe one day I'll be rich and I can have a Jazzmaster room and a tele room and an SG room...

StevenO · Post by **StevenO** » Tue May 01, 2007 4:11 pm

brianjdc · Post by **brianjdc** » Tue May 01, 2007 4:51 pm

that red on red looks hot

spacecadet · Post by **spacecadet** » Tue May 01, 2007 5:20 pm

Red on red is where it's at.

My original inspiration for that combo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASF30_WXL9E

Beautiful, with the matching headstock and all, though I'm honestly not sure that pickguard is actually red. But I want mine to be. Before I saw that video again (it's been years), I was all set to go sunburst. My next guitar will definitely be sunburst.

I'll probably pick up a pearloid guard eventually too, though - those are also hot on red guitars.

Pumpkin · Post by **Pumpkin** » Tue May 01, 2007 5:36 pm

Red on red is nice,looks like a raspberry my jag has red on vintage white...reminds me of them allens strawberry and cream lollies!