Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

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blacktiger
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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by blacktiger » Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:50 am

When you said “Princeton” I guess I didn't read too closely and assumed you were talking about blackface or silverface. I’m surprised you’re having this issue with a brownface. I always found them to pair very well with Jazzmasters, though I never owned a Princeton. I did own a Concert, a Super, a Bandmaster, and a Deluxe at one time or another, and all sounded great. I was pairing them with vintage JMs (and therefore vintage pickups), and they had original speakers and NOS American tubes, all of which may have made a difference. Other than brown Fenders, I always thought Voxes (vintage AC10 and AC50 and Korg AC30) and Marshalls (vintage 20 watt head with 1x12 cab) sounded great with JMs. The AC50 was especially great. It used EL34s and was not cathode biased (unlike the smaller Voxes), so it was a really great mix of Vox and Marshall sounds.
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deluxejazzmaster
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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by deluxejazzmaster » Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:50 am

I switch between my Fender 57 Custom Pro and my 64 Custom Deluxe Reverb. Both have their strong points... I play clean. I use an AV65... playing with both is so good but is a pain to lug out.
It could always be worse

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by BarnyardCoral » Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:17 pm

Out of curiosity, any play their JM through a Bassman? Tweed or BF, doesn't matter.
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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by marqueemoon » Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:31 pm

BarnyardCoral wrote:
Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:17 pm
Out of curiosity, any play their JM through a Bassman? Tweed or BF, doesn't matter.
I had a blackface Bassman head for a long time. Just sold a few days ago. It wasn't a favorite with a JM, but I also prefer a little amp breakup and some sponginess.

Good choice if you want a pedal platform or just a healthy amount of clean headroom.

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Johno
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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by Johno » Fri May 01, 2020 1:55 am

A nice article including some amp suggestions.
https://mmguitarbar.wordpress.com/?s=Tr ... mit=Search

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by 16SJMD » Mon May 11, 2020 5:38 pm

Very new to this site but I'm gonna jump in here with my 2c. Tweed Deluxe 5e3. Its a mid hump amp and my squire deluxe JM sounds very clean and robust on #2 of the bright channel. You must use a 12ay7...not ax7 inV1. Theres a powerful clean there.
Cheers

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by Ftoronado » Tue May 12, 2020 2:10 am

deluxejazzmaster wrote:
Fri Apr 17, 2020 7:50 am
I switch between my Fender 57 Custom Pro and my 64 Custom Deluxe Reverb. Both have their strong points... I play clean. I use an AV65... playing with both is so good but is a pain to lug out.
Why not both ON at the same time ? Did You try this setup ? :)

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by StevenO » Tue May 12, 2020 3:55 am

I have a '61 Fender Princeton and it's not bright or dark, it's just not sparkley or mid-scooped like on a Blackface or Silverface. And not nearly as bass-heavy, for better or for worse.

My first suggestion would be turning the tone knob down on the amp. Those amps have very interactive tone knobs and I usually keep mine anywhere from 4-7. That should be enough to tame the highs on a Jazzmaster. Otherwise, try the tone knob on the guitar.

I have 250k pots in my Jazzmaster because I don't like how brittle Jazzmasters can sometimes sound. But mine through my Princeton sounds perfectly fine to my ears.

Do you have any other guitars you can play through the amps that would give you insight into whether or not you might just not like the guitar or amp, or a combination of both?

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by deluxejazzmaster » Wed May 13, 2020 8:06 am

[/quote]

Why not both ON at the same time ? Did You try this setup ? :)
[/quote]

I have-it sounds thick. I might invest in an ab switch as well to give me all three options.
It could always be worse

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hexes
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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by hexes » Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:55 am

i favor ampeg V series or brown fender amps with jazzmasters. I've never found a JM particularly bright, though. must be how I play. interesting that OPs actual 62 has too much high end. i bet a tech would love to have that on their bench.

also, my buddy had two silver princeton reissues. His complaint was actually the loose bass on those amps. overall i thought they were great with his AVRI JM.

The ampeg V series have the most glorious active midrange shaping circuit that I wish i could have built into a pedal.

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by Larsongs » Fri Jun 05, 2020 5:33 am

j mascis wrote:
Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:15 pm
Hey guys.

I have a '62 princeton and a small supro.
I almost changed the pots out from my JM and lowered them to 500k or less because it is just so darn bright through the Princeton, and that's the amp I playj the most. The other amp stays at our practice space so I don't get to play it much and don't use my JM at practice. Today I brought home the supro and tested the JM out on it, and sure enough it sounds way better. The Supro amp has more mids, in general, with all my guitars.

I guess my questions are:

1. Why would the Supro sound so much better? Does the JM need mids to tame the highs?
2. Are '62 Princetons known as bright amps? I always thought they had the reputation of being dark. What would cause the amp to sound bright? I'm wondering if I should bring it in to have serviced or this is normal for a '62 and a JM pairing. I have the original speaker in it.
3. What amp do you think makes a good pairing with the JM? I always thought a Fender...but the Supro sounds so much more balanced. I'd be curious to hear some other suggestions of amps that tame the highs and balance out a JM.

Thanks!
Has anyone asked if the 62 Princeton is completely Stock? Or have the Tubes or Speakers been modified?

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by tune_link » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:25 am

hexes wrote:
Thu Jun 04, 2020 11:55 am
i favor ampeg V series or brown fender amps with jazzmasters. I've never found a JM particularly bright, though. must be how I play. interesting that OPs actual 62 has too much high end. i bet a tech would love to have that on their bench.

also, my buddy had two silver princeton reissues. His complaint was actually the loose bass on those amps. overall i thought they were great with his AVRI JM.

The ampeg V series have the most glorious active midrange shaping circuit that I wish i could have built into a pedal.
Could not agree more re: Ampeg V series. I've had (and sadly blown up) two vintage V4s and despite how much of a pain in the ass they were to lug around they sounded absolutely incredible. I have a Fender Twin now and I really like it but if I could find another V4 that I was certain wouldn't end up with major issues later on I would go back to it in a heartbeat.

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by Larsongs » Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:12 am

I play my AV65 JM thru RI 65 Princeton Reverb, 65 DRRI, Twin, Vox AC10 (modded) & AC15 with Blue.. My completely Stock AV65 sounds great thru all my Amps..

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by marqueemoon » Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:26 am

I’m a big fan of the Swart sound. The Swart spring reverb is a little airier without the pronounced “clank” some Fender amps have, and they have a very musical midrange and natural breakup. Also great sounding tremolo. I got an STR Tremolo late last year and recently picked up an AST. Very flattering amps to a JM.

Not cheap, but they come up used pretty regularly.

I wouldn’t recommend if you’re looking for a pedal platform or if you need a tons of clean headroom or bass heft for surf or heavier music. Also most models don’t have a master volume, though they sell their own attenuators (no personal experience with those).

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Re: Jazzmaster -- best amp pairing

Post by reserves » Mon Jun 15, 2020 12:25 am

marqueemoon wrote:
Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:31 pm
BarnyardCoral wrote:
Tue Apr 28, 2020 3:17 pm
Out of curiosity, any play their JM through a Bassman? Tweed or BF, doesn't matter.
I had a blackface Bassman head for a long time. Just sold a few days ago. It wasn't a favorite with a JM, but I also prefer a little amp breakup and some sponginess.

Good choice if you want a pedal platform or just a healthy amount of clean headroom.

I’ve always used a Bassman with my JM’s. Had various ones over the years. 50/100/135.

I settled with the 135 as I don’t want the amp to breakup, I use pedals for that sound.

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