AVRI65 Thoughts?

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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FatsoForgotso
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AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by FatsoForgotso » Tue Feb 11, 2020 7:44 am

Morning,

I have long lusted after an AVRI65 in a particular finish, matching headstock thin skin blah blah. Definitely far from necessary but I have the means and one has popped up on my radar. Given the two offsets I play 99% of the time are a little more stripped/hot rodded in design and I unfortunately don’t have the option to play it, I wanted some general feedback on these models, especially in 2020, against other traditional spec options. Mainly are the small differences on this run vs others on the line today like finish and pick up options worth it? How do you guys feel about these holding value over the long term? I feel like the current offerings don’t quite tick off all the boxes these did. Anyone have an opinion on the Mid 60’s C shape? I play two fatbacks from Warmoth religiously so that’s got me a bit hesitant as well.

Cheers!

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Ridgeback
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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Ridgeback » Tue Feb 11, 2020 7:59 am

I've owned eight JMs over the years, including Vintage, CS, MIJ, AVRI62, and AV65. The Wildwood Thin Skin AV65 I have now is as nice as any except the CS one I probably shouldn't have sold. Great pups, and I like the modern radius and larger frets. The custom color and matching headstock are icing on the cake. Neck profiles are too personal for me to comment on and I think the Thin Skins tend to hold their value pretty well after the "drive it new off the lot" depreciation is taken into account. I bought mine used.

My experience with the AV65 TS Jags wasn't as positive but I only owned one for a few months and have only played two. Pretty small sample size. I preferred the AVRI62 I owned to the AV65 Jag but my keeper is a refin 64.

My 2 cents.
Last edited by Ridgeback on Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:20 am, edited 2 times in total.

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timiscott
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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by timiscott » Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:33 am

I have an AV65 JM and it's a beautiful guitar. However, it has a chunky neck that took a lot of getting used to. I had it for about a year before I started to really get along with it - it just felt wrong somehow. In desperation, and turning to something I really didn't want to do, I stuck 11s on it. Suddenly, it totally felt and played like a guitar that price should play and feel. AV/PV 65 pickups for Jags and JMs are utterly outstanding too... as is the trem unit. Beautiful thing!

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by zip73 » Tue Feb 11, 2020 2:23 pm

The AV65 line are the best Jag & JM I’ve owned. Buy now.

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by SummerLeftMe » Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:33 pm

I have an AV65 Jaguar that I love. It's an FSR sonic blue with satin neck finish so not a thin skin AV65.
I do have a thin skin AVRI 62 Jag which I also love. Burgundy mist with matching headstock :-*

Both are beautiful guitars. I prefer the feel of the AV65 a little more. The neck just feels nicer to me.
Plus I realized I don't care for the big frets on the thin skins. Thin skin modern radius doesn't bother me at all but the frets are really big.
I have actually thought of putting smaller frets on it, cause I love everything else about it.

I have really been wanting an AV65 Jazzmaster now.

So if you can get one, I say do it! They are amazing guitars.

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Mechanical Birds » Tue Feb 11, 2020 8:57 pm

No idea if they changed them
Once the actual AV65 line got replaced by the AO (yr talking Thin Skin, right?) but if they didn’t I will say this until the day I die - not only will these go down as the best Fender replica/reissue guitars, but I really think will be the high water mark for replica/reissue guitars in general. Custom Shops are one thing, but in terms of “hey I’m buying this guitar new and want it to be a good solid example of what this would have been like during this guitar’s original run” as far as I’ve ever experienced, the AV65 guitars were unfuckwithable. I’ve owned 3 of the Jazzmasters and a Jaguar and every one of them was a great guitar.

As far as value - had a guy lined up to buy my OTM Thin Skin for $2500 before deciding to keep it. That’s like $200 more than it was new. Now, the OTM was the quickest to sell out/most popular one, and they only did 50, and then Fender started using it on the AO60s ones and I dunno if that affected things one way or the other, but I don’t think you’re gonna have to worry about losing out on any kind of investment because you’ll fucking love and never wanna part with it once you get one. Are you eyeing the CFM one of reverb for like $1900 or whatever? That thing looks sick as hell


I’d also like to suggest you go and shop for Thin Skins in general and I think you’ll quickly see that they’re rare as hell to find in general, let alone a specific color or whatever. I’d give anything for them to do a 66 thin skin Jaguar series OMG. Lake Placid, Black, maybe Dakota Red or some kinda big flake sparkle deal

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Larsongs » Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:31 pm

I have a 4-5 year old Olympic White AV65 Jazzmaster which I bought new. Outstanding build quality & excellent Player with great a sounding Pickups.. It's as close as you can get to a vintage 60's Jazzmaster.. I have a friend who had one that I've played.

The CS may be better but not that sure that they really are...

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by JamesSGBrown » Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:54 pm

AV65 Jaguar is the best Jaguar I have ever played, ever. I've only ever played one AV65 JM and it was the same story. Incredible guitars. Better than the vintage examples I've played.

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Mechanical Birds
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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Mechanical Birds » Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:03 am

I just meant custom shop

Which to me has always seemed like you’re buying an AVRI with a phoney relic job basically at 500% markup

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Embenny » Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:31 am

Which one, AV65 or thin skin? The thin skins have different radius and frets and play very differently as a result.

I don't generally like big frets or flatter radii. I had a thin skin JM in the past and own an AV65 JM. They were both equally great guitars but the rounder radius and slightly smaller frets of the AV65 suit me best. It's as good a JM as you can find, its playability, fit, finish, feel - it's the best JM I've ever owned.
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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by greens » Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:39 am

Mechanical Birds wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:03 am
I just meant custom shop

Which to me has always seemed like you’re buying an AVRI with a phoney relic job basically at 500% markup
Yeah, it's interesting that the relic'ing the Fender CS does it just so over the top and fake looking. I guess that is what people want though?

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Marc » Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:36 am

I have a Firemist Silver 1965 AVRI JM. FSR.

It’s dead on the near mint real LPB JM I used to own. Everything is as close as you could get.

Yes the necks are a little chunky but I got used to it.

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Arthon » Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:59 am

greens wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:39 am
Mechanical Birds wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:03 am
I just meant custom shop

Which to me has always seemed like you’re buying an AVRI with a phoney relic job basically at 500% markup
Yeah, it's interesting that the relic'ing the Fender CS does it just so over the top and fake looking. I guess that is what people want though?
I have 3 Custom Shop. None of them are relics... Believe it or not (you probably wont), it's better then AVRI, AV or AO series. Is it 2k-3k$ better?? That's subjective... But some argue that Squier Classic Vibe with some mods are nearly equal to Americans Reissue, so...
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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by Mechanical Birds » Fri Feb 14, 2020 9:45 am

Arthon wrote:
Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:59 am
greens wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:39 am
Mechanical Birds wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:03 am
I just meant custom shop

Which to me has always seemed like you’re buying an AVRI with a phoney relic job basically at 500% markup
Yeah, it's interesting that the relic'ing the Fender CS does it just so over the top and fake looking. I guess that is what people want though?
I have 3 Custom Shop. None of them are relics... Believe it or not (you probably wont), it's better then AVRI, AV or AO series. Is it 2k-3k$ better?? That's subjective... But some argue that Squier Classic Vibe with some mods are nearly equal to Americans Reissue, so...
I’ve played a few and they were great guitars but so much of any Fender is hardware and pickups, which only reach a certain tier regardless of the price level. So as you said it’s definitely subjective but it seems like the only real upgrade is like the finish - and their relic stuff looks great a lot of the time even, just maybe not at a level where I’d be able to justify the up charge

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Re: AVRI65 Thoughts?

Post by greens » Fri Feb 14, 2020 1:10 pm

Arthon wrote:
Fri Feb 14, 2020 6:59 am
greens wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:39 am
Mechanical Birds wrote:
Thu Feb 13, 2020 9:03 am
I just meant custom shop

Which to me has always seemed like you’re buying an AVRI with a phoney relic job basically at 500% markup
Yeah, it's interesting that the relic'ing the Fender CS does it just so over the top and fake looking. I guess that is what people want though?
I have 3 Custom Shop. None of them are relics... Believe it or not (you probably wont), it's better then AVRI, AV or AO series. Is it 2k-3k$ better?? That's subjective... But some argue that Squier Classic Vibe with some mods are nearly equal to Americans Reissue, so...
Oh I have no doubt they are great guitars, I just don't like a lot of the relic'ing they do. it doesn't hold a candle to, say, Historic Makeovers or even Danocaster.

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