Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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Cymbaline87
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Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by Cymbaline87 » Tue May 19, 2020 8:59 pm

I've been listening to Yo la tengo a lot lately, and I was wondering if any of you know anything about Ira's cool candy apple red jazzmaster. It looks vintage, pre '65, he beats the crap out of that poor thing and it definitely has a story to tell.

This is one my favourite videos with that guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF4wbyrNyY
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgjEwQd1ReWbUUPb_oIyjg

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JamesSGBrown
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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by JamesSGBrown » Wed May 20, 2020 1:29 am

Legend. Stock bridge too.

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s_mcsleazy
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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by s_mcsleazy » Wed May 20, 2020 10:05 am

yeah. when i seen ylt in glasgow a few years ago, i noticed he still had the stock bridge. but he was using string gauges on par with me.

i still think my fave ylt guitar is his coronado
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by adamrobertt » Wed May 20, 2020 10:07 am

Love this clip. I watch it from time to time. Great performance, sweet guitar.

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takeittothemall
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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by takeittothemall » Wed May 20, 2020 2:51 pm

Ira has a great collection. He is one of the reasons I started playing Jazzmasters (and one of the reasons I have a son named Ira).
great OSG deals with: ncarey13, skip.
great TGP deals with: drjoel, 12strings, Tim P, angrybandnerd, echobaseone, guitarpkr67, jcampbell331

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Cymbaline87
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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by Cymbaline87 » Wed May 20, 2020 3:01 pm

Yes, I noticed he has quite a few interesting guitars in his collection, but couldn't find much info on any of them. :unsure:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMgjEwQd1ReWbUUPb_oIyjg

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takeittothemall
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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by takeittothemall » Fri May 22, 2020 10:44 am

As far as I can tell, he plays:

The vintage CAR Jazzmaster with matching headstock and now with non-vintage tortoise guard
Vintage d&b sunburst jaguar
Vintage stripped to the wood Strat (which he's apparently had since he was a kid: https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... aint-broke)
Vintage CAR Coronado with matching headstock
Eastwood Messenger: https://eastwoodguitars.com/blogs/artists/ira-kaplan
Vintage Fender Coronado:
60s Gibson J-45
Several other acoustics
MIJ sunburst Custom Telecaster
Purple Sparkle Danelectro 12-string
great OSG deals with: ncarey13, skip.
great TGP deals with: drjoel, 12strings, Tim P, angrybandnerd, echobaseone, guitarpkr67, jcampbell331

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August
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Re: Ira Kaplan's Jazzmaster

Post by August » Fri May 22, 2020 1:13 pm

I've never owned one (or really wanted to?), but seeing YLT's performance on KEXP has made me start parts shopping for a Strat build. I freaking love that band.

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