Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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Ozone7
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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Ozone7 » Sat May 01, 2021 10:51 pm

Great.
Sounds like a Japanese then.
Much like the ‘96 neck I built a Jaguar around last year.

Final question: is there a US model with a skinny neck in case I find some cash down the back of the sofa?

Thanks for the AO info. Couldn’t be sure the neck was the same as the ‘65.

Thanks everyone.

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Ozone7 » Sat May 01, 2021 11:14 pm

Actually:

Any info on 2010 ‘66 Crafted in Japan?

Or E-series Fujigen Made in Japan?

Specifically the neck profile?

Thanks!

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Ceylon » Sun May 02, 2021 5:17 am

Ozone7 wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 11:14 pm
Actually:

Any info on 2010 ‘66 Crafted in Japan?

Or E-series Fujigen Made in Japan?

Specifically the neck profile?

Thanks!
The Fujigen E-series years was Fender Japan's finest hour, according to many. If you get the chance to pick one of those up, I'd easily take that over a 2010 production one. I played a E-series Jaguar a few years ago, and owned an E-series Stratocaster for a long while, and if those are any indication the neck should be to your liking.
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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by tune_link » Sun May 02, 2021 6:41 am

tammyw wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 8:55 pm
tune_link wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 3:37 am
The Inoran Jazzmasters should all be Japanese. I’ve never seen a Mexican one. That wouldn’t make sense. I’m guessing maybe the person listing it made a mistake in the posting. They did come in black and white if I’m not mistaken.
It's this one I'm pretty sure, they added a buzz-stop and marketed a Mexican Road Worn as an Inoran model https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMQT0oNmukc

I think there was a blue MiM Inoran model, also.

And of course there was also Fender Custom Shop Inoran models made in USA.

Sorry to get off on a tangent. I would choose a Japanese model practically every time, I've never had a real disappointment or lemon like I've had with some Mexican models.
Well damn! I stand corrected. That’s really interesting to me. All of the Inoran JM’s look really cool. I had no idea there was a MIM one let alone an American edition.

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Ozone7 » Sun May 02, 2021 11:54 am

Missed the E series.

Gutted.

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by JSett » Sun May 02, 2021 1:16 pm

From personal experience I'd always go MIJ over Mexican as it's easier to upgrade parts than build quality and finish.

A MIJ Jazzmaster with a few hundred thrown in on electronics and trem will give you a guitar that looks, feels and sounds amazing.

I haven't tried a Mexican one for many many years, however, so that's based on old models and fuzzy memories.
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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by fisonic » Mon May 03, 2021 2:09 am

Ozone7 wrote:
Sat May 01, 2021 10:51 pm

Final question: is there a US model with a skinny neck in case I find some cash down the back of the couch.
AVRI 62 versions have a slim neck, as do the AVRI thin skins. The thin skins differ in having tall(6505 I think) & a 9.5 radius. I’d sell the couch to upgrade to one of these two.

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Larsongs » Mon May 03, 2021 9:56 am

IMO the AV65’s are as good as you can get other than CS or Vintage.

I was very tempted to buy a Lacquer 60’s MIM.. I compared it to an AV65 & both sound very close.. The Lacquer 60’s has much of the same USA content as the AV65... For 1/3 the cost..

I bought the AV65 but would’ve been very happy with the Lacquer 60’s.. It was more the snob thing I guess..

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Square Daddio » Mon May 03, 2021 12:27 pm

I have an AO '60s JM. I'd say that the neck is full, not huge. Huge would be the AV 52 Tele. I love the neck as it fits my hand perfectly. It's referred to as a "60 C neck. It is fuller than the Modern C, which Fender uses on many current production MIM guitars. A bit too thin for me. Even if you find that you don't like the neck, you owe it to yourself to try an AO Jazzmaster. The build quality is superb. Nothing needs to be swapped out unless you're into that thing.

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by koiom » Mon May 03, 2021 4:54 pm

I've got a couple of Japanese JM's and a Japanese Jag
I owned an AO JM for a few weeks, but couldn't gel with the feel of the neck after playing skinnier Japanese necks for years prior.
I've since purchased an AV65 IBM Jag, but I certainly prefer the feel of the skinnier Japanese necks in my small fingered hands

Once you switch out pickups on the Japanese guitars, they're brilliant IMO

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Severed Hand » Mon May 03, 2021 5:37 pm

I play my Japanese Jazzmaster more than my custom shop. It’s all about those rolled edges in regards to the Japanese fender stuff can’t attest to E series but S series are real thin too. They reused S series serial numbers later but you got the right thing when you see those ketchup pickguards.

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Re: Japanese or Mexican Jazzmaster. What’s best?

Post by Ozone7 » Wed May 12, 2021 9:03 am

The E Series is inbound!
The poor guy who beat me to it lost his job so he had to back out. Which kind of makes me feel bad. However, the dealer is going to bag him another in the next few months and store it to give him time to get back on his feet, so that’s pretty decent of him. And it eases my conscience.

So, it’s coming with a tort guard and I’d prefer Pearl.
Is there a best source of one for a Japanese Jazzmaster in the Uk?

I’ll probably go Staytrem too as I did on my Jag.
Anybody got an E series who can tell me if they’re shielded?

Thanks!

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