Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

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DrPete
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Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by DrPete » Sun Jan 09, 2022 4:09 am

Hi!

I have the chance to get a Mocha Burst Ultra locally at a great price. And with Novak pickups! But I'm looking for thoughts and opinions on the Ultra Jazzmaster now that it has been out for two years or so.

I had been following this thread on OSG - https://offsetguitars.com/forums/viewto ... 6&t=114008 - when the first announcement was made.

I'm just wondering what the feelings are towards the Ultra now after people might have time to play them and deal with the issue with the noiseless pickups?

Basically I'm wondering if the thoughts still are that Jazzmaster Ultra is still a well made modern Fender guitar with great specs on paper but just doesn't sound (or feel) like a Jazzmaster?

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GreenKnee
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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by GreenKnee » Sun Jan 09, 2022 7:38 am

I've not played one but always liked the look of them. As a reference, Andy (the demo guy) uses one quite a lot with the Black Bobbin/ Lollar pickups and it sounds magnificent!

https://youtu.be/pOxLF0R4QbE

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DrPete
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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by DrPete » Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:03 am

GreenKnee wrote:
Sun Jan 09, 2022 7:38 am
I've not played one but always liked the look of them. As a reference, Andy (the demo guy) uses one quite a lot with the Black Bobbin/ Lollar pickups and it sounds magnificent!

https://youtu.be/pOxLF0R4QbE
Thanks for sharing this video. I really enjoyed it. Andy is great guy. And he pulled out a Reverend at the end. He has the best guitars!

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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by Ceylon » Sun Jan 09, 2022 9:33 am

I don't think you'd be disappointed, especially with a set of Novaks in there. I'm pretty well set when it comes especially to guitars and offsets, but if I were to buy another Jazzmaster I'd very seriously look at the Ultra.
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graceless
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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by graceless » Sun Jan 09, 2022 2:42 pm

Great guitars - my thoughts are they are maligned by purists who want fender to pump out vintage replicas until kingdom come. If I were to pick a modern JM to buy, I'd probably get an Ultra over an AO. Sooo many tonal possibilities

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tammyw
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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by tammyw » Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:48 am

The Ultra never did much for me. The noiseless pickups always seems a little dull or muffled. I like out-of-phase, but the 2 volumes on that circuit didn't add any benefit, it sounded best when they're both at max. I guess series is okay when you want that extra push, but I mostly don't bother with it. It's a good quality, well made guitar otherwise. I keep thinking I want to try tapping off the pickups to see what they sound like as singles, but I never get around to doing it.
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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by gishuk » Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:03 pm

I couldnt get past the visual weirdness of the 3rd control knob personally, as ridiculous as that may be.

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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by bubba899 » Tue Jan 11, 2022 5:31 am

Only played one in a shop and my immediate thought was it played and looked fantastic and the versatility of the wiring set up was cool, but it just sounded lifeless. A set of Novaks would instantly solve that. That finish is so good as well, I'd snap at a chance to get one like that.

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Re: Thoughts on the Ultra Jazzmaster a couple of years later?

Post by algeriet » Fri Jan 14, 2022 9:56 am

Still shit, aye lmaooooooo

No in all seriousness its aesthetics are terrible. Skunk stripe, headstock adjust, third knob/sidejack, contoured heel, logo, neck tint etc etc.

You could put a compound radius and noiseless pickups on an otherwise regular built JM and I’d probably not hate on it.

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