Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

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molul
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Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by molul » Thu May 12, 2022 11:25 pm

A friend of mine wants to give this guitar as a present and he would like to know if it's possible to achieve standard tuning on it. So far I've read that standard strings (9, 10) need to be tuned to A D G C E A, but I wonder if using thicker strings (12, 13) could allow standard tuning.

If anyone in the forums has any experience with that, any advice would be greatly appreciated. I read a couple of articles in the internet saying it's possible, but the vast majority just say "this guitar is not meant for that".

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by Veitchy » Fri May 13, 2022 2:04 am

It's the same scale length as a Music Master, and I've never heard of people having a hard time tuning them to standard. You may well need higher gauge strings than normal but that'll even out with the scale length.

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by JSett » Sun May 15, 2022 9:46 pm

I have one and 13's were almost okay for standard tuning, still felt a little loose for my tastes though.

At the moment it has 11's and is tuned to G standard. Never gets played though and I keep threatening to give it away
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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by molul » Sun May 15, 2022 9:47 pm

Good to know, thanks. Would 13 too hard for a beginner's fingers?

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by JSett » Sun May 15, 2022 10:01 pm

molul wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 9:47 pm
Good to know, thanks. Would 13 too hard for a beginner's fingers?
To me they feel like 10's on a standard scale guitar. But I've been using anything from 11's to 14's on my guitars for decades now so it's hard for me to put myself in that position.

It's more about tension than actual thickness IMHO.
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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by molul » Sun May 15, 2022 10:05 pm

Thank you very much! :)

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by JSett » Sun May 15, 2022 10:17 pm

molul wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 10:05 pm
Thank you very much! :)
No worries.

The method I've always used as a rough guide is to go up 1 step in gauge for every 'fret' lost from a standard Fender scale...If you like 11s on a JM then it'd be 12's on a Jag, 13's on a 22.5" MM/Duo etc.

Maybe suggest 12's as a starting point. Either he/she will be absolutely fine straight away OR will quickly get used to them and just get a stronger hand as a result (not a bad thing).
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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by JSutter » Tue May 17, 2022 4:46 am

Strings I like on my mini tuned to standard

11-50
11-52
10-52

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by molul » Tue May 17, 2022 5:19 am

JSutter wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 4:46 am
Strings I like on my mini tuned to standard

11-50
11-52
10-52
How's tuning stability with those? I've read the guitar is very easy to loose tuning unless yo go for 12s or more.

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by JSutter » Wed May 18, 2022 6:19 am

The Johnson mini I have right now is a thrift store find that could use new tuners, so hard to judge tuning stability. I have 10-52 on it, they feel good and it plays well. My Squier mini is out on loan, it seemed fine for the short time I played it with 11-50.

Squier ships their guitars with 9's. That's too light for the 24" and shorter. My old bullet Mustang felt awful with the original strings.

Anyway, try 11s first so you don't have to mess with the nut too much, if at all.

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by molul » Wed May 18, 2022 6:21 am

Will do. Thanks!

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by panoramic » Wed May 18, 2022 8:18 am

I've done standard on 22.5 in necks numerous times, sadly the intonation is never gonna sound perfect but if you use 11's and up you should be able to get closer. I've only played 1 or 2 of them that were set up well enough to do standard perfectly and those were vintage musicmaster 2's
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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by s11141827 » Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:07 pm

My Mini Jazzmaster sounds great tuned E-e w/ the Stock 9s because even though it has a 22.75 inch scale it has a slotted headstock which puts the strings at a sharper angle over the nut.

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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by JSett » Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:56 pm

s11141827 wrote:
Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:07 pm
My Mini Jazzmaster sounds great tuned E-e w/ the Stock 9s because even though it has a 22.75 inch scale it has a slotted headstock which puts the strings at a sharper angle over the nut.
Maybe you think that because theirs an extra tree and the headstock is smaller?

Nut angle makes no real difference on the string tension between the nut and bridge though...that's determined by guage and tuning.

And I'm pretty certain, regardless of it being slotted or not, they're still 21-22mm from flange to feed slot/hole like almost every tuner out there.

You're not wrong about it sounding okay with the 9s, it just feels like utter garbage and pulls sharp constantly if you have the grip strength of at least a toddler or higher :D
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Re: Standard tuning on a Squier Jazzmaster Mini

Post by s11141827 » Thu Oct 19, 2023 3:41 pm

Interestingly from A Standard Tuning (A, D, G, C, E, A), if you tune the 1st, 2nd, & 6th strings Down a Whole Step, & tune the 3rd String Down a Half Step you have G, D, G, B, D, G, Open G Terz Tuning which could give you a neat "Keith Richards meets Billy Corgan Vibe".

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