Elvis Costello talks about his Fender® Jazzmaster® guitar | Fender

Elvis Costello takes time out from a rehearsal to tell the story of his Fender Jazzmaster® guitars and talk about his 2008 Fender signature model Jazzmaster.
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Elvis Costello talks about his Fender® Jazzmaster® guitar | Fender
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[@crazydrummer4827]

Last night I had a dream that I had jazzmaster and that playing it made me very happy. Unfortunately, no jazzmaster when I woke up.

[@LuizdeCastro06]

Crazy drummer same here! I am going to buy a "jazzmaster" by Tagima (here in Brazil Fenders costs more than cars!).

[@LeeCzere]

I'm having that dream more and more. Tomorrow, I'll be, like, fuck rent, and buy a JMJM

[@foljs5858]

240p, my old friend, we meet again...

[@FourHbcaps]

Danny Adler still uses the same turquoise Jazzmaster as in the 1970s. I know--I'm still playing with him.

[@jsphillip60]

I think Elvis Costello has mellowed out over the years (meaning he is long over his "angry young man" phase). I love the guy...he is so open minded about music (friends with everyone from George Jones to Gregg Allman and all across the music spectrum). Talent running out his ears. I was just listening to the "Trust" album recently. One of my favorites. A brilliant record.

[@oppothumbs1]

Too bad his first 5 or 6 albums were so great and since then he sucks imo. Sure Trust is one of the good ones. my fave is This years model. I know most of the great talents mellow and their music gets worse (imo) but Graham Parker has done better in his later years.

[@popsfereal3192]

@@oppothumbs1 Just because he made other music that "your favs" doesn't mean he sucked since then, it just means you're closed minded or unrefined. How many albums have you made, and in how many genres?

[@thewhoman3182]

I dunno I liked Costello's angry image but it wouldn't suit him nowadays.

[@erichimes3062]

@@oppothumbs1 Brutal Youth (1994) is a really good record with the Attractions

[@peterowen9183]

Elvis has always been a lover of every kind of music. The 'angry young man' was an act that he adopted for eighteen months to get himself noticed, to get a foot in the door. That's what you did then - and, I guess, probably still do - if you're trying to get a break. Adopt a persona that might get you on TV or on the radio! He is, and always has been, an incredibly thoughtful musician with a labyrinthine knowledge of all genres of popular music.

[@MichaelD8393]

Memo to Fender, you GOTTA put Elvis' sig Jazzmaster back into production. That varnish finish is damn lovely.

[@green323turbo]

Could be Tru-oil gunstock finish.

[@koreanfriedchildren]

Imagine Jerry Garcia picking up Costello's Jazzmaster and havin a go at it. Mind blowing

[@jamesakin]

I wasn't there, but it happened at the old Sweetwater location in Mill Valley CA after some charity event or possibly the BAM (Bay Area Music) annual awards show. I had recently moved to San Francisco, and learned about Sweetwater and its neighboring business, the incredible Village Music record store, from an interview with Elvis published around the same time. A week or two later, I recall poring over a photo of Elvis and Jerry jamming on the night in question, probably in the pages of the BAM alt-weekly paper. Elvis was sporting the rabbinical look seen on the cover of the Mighty Like a Rose album, and I doubt I'd have recognized him without the caption, but seeing Garcia with a Jazzmaster would have clued me that something unusual was happening. :) In a later interview with Garcia in a guitar magazine, Jerry said Elvis uses extremely heavy-gauge strings on the Jazzmaster-he joked they were like steel cables-and said he found it challenging to do bends and vibrato with that setup.

[@ClueSign]

I love how he talks about Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd of Television playing these, and that "you don't see many jazz players playing Jazzmasters..."and "It was designed for the mellower sound...which nobody wants..."

[@LaughingStock_]

Even more impressive is his mention of Garnet Mimms

[@chrismaclean4363]

I've never seen any footage or a single photo of Lloyd playing a Jazzmaster actually, Verlaine of course as well as Jags, but Lloyd only ever strats and teles. Maybe he did at some shows back then that there's no evidence of that Elvis may have seen.

[@surfwriter8461]

I don't know much about guitars, but I recognized right away on "Pump It Up" that Elvis Costello was playing a Jazzmaster and thought of Tom Verlaine's use of the guitar. So I'm glad to know that EC knows the band Television and Verlaine's use of the guitar from their album "Marquee Moon" and more.

[@davidthomas5035]

Brutal sounding guitar. Perfect.

[@jmm1000]

thats the most relaxed elvis ive seen, and he lets out a for real LAUGH!

[@mattgilbert7347]

"Marquee Moon" is in the top 5 guitar albums of all time, imho.

[@elwrongo]

Yes I was very pleased to hear he liked that record and it makes sense too

[@daffodillers]

Thanks Elvis, straight down the edge with a bit of warmth thrown in. What a great songwriter and what a cool guitar!

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

jazz masters are such timeless guitars..love them@!

[@Wrayson]

So true. I love that you can see where he's worn the finish off one of them, so you know it's not "just another Jazzmaster", it's HIS.

[@kdtrimble]

I really enjoyed the inside information he gave on a personal instrument. I can assimilate. Great interview.

[@jensenbell]

There was one great jazz player who made his name in "Western Swing"& became a pretty strong Jazzer in the early 60s. He was a friend of Leo Fender & it has been suggested that this player named *ROY LANHAM* was responsible for a lot of the evolution of the JAZZMASTER.I adore his playing on "LOST WEEKEND" & you can hear that Jazzmaster sound clear as a bell. This guitar didn't catch on for Jazz perhaps due to fashion, 'cuz when you hear Lanham you hear a great Jazz tone. (he's on KZbin!)

[@zpiazza]

glad to hear he respects Television!

[@mattgilbert7347]

Zachary Piazza Yeah man. Love for "Marquee Moon" is what separates good ears from bad, imho.

[@Notecrusher]

And Verlaine and Lloyd.

[@LaughingStock_]

Even more impressive is his mention of Garnet Mimms

[@bassfishingwiththeantichri2921]

Elvis is a badass. He knows how to play a Jazzmaster.

[@ExodusPessoa]

What a great interview he is!!!

[@thestr8person]

Robert Smith got me into jazzmasters and i've loved them ever since the 80's, they do pretty much everything I want and a PRS covers the rest :)

[@7TheOnlyMe7]

Lovely. I LOVE Elvis.

[@richfuell8141]

I grew up in Hounslow....and although there may have been others I can only remember one guitar shop called The Band Centre on Bell Road run by the bass player from a band called Jeep... I wonder whether Elvis bought his first Jazzmaster there....???

[@NightFly54]

Good Interview about a not much used guitar anymore.But when you see Elvis C. live.He gets a great crunchy Rock and Roll sound on his early catalog and his usual jams on "watching the detectives" show cases this guitars versatility in sounds.Now I have to go into a music store and play one.

[@SoundStation98]

+NightFly54 These guitars are incredibly popular now, they weren't popular at all back in the day.

[@masataka986]

jazzmaster is my dream!

[@chrishollywood6442]

I used to play In BVB and I Now Play Jazzmasters

[@Scotttyist]

Great little history lesson that.

[@williamtaylor874]

nice guy elvis always liked him !

[@epiphonium]

I want this guitar

[@MarcNeilson1]

The singer from cinema staff uses this jazzmaster love the finish

[@weaselsuit]

Not a huge EC fan, but he comes off as quite a likeable fellow here!

[@bobbyserpent]

such an awsome colour

[@mrslm4ever]

brilliant!!!

[@elwrongo]

Wow E.C's from Hounslow, West London!!!

[@arrisfilms]

Yeah I got a red one with matching headstalk the person who sold it to me put new pickups and mustang bridge it plays great!

[@chrishollywood6442]

love the walnut

[@SteveCarterMusic]

Great video, although Elvis wasn't a lead player, he had some of the most interesting tones for a rhythm guitarist.

[@urbangorilla33]

Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) played the Jazzmaster quite a lot.

[@Maltloaflegrande]

Joe Messina who was a pretty nifty jazz player used a tele with a jazzmaster neck.

[@moonandantarctica2]

Kurt had a tele, i think it was sunburst but he painted it light blue and scratched things into the new paint job. google it - few photos on google images of him playing it i think

[@gretscher]

Liked it when he broke into "Watching The Detectives". I wish he would just sit there as he is, no band just him and play all the early classic Elvis Costello songs. Would be great.

[@rexmundi2237]

He's not angry any more.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

+Rex Mundi no,he"s furious!

[@matthewheinecke2621]

It's hard to be angry with a jazzmaster in your hands.

[@popsfereal3192]

Update- Listen to his latest offering. He's baaaaack!

[@DannonNicks]

The Costello signature is the best sounding guitar I own, I can get strat and tele sounds all the way too Les Paul sounds with the jazz circuit. Just bout a used Crafted in Japan model, sounds great too. I'd recommend replacing the bridge with one from a mustang or jaguar.

[@arrisfilms]

I know people talk trash about the japan jazzmaster but thier pretty awesome

[@popsfereal3192]

Elitist snobs talk trash about anything that isn't $5k or more. Too bad they are missing out on the best. Biggest snob points- "tonewood", MI China/Indonesia/Mexico/U.S., maple vs rosewood, ect. 90% of people listening couldn't pick an Epi from a Gibby in a blind listen test.

[@Byborne]

Yes he did :)

[@jensenbell]

Oops Correction to comment below! "5ive Gears" is gone. Search "Can't stand up for falling down" or just "Elvis Costello Get Happy"

[@arrisfilms]

@777system777 They're not Strat pickups they are from Teisco. He put them an all his Jazzmasters. He mainly uses his UltraCure

[@NickHarman]

Gosh Roogalator, I used to go see them almost every week it seemed back in the day. They were good, but they never seemed to catch the wave

[@sevenhenchmen]

Elvis!

[@jensenbell]

I'll agree with the others that the "My Aim Is True" album is a great place to start. But if you like musicianship & groove, 1980's "Get Happy!!" was 100% great songwriting with an homage to 1960s Soul & RnB. (Booker T, Ray Charles, Stax, Motown.) Yet it still rocks. And that Jazzmaster tone is very clear. The bass lines are astounding too. Try searching "5ive Gears In Reverse" on youtube.

[@marshwetland3808]

GH my absolute fave. I think I played it over and over for a year straight after I got home each day, in my final year of high school. Good way to burn off the pain of 'orrible high school

[@BassOutcast]

The Jazzmaster is one of the best guitars ever made , shame it didn't get the appropriate amount of appreciation they deserves.

[@skierpage]

True. Fender already had two iconic guitars (Telecaster and Stratocaster), it was competing with itself with the Jazzmaster and Jaguar.

[@alexbreyer6921]

Biggest surprise to me with this interview: Elvis participated in a jam session with Jerry Garcia?!? Two folks I would not think might be hanging out socially.

[@billstriejewske7258]

Elvis has long been into the Dead. Participated in a tribute album for the rainforests in late 80's early 90's.

[@elwrongo]

hard to imagine the connection isn't it?

[@slarbiter]

I'm just trying to imagine Jerry with a jazzmaster. Something I'd like to see/hear

[@rattyeely]

Honestly I wasn't surprised, they both love country and folk and Elvis also played with Dylan...honestly Costello has been able to collaborate and play with with so many famous musicians at this point it's insane

[@jamesakin]

Elvis claims he can be seen in a photo on the Europe '72 jacket, huddling with fellow fans at the mud-encrusted Bickersham Festival show. He says friends gave him grief for going to see that hippie band, but he loved the show. Seek out Elvis's covers of Ship of Fools. There's a studio version on the Deadicated save-the-rainforest CD, and a great live version by Elvis with Steve Nieve (at the Fillmore in SF in 1996) on the Costello & Nieve box set. In the Fillmore set, Elvis announces that he'd last played the tune the day of Garcia's death.

[@amusementshark]

Yep, it was painted with blue house paint, and had a heart scratched out of the paint.

[@wisesatyr72]

my hero

[@genki2genki]

Your next assignment: Go back and listen to Television for the millionth time.

[@stevenhearnden522]

Genius.

[@Fendervana]

It was played on his 65 Jag with humbuckers. Clearly, the Teen Spirit clean tone is a humbucker. Kurt's Tele didn't have a humbucker at that time.

[@LaughingStock_]

I much preferred my Jaguar - same fabulous, feline shape, but a more manageable (shorter) neck length. p.s. the most impressive name Elvis drops is the legendary Garnet Mimms.

[@BoycottStabb]

@aintnoluckitsskillz It's totally and obviously a reggae rhythm, I've even read an interview with costello, where he proudly and happily acknowledges it...........

[@eluxoso]

Chet Atkins Gretsch and Les Paul Gibson guitars were signature as well

[@NickTann]

I just had to learn that little "Wash up" riff..

[@rattyvee]

The name Declan Patrick Mcmanus kind of gives the game away a bit ;)

[@artgonewrong]

I must have one.

[@joesloan7667]

he's from Birkenhead, he's my great grandmothers cousin

[@xe989]

Ha, ive got a 51 Gibson LG-0 that had work done by Valdez in the 70's i guess you learn somthing every day

[@euchamomeantonio]

yup

[@TheBlackCrayon77]

Never did dig too much on Costello, maybe I'll take another listen. Anyone have any suggestions on where to start?

[@popsfereal3192]

Give his music a listen as a cross section of albums. He's done virtually every style as of the 2020's.

[@rattyeely]

Honestly listen to his first album, decide if you like his punk songs or his ballads more, and then use that to determine which albums to listen to next

[@OscarRodriguez-wm7dg]

everyone has their tricks, on strats i always have to take the volume knob off because im always turning it down. i end with cuts on my hand from the naked pot but atleast ive still got sound.

[@Tre3]

kurt had played jags not jazzmastera he also played mustangs teles and strats some univoxs and 1 epiphone guitar

[@MarcBrewer]

Brinsley Schwarz played a Jazzmaster, too.

[@ElkoSkate]

so how did he get the guitar he's holding?

[@edsreturn2012]

Genius

[@NickHarman]

I believe it was called a Jazzmaster because the body was cut so it was comfortable to play sitting down.

[@KeatonTait]

nice

[@ronmo12ronmo]

Buy this guitar, then install the Mastery Bridge - Enjoy! Amazing combo.

[@popsfereal3192]

If you know what you're doing, no need for a Mastery. Or if you like the lady like 9's on your guitar, you'll need a Mastery.

[@buska100]

C.W. Stoneking plays a Jazzmaster on all the tracks of his new Album Gon' Boogaloo

[@Prodigiousguy8]

I'm 14, and I know the jazzmaster only because Elvis played one :D

[@tchpandy]

@weaselsuit The Jazzmaster pickups are very mellow and warm sounding. The neck pickup on it's own is particularly 'woody' (if that makes sense) and there's really no other guitar that sounds like a Jazzmaster played through a clean tube amp with just the neck pickup on. The in between sound (both pickups on) creates a beautiful jangly, 'airy' sound which works with with overdrive (depending on what gear you're using, obviously).

[@ilovegretschguitars]

who cares what it says or looks like buy if you like it i play a squier classic vibe and changed some stuff but i play it live aloot and love it

[@treetopjones737]

They're licensed to make Fender copies. Decent guitars for a lower price.

[@PBANDSNOW]

@sindresollie Actually, he said it was 66 but it was 65, 66 has different necks

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Somebody wrote a book on Fenders in the mid to late 1970s and my brother had it. Initially, the Jazzmaster was supposed to be something "better" than a Strat. At least according to the author. A buddy of mine had one. Costello is right about the tailpiece, it's connected to the vibro arm and was pretty messed up. If you dare used the arm during a gig, you'd be out of tune straight away. They were played by surf guitarists, some Motown guys, Hendrix had one during his soul circuit days. The sounds on them were, in my mind, similar to a Gretsch semi-hollow body, but that's just me. The book said that they were in production in to the 1970s. Being around at that time, in my area, nobody ever stocked them. It wasn't until Costello played them that the Jazzmaster had a "player" to be associated with them. They became an item after that. Nice to see them in production again.

[@junglajuan]

Good story dude

[@Notecrusher]

Tom Verlaine wasn't enough to put it on the map???? I don't know anything about what gear he used, maybe he was more associated w/ another guitar.

[@joaovictor3312]

I was waiting for him to mention Robert Smith

[@Canadianspunge]

OH MY GOD my band has the exact same issue XD

[@weaselsuit]

I've owned a '63 Jaguar and I've just now ordered a reissue Jag (I sold this '63 in my twenties). I know the scale is different, but how do the stock Jazzmaster pickups sound as opposed to the stock Jag pickups?

[@popsfereal3192]

Jags are much "twangier". JM are warmer/slightly beefier for lack of a better description. Jags are almost too bright. So....you'll need to buy both.

[@CallmeSergio]

its subtle. he's also been living in the us so long it has faded somewhat

[@stuartharrison165]

J.Mascis - made a hell of a racket on a jazz master .

[@12trudger60]

Elvis and Jerry Garcia late night jam session?

[@hewasagoodman1008]

Elvis I'm twelve I play a jaguar because I saw you playing a headmaster on your Allison record my favourite song by you is watching the detective

[@tenderbastardtenderbastard8050]

the dog said, "thought this was buddy holly with a 5-o'clock shadow." ~ tenderbastard

[@LetMeGoForever]

By the way, what song is this playing?

[@lovecalder]

Cobain played a Jazzmaster too.

[@beseeingyou6]

@Hugoow16 you don't like signature models?

[@smirkingghost]

Elvis is mistaken about his "My Aim Is True" jazznmaster being refinished to his current silverburst Jazzmaster

[@Canadianspunge]

And Steve's music... at least the one in Ottawa

[@LetMeGoForever]

Who told you that? Kurt never played a Tele until close to the date he died, when he said it was his new favorite guitar.

[@raggidedg]

Sure seems like a regular guy...refreshingly so....he walked past me through a crowd at the uptown bar in mpls in the the early eighties..gave him a nod, thumbs up..something like that...his bodyguard didn't seem to appreciate it...I guess I can't blame him...

[@charlesdoherty9879]

raggidedg , he’s a smashing guy

[@KonaMark1]

Wonder how many folks that watched this have ever heard Roogalator? How I miss Stiff Records.

[@elwrongo]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJfLlHljiriDiqc

[@elwrongo]

wow I can hear Blame It On Cain!!!!

[@amusementshark]

Watching the Detectives.

[@Dwightpower88]

Cooker Bahayne

[@Dunkaroos248]

@bababscardi. It's watching the detectives. Also Robert smith from the cure played a jazzmaster especially during the pornography album as well as a hard to find fender vI six string bass

[@RedPetrol76]

It can't be the only reason. Archtop guitar produces uncontrollable feedback at high volume as well.