Is my new Jazzmaster ALREADY A COLLECTORS ITEM??? - and should I mod it?

[@Russell_Optics]

I have learned to NEVER sell a guitar that I like because it always costs more to replace later. If you like playing the guitar and would enjoy it more with mods, just do it ! I buy guitars to play and enjoy, not to let them sit in a case waiting for their value to go up. Guitars should be played and enjoyed ! That is the end of my rant.

[@mikestich9173]

I would do a black anodized loaded pick guard with whatever pickups and wiring you want. That way you can remove the original pick guard and set it aside unharmed in case you want to sell it later.

[@davedavid7061]

50 years from now, a duo with a podcast, will be showcasing Ryans guitars and the mods done to them saying "Who the hell would do this to this Jazzmaster?"

[@canyon1017]

Mel's pickup design is amazing. I would throw them into this Jazzmaster, since they would make the guitar wayyyyyyyyy more versatile. Also, I think they look cool.

[@RS2KR]

My grandpa drove a 1967 Lincoln Eyepatch.

[@davidjameschamberlain]

Honestly, I'd throw a different bridge in, but keep it stock outside of that. It's good to have a traditional version of the classics you love

[@SuperKazmierski]

Keep it. Modify it. Enjoy it. Don't worry. You'll get more out of it given your status in the community. Keep the original pickups available.

[@ChrisCanMakeStuff]

Aww it looks sooooooo good with the smaller headstock, the only thing I don't like about my Squire Classic Vibe JM is the fat CBS headstock.

[@clairbeeguitar]

Mod it! I think pearloid guard with black pickup covers would look sick

[@mr.t.44]

I'm of the belief even if you have a very nice expensive guitar, You should use it live. That's what you buy guitars for. You're going to use that special guitar just to play in your bedroom. That's crazy.

[@InspiretoVictory]

No Ryan, you're the collector's item here. Because you're priceless.

[@colinedmunds2238]

Black pick guard for sure, anodized to be really cool if you could find it

[@Funkybassuk]

Keep it, dude. Mod a different Jazzmaster. I modded my Troy van Leeuwen Jazzmaster (swapped the pickups although the stock pickups were good).

[@ravenslaves]

Cosmetics aside (because...hey...why not?) I'm not too sure I'd mod it too much. Normally, I'd be all over the mod idea. But once you started playing...it sounded pretty damn good. I'd pretty much leave that jazzmaster alone, cosmetics aside (because...hey...why not?). ...but a Squier??? Oh hell yeah! Mod away!!!

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: The Jazzmaster is yours. You can and SHOULD do with it whatever makes you happy. Mod it, play the heck out of it, enjoy every great and not so great sound it makes. Don't put it in storage for a possible "collectors" dividend. Will the hope of a little more money, maybe, in the future be more important than spending years enjoying it?

[@taintedtannis]

I say go for it!! Put the new pickups in it, and do the pick guard in it!! I think a black pearloid 3 ply pick guard on that would be the bees knees!! I also just wanted to say that I love your videos and you were one of the ones that inspired me to get back into guitars. 😎

[@charless6136]

Send it to Mel along with a bottle of Jack and let him modify it😈

[@bjmarchives]

If I owned it.. I wouldn’t feel the need to mod anything. Maybe swap out the bridge and keep the original on the case. Something easily reversible like that. I’d keep everything else stock. Just do a proper setup. My Squier JMJM really benefited from the mods I did.. (roller bridge, AVRI tremolo, new wiring harness and pickups). Original parts are around if I ever wanted to revert it. I did have to enlarge the pickguard holes for the CTS pots and switchcraft switch though.

[@Shawnpo76]

I have this same model, i usually dont like red but this one is different, definitely a keeper

[@andresilva8444]

End of the video update on my previous comment. Yes to anodised pickguard. Either gold or black but if black get black covers and knobs and switch tip. Yes to the offkilter pickup (both of them). Still the fuzz circuit I suggested earlier. Regarding the relic, yes and no, just play it exclusively (bar any demos that you do of other guitars) and be not so careful with it while gigging it. Give it a proper wear and tear natural relic on it. Go all SRV on that mofo!

[@dweez15]

i think people nowadays are too aware of potential "collector" items in the guitar world and buy to horde... it's a big gamble in the hopes it pays off down the line, however with more people taking that gamble and buying up more desirable / collectable guitars and pieces of gear it can only negatively effect the value later because it's going to effect the scarcity of the item... what you have is special, it was a run with a defect / oversight effectively which makes it cool... sure you could probably flip it, but i would say keep the guitar... enjoy it and make it yours! personalize it and give it it's own story to tell!

[@andon5150]

Well, "if and only if" the guitar is as unique as you think it is (based on the information you have), and seeing the crazy prices original-vintage guitars get these days, I wouldn't modify it at all... just let it be, play it as it is and to age naturally. You have to see the prices of some the vintage stuff that show up in Japan guitar shops, and there are people who buy them anyway, so definitively original Fenders and Gibsons are an investment. You can always try those new pickups you mentioned in your other Jazzmaster. Cheers!

[@iainjohnston4070]

A pair of Tim Henson signature Fishman Fluence pickups and a built in reverb like that one that was doing the rounds on Social Media a few months back.

[@MarkRigler]

Guitars are meant to be played and modified

[@kevinleighton7255]

Hiya, I love that guitar the way it is! By all means, play it, love it! But I wouldn't mod it, that's just my opinion! I would be very interested to see what you do!

[@SD_Marc]

Bet that green anodized pickguard would look nuts on that guitar.

[@60CycleHumcast]

it would look like christmas. I actually sold that guard to a viewer years back

[@SD_Marc]

@@60CycleHumcast I know, it looks great on my Jazzmaster.

[@onkelpool]

Thanks for the referral! I didn't fully understand what bothers me about this instrument. Then I realized - the much-vaunted little headstock... 🤔

[@hardstones17]

mod it. If I had that guitar I would go insane with the way the truss rod is on that. I would get a Warmoth neck in a heartbeat!

[@BrentAdams]

I wouldn't modify it if it were me! ...BUT! ....it's your Guitar! I WOULD hold onto it for a little while longer to check on how the value is shaping up before doing anything with it (other than playing it when I wanted to).

[@MojoJojoMojo]

If you think about changing the pickguard anyway, I would just install the off-kiltertrons in the new one and keep the original pickguard with the pickups in a drawer. That way you could always just swap back the original pickups and electronics if you're worried about changing it.

[@60CycleHumcast]

jazzmaster pickups dont mount into the pickguard.

[@MojoJojoMojo]

@@60CycleHumcast ah, dang. Didn't realise that. Never had the feeling I wanted to replace the ones in my Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster. Well, in that case I'd swap it out and keep the original one. 🙂

[@OutstandingBill1]

I wouldn't worry about the collectors. It's your guitar right now. Make the most of your time with it in your own way!

[@mykhedelic6471]

I prefer to call them Jazzcasters, to bring them further in line with their awesome big brothers.

[@colinedmunds2238]

I’d love to see some weird mods utilizing the rhythm circuit. I’m thinking about figuring out how to use the bridge pickup with the dark switch

[@norseman61]

I don’t have anything against red guitars, but they’re certainly not my first choice. However… it really works on that baby, especially with the matching headstock. No way would I let that go! I’d play the hell out of it, but I’d be hesitant to mod it due to it’s potential “rarity”. If you DO mod it, make sure it’s reversible.

[@MarkRigler]

It would be my first choice of jazzmaster

[@norseman61]

@@MarkRigler Excellent choice.

[@pyratoothNL]

That sounds so 60s and really suits your style - wonderful! If it was me and there was any chance of it being valued in the future, I'd save my modding for another instrument. But on the other hand they are reissues so they will never achieve the heights of an original from the day. So if modding will make the instrument more desirable to play for you then go for it!

[@ralphhathaway-coley5460]

If you do some non-reversible mods on it that will increase the value of the vanilla ones as there is another one less. 😀

[@MashaT22]

Great, now I want a Cherry Coke. Haven’t had one in years. Lemme know when you swap pick guards so I’ll have it ready to drink while I watch the mod vid! (If it were me, I’d leave it be - you have others to mod and already love this one the way it is. Why change something you already love so much and has a unique thing about it?)

[@id.unknown1283]

I say mod it and make sure its reverselable. That way you get to mod it and sell it if it becomes valuable.

[@tomueller]

Are you a guitar collector? So do what you want to do with it. Have fun and play it like crazy! Don't worry about the value! A guitar is there to be played. Not to preserve them for decades...👍🏼😎🤘🏼🎸

[@guitardaze812]

Put it back in the case for a few years,don’t mess up a good payday,you have so many others to play around on,of course don’t forget to play it every day,but it makes a better investment than a modding platform.🤣👍

[@Steven_SK]

Your guitar..... your rules!

[@docmojoman9574]

Pickup upgrade 👍🏾 Relicing - let that happen naturally!

[@charleswallace5818]

Enjoy it and make it yours

[@GoodmanRecordingsTokyo]

Keep it, mod it. My AVII is perfect so not modding it. I have the same mystic surf green Jazzmaster and just didn't get a long with the sound and heavily heavily modified it with Novak Guyatone gold foils and interesting wiring. The AVII sounds perfect and probably the best sounding factory line Jazzmaster I've heard.

[@shysstasnubben]

Yeah, modify and play the shit out of that thing! It's your guitar, make it your own! It deserves a life of service

[@timothyharrison8953]

It's yours do what you want with it. They'll make more

[@gorlagOv]

I was really close to getting one but I really like my American Pro 2 so much more. You should mod it and make your own.

[@SwirlyWhirlyXYZ]

Genetically engineer lab-grown tortoiseshell pickguard in Steve’s garage.

[@rchlclr]

Mod it! Play the hell of it it. Fenders are meant to be customized after all

[@andresilva8444]

45 seconds in and I am going to say: Yes, modify it! Take that rhythm control out and install a fuzz face circuit in it. That's what I'd do. Now I'll watch the rest of the video

[@bulletsforteeth5029]

Nothing beats a classic... With that being said, you are the artist, the guitar is just the brush.

[@russellzauner]

I'd say make it a bari conversion but it's got a matching headstock and that's a style point...

[@roqueeeeeeeee]

I wouldn't do it. Your guitar sounds great and completely in line with the model expectations. Most likely you bought it because of it's particular sound and feel. Once, I changed the bridge pickup of my Gibson LPM 2014 to a SD JB and automatically regretted it cause I just noticed the guitar wasn't that bad after all, was just different. And in the end, the new pickup that supposedly would be better, just cut off all the edge the guitar already had.

[@jmledesma88]

deffinitely relic, pretty curious about how fenders AMVII nitro reacts and if there is or isn't a poly undercoat

[@simonblanjean6538]

Lol I got a great deal on an Ultra Jazzmaster in Plasma Red Burst, I just changed the pickups and it's both perfect and sold out in this color. It's like your destined guitar by the guitar gods, I think it's really cool.

[@kennygardner5041]

Might be! I noticed that when this first ones came out. I had a 1966 Jazzmaster, September neck stamp. It had a bound DOT neck and had the CBS large headstock so I saw the reissue and was like “ hey the headstock is wrong! The block inlays came out right after mine was made.

[@NeoRichardBlake]

Definitely you do you, but if it were me, and I really thought it would be collectible, I would throw it in a closet and buy another that has the big headstock, which won't be collectible, and modify that one. A little more up front investment, but then you don't have to worry about it. And heck, what's one more guitar when I already have too many? 😋 Edit: That being said, it looks like this style is still what's available at Sweetwater, so I don't know how collectible this will actually be. It's almost impossible to actually accurately predict collectibility. Just have fun. 😋

[@ravenslaves]

Your ability to rationalize is truly inspiring.

[@TheDanification]

Silver anodized pickguard! Completely original look

[@Christopher_Giustolisi]

why not a pearl pickguard? or black pearl? I´d just play it and yeah, new pickups would be a nice idea. Would be a shame if such a nice guitar never gets played.

[@The2ndProtectsTheRest]

I would say leave this one alone. You have a lot of other guitars to mod. These guitars will likely be worth a fair chunk of change I would think

[@Phatzo1000]

If it was me, I'd keep it exactly as it left the factory.

[@jasonmarchant1607]

You had me at ‘Mel making me a pickup….”

[@WendellSexson]

Stick to fully reversible mods on that one IMO. Yes to pickup and scratchplate swaps, just keep the originals.

[@KingfieldGuitarCo]

You should keep it, of course. I've watched the last 6 months' worth of videos wondering why you just keep playing the PP Strat and not that sweet red Jazzmaster. So keep it, and by all means mod it and enjoy it and gig with it and all that good stuff. It's a sweet guitar, it should be loved properly.

[@ohpotatoesandmolasses]

I have an SG Faded from the first year of production with the ebony fretboard and crescent inlays. I've seen them go on Reverb for $1,500+, which is just wild considering they were $600? new.

[@geralddoyle5131]

Hey Ryan, love your channel, and quirkiness! Oh, btw, you’re playing the Diamond Head riff upside down!

[@Thurston86]

Eyepatch Lincoln!!! 🤘👽👽👽🎸

[@pharmerdavid1432]

I like the Mexican Vintera original 60's more: it has the larger headstock, same pickups, wonderful ice blue metallic color (or olympic white), excellent hardware, perfect C neck which isn't too thin, not too chunky - perfecto!

[@kellyhinkelman8591]

Bright as the sun..wow.

[@simonsmith2642]

I put my neck on a strat. I liked the neck turns out JMs are not my thing at all. But I liked the neck better than my 61 strat. So I put the neck on that. Now I enjoy the strat more. I kept the stock in case I sell it someday. But Im probably keeping it this way. The neck is nice on these. So I have a stock loaded JM body for sale. Sunburst. I was hoping I would enjoy the guitar more, but I really dont like them. Neck is great.

[@wraith_1171]

Great color too!

[@richarde3378]

Put a Floyd Rose on it! That would RAWK!

[@nottajedi363]

I would keep it and mod the blazes out of it. Relic it through use and enjoyment.

[@LeeMilhousTV]

IMHO, either gold anodized to make Fender logo on headstock pop, -or-, nice brown tortoise-shell to match rosewood fretboard.

[@LeeMilhousTV]

...OR, that yellow tortoise, like on Prince's tele!

[@thedutchdjentleman]

Okay here’s my thoughts. Modify it in a way that is still reversible. Black anodised aluminum pickguard with black pickups, go for it, but don’t ARTIFICALLY relic it. Just play it as much as you can and like just don’t be careful with it. Play the shit out of it. Play it everytime you wanna pick up a guitar for whatever, lend it out to friend who’d wanna play gigs with it. Within a year it will look like a 30 year old guitar.

[@chickenlickin3820]

Relic, Heavy Relic! Crackle that nitro too huh?

[@thedreadtones]

Guitars are made for playing. Go nuts! Mod it, gig it, use it for its intended purpose.

[@robbusch9564]

I would put the alameda in & maybe a mastery bridge & play the hell out of it for relicking.

[@mark.mahorney]

Pretty sure there's no shortage of fender screwups 😆, doubt that will add much value. Work your magic

[@matthewwelch9579]

Unobtainable pickup for demos. Good call Ryan.

[@thejolt124]

Please go hog wild and absolutely wreck that thing. I can't wait to watch the videos you can make modding that thing. The best guitar is the one you made *yours* and I know you know what I mean, it's the spirit of this entire channel. Modding, fixing, breaking, right? The headstock thing is cool but I can tell you love that guitar. Make it your number one gig boy.

[@resotheque]

Do it!! Mod it!! Make it yours!

[@thomvinson]

Mod it and love it.

[@mykhedelic6471]

No, Henry won't sell it one day, just put the pickup in and gig it. Nitro was meant to be played and loved, not stuffed in a case. And I vote black (or other) pickguard. Some guitars deserve stock and pristine (or at least stock), but this guy is fair game. They already altered it, it was meant for some personalization (though in other ways I'm a nasty purist, maintain the basic pickup "appearance." Jmo.

[@TheDanification]

Go hog wild! Make it a series and get tons of content from the mods

[@shckltnebay]

Ask Leo Fender! Why wouldnt you use a Surfy Bear for your drippy reverb?

[@BCarpenter2314]

You already know the answer... rational Ryan needs to step in and leave this guitar as-is. The Am Pro II is a fine mod platform if you want to get crazy and experimental.

[@bb.6969]

make it yours and have fun with it, its not a 1 of 1 and its yours might as well make it suit you as best possible

[@SwirlyWhirlyXYZ]

Make a headstock extension even bigger than CBS

[@knucklesandwich6117]

Do the Mod..but it does sound great as is

[@leebuck8532]

Play it until the frets wear down! Then... refret and play it some moar!!!

[@boppill]

Hi Ryan Could you please send me couple links on your bands? Thanks in advance PS thanks for your great job, man 👍

[@sgbh8874]

Made to be played

[@mikegutterman3427]

You have so many guitars that are great mod platforms and will probably get more in the future. I would leave that one stock other than the awful vintage style bridge or maybe a pickguard change. I hate white pickguards, always go with black or tortoise. A good tort would look great on that guitar.

[@lancelks]

No, it's a mistake by the company. Don't change it from the factory set up. Do your mods on stuff that cost less and not a original mistake

[@kellyhinkelman8591]

Pearl guard use the force luke.

[@CW0123]

Keep it stock. It could be the next nocaster

[@WyldMusik]

Mod away! If playing it inspires you, then why worry about collector value? If you're gonna change the pickguard and don't need to do any routing or drilling, then any mod you do is gonna be reversible, just remember to hang on to the original parts. ...and honestly, when it comes to relic'd guitars, with the demand for guitars with that "lived in" vibe, so long as there's nothing that seriously effects the playability/structural integrity of the instrument itself, a little wear and tear barely scratches a guitar's resale value nowadays. Heck, just watching this video I'd say you've already played it into Reverb's "excellent/very good" condition category . Go nuts!

[@chadmorral1326]

The way I see it, it's your guitar. Do what you want with it.