Jazzmaster Controls Explained - Easier than you think!

Jonathan give you the breakdown on who the Jazzmaster works, and why this might just be the right guitar for you if you are looking for something a little bit different!

[@christophernoia5197]

I’m a jazzmaster freak. I wish they weren’t so popular now so I could buy cheap vintage ones!

[@ToddTheJoker]

I have never owned a Jazzmaster or Jaguar but I do own and love my Mustang. It is light and looks cool and sounds great! stay safe guys!

[@fenderfan2611]

Thanks for the easy to understand explanation. You've got a great guitar shop. It's one of the best in the country.

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks so much!

[@STSGuitar16]

Love these videos, fellas. It makes me happy to see such a cool guitar shop in my state. I will have to stop in sometime!

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!

[@bryantwalley]

I picked up a blond V52 with ebony fretboard about 6 months ago. 2 P90s, hard tail, and no neck controls. Love playing it.

[@Cadet44642]

That was very informative and great. I never understood how they normally work. Great video!!!

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!!

[@frmcf]

1:43 That's a really useful diagram! Could you make one for the Jaguar as well?

[@bobbyreeder6874]

Great video👍 honestly after watching this I kinda want to add one to my collection now

[@Louis_Velliotes]

Had two Jazzmasters, I agree with your title, and would say the controls are much easier than people make them out to be. Some tasty sounding licks you threw down for sure!

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!

[@tonywhetham8165]

First time that I’ve heard you play, nice chops.

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!

[@baileywatts1304]

You ought to check out his channel then. John puts up a little jam up everyday as a treat. Always nice to check out after a hard day at work before you pick up your own instrument to practice

[@guitarjonathan]

@@baileywatts1304 thanks, glad you enjoy it!

[@tonywhetham8165]

I will for sure

[@wolfpac1970]

I always liked the way Jazz Masters looked i just never knew what the switches at the top were for until now. Might have to get one in the future.

[@Borealis50]

Nice video. A Jazzmaster is on my dream guitar list.

[@matthewking8944]

cool video jhon i think you should do a video like this on all fender models.

[@stevenwang3396]

JMs are significantly cooler to me, now that I know what’s going on 😅

[@addamwoolf4796]

Especially “JM’s” JM. ✌🏻🖤🐺

[@owencushenan662]

Always catches my eye on your videos that guitar.. sitting top right on the wall of guitars. Almost put a gold pickguard on mine because I liked the look of that so much.

[@jameswang3530]

That was beautiful and informative! Thanks for explaining and demonstrating!

[@guitarjonathan]

Thank you!

[@ghalsor]

My JM is not my #1, but on the days I don’t know what to play, it is always the one I pick up. For me, it is my “fun” guitar. It’s the one I can try loads of things out on. It does not have the strat chime or Les Paul growl, but it does both in its own way which is really cool. On a budget? The j. Mascis squier can’t be beat and would sell well as is in the Fender line up at an elevated cost.

[@robertlathan4639]

Great demo and I love all guitars they all have their personality!! Need more video with you playing

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!!

[@zeeb0w]

cool video!! i never picked one up bc it i don’t get the shape, scared to try to figure out what all those controls did, and not into jazz bc i thought that was the intent - and i learned a ton from video! a jaguar video would be cool, bc i haven’t picked one up for essentially the same reasons. and to be honest, i would have never picked up a mustang if it cobain hadn’t played one, but i bought his signature model anyway! or maybe, i wouldn’t have picked up any of these bc they’re not acoustic? all great thoughts while i sip on my coffee! love you guys!

[@blkdavid]

I hate to admit this but all of my guitar Heroes play strats ,Les Paul's ,telecasters so I just bought those guitars because of them

[@guitarjonathan]

Nothing wrong with that! I think that's most of us.

[@GetStabby]

This was a great explanation and a very informative tutorial!

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!

[@DennisJPolson]

I love the different tones you can get from a JazzMaster. Such a versatile guitar for Rock, Alt, Surf, New Wave, even country (Chris Stapleton), but strangely not as popular within the genre for which it was created. Great video, Jonathan!

[@clarencejeyofficial]

Thanks for this video! Nice work. I’ve had a 66 original JM for a few years. I got it as part of a trade for a synth a bunch of years ago. I’m not really a guitar player but a keyboardist and record producer. Lately I’ve been chasing more a Nile Rogers tone and got my Strat to sound almost identical. However i decided to noodle with the JM and feel like it has a beautiful funk tone that it may just edge the Strat. So excited!

[@steven0g167]

for some reason always wanted a jazzmaster maybe one day.

[@johnboleyjr.1698]

I will eventually have one. I will be missing mine so it has a Strat style output jack, and I'll be adding a dedicated "killswitch" where the current output jack is.

[@mitchmatthews6713]

Yes, but think about how those unique controls on the Jazzmaster and Jaguar have inspired all of those Soviet guitars!

[@troutbreath]

Very informative video. Love the offset bodies. Have a jaguar, and it took a while to dial in the tones I really love, but once you find them it's great and very comfortable. Wasn't sure I would like P90's like a Jazzmaster, but recently picked up a Mustang 90, and those tones are great. I suspect the Jazzmaster is all of that with even greater tone flexibility.

[@BobbyStrunk561]

Good morning guys! Still loving the videos and I do plan on getting a Jazz one day! Got a Mexican Player Series Strat in layaway right now

[@ToddTheJoker]

If it is as great as the Player Butterscotch Tele I just bought myself for Christmas you will love your strat!..congrats..stay safe!

[@robertprice5039]

I love my heavily modified Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster. The quality of the guitar is as good as a USA Fender. It came used with Joe Barden Pickups, and I put Hipshot Locking Tuners, and a Bigsby B5 on it. It now stays in tune better than the stock vibrato.

[@autistichead8137]

Actually in the American Pro II the rhythm circuit puts the pickups in series, basically a giant humbucker AND the bridge has a coil tap! Even more Jazzmaster fun!

[@guitarjonathan]

That is true! I should've said on a classic jazzmaster layout. Thanks for the info!

[@autistichead8137]

@@guitarjonathan You do an awesome job , I never miss a video.

[@guitarjonathan]

@@autistichead8137 thank you!

[@jkylehopkins]

Super cool guitars. Definitely want one! Cream with the gold anodized pickgaurd would actually be my choice. Or seafoam green with tortoise shell.

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

Try the J Mascis squire.

[@DoctorEnigma01]

Nice playing

[@guitarjonathan]

Thanks!

[@noelmcmahon4566]

Everyone needs a jazzmaster

[@tomburke7914]

Great video. Informative and some awesome playing! (Will I sound like that if I buy a Jazzmaster?) And yes, please do a similar version for Jaguar.

[@guitarjonathan]

Of course, you absolutely will! 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@JoeKyser]

I have no preference with the jizz master. Nice playing. That was some good stuff. Love this. Channel

[@michaeleaster1815]

cool video... the diagram is super-helpful !

[@halfaddercircuit]

I would love to grab a JM someday.

[@wallyh24]

Some nice tones, I like the offset body, prefer the offset Tele look....just something about those switches that kill the look for me....like it should say “Mattel” on the headstock

[@dondavidson9619]

That’s cool would love one

[@stgalaska]

I learned the controls. Thanks!

[@mikefromusa6902]

It goes Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Mustang/Musicmaster/Duosonic II for me in that order. Strats are kind of just an accent guitar/tool for me, whereas a tele or JM are the serious all around instruments. Jags are also ok, but I think they have a bit too much going on.

[@afterstars]

Ever heard of a dude named Hendrix?

[@conorfurlong]

That is the prettiest Jazzmaster I’ve ever seen. What model is it?

[@seanschweska856]

Playing jazzmaster for a wile just making sure you did it right

[@guitarjonathan]

The oversight is appreciated.

[@seanschweska856]

It’s what I do

[@amranard]

Damnit Jonathan! Now I want one. When my wife says "another guitar?" I will tell her it's your fault

[@DK-rv5tt]

Nice playing!!

[@craigthomson3621]

Now explain the Kurt Cobain Jaguar and the S1 switching on the Elite series please :-)

[@nikomahal]

it can also be used as a kill switch

[@seanbrooks2583]

jazzmaster switching is easy mode. Jaguars always mess me up with the hi pass filter

[@guitarjonathan]

Yes!!

[@randyfrieberg1706]

I like jazzmasters .... I have one might not be a fender version but its bad ass just the same ... Love that p90 sound ...

[@guitarjonathan]

Nice!

[@ucielmedina3375]

Traditional Jazzmaster pickups are not p90s, they are their own thing.

[@robertpennington1019]

What pedal gave you that spanky-Tele tone?? If anyone can let me know I would greatly appreciate it. Many thanks Johnathan. A jazz master might be my next purchase. Nels Cline is amazing all the way back from the Fibbers, but his modern stuff (including Wilco) is amazing too.

[@harryebbeson]

Great video! Thank you for going through it. Tell Baxter you need a raise!!lol. Is the tremolo stable or is it a problem to have it?

[@guitarjonathan]

Haha, I'll tell him! The trem is really stable and there's even a little button to lock it so you'll stay in tune if you were to break a string.

[@tonywhetham8165]

I have an Am Pro JM. I love it but quickly changed out the bridge for a Mastery bridge and swapped the very noisy pick-ups for Kinmans. What model is that in the video? I really like the off-white cream colour and gold anodized pg.

[@guitarjonathan]

This is actually one of Baxter's guitars. It says limited edition on the neck plate and it's wired with the classic configuration. I'll see if I can find out exactly what model it is.

[@matthewf1979]

I believe that color is called “Desert Sand” something. I had a 2014 60th Anniversary Strat in that same color with a gold anodized pickguard.

[@tonywhetham8165]

@@guitarjonathan Have you ever discussed famous guitars with names and where the names came from, example BB King’s Lucille?

[@guitarjonathan]

@@tonywhetham8165 we haven't but that's a good idea for a video.

[@gunkanjima3408]

Is there a tonal difference between lead and rhythm neck positions

[@Harrisabd]

My question is, what's the difference of playing on the lead neck position and playing on the rythm neck position. Is there a tonal difference? What's the reason it makes it different.

[@CaptureCat88]

I have the same question!

[@haydenclark2425]

Are they the same controls for a jaguar?

[@guitarjonathan]

Essentially, but the classic jaguar has a few more switches that control which pickup is on. Still a rhythm and lead circuit.

[@jimleininger8963]

As a Cabronita guy, with just a throttle and a 3 way, the Jazzmaster seems like a space shuttle. Super cool guitar, but it needs a team of engineers to run it

[@guitarjonathan]

Haha, I can understand that point of view. Thanks for watching!

[@kootenaystringworks1765]

Love me an offset.

[@edpaik]

@casinoguitars which jazzmaster model is this?

[@panmanXXX]

What’s the pink tele behind you?

[@Bomber848480015]

I really want a Jazzmaster and have played one and like it. I have heard that the stock bridge is tricky and that with lighter strings (I like .09's) that the string will pop out of the saddle. Does anyone have experience with that? Do you know if that is true or not?

[@teddyboy9116]

I've got 9's on mine and have kept the stock bridge on aswell, I dont use mine for thrashing ive got my tele for that, all I've done to mine is put abit of gorilla tape around the bridge posts, that helps with the trem stability I found cos it just sits loose in the holes in the body...

[@ucielmedina3375]

Kind of blows my mind how people think this is really so complicated

[@martywilkinson6722]

Not my thang, but thanks for the info. I think teles have too many knobs! 😂

[@donnyhall2535]

As luck would have it, with Jonathan being the guy who hates switches. He gets stuck explaining and reviewing a Jazzmaster. Damn the Luck. Lol

[@guitarjonathan]

The irony!!! 😂

[@donnyhall2535]

@@guitarjonathan life is cruel. You deserve a weeks paid vacation, that doesn't count against your usual vacation time. Oh, and that shell pink tele.

[@chris_2714]

What turns me off of Jazzmasters are the godawful trems on them 😅

[@SombraPiloto]

Not wanting a Tele? That makes no sense. Does not compute. Blasphemy.

[@guitarjonathan]

I would agree, but I've been assured some people suffer from that particular affliction. 🤷‍♂️

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

Uhh.. my profile pics..

[@mikepodesta4393]

The problem with jazz masters is the fking bridge

[@mikepfeifer3687]

Nice playing brother!!! Cool guitar, ugly as hell, but don’t select guitars with your eyes!!!!! Mistake number ONE ☝️

[@71goaliemask]

Defiantly announces "no more buying guitars!" Watches Jazzmaster walk through. Sighs and grabs shovel to dig up wallet buried in biscuit tin in back yard.... greetings from the frozen socialist northern wasteland 🇨🇦, come see us when the madness ends.

[@jcorn91]

👍 to Jazzmasters, 👎to Rhythm circuit

[@DarrenJohnson1973]

too complicated....bolt on neck....etc...i lost interest at the fender logo....i hate the sound of any guitar with springs rattling in the back, fenders aren't exactly known for warm tones....give me a Gibson any day of the week