Jazzmaster GLOW UP - Lambertones + Descendant tremolo + Anodized pick guard + MORE!

[@hotpotabo]

05:30 "whats like an ugly decision I can make for this guitar" Mission accomplished.

[@biasonica]

i just feel the metallic green pickguard is quite not matched with the original sunburst body...

[@LAMBERTONES]

Thanks for trying these out Ryan! I think bringing that bridge pickup up closer to your string height will make a huge difference in balancing output. Let us know how it goes. :)

[@wonderwomanguy]

Can confirm; I have some McNeely P90s that needed the same thing.

[@DolemiteSammich]

Yea I wish we could have had a demo of it setup properly. That neck pickup is killer though!

[@jpook730]

Kurtis makes INCREDIBLE stuff. It'll be great if you can do an update with the bridge pickup closer.

[@AngelarmSpartan777]

Is the bridge pickup mounted in the right direction? Shouldn't the screw side bobin of the humbucker be closest to the bridge?

[@laszlototh7026]

@@AngelarmSpartan777 I also think the rear pu is the other way around.

[@thomasraven]

Wow. That pick guard looks horrible on that guitar. A gold anodized would look good and the original tortoise shell looked good too.

[@jhendricks02]

the green looks crazy! i think it’s awesome though

[@thesaj1110]

you got that right

[@vladveee]

it's so ugly but so unique. I lowkey like it

[@shinypng1850]

if the guitar body was black it would actually look great

[@natcurry960]

I hope the year that has passed has changed your bad opinion to a good opinion.

[@chrisswope6170]

Hey Ryan! Just stumbled upon this. I have a mod now for the arm. You won't require the tool to remove the arm once you set the tension. All new units Descendants will ship with the new arm but it's an easy DIY mod which I'll post soon on Instagram. Thanks for including the vibrato in this video. And I'm totally into the green guard, too.

[@ryangilby]

A successful and appropriate scraping over the pickups to test the electrics is EXTREMELY SATISFYING.

[@rabbitholeofmoxie]

A lot of people are going to town on that pickguard; forget 'em. Do what makes you happy and pleases you aesthetically. I like how in some lighting/angles it has an almost OD Green look to it that goes with the sunburst nicely. It's making me consider a matte OD Green pickguard of some kind with cream pickup covers/knobs/etc.

[@CosminNeagu]

Hello Ryan! I'm a fan of your channel for 3 years now, and I love the quality of your videos! Keep it up man, btw I love your playing!

[@Stikbomz]

I know it's a taste thing but not digging the green pickguard. Think it would work with a solid colour great, just not a burst.

[@collierrocks]

Just stumbled on this as I am now a proud Jazz Master player. I loved watching you tackle the mods as a hobbyist. And that green pick guard-oh my.

[@ryanjenkins649]

That middle setting with the new pups is just absolutely gorgeous. The green pick guard is funky. It stands out for sure. I'd roll with it if I were you. I have a MIM jazzmaster in the same colour that I've wanted to put a gold anodised pick guard on forever. You've got me thinking I just might now. Cheers!

[@calebqueen5631]

Ryan you have kept me sane inside the walls of my house for these last few months! Love the videos keep em coming!

[@bobbya8622]

Nice job! That guitar sounds great! Great pickups! The pickguard definitely makes the guitar look unique.

[@thomaswilkinson4027]

Looks and sounds awesome. Would look even better with a matching green tremolo unit!

[@Releasethebats123]

I just installed a descendant vibrato onto my squier classic vibe 70s jaguar yesterday . I love it

[@gavincrockett9521]

I like the green guard! You could roll with the Soviet vibe and paint a red star on the pickguard or "Jazzmaster" in Russian.

[@Slochicki]

After a few months I’ve figured out I love that pick guard!

[@60CycleHumcast]

Lol

[@awogbob]

Honestly LOVE the green anodized pick guard. Its only ugly if you love traditions, but its just so weird and somehow works.

[@mattdoliver1984]

The rubber spacers that you used to drop the switch lower is actually a brilliant idea to drop Mustang slider switches down......Bravo 😁

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

The bridge pickup is an improvement and is only slightly less loud than the neck pickup. It's close. The trem looks high quality. The pickguard looks high quality but it doesn't match the color of the body. A gold colored pickguard would have matched better. Maybe it will look better to me later after I get used to it.

[@SeQFreQ369]

Isn't that bridge pickup the wrong way around? Shouldn't the pole pieces be closest to the bridge? That might solve your problem. Nice work, puke pg tho.

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

@@SeQFreQ369 If the pole pieces are closer to the bridge it would be brighter but I don't think it would be louder. I would try it though just to see the difference.

[@SeQFreQ369]

@@DesertScorpionKSA Agreed, but I'm sure bridge Humbuckers are usually mounted with the pole pieces closest to the bridge tho', like the three (very cool) guitars behind you in the corner there..

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

@@SeQFreQ369 I know. I have some humbucker guitars but there's no rule that says the pole pieces can't be away from the bridge. I would think the sound would be more mid-range with the pole pieces away from the bridge. I guess it depends on the pickup.

[@SeQFreQ369]

@@DesertScorpionKSA Agreed again ;)

[@TheChristafershawn]

Not feeling the pick guard color myself but my yearning for a Jazzmaster grows.

[@daneletcavage3117]

DO IT you won't regret

[@QuestForPerfectSound]

Man, that green pick guard looks killer!

[@oldmanzen6682]

wow.. that green...makes me wonder what a nice matching metal colour would have looked like. Nice sounding pickups, though as you pointed out, the original pickups also sounded great.

[@Taallyn]

Nice project. I haven't seen a lot videos that mod Fender offsets, so I enjoyed this one. I like the white hardware on the rhythm circuit. I think that looks great. The pickups sound great. I hope you can get the bridge pickup height adjusted to your taste. As for the the pick guard ... I like the pick guard itself. I think it would look great on an Olympic/Polar white guitar. It might even work on a black or surf green guitar. It doesn't work for me on that vintage burst finish though. I admit that's just me. You do you. One advantage to it ... no one would mistake it for their guitar.

[@relevo86]

because of this video, I've actually kind of fallen in love with this color combination. my new aesthetic might be glam park ranger edit: I just read the rest of the comments and can't believe it! this pickguard is so cool imo!

[@stevdarshaki4378]

Lana i totally agree. this color combination is sick!

[@ThatMattGoodMusic]

Protip: If your screws are stripped or particularly soft, put a flat elastic band between your screwdriver and the screw and it'll come undone!

[@Zeal808]

Probably works but Who has a flat elastic band just laying around..I like the pliers trick

[@mindfall82]

Wow that neck pickup sounds so good!

[@KarlElvis]

Chris Swope is awesome and the descendant is a brilliant design. I LOVE my descendant.

[@jacoblawrence5405]

dude please keep the pickguard on there. it looks exactly how i would expect a soviet jazzmaster to look. very funky

[@monmixer]

I think I'm convinced to buy a classic vibe or vintage modified jazz and mod it so it's top notch.

[@noonesfang131]

The green on sunburst reminds me of Jemaine's bass from the Flight of the Conchords

[@hambonesyndrome8767]

I think the Green pickguard is different, but in a really really cool way. I would never think of it myself, but it looks really cool.

[@billnelson9413]

I love everything about the look now and it sounds great!

[@slowmosaic369]

First video I’ve seen of yours. Really enjoyed it! Love the guitar! The color combination looks awesome. Very interesting. I’m Subscribed!! Thanks

[@Blackswamper]

sounds great, I'm convinced, going to build a JazzMaster, Thanks Ryan

[@leoz96]

That green works sooo well

[@etamino2126]

I'm a huge fan of the green pick guard... it looks so insanely bad that it's non-boring. A win in my book

[@phantom_spaceman]

power clashing

[@mark5150ty]

great video. Sounds great and I think the pickguard looks wonderful especially with all white. And that trim bar looks like it's really smooth.

[@hotman718]

that's a really bright neck pickup. almost sounds more like a bridge pickup just with a little more low end.

[@DavidHBurkart]

Love the Trem! That pickguard needs a '70s Appliance Avacado Green burst to make it pop instead of the borderline contrast/clash of the current sunburst/pickguard combo. Love that neck pickup BIG!

[@mark5150ty]

when I have multiple ground wires and limited space, a lot of times I will solder them to a single wire and then attach that wire to the pot. You just solder them to the single wire and cover with shrink tube.

[@60CycleHumcast]

GAMES AND GUITARS I need to order more heat shrink, I’ve been out forever

[@mark5150ty]

@@60CycleHumcast Aaa... the hell with it, electrical tape works great too lol

[@oggorat]

Had no idea they made humbuckers in JM pickup housings... this makes me wanna build a Jazzmaster partscaster You should refinish it in a dark metallic color

[@blowing_up]

I like the pick guard, I think it would look cool with all black plastic covers, knobs, switches etc.

[@seanuvan]

I like the guard. It kind of feels like a circuit board kind of vibe. Would not have instinctively gone for the green, but I think it passes muster.

[@avantengarde]

that pick guard is spicy, i like it

[@sknapp19911]

I wish fixing the bridges on these guitars wasn’t such a PITA. Got an adjustable mustang bridge for my jaguar - but still not 100%. I love the tremolo on these, at least. Ah wel, that’s the price of beauty, I guess

[@dat_bouy]

You could paint the body a nice cream white to match the pickups and pop with that pickguard. Unless you like it!

[@awogbob]

One thing I think that would improve the look is matching the knobs to the pickup cover and switches, its subtle but the white and cream clash and matching either one would do a lot to unify the appearance of the pickguard.

[@AL-pe5sl]

Those chords are so Orange County 😎 🙏 Happy Sunday

[@HadrianRex]

If you shim the neck and raise the bridge, then the low and high E strings won't rub against the trem plate screws, and you can achieve better action.

[@thecolorhero1078]

Nice job homies. Also ya soundin' betta. Spanks.

[@darrellm3410]

Take the foam off the bridge pickup and do the old school Black or white finish over the sunburst.

[@michaelweldon1127]

I am a big fan and I want to do something in your honor..... since you had to figure out a spacer for your switches because the screws were too long, I want to invent a spacer that can be used in the future for all screws that need a spacer. I think I’m going to call it a “washer” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣thanks for your inspiration Ryan. Sorry couldn’t resist. Keep up the good work. Love the videos.

[@Sleezyleisure14]

I'd put all that goodness back in the old tortise pick guard. I'm a fan of them to begin with, so i'm biased.

[@bastianbesenbeck4209]

Very impressed by the sounds and looks killer! Great episode :) Why did you shim the neck, for better action?

[@milojohnson3057]

the jazzmaster was originally designed with neck shims in mind to give it more of an archtop geometry and due to the low bridge break angle, so people do it quite often, mike adams (puisheen) has a great video on it

[@bastianbesenbeck4209]

Milo Johnson oh cool, thanks mate

[@sammywarren3070]

Ahhhh nice but you missed the most important thing ...the tusq xl nut upgrade!!! Has mine singing like crazy. Those pickups sound great though!

[@60CycleHumcast]

i have a graphtech nut in a drawer somewhere, if it will fit maybe ill swap it in. I hate to mess with nuts if there isnt a problem though.

[@walkerdaniels549]

Looks sick with the green pickguard

[@johnharris1846]

very cool Ryan and I agree that neck pu is great.....!

[@julius2790]

I'm really curious how you're liking the Descendant trem? I just had a partscaster put together and the luthier had to use a shim to get the break angle right and the low E is a little buzzy still at the 5th fret. I'm hoping getting one the Descendants might be a perfect thing. Love your channel man!

[@niclastname]

I know you already have lots of gold stuff, but I think a gold anodized pickguard would've been pretty cool on that sunburst!

[@archielambert7418]

looks awesome Ryan

[@milojohnson3057]

i actually really like the green and white on the burst

[@ManuelGonzalez-pz6zq]

4-wire hamburger tho 🍔🥵 I’ve always loved how similar Humbucker and hamburguer sound

[@ALWTunes]

Curse you, Leo Fender!! Haha. The green kinda looks like the Statue of Liberty; like an aged bronze. Looks nice!

[@serfillustrated4018]

I think the pickguard would work great with black pickups and knobs!

[@danielcarter2980]

I like it! Contrasting but in a well done way. This looks like an organ transplant from a cream jazzmaster. Every joe schmoe and their sister goes for a gold pickguard.

[@fastj1962]

yeah, my bass VI had a stripped screw from Fender. Its a pisser. Something so small can make such a big difference. Learn how to use a screw driver and the difference between lugnuts on your 59 c60 dump bed truck and a beautiful piece of electronics. :)

[@RiickMendez]

Maybe you can try to do a crazy paint job like the one you did on your mustang, cool video!

[@frieswijk]

Ryan this was stupid and ugly. That's why we love this channel

[@Mr.Steve-O]

Super stoked you did this video. I have the same guitar in Sonic Blue. Did the Shim give you some more room in the neck ? btw - I named your newly updated guitar " Gator ". ... ha ha ... It's very cool, J Mascis would approve ! Those new pickups sound great as well. I am looking for that exact tortoise pickguard so if you are throwing that one away I know someone who would love to have it : ) PS. I switch out the pots for a while for 500k's and it was was interesting as it leaned towards a more baritone sound, which was cool for playing early Cure stuff, but I switched back to 1mg pots to get that surf range I bought the guitar for in the first place. Keep up the great work !!

[@McIovln]

I believe the strings are making contact with the Descendant because of the shim in the neck. From what I can tell, The Descendant is supposed to increase the break angle by lowering the strings connection to the vibrato/tremolo unit. The shim is acting in the same capacity (only in reverse) by raising the neck instead of lowering the vibrato/trem. So what I think you’ve done is increase the break angle two fold, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I think rather than adjusting the Descendant by taking out one of the plates, it would make more sense to take out the shim. Fair warning, I could be completely wrong haha! Anyway, it sounds great! And I kind of dig the green pick guard. When people say it’s ugly just call it avant garde and that they wouldn’t understand!🤣

[@60CycleHumcast]

if i removed the shim the bridge would be lower and the string would intersect the trem at a more shallow angle so the issue would actually be greater.

[@McIovln]

60 Cycle Hum *face palm* you’re totally right, Ryan. I woke up like 30 seconds before I started watching this and my brain evidently was NOT working when I wrote this haha!

[@60CycleHumcast]

McIovln lol, no worries

[@wonderwomanguy]

I wasn't sure about that pickguard until you made the 80's Soviet comment. Now I think it looks incomplete with out a Hammer & Sickle sticker on it!

[@mark5150ty]

Lol when you took the pictures of the pickup we could hear your phone injecting artifacts into the signal, you probably ought to get a little camera for that purpose instead of using your phone. Great guitar though man haven't finished watching the video yet but I am excited.

[@DolemiteSammich]

Can you post a vid with the bridge pickup in proper position? The neck was beautiful sounding

[@MrTylero28]

I need to grab a descendant vibrato for at least ONE OF my Offsets

[@stemshade3108]

searching for that Pickguard, link is not working any longer, anybody know where to source it?

[@jasonanderson02]

I think this project is great! ...i was skeptical of the pickguard...but, i don't hate it. ;)

[@paulsmith6577]

looks good! the green somehow works im suprised

[@ryangilby]

I did the same thing with the pickup screws when installing them in my Warmoth Jazzmaster. C’mon guys

[@fulltiltgonzales]

I need to seek out counseling after watching what you did to that pickguard

[@joshuabenton3785]

What a wonderful video! As for the green pickguard...dare I say it kinda makes sense? I don't know, but I am not disgusted by it, which is strange. I am building a jazzmaster right now and would love your opinion: do the Ristrettos get you to that classic surf tone or should I get normal jazzmaster pickups?

[@christhompson9378]

What a cool guitar 😍

[@stevebrown5253]

I’m not a fan of tortoise PGs... gold might look really good. I think the green works for a “surf guitar”... sounds great!

[@mattheweastel129]

It’s funny, I never would have picked that colour pickguard, but I think it is a grower. It’s certainly unique. Ryan, I’m super keen on getting one of the Squier Jazzmasters, but I have a Gretsch with bigsby for those wobbly clean tones. Is it different enough from the sound of a Gretsch to warrant it, do you think?

[@paulsmith6577]

the lambertone humbucker sounds great! better than the stock jm pickup i know its a single coil but still the humbucker sounds better not too bright

[@craigschmidt1634]

Hey Ryan, I just ordered an anodized gold pickguard for my jazzmaster. Do I need to get a new bracket for the rhythm circuit?

[@matthewstacy2451]

Would one of those little Floyd Rose Allen key holders for the back of the headstock work to hold your tremolo tool

[@SwirlyWhirlyXYZ]

Are you on the OSG board? Sounds great, not sure how I feel about green on sunburst. Would look great on a blue, green or grey JM

[@blairswitchproject2347]

You should look for a gold pearloid pickguard!

[@mindfall82]

I just ordered a chrome mirrored pickguard for a sunburst strat b4 I watched this

[@fastj1962]

I realize you may not see this but just putting this out there... Wouldn't it be possible to just source screws that were lower profile for the stock trem? :)

[@davidmbas]

Hey Ryan, why don't you make that your next nail polish 2.0 maybe air brushed refinish project??????????

[@joaquincuervo6943]

Ryan, anything (except pink) looks better than grotesque tortoiseshell! Hey, is that a rosewood fret-board on that JM? Really nice dark wood!

[@Ycontrol_]

swampy vibes on that jazzy now

[@AndyFerdean]

What volume pot are you using? They recommend a 500k volume pot for the cremas.

[@mozmarr319]

Did the folks at Descendant every reach back out to you about the issues you noticed with the trem? specifically the spacing issue on the D and G string? Also, the E string resting on the plate because the cut out doesn't seem to extend out enough. One more thing, I think I read on their website that in order to remove the trem arm you only need to swing the arm back towards you (I'm guessing the rear of the guitar or towards your face in a player position) and then you can pull it out. Love to hear your thoughts now that you've had some time with it.

[@SpaghettiBaby-NoodleBoy]

Do you have an update on your assessment of the Descendant tremolo?

[@jonathanmeyer1164]

Love the look of that green pickguard. If my Jazzmaster was sunburst, i would definitley get one.

[@georgelackey622]

Are you colorblind?

[@jonathanmeyer1164]

Last i checked, no. You know the old saying, different strokes for different folks

[@georgelackey622]

@@jonathanmeyer1164 Ugly is still ugly!

[@fireonetwofour]

great job!!! do not change anything except tuner keys

[@Yuri_official_dad]

That middle position is THE Weezer sound, wow!

[@swancorewhore]

V I r g I n