Review: Fender American Professional ii Jazzmaster in Dark Night

[@captainbob406]

I know this is an older video but noticed you switching the toggle switch for the lead circuit while in Rythm circuit mode. It doesn't work that way. When in the Rythm circuit, the toggle switch is useless. The only thing below the strings that affects tone while in Rythm circuit mode is the push/push tone knob. That, as you earlier indicated, coil taps the bridge pickup making a very subtle tone change when in Rythm circuit mode. Great video! I love my Pro II Jazzmaster. I also turn the tone down a bit to mellow out the jangles. The variety of tomes this guitar produces is amazing. I actually think this could be a "do all" guitar once you get the tones sorted out.

[@mtjguitars]

Yep I figured that out before I be even posted the video but at the time I was too lazy to reshoot and it still gets lots of views so I'm fine leaving my ignorance out there for all to see 😆

[@MD-mh6iu]

Great review! This exact guitar arrives later today. I have AM Pro2 Strat and love it, especially the neck. Can’t wait to play this one, my first Jazzmaster.

[@stevemiller1203]

Great review, sounds and looks really good!

[@jaygeekay9605]

shurely a wonderful guitar !… and a splendid place, where you are playing! Love it! 😍

[@gahangore111]

Thank you for saying how important the rhythm circuit is to the Jazzmaster experience. I will forgive you for your opinion on painted headstocks 🤣🤣🤣

[@mtjguitars]

Haha I have weird and boring taste in guitars, painted headstocks look cheap to me even though they are usually on more expensive models. The rhythm circuit on this guitar isn't a classic, but you can still get the bright/mud option. I'd like to convert it to a traditional rhythm circuit at some point but Jazzmaster wiring is a headache.

[@andrewljacob]

8:30--OH YEAH!

[@mtjguitars]

I'm quite fond of that sound too! I'm thinking that I need to do an updated demo/review after owning it for nine months. I'll get the sound right this time and do a bit more editing to cut out the sloppy playing.

[@andrewljacob]

@@mtjguitars I thoroughly enjoyed the video. When I heard Stu Hamm say that a performance isn't supposed to be an exercise in not making a mistake, I became like, "yeah, man--mistakes! Authenticity! Humanity!" Regardless, I think an updated review would be cool. This is the one American Pro Jazzmaster II I'm at risk of possibly buying. I'm trying to make my American Pro Jazzmaster in white blonde my keeper, though.

[@tomlavelle8518]

Very cool review. Thanks!!

[@mtjguitars]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Let me know if there are any features I missed or things that would make it better. I'm always trying to make the videos that I wish other people made.

[@nympholepticmonkey352]

Great review!👌. I already have a pro ii telecaster deluxe in dark knight and was thinking about getting this exact jazzmaster too in the hope that when recorded together they'd provide greater tone range. Would you say there's enough of a sound difference between them to justify buying the jazzmaster as well? I really love the sound and the look of it but obviously it only really make sense buying it if it has enough of a different tonal pallette to warrant buying both. I'd really appreciate your input on the subject as I'm facing a bit of a dilemma so if you can advice in anyway it would be greatly appreciated👍. Thanks for reading and again thanks for the great review man 👌👍.

[@mtjguitars]

That is a GREAT question. I think a lot of people would be surprised even to consider jazzmasters and teles as having a similar tone but I definitely hear it! The middle position (both pickups) are jangly and crisp on jazzmasters and teles. That being said I think you can justify both because the Jazzmaster offers 1) a rhythm/lead circuit or a bright/mud type of switch which gives a bit more versatility (although I have added that to my tele as well). That is something the American Professional 1 cut, so I'm glad its back for the 2nd version. And 2) Jazzmasters also offer a tremolo which most teles don't have except for the occasional bigsby. The Jazzmaster trem system is my absolute favorite, it isn't for hendrix/van halen style dive bombs but it gives a beautiful touch to sustained chords.

[@mtjguitars]

Let me know what you end up doing!

[@harveycogswell5278]

Hey Mike! Did you ever switch the pick guard out for the silver one?

[@mtjguitars]

@@harveycogswell5278 I did and it was stunning! I traded it away last year. I'm ultimately not a jazzmaster or Jaguar guy. But it looked awesome

[@andrewljacob]

In your opinion, is the rhythm circuit or series mode on this guitar supposed to approximate humbucker tones? I see myself as a Jazzmaster guy, but I still keep an old Strat around just because it has humbuckers. A Jazzmaster that can do pretty much everything is the dream. Thanks again for the excellent demo!

[@mtjguitars]

I wouldn't call it humbucker tones per se. I think Jazzmaster is a unique tone. The pickups are single coil and to me they sound like a really beefy, but still single coil, telecaster. Selecting both pickups has the twangy punchy sound of a tele in the middle position. Transition from strat to Jazzmaster has been my journey and at the end of the day I still prefer single coil to humbucker. I like getting the darker rhythm sound while still having the charm of single coils... if you're looking for the hum cancelling of humbuckers then you gotta stay in the middle position all the time.

[@DonThorvund]

The AmPro II does not have a traditional rhythm circuit. It has a Series Switch in place of the traditional rhythm circuit. I am sure it is a cool option, but not traditional. Personally, I think the traditional Rhythm Circuit is something pretty amazing.

[@mtjguitars]

That is true. I think they create a very similar effect especially when comparing it to the phase function of the switch on the JM Ultra. The true traditional rhythm switch I believe is on the Vintera 60s and the American Original 60s. I've owned one of those and played both. I don't think that rhythm circuit is superior to the AmPro II. The American Pro II has a better output balance between rhythm and lead and still gets the darker tones for rhythm.

[@DonThorvund]

@@mtjguitars Both pickups in series (AmPro II) is much different than the neck pickup with a capacitor (traditional). I do not know about the Vintera, so I cannot speak to how that is set up. A traditionally wired Jazzmaster with 1 meg pots and a true rhythm circuit is pretty amazing, but unfortunately, not many models have true traditional wiring. If the Series circuit flips your pancakes, that is awesome. I think it is cool to have multiple sound options, Its just a good idea to represent it correctly. It is not traditional or vintage (but then again, neither are noise cancelling pickups and tapped bridge pickups). Don’t get me wrong, I am looking at one of these beauties, but I think I would convert to a four position switch to keep the series option and require the rhythm circuit to traditional. That is the beauty of guitars, you can make them your own. Great review and don’t worry about the open mic, no big deal.

[@mtjguitars]

@@DonThorvund Thanks for the correction. I genuinely did not know it wasn't a classic rhythm circuit until you commented. I'm not a lifelong jazzmaster player, I just got into them about two years ago. Being able to get a darker tone for rhythm than lead is the piece I'm looking for and so the Am ii scratches that itch. The Pro II is still a rhythm/lead circuit even if it has attempted to modernize a bit. Whereas the Ultra didn't even attempt to have a rhythm circuit of any kind. I did a side-by-side pickup comparison between the Ultra and Pro ii. It sounds like you're not a fan of the noiseless pickups (normally neither am I) but those Ultra pickups were nice. It was just a strange decision with wiring. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYuTaJ96mLGoqMU

[@DonThorvund]

@@mtjguitars I am not a fan of the Ultra wiring at all, but maybe the simplified interface is great for many musicians. I am not usually a fan of noiseless pickups as they tend to lack the sparkle, but again, if you play in electrically noisy environments, then maybe they work for a lot of people. I will check our your other reviews. Thank you!

[@kcd2120]

@@DonThorvund Would there be any way to change this Am Pro II rhythm circuit to a traditional rhythm circuit? Or perhaps the pickups need to be specifically designed to work with a traditional rhythm circuit.

[@marklewis7484]

Fantastic review. Thanks

[@mtjguitars]

I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! I'd like to keep making more videos like this and would really appreciate it if you would like and subscribe (if you haven't already)

[@farrewelll]

I'm glad you demonstrated it acoustically it actually sounds pretty good you can tell the strings are new but it really jangles

[@mtjguitars]

I agree, I think it is somewhat natural to be able to hear the strings. If you sit down in a guitar shop and demo a guitar you can hear/feel it acoustically as well as through the amp. That being said, I think that is why I've gotten some thumbs down for this video, so thanks for the encouragement!

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

I want that dark night fìnish ... i will mod it for original rhytm circuit when i have it. Jazz Master circuit ... are you kidding me man!?

[@mtjguitars]

I didn't end up modding it but I did get an American professional Jaguar and I did put a classic rhythm circuit in that one .

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

@@mtjguitars Nice! I have a texas tea american ultra tele... and i got rid of the noiseless pups and banged the montys danish pete's in... i now am modding it for nashville three pups wit 5 way selector.. found a vintage 60s strat pup for the mid! I cant help mess with stuff! I love the ultras for the contours... but not a fan of noiseles, not hot enough for me. That dark knight finish on that pro 2 JM is awesome! I'm blue black all the way for finishes too!

[@sgd5k292]

Did you replace the pickguard, and if so could you show it? I have a Am Pro II Jazzmaster on order and it will take a few weeks to become available again. There are none available anywhere at least in my search including no used ones to be found anywhere at this time. I am also getting the Dark Night....my wife loves the color!

[@mtjguitars]

I did replace the pickguard, I'll post a picture today to my Instagram account since I can't do a photo comment on KZbin. Instagram @mtjguitars

[@sgd5k292]

@@mtjguitars I don't do instagram, but that is ok. I am not going to worry about any changes to my JM for quite a while, and this is from someone who nearly always does upgrades. Thanks for the reply and I liked your demo.

[@mtjguitars]

@@sgd5k292 you don't need an account to see instagram.com/mtjguitars/p/CYRMaboOfcG/?

[@jessesmith2906]

I wanna see that silver pick guard on this guitar. I’ve got the same guitar

[@mtjguitars]

instagram.com/p/CK6cD_0jeNX/?igshid=115uqyj6immpw

[@jessesmith2906]

@@mtjguitars that’s awesome man. Now that guitar is truly one of a kind!

[@mtjguitars]

@@jessesmith2906 I'm sure someone else will do it eventually, but I really love this guitar!

[@kruser32]

I saw the pic of the pickguard and it looks great. Could you do a video with it with plenty of light shining on the guitar so we can get a good look at it?

[@mtjguitars]

@@kruser32 I'd be happy to. Are there any other features you want explored or tone/style samplings of the pickups? Or do you just want some good detail on the pickguard?

[@13Houdini13]

Are the narrow tall frets a big adjustment?

[@mtjguitars]

Super easy! They take a light touch and give you a little more space between the frets.

[@bassplaya4196]

They should've kept the traditional rhythm circuit!! I'll just save up and buy a AVRI or original 60's version!!

[@chase2787]

Cool guitar, also why not just mute the vocal mic when making the video?

[@mtjguitars]

I can't do it in post, my mixer mixes down to one track when it goes to the computer. Getting a proper DAW in on my 2021 list for this channel.

[@chase2787]

@@mtjguitars gotcha, great playing btw. I’d be surprised if your channel doesn’t gain some more traction soon. Good luck man!

[@mtjguitars]

@@chase2787 That is very kind of you to say! The playing is a little sloppy, I still am not comfortable playing to a camera but since I'm not offering lessons or "how to play well" then I figure the playing just have to be good enough to demonstrate the product. I LOVE guitar product demos on KZbin so I'm just trying to add my own small contribution. I'm hoping to get some traction soon, I've been releasing at least one video per week since October 1st and plan to do so until someone stops me! Thanks for watching!

[@philparadise3702]

I read that some people said this guitar was too trebly. Do you share the opinion?

[@mtjguitars]

Nah, jazzmasters tend to be treble-y and even a bit harsh especially on the lead circuit. I tend to keep the tone at about 7 on the lead circuit and about the same on the rhythm circuit. You can also use different string material for a mellower sound.

[@philparadise3702]

@@mtjguitars Thank you :)

[@jmacc9876]

Love the jazzmaster. To cure the brittle trebliness, I too, drop the tone to 7 or 7.5, drop the vol a bit too (both 1 meg pots) then I use a clean boost (tc spark mini) if I want to boost that nice mellower tone before it hits the dirt pedals/amp.

[@kevinsimmons7182]

Not to nitpick but the switch makes no difference in rhythm mode, only the tapping does.

[@MikeTJorgensen]

Not a nitpick, very valid point that I didn't realize till I was editing the video 🤦

[@kevinsimmons7182]

@@MikeTJorgensen still a good review and a great guitar. Just got mine after 5 months of back order.

[@janrandles8683]

Do you like this better than the Ultra as far as the pickups? Trying to decide.

[@mtjguitars]

Yes, I still have my ultra. The new vintage noiseless are the best they've ever been (in the ultra) but they're kind of low output (or at least seem that way). I really like the compound radius on the ultra but I think the phase is useless.

[@mtjguitars]

I can do a side by side comparison if that would be helpful!

[@janrandles8683]

I am just concerned that I have read a lot of reviews that are not happy with the low output from the pick ups. I love that dark knight color and have it on pre-order but I am told February at the earliest. The Ultra i was looking at was the mochaburst but really don't like that mint pick guard. Thanks for your response as you know a lot about the Jazzmaster. This will be my first and last (lol said everyone who ever bought a guitar!) If you could only have one, which would you choose?

[@mtjguitars]

@@janrandles8683 I was told I couldn't get this till March but here I am! If I had to choose it would be the American pro 2. But it's close. The only color I liked for ultra was the blue but I don't like maple boards so I went mocha burst. The mint guard drove me crazy so I swapped it for an aged cream. It's hard to swap pickguards on the ultra since it has three pots instead of two, but it is doable since the jack is in the body instead of the pickguard.

[@mtjguitars]

@@janrandles8683 I'll shoot a comparison tomorrow and post it here