What a CRAZY Axe! | 2020 Fender Parallel Universe Vol II Jazz Strat Mystic Surf Green Review + Demo

[@Trog]

I liked this guitar - but if I had to choose based on playability, I'd go with the Jazz Tele. These Jazz Strats certainly bring a lot to the table though! 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/item/33799238-video-2020-fender-parallel-universe-vol-ii-jazz-strat-mystic-surf-green?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 💰New to Reverb? Get $10 on Me ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/earn10 👕 Merch: teespring.com/basic-logo-4245?pid=211 🎸New Guitar Day Program: troglysguitarshow.com/ngd/ ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/ 🐕 Episode Guide: 0:12 - Parallel Universe Vol II 0:46 - The Name 1:38 - Jazz Strat Explained 3:38 - First Impressions 4:56 - Inside Look / Specs 15:21 - Tone Demo 18:31 - Final Thoughts 20:31 - Jazz Strat VS Jazz Tele 22:27 - Blacklight Test 22:52 - Fender Green Case

[@triplesevensix291]

Gibson should do something like this series. Mix it up a bit instead of the same old stuff year after year. This series from Fender is great. Some great designs. Fender are killing it lately. Cheers Austin man. And....take care. Lol. ;)

[@triplesevensix291]

It only goes to 9? 9?! Nigel Tufnell is wrecking a hotel room somewhere right now! That's even worse than hearing music played through Dobly! ;)

[@felixayala05]

@@triplesevensix291 An archtop SG solidbody. The Les-g.

[@felixayala05]

Trogly: What did you use to condition the neck?

[@felixayala05]

Oh that oversight on the neck is atrocious.

[@kcb5150]

This is the kind of guitar to get second hand a few years down the line at a deep discount during the "so weird it's a leper to traditionalists" phase before dealers start cranking them years down the line because "there weren't a lot of them made."

[@bigfootsburneraccount9160]

This guy knows

[@telequacker-9529]

I kind of don't like the Jazzmaster body, it's a bit large for my lil duck wings. But I need that vibrato in my life. The Jaguars I've been able to try in-person all have huge frets that I don't like. I'm hoping this mashup freak guitar gets down to half price before long...

[@kcb5150]

@@telequacker-9529 I like the offsets when they have the matching headstocks, those look really cool. I think Jaguars are cooler looking than Jazzmasters but I don't like the scale length. And the Jazzmaster pups sound a lot better to my ear.

[@JoshuaC923]

That's right

[@The_YouTube_Critic]

100% I love this guitar. Hope it goes on a deep discount in a year or two.

[@jayclark725]

I just got mine today. I have to say I didn't have any of the cosmetic issues. My paint lines were straight and started and stopped perfectly. I also appreciate how Fender is cutting the protective plastic on the pick guard. It came off without leaving any small pieces around the screws etc. I do take off the knobs before I try to remove it which helps. My neck appears to be a slightly glossy but doesn't feel like it. I usually take a scotch bright pad to my necks to smooth them out but I didn't need to with this neck. Thanks Austin for all your hard work! It is entertaining and informative.

[@SpaghettiBaby-NoodleBoy]

It wasn't Fender's doing with the pickguard plastic. These were made by Decoboom. They make some pretty nice custom pickguards.

[@josegallegosdds]

Any fret issues? As in sharp?

[@myoptik3x103]

Oh man, I want a Jazz bass with this finish! A little like that Silent Siren bass.

[@dylanzrim1011]

He loves that bass, would explain why he jumped at this

[@mayoneighspcandmusic]

I'd love that but in a P-bass. I have nothing against the Jazz and I love the neck. I NEED A P-BASS WITH A JAZZ BASS NECK!!!

[@matthewb8229]

They should have called it a Strazzacaster

[@troyrahnedir]

Yeah or Strazzamacaster!

[@6-V-6s]

even freakin jazzomacaster is better than jazzstrat

[@davidg1612]

Strazzacaster.....I like it but it would look weird printed on an ad and probably would cause people to stick their nose up in the air at it. Lol

[@leoc507]

Oppure Stracazzocaster... Questa è solo per gli amici italiani 😊

[@orange.juice.]

This is on my list of dream guitars now. That paint, and those wind symbols... everything is so classy

[@joermnyc]

I’d like to have seen them try to stick the “rhythm” circuit in this (even just a push pull pot for that “jazzy” tone)... also old Jazzmasters used 1M pots (unless I’m confusing them with the Jaguar), so this isn’t quite a full Jazzmaster sound..

[@justinkase8642]

Yep, Jazzmasters had 1MEG pots. A shame they changed it. Fender also put 250k pots in the 2018 PU Jaguar, which completely changed the sound (for the worse imo).

[@TheDingledong4lyfe]

i agree. the jazz circuit always gets overlooked. it would be great on this

[@allstopblue5717]

Nobody uses that though.... it’s 2020 and it’s a specialty one off run. You want the classic rhythm, sound, buy an actual jazzmaster maybe?

[@joermnyc]

@@allstopblue5717 I have a Jaguar, Jazzmasters are a a bit too big for my playing style, so I sold mine. The darker rhythm circuit is great with fuzz!

[@senorphilipe4242]

Justin Kase the one meg pots make jazzmaster a too shrill

[@BB-pi2wd]

Fender lists the pickups as 65 Jazzmaster pickups, but your neck pickup has a black fiber bottom and beveled magnet polepieces (which the American 65 Jazzmaster pickups don't). I've seen other Jazz Strats online with this combo. I believe Fender is using a 62 Reissue neck and a 65 Reissue bridge combo in these guitars. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but my American Vintage 65 Jazzmaster definitely has 2 grey pickups with non-beveled polepieces in both positions. Specs aside, these guitars sound jaw dropping amazing.

[@tball5677]

A hot cup of coffee and a new Trog vid. Great way to start my day.

[@thecrippledrummer]

Shigeo Naka from the Japanese surf band the Surf Coasters had made his own version of this years ago. Dave Wronski of Slacktone (who also works at Fender) built a Strat with a Jazzmaster trem and Jaguar pickups.

[@shnpio]

Cobain’s “Jag-Stang” walked so the Jazz-Stang could run

[@mirata7748]

Wish fender did the jagstangs right

[@SpaghettiBaby-NoodleBoy]

@@mirata7748 They did them how Cobain wanted them.

[@mirata7748]

@@SpaghettiBaby-NoodleBoy not really his original design wasnt as the same as the one we know

[@greysuit17]

@@SpaghettiBaby-NoodleBoy Mirata is right, the pickups used in the production model are crap and not even close to what he wanted. He wanted like a Texas special in the neck and a Dimarzio H-3 that later got changed to a JB in the bridge. I owned one back when they first were released. It sounded terrible and the body shape was really unbalanced.

[@baksagimm5890]

I love his demo. His playing skills is the perfect example of how really the guitar would sound if I play.

[@BadgerVito]

I actually really like the aesthetic of this, more than any of the other Parallel Universe/Pawn Shop models.

[@e.r.559am7]

Bridge pup w/ crunch sounds fantastic.

[@liveatminkys]

Great episode Trogly! Hey I thought it'd be helpful for many viewers if you show exactly how you wind your strings onto the pegs and how you measure the string length. Keep up the great work, from your biggest fan in Byron Bay Australia!!

[@jcoulter43]

I've never been a Jazzmaster fan nor the PU series fan, but I like this one, especially the color and that case. The Silent Siren bass and Tele were also very appealing. Nice crunch and distortion tones as well. Great review and demo as always. God bless and rock on 🎸👍😎

[@alexander.soetoro8062]

I’m not much of a Strat guy but that guitar is 😍😍😍

[@Manuel-np7dp]

Hi, I am a professional psychiatrist! I am interviewing everyone that isn't a "strat guy " to find out what is wrong with them! Lol I'm kidding

[@duffman18]

@@Manuel-np7dp I know right. Nothing is as playable as a strat, to me, and nothing else has that amazing tone. I have a les Paul and a tele and 8 or 9 other guitars but my strat is still the king, my go to for recording

[@michaelcarey9359]

As soon as I see a "Parallel Universe" neck plate for sale on ebuy, I'm buying it to throw on my Warmoth Musiclander build. In a Parallel Universe, I create my own realities!

[@tommy_1629]

Underated comment

[@andrewbingham3449]

Thanks for the mention!

[@SuperPuggy]

Is it just me or is the thumbnail for this video really good.

[@Brannington]

if this thing was made in mexico and 599 i would totally buy one

[@kaickprogrock]

Its here to stay. Just question of time.

[@richardcramp2850]

20:00 old hippies would weave a few colorful layers a yarn around the strings between the bridge and tailpiece to lightly dampen the vibes

[@heegabriel3336]

Hey Austin, your question at 14:45 - many of the set neck variants have painted necks. The necks on many 2000's FMT special edition showmasters for example match the body color.

[@liamouziel211]

The master caster is the community given name for this guitar! Spread the word

[@SEugeniusz]

satin guitar finish hack: use a dish scourer and just rub it on the neck until it goes white with the varnish, flip it over and do the same on the other side of the scourer. You can tape it off if you want a nice finish line. Plus you can always buff it back up and have a polished finish if you dont like it.

[@lorenshoffos7620]

First, I am a true blue Fender guy. I was in the market for a p 90 guitar and had my sights on a Jazzmaster. Had the money and was sure I would find one I liked. Now don't crap on me, but I came home with a Yamaha Revstar with P90's instead. The pickups were much better than any Jazzmaster I played. In my ears only. I still love fender but Yamaha hit it out of the park as far as their P 90's go.

[@textnumbers22]

Thats cause jazzmaster pickups aren't P90s except for the j mascis signiture model

[@lorenshoffos7620]

I stand corrected. I still prefer the Yamaha P90 tone.

[@artisimo7967]

Trogly: "it a 2020 model made in Corona California" Me: "uh oh"

[@davidg1612]

Lmao. Oh damn.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

ffs Fender, I really don't need another guitar. But it seems you've knocked this one out of the park. Beauty!

[@Bonedadyo]

I normally don’t like that kind of stuff, but that guitar is super sweet!!! It screams surf. I would’ve liked to see a middle single coil just to mash it up a bit - otherwise it’s very cool.

[@monstrok]

Thanks for the coverage on this model! That color is amazing and the pinstriping is very cool. Sound wise, I would be looking for a more balanced output using a hotter bridge pickup. Those sympathetic vibrations would need to be tamed for any loud or studio playing.

[@textnumbers22]

Honestly the sympathetic vibrations is what makes a jazzmaster sound like a jazzmaster, sonic youth would not sound the same without it

[@BillStreetStudios]

Wasn't expecting it to sound that good

[@gavinreeves2624]

I personally love everything about it because it's just so different I've owned a squire strat but never had a jazzmaster

[@DustinKoch]

Thanks for the videos Austin!!!

[@thecrippledrummer]

I had one of the older seafoam green Fernandes Decade offsets from the 90s with 3 single coils. I customized it a little, including a new headstock logo with “Jazzocaster” lettering, about 20 years ago.

[@maxcrowe6364]

so pretty... my wallet is crying tho

[@triplesevensix291]

My wallet is suicidal. Lol.

[@chrischappell2072]

My wallet died

[@gieljannoe6404]

My wallet tried to get the money's back from a jew.

[@thetheoryguy5544]

@@chrischappell2072 My wallet will die after I buy it 😪😁

[@AntonioGomez-ob9og]

I don't know what to tell you but simply looks so beautiful wonderful God bless you brother

[@chrismowbray4437]

That is one gorgeous finish.so sixties! I could picture it on a split tail stingray.

[@josegallegosdds]

So, I purchased this guitar brand new for a 13% discount. It is drop dead gorgeous! Mine had no paint or finish flaws. My only gripe was that they left the frets rather sharp. At this price point? I’ve had it since August and the neck pup is not working as of two days ago. Kind of frustrating. I’m sure it’s a loose wire or bad solder joint. The sound is very unique. Those pups are a bit noisy, but tolerable. I’m trying to decide whether to hold on to it or sell it. First I need to have it repaired. We’ll see after that.

[@bluesysamurainao4557]

Nice. Crunch tone is cool. In clean tone I like strat and prefer an output jack on top.

[@kellphil76]

Austin please say” Little, Metal, Buttons.” I just like the way you pronounce these words!

[@drloqutis2492]

Thats the best sounding guitar you have demoed to date.

[@Greg-vd5om]

Trogly is in the HOUSE!!!!!

[@telequacker-9529]

He's in the house every time I see him... which is every day it seems...

[@mattt7846]

Perfect guitar for me. Love the color and styling. Wish I had the money to buy. I have so many strats and been wanting a jazz master, it's like it was designed for me. Lol

[@jakeallison9444]

That middle position is wild

[@zororosario]

This guitar looks like a keeper. Always liked bound finger boards, gives any guitar a touch of class.

[@joecarl5473]

Loved this thing. It would be cool to see one with 3 p90s and a 5 way switch!!! Maybe that universe is too far away.

[@Brian_S74]

Yay! That guitar is blessed. It was made on my birthday!

[@clevelandshredder]

Love the show man keep it up

[@e3a3c3]

Those knobs are straight off my 1972 Radio Shack battery powered mic mixer.

[@matthewf1979]

“Does Fender ever paint their necks?” Says the guy that just demo’d an ALL white Telecaster.

[@ronbzoom8531]

I know! I was thinking the same thing. On the other hand, that was a very unique Japanese exclusive that most of us will never see in North American. Sigh... Japan always gets the coolest stuff.

[@whssy]

Almost but not quite enough so I'm making my own. Keeping the strat trem (design works better), keeping the 3 knobs, a 3-way Strat switch, Dylan Talks tone JM pickups and a one-off Dylan lipstick in the middle and using the JM tone circuit as tone/volume control for the lipstick. Using a bound and inlaid Coronado ii neck. Total price about 700 dollars.... If I had 2000 dollars I'd have bought one of these aswell though. Nicest thing Fender has put out since the Ventures Japan JM.

[@gringopig]

Sounds amazing! I would Staytrem it fully with bridge and trem collet/arm snd get the nut filed by a pro. Great sound!

[@lueymeteora1410]

Im literally the exact opposite of this target market...I love the Jazzmaster body, but don't like the pickups. And yet, guess what..?! I want the shxt outta this Master-Castor ! Ohhhh!🤩 This thing just looks like it was meant to be and on the very top shelf, too! Whoever nabs one of these...is gonna stand out on stage as one cool jive cat for many years to come..

[@BreadSlocum]

Love Everything about the looks of this guitar except for the gigantic pickups. Don't don't get me wrong I like how the jazz pickups sound, I just don't like how gigantic they are. They look even bigger on a Strat body! Anyhow, Thanks for your dedication and for all you do providing all this good guitar information to the community!

[@DVGTS1]

Fender did paint necks before, but I think it was a Fender Japan only kind of thing. Boxer series guitars from the 80's had black painted necks up until 1987.

[@ryangrant4342]

Bought one pretty much the first chance I could when it first came out. Best sounding and best looking guitar out there. Only Fender could deliver like they always do.

[@-Retired-]

A purple-orange one would look gorgeous...

[@Onlyelshafto1]

Nice guitar.. But excellent review trogly... That bad finish on the nut and headstock is brutal for a 2 grand guitar tho. Wtf is that all about? Keep up the brilliant work dude... Ur crucial to the industry.. Fender should be paying attention. Peace

[@ethansloss6854]

I liked the other one with the jazzmaster controls on the strat body.

[@AceOfROMs]

Do you mean the jag strat? I think it had jag controls and bridge but everything else was strat including the pickups

[@gavin4848]

@@AceOfROMs The jag strat has '65 vintage jaguar pickups and a mustang bridge. Also one of the best sounding guitars I've played/owned.

[@philsequeira3180]

I don't care what anyone else says, good stuff Austin!

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

Like most of these I like the middle position clean and just the bridge with some gain.

[@alphajames33]

You buy a Jazzmaster for it's neck pickup. That and the scale, makes it a good rhythm guitar, both for clear tones, and heavy Stoner Rock.

[@jeffwoeber9590]

That guitar is gorgeous!

[@jayeagle8363]

Swap the pots to vintage spec and rock the snot outa that thing 👍🤘...imo the nitro finish is gonna looks sweet in 10 years alll checked out and honest arm rub if she gets played .😉

[@bryanmchugh1307]

That thing is beautiful! Sounds great too!

[@134SASAKI]

It's hard to associate the Jazzmaster / Stratocaster with just "master" or "caster". As you know, Fender uses those names for other models as well. "Jazz Strat" is still safe.

[@droliver]

Great review, Austin!

[@shaunw9270]

Wow , I love it 👌 I think, visually,I prefer it to the Jazz Tele . A lot of guitar for the money, that's for sure.

[@showtime3162]

I love the stray body but I hate the tone knobs being so close to the strings, this is a great fix 👌 I think the meteora plays a bit better though

[@michaelbogdanowicz4313]

The features and appointments on this guitar would look awesome on a Jazzmaster style body

[@guitarandgames1386]

Hey trogly you ever seen the Epiphone Jeff Waters Annihilation V. Thing looks sick. As usual pretty good vid keep up the work

[@floopusdoopus]

We are now waiting for the Strat Jazz

[@Arahansannihilation]

Wow, that tremolo system is low profile and simple, it doesn't look as cool or massive as the Bigsby. will probably buy one with this system on in the future.

[@FranciscoGarcia-yt2jm]

The master caster, the stratocAster.

[@boxerfencer]

I suppose this jazz strat is the closest I've ever find to my idealized arched hardtail Strat. The sound was killer, with these jazz master pickups. I'd perhaps add a middle pickup, and definately a shawbucker on the neck, and a Gibson style volume-tone knob setup. The rhythm circuit would have been nice to see, as well.

[@Stinger_1995]

The Mastercaster actually exists, it's a Dommenget guitar (a german company), one of the signature models for Matthias Jabs (Scorpions).

[@jaybaker9248]

Trogly really pronounces his T Sounds, except when saying satin. Love this channel. If fender were smart they would hire trogly for quality control and product development.

[@allstopblue5717]

Not a bad idea. One things for sure, this man will NEVER be satisfied with any guitar. He will ALWAYS locate that one microscopic flaw somewhere.

[@AIexKilin]

I would’ve loved the name “jazzostratocaster”

[@pdbordelon]

Yes to "Mastercaster"! Reminds me of "Master Blaster" in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" ha. Why the hell didn't Fender use that name!?? Thanks for the video!

[@zdsrtgnzetmyet]

Love the guitar..... Only thing, KEEP THE WHITCH HATS CREAM

[@Scorpshead]

I think the Mastercaster is the name Matthias Jabs (of Scorpions) custom made Strat by Borris Dommenget. Look it up on KZbin there are videos Matthias himself showing the guitars

[@kaickprogrock]

A legend was born..

[@dirtywater5336]

I'll be honest, I've been surfing (get it) Fender's site a lot lately and I keep seeing this guitar and I keep scrolling past it. I thought it was ugly and stupid. But the more I watch you take it apart and look at it, the more I kind of want it. I love the side mounted jack input. Never was a fan of the front mounted one. Also love that surf green color. I always wanted a surf green Fender. I would probably only ever want to play surf music with this thing. I would swap out the radio knobs for some pearl capped strat shaped ones to match the inlays though

[@BillStreetStudios]

Fell in love with this guitar too bad it's 2 grand

[@kushking420]

I don't even play guitar, why am i binge watching all of these? i should be practicing on my drums

[@bubbafang4510]

LOL Sorry Austin, if they went with "Master Caster" Gene Simmons would sue for it sounding like his (in his world) wonderful classic song "Plaster Caster". STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK

[@mrGood-84]

And After you’ve showed that masking error on the freatbord I’ve been focused on it throughout the rest of the video 🤣

[@_dmfd]

It looks like on the bottom horn the pickguard isn't fitted properly, The horn of the pickguard looks slightly longer and it's lifted up off of the body at the tip but I guess that isn't a huge issue. I'd just want everything to be damn near perfect when spending $2K on a Fender. Tonally it sounded great and I really like the chrome knobs and big switch tip. I'm excited to see how Squiers version of the Parallel Series is when they release the Paranormal Series later this year. Pretty sure they have a JazzStrat or JazzTele coming in it.

[@jasonrackawack9369]

Retro mid century superstrat. Would have liked to hear Dick Dale play this one might have had 80s shred guitar in the 50s!

[@phfrixion]

The spanky bright sound is perfect for Funk-shredding. The distorted tones would be great for classic NWOBHW-style tones but the look of the Jazzcaster wouldn't appeal most players. *lol* ... as well as the trem system.

[@jmartini8875]

Loved it. The pups sound great.

[@spacemonkey3752]

I deeply deeply desire a block and bound rosewood neck on a strat, also its almost got a tune o matic bridge 🤠this one nearly had me pulling the trigger , if it was available in Olympic white or burst with a plain headstock and the volume knob was a respectable distance from the bridge. Where the missing tone control should be would work for me. And of course if it was called "mastercaster"

[@Terrible_Peril]

You actually know your primary colors! Always more reasons to be a Troglodyte!

[@PierceThirlen2]

The knobs have a vintage test equipment vibe going for them. Or perhaps like a vintage ham radio.

[@astheseasonsgrey]

The fact that "Master Caster" was an option and they went with this tells me everything I need to know about Fender.

[@masonharris9166]

Boring

[@matthewf1979]

Seriously, Jazz-O-Caster or Strat-O-Master would have been so much better. That green metallic is beautiful!

[@cloversgood_luck9290]

Omg the first demo reminded me of a slowed down spooky scary skeletons 😂

[@matthewmp111]

That guitar sounded great in your hands, Trogly! I have to say your playing is sounding great. Have you been taking new lessons?

[@kristfur]

LOVE this guitar 🥰 Very jealous you have one.

[@jonhornbeck4324]

What a guitar! I have always been drawn to "mash-up" guitars. You hit this one out of the park! As always Austin, you are highly entertaining, and very informative at the same time.