What I Learned After Gigging A JAZZMASTER for a Whole Year | TONE LAB

[@rockcrusade]

This is the best explanation of the unique idiosyncrasies of jazzmasters on KZbin. It’s like a month’s worth of reading the Offsetguitar forum condensed to half an hour. Killer playing and killer demo.

[@telecasper]

Well said! Fair, honest and practical

[@Torquemonster440]

Absolutely.. always tempted to pull the trigger on a Jazzmaster. This cleared up many of my concerns. Thank you Jay. 👊

[@garydiamondguitarist]

Well there's more to OSG than just offsets, to be fair.

[@stevewhittaker1903]

Yeh I’ve got an American professional 2 and I was annoyed that I had to have the tone on 5 to get my sound. Hahah thnx. I love it,and I wanna get a Vintera 50’s Jazz master. I understand the pots a bit better. Thnx

[@rob550]

I'm such a dork that i'm holding my Jazzmaster while watching this.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Haha :)

[@Tonetwisters]

Thatta boy ...

[@kraigoman153]

😂

[@briggsmiller7095]

Many months later... same.

[@andrew6889-p5c]

This was quite good. So sick of hearing superficial reviews that tell me nothing I couldn’t figure out from a website. This is very helpful.

[@fzgn]

As someone who's only guitar has been a Jazzmaster for the past ~15 years, you really nailed my experience with the guitar. That bright switch mod you have is very interesting! Very smart. Love your videos Jay, but this one is definitely my favorite. This will be my video to send to people if they are considering a Jazzmaster.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really appreciate it!

[@oldmanzen6682]

Fantastic video. Loved it. I picked up a JazzMaster ‘bout a year ago, and it’s been the most pleasant surprise of my 46 years of playing guitar. I adore it.

[@martiboucat]

I'd love to watch a full episode of JLJ & Puisheen talking Jazzmasters, fuzz and DL4s. Beautiful and superinformative video, Jay!

[@BeesWaxMinder]

ABSOLUTELY!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Damn, THAT I should do!

[@martiboucat]

@@JayLeonardJ like an hour long or more video, just chatting. What styles and songs improve with Jazzmasters, what might be better with something like a Telecaster, etc Also, talk about the different vibrato systems, strenghts and weaknesses… Mike loves the Vibrola too! You are both pickup and wiring nuts so that might be interesting too!

[@nickolasecker9596]

I’ve been using jazzmasters for quite some time, just about two years. They are my all time favorite guitar model, I’ve tried telecasters, strats, Les Paul’s, Gibson dots, Grestches, mustangs, jaguars and jazzmasters. The Jazzmaster is my absolute favorite, you can achieve some of the warmest, smoothest tones you’ll ever hear on the neck pickup, whereas the bridge is super jangly and works great for rhythm and surf, whereas the middle is the perfect balance between the two.

[@youwantcale]

Exactly!! Special and underrated the JM

[@youwantcale]

I’ve been a JM guy for years now and it’s by far my favorite live. The way it reacts to fuzz on the neck is incredible, also the rhythm circuit for overdrive is so killer!

[@BobPerrone]

I bought a Jazzmaster about 5 years ago and it immediately became my main guitar. Tones out the wazoo and really versatile. I eventually sold my strat and never looked back. My Telecaster is still in the stable, but I always gravitate to the Jazzmaster

[@gulapula]

As a Jazzmaster player, this video is a great explanation of what I love about it. The super high 1 Meg pots gives the Jazzmaster controls a huge range of usable tones. Other guitars ( Especially Single Coil equipped guitars ) have a super narrow range of usable "Non-Muddy", tones. When I try out Strats and Teles, I have to carefully navigate between 8.5-10 on the tone and volume knobs. With the Jazzmaster's 1 Meg pots, Everywhere from 3-10 is clear and free of muddiness. When you add in the super dark Rhythm circuit, the Jazzmaster can be dialed in to fit any amp, no matter how bright or dark. Also, as someone who actually uses the Jazzmaster to play Jazz, the convivence of dialing in a lead tone for a solo or the head of a tune, and a rhythm tone available at the flick of a switch is SUPER USEFUL! With some nice flats, the Jazzmaster can switch between a gnarly distorted tone, and a warm archtop-like tone with ease.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Yeah. Once I realized all the shades of sounds in that Tone Knob, that whole guitar opened up to me and I truly "got" the whole Jazzmaster thing!

[@ryanfulldark2775]

I recently played a Jazzmaster for the first time in 30 years of playing. Never tried one until I was at a friends house and to my surprise he busted out his real 59 Jazzmaster and handed it to me. I never play sitting down. Like 1% of my playing time is seated. Never have I ever played a guitar that was comfortable sitting down until I played that Jazzmaster. Not only was it comfortable, but the tone was unbelievable! Now all I can think about is adding one to my arsenal. This video was awesome, let me say that and you’re a monster player. Thank you for this! I’m gonna start the search!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Enjoy the search and thanks for writing!

[@SSquirrel1976]

Being a big Sonic Youth fan, when my stepdad bought me what was then my second guitar, he got me one of the mid 90s CIJ (MIJ?) Jazzmasters. Pretty sure the pickups are really more strat sounding in them, but it's always given me the sound I wanted, so I've never screwed w/them. Glad to see you really enjoyed your time w/the guitars, altho I've seen enough of your videos to know you could play a ham sandwich and make it sound good :)

[@sEaNoYeAh]

The overwhelming majority of modern Jazzmasters don't have "real" Jazzmaster pickups, they're just Strat pickups in a fat plastic shell. Jazzmaster pickups have short wide coils, which means to get the same number of turns the coil ends up wide. This is where the warmth and unique tone comes from. Strat pickups by comparison have tall narrow coils. I saw something from a hardcore Jazzmaster enthusiast recently who said at various points over the past 20 years there have been no Jazzmasters in production with actual Jazzmaster pickups. But for the guys who want original Jazzmaster tone there are a lot of small pickup makers who do authentic style JM pickups.

[@mikewolfe9458]

Great rundown, Jay! I’d love to see your take on the Jaguar someday too. I’ve been thinking about a jag or jazzmaster for awhile now. That AV II looks killer with the matching headstock and has some great specs.

[@zhengyongkoh]

Spent the past few months convincing myself I don't need a Jazzmaster. After your video Jay, I am back to square one lol. Cheers for the amazing sounds and playing!

[@vc2958]

have fun bossing

[@KoaCharvel]

Get a Squier J Mascis.....you will NOT be disappointed

[@shitstain001]

@@KoaCharvelI’d argue it’s just a guitar shaped like a jazzmaster

[@shitstain001]

Bro. Just get a jazzmaster. Trust.

[@snowyfrog7727]

came for the jazzmaster, stayed for your playing

[@JayLeonardJ]

Thanks!

[@lukedwelly]

I adore Jazzmasters, but, if you wanted to have Jazzmasters times, but also to get those '80's distortion tones, Jamie, at the Creamery makes a number of different Jazzmasters pickup sets and offers a number of different models - well worth a look!!

[@newQns]

I absolutely don't understand why JLJ doesn't is much, much bigger in the sense on subscriber-count. He's is undoubtedly one of the best guitar youtubers in so many ways, isn't he? Thanks JLJ for doing what you do, love ya. :) PS: You custom wiring on the CS is perfect?! PPSS: Such a killer player btw, just amazing; I think you would make a stunning session guitarist, too.

[@jjstrumr692]

@@Wakeman8791 Could you give us all lessons? How much $$? How do I find your channel??? Do you actively gig???

[@clutteredchicagogarage2720]

You give awesome guitar reviews because you demonstrate a bunch of different tones and styles with each guitar. So many guitar reviews on KZbin just demonstrate like 2 styles, and if those aren’t the ones that someone watching the review wants, the content isn’t useful. With all the diversity in your reviews , I can envision how I might set up everything to get what I want. Thanks so much. I think you have the best electric guitar reviews on KZbin. You are going to save me a ton of trial and error as I shop around for my next guitar.

[@JayLeonardJ]

It really means a lot. Thanks for watching!

[@samuelgonzalez1392]

Every other guitar youtuber I've seen talk about Jazzmasters didn't quite seem to understand them. They just took talking points from the internet and re enforced stereotypes. You REALLY seem to understand this guitar. I play a G&L Jazzmaster as my main guitar and you vocalized so many of the things I didn't even know how to describe and opened my eyes to more things I never noticed. This is TRULY the best Jazzmaster review/deep dive on all of youtube. Thanks Leonard!

[@JayLeonardJ]

That really means a lot. Learning about the Jazzmaster this year was a blast: really fun video to make.

[@NickMcC]

Man, this is KILLER content. The perfect combo of technical and musical. I'd love to see more deep dives on guitar types! Even if it's not one you've played for a full year.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Yeah, maybe I should do more long term deep dives for 2024 :)

[@joeltunnah]

​@@JayLeonardJ Mustang or Jaguar.

[@christophernoia5197]

Ive been playing a jazzmaster for about 7 years and its my go to and favorite for a lot of stuff.

[@philh27]

Absolutely fantastic video, Jay. I’ve been ‘Jazzmaster-curious’ for quite some time and have watched many, many videos on many, many different versions and iterations. But yours has answered many of the questions I still had about the 1meg pots/ potentially shrillness, the bridge choices etc. Incredibly useful whilst still being entertaining and showcasing your impeccable playing. Thanks!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really glad it helped! Hope this inspires you to give one a spin sometime :)

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

I have a Les Paul plywood body Japanese lawsuit. Picked it up for a few hundred in a case While the bridge pickup had been swapped out with a super distortion style, the neck pickup was one of those fake single coil pickups in a humbucker case with a bent piece of steel to give it two sets of poles off the single ferrite magnet. It was a little noisy until I wax potted it. The tones out of the neck have been unique and I can’t put my finger on it. Not P90. Not Tele neck, strat neck….not quite. This is getting closer to what tones I’m getting. Still different enough for me to consider obtaining a Jazzmaster style guitar

[@MinivanMegafun100]

Re: the issue of muddiness when using the 1 Meg volume knob: try installing a treble bleed mod to your volume pot. I’ve done this to all my guitars using 1 Meg pots and I’d say it’s essential. Makes it so the volume pot is usable without turning to mud the moment you back it off 10.

[@SandauxBeats]

This is outstanding, Jay! You explained the differences well and good! I have the Squier Jazzmaster Vintage Modified. It's currently in a flat wounds 11s.

[@jjstrumr692]

Same. Love those flat wounds on my JM as well.

[@writewheel]

My performer jazzmaster (strat trem...heresy I know) has been my daily driver for a couple of years now. Your bright switch knob mod made me think twice about the switches and rollers on top which the performer doesn't have. Awesome playing as always and great demonstration of the sonic breadth.

[@RJasonKlein]

I have an NOS 2012 Custom Shop Jazzmaster with 9.5” fretboard and Seymour Duncan Antiquity II pickups in Sonic Blue, and your video truly helped me better understand my guitar. This is far and away the best explanation on KZbin over the great mystery of what exactly a Jazzmaster is and isn’t, what it can and can’t do, and just how beautiful and versatile an instrument it is. Thank you for your information, skill as a gigging musician that plays beautifully, and for making it all fun to watch.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really appreciate it. Thanks!

[@honnaconna7312]

Have you actually played your guitar?

[@RJasonKlein]

@@honnaconna7312Certainly not like he can!

[@ericjohn1908]

Great video! Knew a lot of this as a Jazzmaster owner, but good to your take on things….love faded fiesta red! My fiesta needs to fade more, but we’re getting there 🔥

[@artvanderschlut7205]

You have an excellent, genuine presence on camera that is really refreshing. Great info, presentation and playing.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really appreciate it! Thanks :)

[@darenanderson1960]

I am impressed with your commitment to stick with one guitar for an entire year in order to fully understand and appreciate its unique qualities. I should do this, too. I’m just addicted to playing and enjoying all the different types of guitars I’ve acquired. I’ve got 2 Jazzmasters (Squier J Mascis and a Fender Mod Shop with solid rosewood neck). Love them both, but I mostly play with high gain and have been thinking of changing the Mod Shop pickups to humbuckers or P90s.

[@seanzinger]

What an incredible video. Thanks for this. I am also on the jazzmaster journey. I really like the rhythm circuit being brighter instead of darker on the custom shop. Don’t bring back the others! You sound amazing on the JM. I actually don’t have a Fender but I have a Bunting Melody Queen. Check them out. Some cool differences on the classic design.

[@GeoffByrdMusic]

I agree. Don't be afraid of the bright! It's a great thing.

[@LAUptegrove]

Finally !!! Someone who can demo a guitar who can actually play different genres of music, and is not totally dependent upon having high distortion on every note they play. Yeah, I'm old-school and remember when Jazzmasters and Jaguars were THE THING. (Yes, few folks playing Teles, and you couldn't GIVE a Strat away in those days.) In addition, I'm STILL a simple signal chain kind of guy: guitar, cord, amp.....that's it. In my 60 years of playing everything from 3.2% beer joints to being onstage at those mega-football stadium concerts, to orchestra pit jobs, and studio work, I'm still functioning on the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) mindset when it comes to my overall guitar "sound". In conclusion, I'd like to see you give full-thrift (does anyone even use that term anymore?) reviews of other guitars out there in the 6 string world, just to see what you might come up with. I'm off now to check out the rest of your video collection. Thanks for posting this. And yes, Along with all my others, I've still got an old standby Jazzmaster in my stable of working tools.

[@JayLeonardJ]

It really means a lot! Really glad you dig the videos and thanks for watching!

[@jackgreenwood1817]

Great video, really enjoyed that. I think one of the reasons you get on with the 250k pots is that your amp/pedals setup will be tuned for your other guitars with 250k pots. This makes the 1meg pots sound far brighter. You can go the other way and setup your amp and pedals to sound best with 1meg pots but then your other guitars will sound very dark in comparison. Just one of those things 😄

[@GeoffByrdMusic]

Jazzmasters are the best guitars ever made in my opinion. The most comfortable, the coolest looking, and the most clarity and bite in the guitar world. Quirky. Cool. Beautiful.

[@JustSomeGuy]

The Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has P-90 style pickups in them. There's red variant, the Squier Jazzmaster Deluxe with the vibrato. It sounds killer, loves fuzzes, and isn't a bright as a regular Jazzmaster.

[@jkf9167]

Yeah, it has a totally different old school tone. Not quite Jazzmaster, not quite P-90, but also a tone that's totally recognizable as an old school tone. I couldn't quite place it. Maybe an overwound Tele, or a certain kind of P-90. A very punchy, bluesy tone.

[@GeoffByrdMusic]

It's a Jazzmaster for rock and punk players. I have one and it's freakin' amazing. It does Roadhouse Blues better than any other guitar out there too.

[@Broughttoyoubythesacklers]

My main guitar is a Troy Van leeuwen oxblood jazzmaster and they are incredible guitars. Offsets are amazing

[@GeoffByrdMusic]

Do you like the vintage radius or is it too rounded on the fretboard? I usually use 9.5 guitars but I have been eyeing that one big time in Oxblood. Amazing looking guitar and I am seriously considering it.

[@brh062222]

Incredible articulate - thanks!

[@adambomb5000]

Fantastic video! I kept my rhythm circuit stick because I like the opportunity to open it all the way up but I too keep my tone around 4 or 5. I did replace the 50k pot in my lead circuit with a 1 Meg so the 2 circuits are matched. But then I roll off the volume of the lead circuit for a clean tone and I can keep the tone higher to get the clarity back that is lost from rolling down the volume. The tones you were displaying were the reason I fell in love with my Jazzmaster. You are just able to make them that much more musical.

[@eyemack]

Best JM video I've seen on YT! Great playing as well!

[@lustreboy]

many thanks for this Jay. I've had a Jazz master for about 30 years, but stopped playing it when I got into DJing and electronic production. Got a nice tube amp (Blackstar) a year or so ago and have been just loving getting back into playing this, and your love for it too just added a cherry on the cake. I got my Jazzmaster because Robert Smith played them, so I didn't even really try it out in the shop, I just got it (after the Rickenbacker 330 wasn't right) God vibes all round

[@tonyadams6985]

Loved this episode! Been searching for a Jazzmaster video, and you delivered! Thanks.

[@zazamithendir9235]

Thank you for sharing all of this with us. It was wonderful and clever feedback on this instrument underestimated instrument. I learned a lot and you gave me a detailed and useful information that will allowed me to consider getting one when I will become a better player 😊. Best.

[@christophernuzzolo5977]

I have one and finally got around to fixing the trem arm and bridge with after makert products and the tone was over there now it plays flawlessly with a trem that adds a shimmer. It is a clean dream.

[@bozosaurus666]

Great show Jay. Love my shell pink Jazzmaster

[@guitarradioshow]

I got a JM 5 years ago and now I couldn’t imagine not having in my collection. It ends up in so many projects. It’s the anti-Strat and the vibrato is perfect.

[@JayLeonardJ]

That Vibrato is the star of the show for me :)

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Wow! What a wonderful rundown and demonstration. Thank you!

[@Shweg9140]

Thanks for the deep dive! My hot take on the buzz stop add-on below the bridge that you mention near the end of this vid is that it's really only relevant if you're keeping the original Jazzmaster saddles. It steepens the angle of the strings leading up to the bridge and helps prevent them from slipping off. That said, I swapped out my JM saddles for Mustang saddles AND kept my buzz stop in place anyway simply because I like the aesthetic. What can I say? Some people put stickers on their guitars, I slap on chunks of steampunky metal. I've seen other vids about the buzz stop debatably altering the tone, but I'm not really detecting anything of the sort.

[@gunkanjima3408]

Man this was an A+ education on JM’s. If I’m not mistaken, faded fiesta red is basically Fender’s “Tahitian Coral”. Great job explaining the pots. The 1M pots were slightly scaring me off

[@LookingBackwards]

A lot of really useful information in this video and dispensed most excellently. Thank you

[@CATNIPDEALER77]

Dude I just ordered a mexico jazzmaster and I gotta say, you rock man, you inspire me and get me excited to play mine.

[@Phredoable]

One of your best videos Jay! Thanks a heap for the no BS reviews, tips and tricks.

[@JayLeonardJ]

I'm really glad you enjoyed this video! This was one I was really excited to share :)

[@Simbosan]

A brilliant review from someone who loves the JM as much as me! Very interesting talk about volume pots too, actually has been bothering me on my Strat.

[@drothberg3]

I’ve never played Jazzmasters and didn’t have any understanding of them. This was a great crash course.

[@garygratzer9670]

Jay what a wonderfully comprehensive review of this underrated and misunderstood guitar. I might add a couple opinions. Mine is a 2005 61 reissue with 7.25 radius. The refinements I incorporated where Staytrem bridge from the UK that retains the subtle rocking but very stable, a .25 mm neck shim from StewMac that increased the brake angle a touch, and filed a slight fall away on the highest frets that gave the forgiveness for big bends on the high E. Jason Lollar suggested using the volume dialed down to 8 or 9 to curb the top end a touch vs changing pot value. Lastly I can’t believe you didn’t speak of the middle position. Magic for me and why I kept the 1meg pots. Thanks for a fun vid!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Haha, good point! I think it goes without saying that the Middle position is absolute fire... I'm on that position about 50% of the time :)

[@Blaiification]

What two gorgeous guitars you have there! Been playing for more than 10 years and have never tried one of these 😢

[@jessethetodd]

this is absolutely incredible. after building up my collection to "one of each" jazzmaster, jaguar, mustang, strat, and tele I've started narrowing down to find "the one" (or 2-3) for me. I've already realized I'm not a tele guy and I'm not a Mustang guy so those are gone. I have come pretty close to deciding that I'm a Jazzmaster #1 guy but after seeing you you set up your eraser pink with the 250k pots in lead and 1meg in "rhythm" I think maybe I need TWO jazzmasters!

[@BrandInman]

I found your shared experience very helpful. I have a J Mascus Squire and it sounds a lot more mid-thick, like p90s. You're info helped me better understand why I like the sound of it more than the traditional tones in my setup. Thank you.

[@MPNNag]

I just completed building a Jazzmaster and Jaguar after watching your videos, used a lot of your advice in the builds. I am a Telecaster player and have 9 of them, the offsets are now becoming my new favorites. Now I am selling my Gibson Less Paul Standard and PRS USA Core because i never play them anymore.

[@NoBSMusicReviews]

For the life of me, I don’t know why you don’t have 1 million subscribers. You are the best gear reviewer on the planet. Another fantastic job. I know I have been remiss, but the interview is coming, I promise.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really appreciate it and ALWAYS great to hear from you!!

[@genghizchen]

Hi, new subscriber here. Thanks for explaining the difference between the 250K and 1Meg pots so clearly. I've never seen this explained like this before. I own a MIJ Jazzmaster Hybrid II which comes stock with 250K pots and was wondering whether it would be better to upgrade to 1Meg pots for a more authentic Jazzmaster tone, but I'll just go with the stock pots now based on your explanation.

[@justinguitarcia]

I did an opposite mod on my rhythm circuit- so it goes straight to the bridge pickup with a darker sound, which is killer with distortion and leads. Can get full jangly or slightly darker with a flip of a switch

[@JayLeonardJ]

Cool mod!!!

[@brianrollins7275]

Very very helpful video. I’m a tele player that is really interested in the Jazzmaster guitar and this video gave me all the perspective I needed. Thank you sir.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Really glad to help!

[@GeoffByrdMusic]

Those are my two favorite guitars: Jazzmasters and Teles. I like bright and bite and vintage. I highly recommend Tele players get a Jazzmaster, it's a natural fit.

[@randyabrown]

Awesome video! I use the tone and volume controls a lot. I also use the rhythm circuit, which I think is highly underrated.

[@Anjohl]

Not a JM without it IMHO!

[@randyabrown]

@@Anjohl I agree 100%

[@AJHillis]

I got a road worn Jazzmaster used at the beginning of the year. I love it. The vintage spec fretwire and 7.25 radius are so comfortable, and I'm happy to also report very few tuning issues even with the MIM vibrato. I did flip the screws because of string breakage, but that was only one string. Only problem is the bridge, which rattles, but everyone knows to replace it or loctite it and I don't play out so it's not a big deal for me. I have an AM Pro II body and neck I'll be building up with different pickups and wiring. Why just have one JM?!

[@paganwardrumbloodritual]

Super cool video, this totally sold me on the Jazzmaster's capabilities- definitely my next guitar.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Rock on!

[@CardinalPhonics]

Favorite guitar of all time, my Classic Player has been my go to for over a decade. I swapped out my rhythm circuit for the Yamaha Revstar transformer boost, threw in a Descendant tailpiece, Mastery Bridge and my favorite mod was the wiring! I have Gemini Tone Ranger (wide range CuNiFe pups) that I’ve wired with push/pulls and partial frequency dependent coil splits. In the down mode the neck pickup has all of the neck side coil and about 40% of the bridge side coil to simulate the sound of the Antiquity 2 that used to be in there. The bridge pickup in down mode has full neck side coil and the bridge side coil only passes frequencies below 160hz so it almost sounds like a P90. In the up mode of the push/pull they’re full coils on both pups so they just sound like wide ranges. I can get traditional Jazzmaster tones, pseudo-Strat tones, big 70’s Tele Deluxe tones, only downside is that I rarely pick up my other guitars on gigs!

[@SkateHeartArt]

Fantastic JM video. Wish this was available when I was JM shopping for the first time years ago.. Love my 60’s Player Series JM. I’ve made a few upgrades over the years: -Mastery Bridge & Trem System kit. -installed an anodized brushed aluminum pick guard (like the J Mascis edition) and played it that way for years before ultimately deciding to revert back to the tortoiseshell pick guard.

[@Wolf_K]

Love Dakota Red. If I didn’t already have two Jazzmasters I’d get one. 😂 29:52 The string breaking solution is very simple, there’s two good solutions but you can do just one. 1- when you put the high E string ball end in, turn it sideways so it’s like - against the body, not like | against it. This will prevent the string from breaking. 2- use some Mitchell’s abrasive cord to smooth the hole where the string exits. That’s it. Permanent. The cause is simple: Fender doesn’t smooth the holes enough after drilling and so burrs remain. Not always, but frequently. 26:16 loctite is a necessity in my experience. Low strength 222, purple stuff. All twelve saddle screws and possibly the two bridge post screws. One application will last many many years. 25:45 I love the stock AV bridge and vibrato. I use 13-56 strings tuned in C# standard and have zero issues. We must keep in mind that when the Jazzmaster was designed it was 13-54 strings that were used and so there were no problems until people started going to ultra light strings.

[@farislandsun]

Really dig that rhythm circuit mod. I might have to do that with my MIJ 62 reissue.

[@cjsilvestremusic]

One of the best guitar channels on KZbin alongside Chris Buck, John Nathan Cordy, JHS, and that Pedal Show. Your first hand experience wisdom shines. Thanks mate!

[@JayLeonardJ]

Any day I can be compared to those cats is a good day... Thanks for writing :)

[@AlexG-ok1zc]

I think a lot of players look past jazzmasters because they dont do that sustaining bendy blues lead thing that les pauls, strats, teles, etc all do. Aside from that they are wonderfully versatile. This is one of the best videos I’ve seen describing this instrument, great stuff.

[@danielstoddart]

This is why Jazzmasters make a great second guitar if you play a Telecaster or a Stratocaster. They sound completely different from those guitars and give you some variety of sound, but they're the exact same scale length as a Tele or a Strat, so when you switch to it while gigging it's an easy transition. You don't have to change your left-hand style at all, since the frets are exactly the same distance from each other as on a Tele or Strat.

[@garydiamondguitarist]

I know most of what you're saying about offsets here but my God your playing is awesome, the funk especially, lots of 16th and 32nd note muted flicks, that's some high level, tasteful stuff man! Always great to see actual jazz on a Jazzmaster as well, it's too rare a thing and they're very well suited for it despite their surf reputation.

[@JayLeonardJ]

I really appreciate it. Thanks for writing and rock on!

[@badgerdub]

thanks for a really informative and enjoyable video. I have a '64 Jazzmaster sunburst as my main guitar for 15+ years and have been experimenting with a new pickguard and wiring recently: no rhythm circuit, 250k J-taper pots. Removing the rhythm circuit entirely greatly increased the brightness and was probably a bad move. I tried a 1meg tone cap which was really fun with fuzz.

[@joyfulservantsofChrist]

You just sold this one to me. Man, I wish one day I can play that good. Thank you for this great review.

[@JayLeonardJ]

Glad I could help!

[@Trueidentity1]

23:44 as someone who comes from a background of playing floyd rose equipped guitars this is an amazing thing i love it

[@Rolf_D]

Great Video, I use a 500k Pot for the Volume and a 250k for Tone.( 50's Wiring)!! Tone Cap is 30nF and tone Cap in the Rythm Circuit is 15nF!

[@vonkalason]

Great video! very informative with some nice playing examples 👍

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

Great review! I am usually a Les Paul player and I wanted something different for other textures and a vibrato. I just bought a Classic Vibe Jazzmaster and installed bright caps in both the lead and rhythm circuits. Then I removed the tone control from the rhythm circuit. It makes me able to use it as my LP through my one channel with overdrive amp; dialed down neck pickup for clean and semi clean and with the flick of a switch, I have got full volume in the lead circuit. Or any combination thereof.

[@beandog100]

Lovely playing! And a great breakdown of the tone options 👍

[@jayclark725]

Great job! I put a Fralin Wide Range PU in the bridge of mine and it made it a rock machine. I did go to a mastery bridge as well. My neck width is pretty narrow at the nut so if you have fat fingers try one first.

[@JayLeonardJ]

I gotta try those Wide Range Pups. I've never really taken a long deep spin with them before!

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@JayLeonardJ would really love a video about those especially if they're in a jazzmaster

[@TheElectricfishmusic]

Five star video. Anyone interested in Jazzmasters should watch this video.

[@KuscoBooYah]

Thanks so much for making such a cool video, like your mods to the RC! One point to add about the bridge - you make an excellent point about the bridge getting ‘stuck’ forward or back - but in my experience, this is not an issue with unshimmed guitars, because the bridge sits low in the body. In the shimmed ones the bridge is really proud - such as the 40th anniversary squire. This setup is far more likely to have issues with the bridge shifting during use, one trick I found works is to intonate to the extreme aft position, then you can always knock it back if it moves…For me, I think unshimmed is the best way for the guitar to work. Great video, loved it!!

[@lenaandthelambcampingadven3422]

Wow. Great job! I’d like to try one out because I play jazz.

[@JS-nf1sn]

Great video. My jazz master has strings "break" too; I think it's the shallow break angle causing the string to slip the winding at the ball end. I'm going to start adding solder; good idea.

[@Terry3Gs]

Great job on this !!! I know myself I've had a few jag & jazzmasters ( including 1 i modded into a Jazzblaster of sonic youth fame ) .. its always felt comfortable to play the body style.

[@kangaroofoot]

Awesome video. Through your playing, I FINALLY understand why it’s called the Tremolo Bar.

[@danielstoddart]

Overall a great video that discusses all the important features and issues with Jazzmasters. Well done. A couple of notes: you really sold me on the upper bout 250k mod. It never occurred to me that you could do that and have a different value pot on just one of the pickups. The best features of the Custom Shop Jazzmasters are both the RSD bridge (which is soooo much better than the vintage threaded saddles which I've never liked) and the fact that you don't have to shim them, which I think improves the neck/body join and makes the guitar sound better. I don't think I agree about the lock button, though. Having a Mastery vibrato completely eliminates the need for the lock button and makes things simpler, because you don't have to worry about your strings breaking.

[@julien4051]

Cool video ! I've got a JM custom shop too, with 1meg pots, put a treble bleed and you can clean nicely without being muddy. And like you i turn down the tone pot a little bit to tame the high end notes. But the 1 meg pot allows you to shine when needed, so that's why I left it on mine. Keep going your hardwork man !

[@JayLeonardJ]

really appreciate it, thanks!

[@Introspeckle]

It’s been awhile since I’ve seen your content and I was shocked to see you ditch the Tele! Behind the Tele and the P Bass, the Jazzmaster is Leo’s greatest invention. I’ve never got on with Strats at all both in design and features. The Jazz definitely covers some Strat like territory with the neck pickup and the middle position. That middle position is slept on! Great for funky stuff. Better tremolo system than the Strat too. Your thoughts on the Jazz are spot on. Happy playing.

[@JayLeonardJ]

My Tele isn't going anywhere! That being said, my year with the Jazzmaster was a blast :)

[@archiewiles5512]

What a great sound, I want one now!

[@onlyshallot]

JAZZMASTER ALL THE WAY!

[@whatWhoNow]

Great video, thank you for sharing. You are a sick ass guitar player and sooo good at breaking down the features and payability of the guitars!!

[@Goldstein_955]

I have a squier classic vibr jazzmaster and after 2 years i decided to set it up in Drop C with 12-54 string gauge. It is a monster! Using an almost clean overdrive into a fuzz pedal through the bridge pick up i could reach a sort pf Smashing Pumpkins sound both for single string riff or open chords strumming. It is a monsteeer!

[@spillemusicstudios8515]

I watched this video about a year ago, and since then, I've gotten 3 jazzmaters. American Ultra, Squier Classic Vibe, and the Jazzmaster XII. Best upgrade hands down in my opinion is the Mastery vibrato. Made a much bigger difference to me than pickup swaps or wiring upgrades, though those things are great too!

[@thos1618]

I've been playing a JM for about 10 years. Always solder the high-E. Mastery Bridge. Make sure the tailpiece screws aren't rubbing strings. Personally I've always had to shim. Also like you, I set mine up for 9.5 gauge strings and 250k pots, so it's more or less setup like a Country Tele rather than a early Surf Guitar. This just increases versatility tremendously. You'll sound good with normal OD's and be able to Chicken Pick and stuff. The guitar just sounds so vibrant and makes arpeggios and chords sing, at the cost of a little bit of low-end thunk. Like you, I've got the upper-bout control switch putting the stock 1M pots back in play, but it will do either Bridge or Neck so the 'vintage' or ice-pick sounds are there if you want them.

[@sudo3644]

Super informative video, thanks!

[@Ian-qs3fz]

I love this guy’s personality

[@lokelosk]

I went to a store once to buy a Squier Classic Vibe Tele, and the guy said "we also have a Jazzmaster, want to try it?". I tried it and went home with the Jazzmaster. Love the sound, love how comfortable the body is, love the extra circuit that isn't too hard to understand and there's no secret push/pull stuff hidden away. It's my favorite guitar, and I love the Jazzmaster pickups, I wised more companies made offsets with these pickups instead of P90s.

[@MaTTheWish]

Great explanation of the nuances of the JM. As usual, great playing..I have the Squire 40th.

[@perecaramba3319]

Great, long and real explanations, thanks guy

[@JayLeonardJ]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DLH.23]

So great sounding!