WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Fender Japan Jazzmaster Rundown (Traditional, Hybrid, and Heritage)

[@capitaldharma]

Fender Japan always seem to produce better colors and features in their Jazzmasters. Love the matching headstock!

[@TheAmazingSnarf]

thank you so very much for such a detailed look at these incredible instruments. today i learned tons about my own guitar ('21 MIJ JM Noir), which shares what must be many attributes with these (pickups, fret wire, tuners and hardware, etc.). again, thank you for taking the time to educate us in such a fun and interesting way! loving the style.

[@mistople]

Awesome. Always wondered about the differences between these!

[@jordan2833]

I love Fender MIJ!!!! I have a ‘21 Traditional 60’s Jag- it is amazing. The Heritage series are so beautiful, I’d love to have one one day! Thanks for this awesome video!!!

[@A-Tom]

Really nice breakdown of the Japanese modells

[@danc.732]

These guitars are so, so good. Such high quality, and sound great!

[@jasongormley5174]

Fender MIJ - love the Hybrid Strats, thank you for this deep dive into the Jazzmasters much appreciated

[@taylornutt]

I love Fender Japan guitars, especially the Mustangs, Jaguars, and Jazzmasters. FJ always has the coolest paint schemes that we don't get here in the US. The pickups are the only part you really need to upgrade. I have the CIJ J Masics Jazzmaster (in purple Sparkle) and once I changed out the pickups to Curtis Novak, it's every bit as good as a USA Jazzmaster.

[@MMGUITARBAR]

So true! They're excellent guitars, and the range of colors out of the US are much more limited compared with Fender Japan.

[@taylornutt]

@@MMGUITARBAR I still need to find a FJ Competition Mustang.

[@Bobbytabasco962]

I'm especially into jazzmasters however I'd like to go out on a limb & say that You sir are one lucky duck...as I love ....love.....love that specific jazzmaster I'm into a lot of fenders color palette but the run they did with that color is outstanding....also another quick mention would be tha ox-blood jazzmaster is also tight tight tight...

[@trogdirtheunburninator2037]

Loved the random Garth Marenghi's Darkplace insert! I’m really digging the Hybrid II models (I currently have a Noir Tele), and I’m hoping to grab a Jazzmaster sometime soon.

[@mikeoxley9796]

Amazing comparison video! Thank you!!

[@thpass]

This is the most thorough video on MIJ Jazzmasters. Thank you. I think the heritage sounded way too muddy/warm for my single coil preference. What were the output ratings for the V-mod Traditional pickups?

[@masters1ful]

I like how you play through the amp straight into the camera mic with out a super expensive microphone. It really shows how these guitars sound.

[@MMGUITARBAR]

Thanks! We do have a little Zoom recorder that's doing the heavy lifting, but you are hearing as natural/unprocessed a sound as we can manage!

[@triptoyourheart]

A little correction though, Fender Pure Vintage tuners are also made in Japan by Gotoh.

[@switchmodz4724]

I've watched this vid like 5 times now. I love it! Surpised you consider the Heritage Jazzmaster pickups to be "hot" - with 6.75 in the neck and 7.25 in the bridge? That's definitely less than Antiquity's, and Fender's Pure Vintage / AVRI 65 Set had 6.8 in the neck, and their '62 AVRI read at about 8k. Last thing to note is the single line Pure Vintage tuners are actually made in Japan (not the USA) - as stated on fender's website, and most likely also made by Gotoh

[@AuthenticCelestial]

the Heritage sounded the most mellow of the three!

[@newmoonsamesun]

I love this video! I was right about Early Japanese Jazzmasters pickups being similar to the V-Mods. I replaced both my MIJ/CIJ Jazzys with Pure Vintage 65. My third Jazzmaster has v mods which I hope to pop in some AVRI 62 pickups someday. Also loved the Diiv cover at the end!

[@fusionsnackyam]

I LOVE the history, specs, thoroughness and overall love shown to Jazzmasters in this video. Because of this video I bought a Heritage. Thanks for saving me from those V-Mods!

[@TheDownbeatruler]

I might be going to Japan in the summer. I will definitely go to a music store maybe buy a Japanese fender.

[@dantofoz11]

I've been trying to get a Hybrid Japanese Sherwood Green Jazzmaster for years. I love that colour so much

[@MMGUITARBAR]

Highly recommend the FSR Traditional model in Sherwood Green that Fender Japan released last month. Only a few were made, but we've got one, and its feature set is closer to the Hybrid (really a *hybrid* of the Hybrid and Traditional models :)

[@dantofoz11]

@@MMGUITARBAR I managed to grab one of the Hybrid II's in Sherwood Green, just a bit of a wait for it to arrive. Can't wait

[@TheHiredCode]

I love this exploratory video! I learned a bunch on Jazzies!

[@N_A_Lund]

I just picked up a blonde Heritage JM and am definitely in a sort of honeymoon phase with it. Love it so far. I expected to want to swap pickups with what I know about MIJ stuff, but sure enough, proper looking JM pickups. Save for the trem, I might leave this one stock for once.

[@N_A_Lund]

I lied, I swapped the pickups out. They’re very nice sounding but a tad darker than I’m used to (particularly in the neck) and I suspect might be A2 instead of my preferred A5. I sort of want to keep them to build some kind of hollow bodied thing though.

[@twenty3electronics]

I have a Fender Japan Jazzmaster with a 1985 neck date. It’s sunburst on ash. I don’t know about the catalog, but I’ve seen more than one example with a 1985 neck date

[@AlexNiedt]

Very informative video! The Heritage is so muddy

[@chaos4316]

Opinions wanted: I’ve been considering a Fender Troy Van Leewin jazzmaster. Which would you choose between that or a Heritage Jazzmaster?

[@mikesanders80]

Thanks man really cool comparison! You sure your volume or tone knob wasn't down a bit when you played through the Heritage though?

[@hkguitar1984]

This is very cool. Does Fender Japan have a Custom Shop? I ask because I just purchased a Japan Market Tokai Custom Shop R4 Goldtop Les Paul. The materials and craftsmanship of the Tokai I purchased is every bit as high of quality as a Gibson USA (which admittedly is a bar that moves up and down).

[@moorbyjones]

Very thorough comparison - thanks

[@therideneverends1697]

the traditional switching to 9.5 over 7.25 is really a bummer, the 7.25 is pretty much why i buy MIJ

[@somethingelsedoesmatter]

I really wanted a 7.25, but my budget said 9.5 will have to do for now. Really happy with the Traditional 60s Jazzmaster, though! Will probably swap pickups and call it a day.

[@isaacnoroncaasi]

I love the sound of that guitar at the beginning and end of the video, what effects are you using? Is it just modulated reverb + delay in the fx loop?

[@MMGUITARBAR]

So kind of you to say! No effects loop on this ol' Vibrolux :) Running a circa 2000 EH Deluxe Memory Man (Chorus setting) and Maxon AD80 Analog Delay to do a bit of a polyrhythm thing with the delay times. A bit of the amp's reverb and probably a Klon KTR in there too.

[@isaacnoroncaasi]

Thanks a lot!

[@ZacharyWThomas]

Oh my goodness don’t do this to me, I’ve probably viewed that Sherwood Green model on your reverb shop a hundred times. My wallet can’t handle this in depth video 😭

[@thecappy]

Are the bridge dimensions the same as US versions now? I have a newer Inoran jazzmaster model that has the vintage bridge I’d like to put a staytrem on.

[@dramvids]

I have a 2016 MIJ Classic 60s model Jazzmaster. Can you tell me anything about how this compares, and what type of pickups were used?

[@MMGUITARBAR]

The Classic 60s are a weird blip between the original JM66 models and the current trio of Fender Japan Jazzmasters. Essentially, they're spec'd similarly (if not identical) as the earlier JM66s, and their closest analog in current production is the Traditional line. Keeping in mind that there are numerous caveats and short-run models with Fender Japan, pickups in the Classic 60s JM should be the same Strat-style coils in oversized bobbins used on the earlier JM66.

[@fuzzboi2712]

Man the heritage sounds so much better than the others. Those v mods aren’t cutting it for me. Other than that they’re all beautiful guitars.

[@AuthenticCelestial]

😅😅😅 caught totally off guard by that Darkplace clip

[@carlton1390]

I'm with Garth (Dark Place!!) re those pickups. Lovely guitars though

[@mcfontaine]

Great cover of ‘I Want You’.

[@MMGUITARBAR]

Thanks, Mark. It's my favorite Elvis tune, and the version where he backed up Fiona Apple on the lead vocal...lordy.

[@Metody89]

Ufff.. that sounded great. What effects were you using?

[@MMGUITARBAR]

Thanks so much! Stacking a (old) Deluxe Memory Man and Maxon AD80 delays, and some combination of Crowther Hotcake, Rams Head Big Muff, and Klon KTR for gain.

[@McDoinky]

Hybrid sounds and looks the best

[@PaxMundi118]

I recently invested in a MIJ Transitional 60's Jazzmaster (2023). Tbh, I don't know too much about guitars. Can anyone give me their expertise on this guitar model?

[@elbib2446]

hybrid sounds best of 3 for me

[@mdominic]

Was that Elvis Costello's I Want You?

[@MMGUITARBAR]

Indeed it was!

[@richardlucascronley5128]

Heritage is warmest, Hybrid is brightest (almost sharp at times), Traditional is right in the middle...

[@jadenreyna]

What?!? I’m sorry I can’t hear you over that guitar blasting in the foreground. Sensory overload.

[@taterlysaladman9377]

Fret wire 6235? I have heard of 6230. That is plain old vintage wire. 6235 must be some new secret wire.

[@nightowl1654]

The heritage sounds amazing! The other two are not the best 😕

[@feloniousmonk321]

Wow you really skirted over the biggest issue players have had with the Japan Jazzmasters: not only that , their pickups were not Jazzmaster pickups in tone and the majority of players felt cheated!

[@AuthenticCelestial]

which one of these would be closest to proper JM tone?

[@CheBellaTelevisione]

I’m done with fender USA and will probably buy Japan fenders only from here on out even if they reach price parity with USA. I’m just really fucking pissed that fender USA doesn’t Want us to know about fender Japan to the point of using region specific web pages. Thanks but no thanks.

[@Mr-gg8ek]

If you ever want to spend $2200 for a $1600 guitar, buy from these greedy Mikes. Laughable prices.

[@MrDaigoRiki]

I hate basswood, if I bought a fender Japan Jazzmaster I’d have to change everything. 😅

[@frafilipoart4082]

Why do you hate it?

[@sharonlee4773]

Id love to know why Americans pronounce Jaguar as Jagwar! Im sure theres a U in there!

[@thefirstdude]

It’s because the American version is (a bit) closer than its origin in Spanish.

[@sharonlee4773]

@@thefirstdude Makes sorta sense,thanks. So the Spanish pronounciation is as wrong as the American!