There's particular guitar models that are just too much guitar for some people: the fantastic Taylor T5; any Gibson with Varitone control; anything with more than six strings; and Fender's Jaguar and Jazzmaster. "Too many controls!" Or, "It's OK at home or in the studio, but I can't remember where everything is when I'm on stage." So, Fender listened and stripped the Jazzmaster back to its essentials, (possibly inspired by THIS custom shop model we had through a couple of years ago).
Sleek and sexy
They kept the solid Alder body, the modern 'C'-profile Maple neck, (satin finish), proper slab Rosewood board, with 25 1/2" scale and a 9 1/2" radius, but the American Special Jazzmaster ditches the multitudinous knobs and dials and switches, plus the often iffy tremolo system and the floppy bridge. Now there's just one volume knob, one tone knob and a 3-way pickup switch, along with the winning combination of a stop tailpiece and properly intonatable tune-o-matic bridge. It's just as sleek and sexy as ever, but now you can actually play the damn thing!
Durutti Column
Additionally, the traditional Jazzmaster pickups have now been made noiseless, (humbucker process), delivering heaps of bottom end, plus awesomely clear highs. Still very easy to get that famous Jazzmaster "spy movie" tone, but now you can also venture into that ethereal Vini Reilly/Durutti Column territory. Or kick in your favorite dirty pedal and discover some of the raunchiest overdriven tone around.
Jimi Hendrix
When the model first appeared, an American dealer friend of ours - a longtime Jazzmaster player - reckoned these were "Jazzmasters for players who hate Jazzmasters" - and now he plays one himself, in both his surf band and his country band. Oh, yes, the Jazzmaster is bigtime versatile! (Though, despite Leo Fender's intent, it never caught on as a jazz guitar) Check out this brief list of some incredible Jazzmaster players over the years: Thom Yorke; Elvis Costello; Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth; J Mascis; Jeff Tweedy; Ric Ocasek; Chelsea Wolfe; Tom Verlaine; Win Butler of Arcade Fire; Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins; Tommy James, (Tommy James & The Shondells); Jim Root; Jason Pierce, (Spiritualized); Georgia Maq from Melbournes fabulous Camp Cope; Sharin Foo & Sune Rose Wagner of the Raveonettes; Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo; Emma Anderson, (Lush); the Triffids' David McComb; Don Wilson of the Ventures. Johnny Cash's legendary guitarist, Luther Perkins was a very early Jazzmaster player, and Jimi Hendrix played a Jazzmaster extensively, in his pre-Experience days.
Condition
Just traded by one of Melbourne's most exciting live artists, this first year model is in Excellent- condition. The frets are great, there's just some light playwear on the scratchplate, a couple of light impressions on the front, (that could barely even be called dinglets), some light buckle rash on the back, (nothing through the surface), and not a mark at all on the back of the neck or headstock.
Plug in and play
Straight off the workbench with a full pro service, the electronics are clean, intonation is spot-on, action is currently set medium-low, with a new set of Ernie Ball 11s. She's one hundred percent ready to plug in and play!
SKB hard case
21 jumbo frets, Tusq nut, rugged 4-ply tortoise scratchplate, great 3-tone Sunburst finish - this is a really cool package, and player upgraded from the standard Fender gig bag to a touring muso's SKB hard case. The case has a couple of stickers, plus the instrument storage tag from a recent festival appearance. (And one of the case handle attachments is replaced with a bolt)
Free courier delivery
Complete with FREE COURIER DELIVERY to any address in Australia, this awesome American Special Jazzmaster will be a great and versatile addition to your guitar rack
Just Guitars
