andare
Well-known member
I play original instrumentals that are a mixture of surf, Italian soundtracks, fuzz-heavy instrumentals plus some funky vocal numbers and Isaac Hayes-inspired ballads. My main guitar is a Classic Series 60s Strat that I've modded to suit my own needs (bridge+middle replaced by bridge+neck, phase switch for the neck pickup, master tone, Jazzmaster screw in arm, flatwounds). A Jazzmaster seemed like the next logical step.
I had three options: 1) order a custom guitar from a renowned Polish builder (awesome but not cheap and not a Fender), 2) order a Fender Vintera (too expensive now and I've had terrible experiences with Fender's QC on Mexican instruments plus it might still need some upgraded hardware) or 3) get a Squier (still cheapish, much better QC IME and definitely needs upgrades but still way below Fender prices). A look around the usual forums and Youtube channels and a small sale and here we are:
I just love the colorway. I passed on a heavily discounted seafoam green because my Strat is cerulean blue and my main P bass is aged daphne blue - too many blue green guitars! This one set me back the equivalent of 490 Euros shipped.
It's a keeper!
The good:
There are some horror stories out there like expensive MIA Fenders with off-center side dots, botched truss rods, chewed up fretboards, missing parts. Fender's QC seems to be the worst it's been since the late 70s. I think I got lucky with this one!
I had three options: 1) order a custom guitar from a renowned Polish builder (awesome but not cheap and not a Fender), 2) order a Fender Vintera (too expensive now and I've had terrible experiences with Fender's QC on Mexican instruments plus it might still need some upgraded hardware) or 3) get a Squier (still cheapish, much better QC IME and definitely needs upgrades but still way below Fender prices). A look around the usual forums and Youtube channels and a small sale and here we are:
I just love the colorway. I passed on a heavily discounted seafoam green because my Strat is cerulean blue and my main P bass is aged daphne blue - too many blue green guitars! This one set me back the equivalent of 490 Euros shipped.
It's a keeper!
The good:
- the one-piece maple neck is straight, slightly rolled edges, the fretwork needs a polish but it's way better than any MIM Fender I've ever played/had
- no fret sprout - none of my Squiers ever developed it, all of my Fender MIMs came with it
- the neck carve is fat, thick front to back, thicker at the 12th fret, generous shoulders
- really dig the satin finish, satin on the fretboard too like a Bronco bass, gotta be a first for guitars though
- the nut slots are centered and the right depth
- the truss rod works well
- the neck pocket isn't the tightest I've seen (that would be my shell pink Bronco) but it's pretty good and angled
- perfectly shielded and less single coil hum than my Strat despite the higher output
- it sounds like a Jazzmaster - I love the pickups, the middle position is THE SOUND
- it came detuned to D but already set up for E: neck relief, action, intonation are spot on
- low action, no buzzes anywhere, no fret outs - haven't checked with a fret rocker (and I'm not gonna
but it seems pretty level to me - the tuners are very smooth, on par with my Strat
- the aluminum pickguard is straight
- it only weighs 3.5kg
- the neck is somewhat rough, feels like unfinished wood, easy fix with fine grit micro mesh
- the nut also needs polishing but it seems to be real bone
- one small black dot next to the 5th fret dot marker - can't see it when I play so it's fine
- a couple of very tiny dots in the finish of the body, really hard to see but it's not 100% perfect - weird satin finish, slightly textured
- the main volume knob seems crooked and drags a bit on the PG - easy fix
- volume and tone seem to have a weird taper - but then again my Strat has CTS pots that do nothing until 2 then go up to 7 then very little, I think the JM uses a 33nF tone cap, which seems ineffective compared to my Strat's 100nF
- the bridge hasn't sunk down into the body (yet) but the saddles have some sideway jiggle (just like every Precision bass bridge ever) but only if I move them
- weird resonance on many notes despite the generous break angle courtesy of the angled neck pocket (no shim needed)
- both switches have some play but they click nicely
- the vibrato is unusable right now. The arm clicks in the collet, the whole thing clicks when depressed and it vibrates sympathetically with some notes.
There are some horror stories out there like expensive MIA Fenders with off-center side dots, botched truss rods, chewed up fretboards, missing parts. Fender's QC seems to be the worst it's been since the late 70s. I think I got lucky with this one!
