JAZZMASTER REVIEW #8: The Fender American Vintage II 1966
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
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Check out my review of the Fender American Original model here:
• JAZZMASTER REVIEW #7: ...
And also the 60th Anniversary MIM Jazzmaster, which is great:
• Jazzmaster Review #4: ...
Haze Guitars' fantastic explainer on frets:
hazeguitars.com/blog/fret-lev...
Watch RJ Ronquillo’s fantastic AVII Jazzmaster play through HERE:
• NEW Fender American Vi...
00:00-01:29 Demo #1
01:30-02:46 Introduction
02:47-04:08 Thanks to Working Class Music!
04:09-05:18 Specs
05:19-05:44 Things I Like: Weight
05:45-06:48 TIL: The Neck
06:49-07:19 TIL: The Inlays
07:20-08:35 Demo #2: Pickups
08:36-09:45 Pickups
09:46-10:29 Knob Orientation
10:30-11:30 The Bad
11:31-14:26 The Headstock
14:27-15:22 Demo #3
15:23-16:51 Quality Control Issues
16:52-19:31 Fretwork
19:32-21:00 The Wrong Vibrato Arm!
21:01-22:01 More Problems
22:02-23:49 Wiring Issues
23:50-24:55 Demo #4
24:55-25:49 Factory Setup
25:50-30:15 Final Thoughts/Rec - Hudba
19:32 I love this. For the money Fender absolutely needs to be held accountable for the quality of the instrument. There's just no excuse at this price point.
What's worse is they treat their employees like poop. I always buy used at huge discounts so none of my money goes to this horrible company.
I tried to play one of these at the guitar store, it sucked. I could tell it was a turd as soon as I picked it up.
Also, they should fuckin make a deal with Stewmac and make them supply every Jazzmaster(Squiers included) with proper shims or even sets of shims, because, as much as I love my JM, this shit is just not playable without a shim or some modification like buzzstop or a pricey aftermarket bridge or just 1cm of string height🤦♂
@@xleftsidex1627 And also a fret level and dress tools.
Oh, lol, you think I'm exaggerating? So, do you think it's ok to sell $1000 guitars which not only need basic adjustment out of the box(new strings, action height or truss rod tweaking at worst), but some more advanced modifications like neck shimming or even replacing the original bridge as an absolute necessity? I think that's insane
Man, I love that you leaned hard into the QC on this one. That's wild. The guitar world needs more people like you to protect the people not really aware of QC on instruments. ESPECIALLY when something is $2400!
My local shop special ordered one of these for me and it arrived yesterday. Before receiving the guitar, I watched Mike’s review, and immediately felt as if I’d made a bad decision. I’m happy to report that my lake placid blue American Vintage II 1966 Jazzmaster is flawless and a killer instrument. Did I simplify get lucky? Who knows….but I’m certainly relieved.
Great job on the review, Mike! I appreciate what you do!
Same, I got a good deal of a second hand one and was a bit worried about it but it’s flawless, serial number puts it at August 23 so might be that they’ve recovered from a lot of the issues mentioned here
@@guiesseppe just bought one used with a 5/23 build date. Hope mine does not have issues. Based on pictures it looks good so far lmao
19:34 made me choke on my coffee this morning. Thanks Mike, excellent work as always!
I really enjoy all of your videos! This is the main reason why I'm sticking with my Squire jazzmaster and doing mods to it. For $2400 it should basically be playing itself lol.
Mike, I still love you and you're still one of my best friends ever! You caught a lot of things we missed, I just thought the set up was shit and that was really it. But, goddamn. lol.
lol. Sending a guitar through to the teller of uncomfortable truths to Fender, you might find they're not too happy with you either.
I bet it'll play quite well once you get it back after Mike has set it up!
Meh, you enjoyed playing it and thought it sounded good. Yes some of this is disappointing but the core is there. Sure I'd rather it didn't have any of these things but not sure it would upset me to the same degree. Nothing against Mike.
@@TomCarmony I’m stoked to get it back after he’s done! I bet it’s going to be the best playing guitar I own!
I don't believe you. Just tell the truth. Youre supposed to sell the guitar. Don't claim to have "missed it".
The best jazzy reviews on youtube. Thank you for all you do, Mike. Always staying honest and constantly remaining informative
So happy I saw this video, I was considering getting one of these. Thanks Mike for looking out for us offset fanatics and guitarists in general.
It takes integrity to make a video that is this brutally honest. Thank you, Mike! I trust you even more now than I did before.
I am so glad you go deep into the guitar and what your issues are with the guitar. Your playing alone could convince me to buy any guitar period!
Man that neck was rough! Reminds me of my Squier Classic vibe neck with an incredibly dry board, glue squeezed out from under frets, finish on the board, etc. Definitely a bummer but I’m glad the guitar community has you to offer practical advice and give us really valuable information about these models of guitar! Thanks Mike
Love jazzmasters. Own two myself. Just really enjoy the approach for the review and up forwardness around preference when it comes to reviews. Fun watch because will be keeping up with this channel! Thank you!
Excellent video, Mike. I appreciate your honesty and integrity so much. You are incredibly trustworthy when it comes to both liking Fender instruments and being critical when called for. You made me laugh out loud when you said to "buckle up" 🤣🤣🤣
Thank you Mike. When these came out it was all in my kinda perfect Jazzmaster list. You have now saved me trying to work out how I could afford one … now I don’t need to. I’m with you brother, for $2400, there is no way they should leave the factory like that.
you hv to take a look at the Heritage line from Fender Japan. These are just awesome. Superb craftsmanship, perfect paint job, neck playability. omg... for less than half the price of the American vintage. All based on strict American specs.
That couldn't have been easy to do, but that's why we keep coming back. Thank you again Mike!
Glad for people like you that educate the consumer of things to look out for
The moment we all been waiting for is here! Bless you Mike!
Glad to hear some honest careful thoughtful criticism. No need to apologize for that.
Thank you for the detailed, careful, non-clickbaity review. A good man, and thorough.
Don't be fatuous, Bellomy.
Fender should organize a happy hour and get all the departments together and show them this video.They should feel very lucky to be able to hear these honest thoughts from someone who cares more about the beautiful legacy that Leo laid the foundations for.They should get their shit together in an optimistic way. It shouldn't just be about fucking profits! C'mon! It's fricking Fender! Every detail it has got to be magical!
It’s a money making machine, they don’t give a crap because they know people are going to buy it anyway 😢
"It shouldn't just be about fucking profits!" - this is literally the entire basis of the capitalist economic system. First build it, then build it cheaper and faster. Once accomplished, put the remaining surplus into convincing the general public to buy it. Until this changes, we are never going to see the Fenders that we want
@@Safetysealed It’s more likely that the experienced team that got laid off were making the quality instruments, and the examples above were made by the lower cost leftovers.
Fender fired 300 employees, fender doesnt have the right to blame the people who kept their jobs
@@SrJuradothe term is “Business”. There’s even a phrase about it !!! Yes they need to make money. ( it’s the #1 reason they exist ). You assigning them emotion is where the mistake sits. Fine! Maybe I’m taking to myself.
Thank you Mike for doing this review and for those who made it possible as fender was definately trying to hide their QC problems by not sending you one. Luckily I was not drinking my coffee when you said the buckle up line. Damn, I was hearing others with issues but this is worse! I went into a store yesterday to try a Squier bass VI and they had two in the store the first one they handed to me was DOA with only the amp picking up one of the switch flick noise through the amp. 👀 I guess the climbing prices they reason reaching gibson price tag is that people want the higher QC issues? 😆 I am so glad I got my Ampro II jazzmaster when I did in 2021 as it was before all this QC issues went bananas like it is now. Wild West
I am a huge Bambi Mollesters fan (Dalibor plays a 66) and after this video I’m glad I didn’t wait for this 66 sunburst reissue and I m so happy with my AV 65 (that I can call an American vintage mark 1 now haha) I had it for a few less than 2k euros new with its case :-) even with the pup’s replacement (curtis novak fat and vintage) and the mastery bridge it didn’t cost me the price tag of this 66 reissue which is not 100% nitro!!! Thanx ;-)
Mike thanks for your review. I have been waiting for it. It was worth the wait. I learned quite a bit from your point-by-point critique. We absolutely should expect better from a top of the line Fender product. I’m glad I got my fender Japan 66 jazzmaster!
Great playing at the top o' the vid!! Got my day started goodly! You are just fun to watch putting these guitars through their paces! This JM is outta range for me. Thanks for the show!
came for the killer riffs but very much appreciate the commentary and feedback on these.
Helped my older brother break in his brand new 1960 Jazzmaster. Fabulous guitars. Good on you for this demo and very nice tone and playing! The American Original (I have a '50s version Stratocaster) probably had a 9.5 board, and this one probably has a 7.25.
We’ve been looking forward to your take on this, thank you!
Mike, your authenticity is truly refreshing.
I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that at least some of the advertised "features" are functional, or even featured for that matter.
I've been a tech in the mountain bike industry for over a decade and it's the same story. Having to be the person explaining to customers that it will likely take another x amount of dollars to render something functional/acceptable (or safe!), when "but its brand new!" or "I payed top dollar for this!", can really take it's toll. I don't know if big companies will ever stop passing the buck, but it's nice to see a fellow tech (the real QC department) holding one accountable. Dog knows it doth not make thee popular!
Thanks again,
That’s honestly my least favorite part of this job! Being the bearer of bad and expensive news is never enjoyable but it’s our burden to bear. Folks like yourself doing their level best to address these issues keeps the industry (industries!) going.
This review was pure gold! 😂 amazing review as always Mike.
I laughed out loud when you said, "fuckin' buckle up." I noticed that trem arm on RJ Ronquillo's vid. These QC issues look like Gibson's in the 2000s and teens - which many fans greeted with a mixture of denial or disregard for the unacceptability given the pricetag.
And presumably Fender's just experienced record profits with the COVID guitar boom too. Laying off workers? Presumably something's changed at Fender management and it's started to affect the guitars coming off the line. And they did so well for so long...
Sorry to hear that you didn't have fun, but still your love for the instrument clearly shines!
Damn this is a brutal review. I really appreciate this honesty. It’s rare these days.
Mine didn’t come with any dings or dents or all those wild tooling marks. But it did have the wrong arm and a short on the rhythm circuit. The ball was dropped on this line and it sad because I think mine is a great guitar at its core. But yeah these qc issues are not acceptable on guitars of most price points let alone $2,400
Ryan ily
I remember years ago you looked at the Ultra Jazzmaster and I took your advice...though I did buy it. I remember you saying the pickups were dull and what I found was that for a 2k instrument it has THE WORST wiring/electronics/pickups. It became my number one only AFTER I changed the things you mentioned in detail.
Due to this video I might cancel my order at the shop I work at...
THANK YOU, MIKE.
Hey I’m happy your Ultra worked out! There’s a good guitar in there, just a few baffling choices that made it a very odd experience out of the box. What pickups did you go for?
That's not just on the offsets, though - I had a similar experience with my Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster. I spent years wrestling with the Vintage Noiseless pickups and 1 meg pots and almost sold it several times before I finally just replaced the entire wiring harness and got a set of Lollars for it. Since then, it's been my number one, just like you, but wow it took some time, haha.
Yo I’m 2 minutes in and I’m at the edge of my seat! Get ‘em Mike! I love this channel, thank you for everything you do!
Insane how bad the QC is…insane how thorough Mike is
Fender, are you looking to hire a new head of QC? Because here's your guy! He lives, breathes and dreams offsets & has probably as much knowledge on the history and hands-on tech experience as anybody!
Wow. I was really excited about this model but that review is rather eye opening.
1:00 - that look to camera cut straight into the depths of my soul.
I had to find joy somewhere in all of this!
Thank you Michael. Appreciate your passion and conclusions.
Thank you for this! I was on the market for a newer Fender jazzmaster and your videos were necessary to see that this aint what I'd wanna experience. Insane!
Really breaks my heart to see this.
The jazzmaster is my favorite guitar of all time, it’s gorgeous and versatile.
I owned a 68’ at one point and having to sell it hurt so bad. Seeing such a classic butchered hurts.
Let’s hope the resale drops on them and some enthusiasts can repair the damage.
This is a review - this is why we read reviews! Thank you!
Hey Mike, great review and I appreciate the honesty. Wanted to add a bit of personal experience: this summer I played a Fender FSR Road Worn strat at Chicago Music Exchange, and about a week later when I was home decided to order it. The floor model played wonderfully and that was what drew me to purchasing it. Granted, it's a MIM model, but at $1200 it isn't what I'd call cheap for a guitar. The one they sent me needed a lot of fret and setup work immediately by my tech to really even be playable. Now that the work has been done, it's maybe my best playing guitar, my two others being an American tele and a Gibson USA SG. But there does seem to be something a little wonky happening with Fender quality control from the factory this year specifically. Anyway I really like your content and I hope you keep publishing reviews like this to keep the biggest giant in the guitar industry a little more honest (hopefully).
Wow wow wow, this is not the experience I would have hoped for! The RWs can be really fun guitars and I’m sorry for the let down.
@@Puisheen I appreciate it! It turned out okay for me because I have a good tech and didn't sweat the cost, but I agree with you that they can do better from the factory. Especially because not everyone has the spare funds for a great setup or the knowledge about what may be wrong with the guitar they're playing to get it where it should have been in the first place.
Damn, the only reviewer I trust. Thank you for pointing these that other “reviews” left out
You’re very kind! There are plenty of other trustworthy folks around!
Savage. And exactly what we needed. It's like FMIC is to guitars what Disney is to movies.
Despite the review, i might pick one of these up… the head stocks have changed. I just got my AVRI 62 and I love, it and i want to find a brand new guitar that i can break in on my own. As always, keep up the good work Mike!
These video's are soooooo good!! Really, if you want to know about offsetts, this is the place
Man… Thanks for the review. Makes me dread Sunday as I have an AVII Jazz in the mail.
Hoping yours is totally issue-free and that you love it!
@@Puisheen Thank you. I sure hope so! ❤
I’m kinda glad people are getting to see all the QC issues I had to see every day working at SW. They’ll pass all kinds of things that should never be okay for the prices they charge.
Mike, glad you made this video. I've not been excited for a new guitar model for years, and after I read the specs I nearly pre-ordered this guitar. However I'm glad I waited. Unfortunately I've been seeing this more often than I'd like lately with new guitars. After the pandemic the quality has tanked. I had an 80s E-Series Import Jazzmaster for years, and have been spoiled by the build quality. And now struggle to find something equivalent with a 7.25 radius neck.
I made an hour long video of me leveling and trying to fix the fretwork on my AVII. I was going to post it on CZcams, but after watching it, I realized I complained quite a lot (it was expensive!) and thought, "I'm just a no one, don't hold any weight, and don't want to be on camera for the first time just being negative." I chickened out. So I really appreciate this video, because it needed to be said. These guitars, at these prices ($3000+ for someone in Japan due to weak yen), shouldn't be unfinished kits requiring reassembly and fretwork. But the guitar (63 Telecaster) I'm still fighting with trying to get it playable. I don't know how it left the factory with so many frets not leveled.
Wow I’m sorry you had to go to all of that trouble with yours. And believe me, I get where you’re coming from. I did not relish making this video and putting it out into the world, but I just couldn’t let it go. I’ve been hearing from so many buyers and shops with similar experiences to mine and that really gave me the push I needed to finish it. Your experience matters!
@@Puisheen I bought 3 AVIIs. I have and had no budget. I sold things off to make it happen. I will say the 54 P is a dream. Except the case smells awful, and you know that nitro absorbs the case smell. Usually it's a sweet-like cakey smell, but this is the glue under the compartment flap. Aired for 2 days, and used aroma oils, but the bass is still kind of smelly. My Jazzmaster is not terrible like this video, but it's not great either. It doesn't match up in quality to the APII or AO60. You can tell this line was rushed out. Fender did a genius advertising campaign sending good models to CZcamsrs to review them. That's what made me buy them, as I was saving up for CS models instead. I suspect think you weren't sent one because they know you're too good and knew about the production problems. I think we're all here out of our love for Fender wanting to help them turn out quality products. But sometimes love has to be tough. I know things are bad now with worldwide shipping and sourcing materials. I know of the lay offs. But Fender should immediately ask for full inspection of every model they sent to stores, distributors and warehouses. And by inspection, I mean a setup with a level check. Because no matter how good their online promotion is, it's going to hurt more when people start complaining about paying near Custom Shop prices for poor quality goods. Here in Japan, prior to this year's price hikes, NOS Strats and Teles (JMs are rare and good luck finding a Jag) went from ¥400,000. Now AVII is ¥350,000 for some models.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR YOUR REVIEW OF THIS GUITAR!! Although I'm sad that your had the QC issues it did because mine has a nice low action and the frets are nice and polished and the fret ends are nice and rounded the only problem i had with mine was balancing the trem arm to be a little closer to the body. Love you as always mr mike you're gods second son.
I will say that I saw so many of these having quality control issues while I was waiting for mine to arrive, and I was scared TO DEATH that I had made a terrible decision. Straight up I must have been a lucky one in a dozen of these, It makes me sad.
Its good to hear that people have good experiences too! 🙂
I have the same or even worse experience with my 61' AVII Sunburst Strat.
The quality of finish is shocking.
Fretwork on this vintage radius left it unplayable.
I wanted to cry and was ready to send it back.
After couple of days realised they were sold out everywhere and I still really wanted one.
So I decided to keep it and after leveling and crowning the frets and overall set up I started to love it.
It is a keeper now as it sounds and perform amazing.
I think this is the first video of yours I've watched all the way through, and I loved it - it has genuine car-crash fascination, and gave me a really good laugh. It's seriously crazy how Fender's QC has fallen apart, though. The same thing was happening in the late 70s-early 80s, which was when Tokai started shipping from Japan some of the best Strats ever seen - Squier, too, I think...unless I'm mistaken, I believe Fender bought the company, because they couldn't compete with them for quality. They don't seem to have learned the lessons of history.
i have that black mass pedal too. it's insanely good. i love putting my obne sunlight in front of it and just blasting slabs of noise.
Yes!!! The 1312 is quickly becoming one of my favorites ever. I have yet to scratch the surface of all of the clipping options
Right when these came out I finally pulled the trigger on a American Original 60’s p bass in lake placid blue. Happier then hell I did with all the bad reports on the new series
100% the best guitar review channel on CZcams. Thanks for your honesty when reviewing. I wish more channels were like yours.
Thank you so much, Brian. Doing my level best
Your expertise and commitment is stellar - greatly appreciated. As a newbie to the Jazzmaster realm, I have recently bought an oxblood Troy VanLeeuwen jazz but to my horror the thing had so many issues…dry board, square frets, a broken tuning machine, an unplayable vibrato or/& an untunable bridge….
Is there a chance you would consider reviewing this model to help me shape it up?
I absolutely love bound necks. My favorite part of a Gibson is the binding covering the fret nibs.
Mate, you just saved me a bunch of money.
I love offsets and your channel. I'd love to see a review of the new Japanese Heritage Jazzmaster!
It's rare to find a reviewer willing to discuss uncomfortable truths. Thank you.
I have bought 3 brand new TVL Jazzmasters from an online dealer this month. I bought a copper with maple neck and the oxblood color initially. When both were bad enough that I had to send back I only replaced 1 initially before moving on to an American Pro II which arrives tomorrow 🤞 All the TVL's were box unopened, aka straight from factory. All three had to go back due to QC issues. One was missing the trem arm completely. No tools in the case. It also had the top 3 way switch loose. The second had a broken three way switch loose in the body, resulting in a guitar that produced no sound. This one had a super tight trem bar that I almost broke removing it. They all suffered from poor fretwork and shoddy cleanup work, chips and scuffs all over binding, residue/polish left on body. All were all unplayable as well, all needed a setup, too much relief, need to be shimmed, etc. as bridges were all bottomed out and strings way too high on the upper register. Neck pickup sunk so low it was almost under pick guard, etc. etc. etc. I could not believe the amount of issues. Captured some pics just to cya on delivery because you never know. Even the cases had issues. One looked like it maybe went through a sand storm. Despite all this I thought perhaps this is just a MIM issue so I figured I would give it one more try and ordered a new American Pro II. If it has the same issues it too will go back and I will stop trying. 28:15 in this video is spot on, and exactly how I felt when I decided to send the other 3 back. I had initially bought shims and then thought nah, why should I be fixing this ?!?
Wow... Thank you for this video, as heartbreaking as it was. I've been saving money since these were announced (even printed a picture of one to remind me to save haha...) But now I'm looking others. I love your content and thanks for saving me from some true disappointment
You’re better off going for one of the first American Vintages. The ‘62 is my favourite guitar in the whole world.
I found one used for significantly less then MSRP, luckily it doesn’t have any noticeable issues (yet)
Thanks for your in depth review, man!
Where did you get it? How much did you pay?
I do not have the 66 JM yet.. But I do have the 73 strat and 72 thinline.. And I have absolutely no issue with them at all, they were perfect in every way. I am marking this down as, they were pumping them out. Covid guitars. Hit and miss, from all manufacturers, if you could get one. I feel like 23 things started getting better. Mine are great, but I am researching these. I apreciate your honesty.
Thanks for this review. I was looking forward to this guitar but was a bit reluctant after watching this video. However, I ordered one about 2 weeks ago.
It is nowhere near as bad as the one you´ve got but:
1 - Small ding in the lacquer on the back.
2. - Pickguard bent on the top and hug gab at the bottom towards the bridge.
3. - Neck pickup totally misaligned. Lower part twice as high as upper.
4. - Wrong vibrato arm. It doesn't fit all the way in.
Haven't had the guitar open yet.
I would hate to return as there's a 11 month delivery on another guitar. And that might have the same or other issues as well.
I am in touch with Fender, hoping they will compensate so my luthier can have a look and fix the issues.
Once again, thanks for all your great videos 🙂
Best,
Andreas
Was waiting for this one to come. the finish was a big deal breaker for me for the money i expected full nitro. all these flaws i did not expect. embarrassing. Great video!!
Thanks for the honest review, Mike!
thank you for such an honest review,!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for not doing the tired, overplayed blues thing
I’m wondering if this is why my local shop is so low on stock of these new AVII guitars.
The only one I got to try was a ‘57 AV II strat. It didn’t leave any negatives to me. Setup was good, no problem that was discernible from a play through.
You are making me happy that I ended up splurging the extra money for a used custom shop over waiting for the ‘61 to arrive.
I've been waiting for this review since the release!!! F*kin' BUCKLE UP!!! Well said!!! hahaha
Speaking to reviews Mike, this is why establishing honesty and integrity is soo important. You hit the nail on the head, 2 people can have entirely different views - for me what is key is I find reviewers that have similiar experiences or tastes to me (I do the same with movies, for example I have 1 friend if they recommend it to me, its golden, another friend, if they recommend me a movie, I won't hold my breath!). I can trust that two people have differing views, as you say, people are different - for example its why music is so great, its soo subjective.
I actually really appriciate the transparency here. I don't want to dog on other people, but its honestly not that common!
Thanks Mike. On your suggestion I purchased a Squire CV JM. Paid to have all your set up recommendations and liked it enough to upgrade up in Fender JM line but based on your recommendation am not inclined to pay a premium for problems. Keep up the great work. Maybe I should look at a Doheny but I would miss the Rhythm circuit?
I recently got a Doheny Tribute and I think it's a good way to get into Jazzmaster territory, but with obvious differences like the trem and no rhythm circuit. I find the passive treble and bass tone controls really useful.
Personally I prefer the smaller headstock even if it isn’t period correct. I love my American Original because it isn’t constrained by being specific to a particular year. But holy cow, that QC is appalling. How could that leave the factory with all those toolmarks! “Buckle up” had me laughing! Appreciate the honest review.
lol, this totally killed my buzz for this guitar. But I am beyond appreciative of this honest review. You just saved this Canadian over 3 grand!
I was all in in this JM sadly and thank you for your video.
Man, THAAAANKS. Massive thanks. I didn't want to spend that money on anything that has all those issues. That would make me mad!! I have an american original strat and even so it's a great guitar it's setup was awful and needed desperately a guitar tech the minute it arrived. Nevertheless it was saved by some extra bucks with my guitar tech, but - exactly what you said: for a 2400 dollar guitar it should arrived with no flaw at all and with great attention to detail and setup. MAN- you've just saved me 2400!!!
An alternative to the Jazzmaster is the G&L Doheny. It uses G&L's floating trem instead of the Fender trem on the Jaguar/Jazzmaster, the pickups are proprietary MFDs instead of traditional Jazzmaster pickups, and there is no rhythm circuit. It also has their PTB passive treble/bass circuit instead of the standard tone knob. Those are the main differences feature-wise, but I think it still manages to capture the Jazzmaster sound and feel. I can't speak to the QC personally as I only have one in the Tribute series, but their reputation is better than Fender's, and mine is almost perfect. Thanks for the detailed review.
Best finishes as well and I love the adjustable pole pieces on the pups, the only dealbreaker is that they’re too heavy for gigging or to use as a guitar at a band prac.
@@Artefractureinteresting. I have had a Doheny for a few years, it’s less than 8lbs and incredibly comfortable.
I like that those G&L guitars have a knob for bass, thats sweet. But for me personally, the whole reason to buy a Jazzmaster is for its unique tremolo setup.
@@MoncoField Yeah, the Doheny trem would feel more like a Strat trem, but a more modern design - nothing like a Jazzmaster or Jaguar trem. The bass tone control is really useful.
You make me glad to have gone with the Japanese built Fender Jazzmasters, one a Jazzblaster with dark-roasted neck (I love the look), the other late 1960's with block inlays, large headstock, and (most importantly) binding on the fretboard. I prefer fretboards without binding, just because I'd rather feel wood, but binding is cool if the guitar is great. I do have one Mexican Vintera, my first Jazzmaster that addicted me to the model earlier this year, and it is a great guitar stock, although it does have a Mustang bridge. The necks on the Japanese Jazzmasters is a U-shape that feels so good, even better than that Vintera Jazzmaster neck, although it feels good too - slimmer so it's easier to play faster, but I like chunkier as I get older. If you mainly like making your guitar sing like I do, and don't race around the fretboard, than the chunkier neck can give you more leverage, and feels so good - who doesn't like a nice chunky piece of wood in their hand....?
Great review. Thanks for keeping it real.
My contribution to the Fender pile on is an Am Pro II JM from 2021 that arrived with the volume and tone pots on the wrong posts, which meant tech work as the push-push shaft meant for the tone pot was on volume. Sadly I didn't notice this until six months later (my bad), so returning it to the shop was not an option. Also, peeling back the film on the scratchplate revealed multiple scratches. So I don't think the quality control issues are a recent development. Thanks for the review, Mike.
Well that’s a new one! Did the pot at least work? Wild
@@Puisheen Yes, Mike, to my recollection it did work as I didn't notice it for six months, by the which time I couldn't return it to the shop, but obviously the shoddiness of getting the pots the wrong way round was disappointing. Even then, I still thought the worse sin was the seriously scratched scratchplate behind the protective film. Three of my four electrics are Fenders - a Tele, a Jag, and a JM - and I love them, but I think sometimes the company let themselves down. If they learn the lessons from your film, then the better for all of us who spend hard earned money on their products. Appreciate all the informative content you provide, the best to you.
Proper Job Mike, as usual.
I have recently heard about the decline in Fender QC from others I have spoken to directly and this simply backs that up.
For the record the two Squier Guitars I own, Classic Vibe '70s Jag and Affinity Starcaster have better finish/quality control than this.
It’s all so disappointing! But congrats on those Squiers!
Sir! I can agree. As former ESP/LTD as Director of Warranty/Artist Repairs/production management with the VP where we actually went out to the factories to throw down a clinic for the workers on preventative maintenance. Fret detailing etc. Developing a factory, so when guitars arrived for QC, they were easy to dial in well. Opposite of this.
These inherent issues are getting deeper and deeper. I can’t speak for Ensenada, sounds like morale is out the window according to sources.
From 50 series and up. 1000 series smallest % of returns I have ever seen in a company. Sad because my 90s 2000s MIM fenders are solid stable instruments. A lil thick on the poly but they’re custom shop compared to what’s allowed to be let out today.
EVERYONE. If this is your first time watching @puisheen he’s one of the few tech/craftsman/players to follow on social that speaks from great experience of mentioned above.
As we are both are cut from the same with our specialties as innovative players, craftsman, with decades of actual trial and error experience alot of “2 year luthiers” can’t articulate. Look up his weezer Tone with the black ice diode clipper. It’s and absolutely genius article. Coming from a Silicon Valley RF/c
Much respect from JJ+CC
of Homewrecker pickups/Tone Consultant
Excellent demonstration on the fret crown. And perfect drawing. A point the new generation with a myriad of training wheels for tools are missing the entire point on. The importance
Of the crown.
I can go on. Because this one is deep and disappointing
As I take in less repairs, and my HomeWreck service (custom pups,
Harness, fret level, if needed
Setup) a few fenders have been given to me I have seen everything you’ve said with these recent fenders. Actually had a hard pass on a few of them.
I will hop back on the horse and do a complementary video backing our buddy up.
I have a fret before/after examples on a 256gb card.
Content coming,
If the button isn’t already on, or no camera operator
I miss some good ones.
Yet always just in the moment with sessions n winding filming,
Since repairs are good easy KO’s I’m weary of a can of worms. Who wants to deal with current fender issues, that are near warranty issues. Hard pass.
Thanks Mike for making this video.
When I saw the sunburst in the opening shots, I thought, "That janky 'burst doesn't bode well." Andddd... Mike nailed it.
Maggie I cut a whole section about the sunburst both for time and feeling like spending a minute talking about the differences in bursts during the ‘60s was a bit much even for me haha
@@Puisheen I knew it!! 😁
EXCELLENT video with very valid criticisms.
I bought an American Original several months ago. Then, I saw Fender released these and I regretted buying the Original. Now, that I've seen your review the regrets are gone. I had not seen your review of the American Original. I watched that after I saw this one. You were spot on with everything, except mine seems really heavy to me. I have a Japanese 62 reissue JM that I bought in the early to mid 90's some time and it's nowhere near as heavy as the American Original. I like them both, but still prefer the Japanese version. Pickups on it are a lot hotter too. Anyway, thanks for another informative video.
Keep up the good work!! You are the JM ambassador!!!!
I was really struggling wether to look for a 2nd hand AO or AV or to save up, but this helps a lot. I know there’s Inflation, especially here in Europe, but the AVII is just too expensive for me. For all it flaws, it does sound good, though and I picked it in the blind test.
Very nice and objective review, I myself have an American Vintage from 2016 and it doesn’t have any of those issues, plus it costed 1,6 k instead of 2,4 k.
And exact same parts + a leather strap..
It must be the cost that comes with correct block Inlays 🤓🤣
Oh yeah they stopped putting the strap in there! I’d completely forgotten that! And the old cable too!
Let's go Michael!! You are so rockin! ... even if the this axe isn't your fave. it's not sparkly enough lol
Emily I love youuuuuuu
The look into the camera right before the hook 10/10
I had to seize joy where I could find it with this one lol
A really great and honest revue Mike. I just nearly blew $2400. You had me transfixed in the honesty of your review.
What a disappointment Fender is lately. The Pro 2 Jazzmasters also have issues with the Panorama tremolo design that they won't fix, It's just a goddam spring that doesn't work properly. When you buy an American made Fender guitar you should not expect such shoddy quality control.
Fender have had so many changes within the company over the last two or three years, but its NO EXCUSE for poor workmanship on American made guitars, well, any made guitar at $2400.
I just saved myself $2400 because I'll be keeping my Pro 2 Jazzmaster, now that I've spent money rectifying the things that needed attention. Thank goodness PRS is an option.
Mike, I can top the grounding situation you found in this guitar. I was working on a MIM Strat that had been modded to a grotesque degree. The twin humbuckers were grounded THREE TIMES to the main volume pot. Once from the north coil, once from the south coil, and a daisy chain from the baseplates. AND they hummed so badly it barely could be considered musical.
New pickguard, new pots, new switch, new output jack, new Dimarzio pickups (I have no idea which ones. I was too disgusted with this travesty to care.) New bridge. And because of the capacitor shortage at the time, I wired it as a spin-tap on the tone knobs. Spent another month undoing the cruddy relic job. My client loves this thing now. Dunno how I did it, but it balances better now. What I wish I could have done is one of your polished bone nuts, but this one came with a graphite compensated nut. I did add a drop of superglue to keep it from falling out.
WHOOOOA that’s wild! Good on you for putting in the work, though
Everyone else's review: there are some issues
Mike: T W E N T Y F O U R H U N D R E D D O L L A R S
Thank you so much !! I would love watch a revue about The MIJ Trad Jazzmaster 2023, Maybe soon ?
I think it’s great that you and your friends (best friends, if I remember correctly!) can disagree on the same instrument. I’m gonna swing right over to their channel and watch their review video just for the comparison.
WCM is the best channel on CZcams. I love them