DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Sep 15 2009 10:00 AM
Further thoughts: the vibrato does work well and it's a bit less subtle than my Bigsby, but if you do fast vibrato it's a little clicky (acoustically, not amplified). It's not a threaded vibrato arm - it just kind of snaps into place. Works pretty well, but maybe a tiny piece electrical tape or something might prevent it from clicking.
The pickups are probably great for some, but I think I'm going to need something with less output and more treble for my style of music. They seem good for "bringing teh rawk," to use the popular vernacular. The tuning is not quite as stable as my Bigsby'd Tele (which is very stable), and I think it's because the nut slots are very narrow, even for the light strings they put on this thing. I'm sure some of the strings are binding at the nut. I'm going to need to widen the slots before I put some "real" strings on it (read: flatwounds).
It will take some time to get used to the flatter fretboard radius (I suspect it's 12"). I think I'll see if my Squire Strat neck will fit on this thing.
Overall impression: very good! It doesn't feel as solid as my trusty Fender Tele, but it doesn't feel cheap either. It's a nice backup guitar with a lot of potential.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Sep 20 2009 07:06 PM
Quick update: I changed out the stock 500k vol pot for a 1 Meg pot and slapped on some flatwounds. Big improvement! However, the pickups are still noisy unless both are selected, and somehow I'm picking up string squeaking even with flatwounds. The tone and feel are great though - I think with a pickup change this will be a killer guitar. Pics and clips to follow, probably tomorrow.
The vibrato is much more subtle with heavier strings, too.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Sep 21 2009 06:49 AM
An almost useless demo! It was recorded direct. First bit is completely dry - you can hear that it's quite noisy except when both pickups are selected. You can also detect some clicking when I attempt fast vibrato - maybe that wouldn't come through with some better pickups, or maybe it would. The second bit adds some reverb (still flatwound strings), and the third is with the original roundwound strings and some overdrive.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8123346
It would probably sound completely different through your rig, but make of it what you will.
I tried putting the neck from an old Squire II Strat on this, and it fits, only there's a big gap because the stock neck is 22 frets and the Squire is 21 frets. So if you have an old 22 fret Fender/Squire Strat neck, it should work on this. Not that there's anything wrong with the stock neck, other than some people may not like the headstock.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Sep 21 2009 09:02 AM
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Sep 25 2009 07:06 AM
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surferXmatt
Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 1570
New York
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Posted on Sep 25 2009 07:46 AM
Sounds good Uma.. I was thinking of getting one of these to toy with. Now I am also considering a Squier Classic Vibe Strat. Tough decision.
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Sep 25 2009 08:52 AM
surferXmatt
Sounds good Uma.. I was thinking of getting one of these to toy with. Now I am also considering a Squier Classic Vibe Strat. Tough decision.
I've heard good things about that series, but I've never tried one out. I've never been interested in Strats though, for whatever reason. I'd rather have a Tele with a Bigsby.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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surferXmatt
Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 1570
New York
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Posted on Sep 25 2009 09:20 AM
Yes - Tele with a Bigsby and Jazzmaster pickups would be heaven.
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Bill_Ashton
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 124
Massachusetts
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Posted on Sep 26 2009 09:20 AM
Uma, I very much liked your sound clip and the tone of your new honey. You are right, it sounds ready to rock.
I suspect the hum is just intrinsic to the P-90 style p'ups. what exactly are you using for an amp and effects?
Take care and enjoy your new girl,
Bill
— Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most...
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Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
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Posted on Sep 26 2009 07:22 PM
I got a JM40 a week ago. I was shocked when it showed up packed in the flimsy triangular box from the factory. It's a miracle the thing survived from Canada to East Tenn. Cosmetically it looked good except the Guard, Horrible Bevel. I fixed it in 10 min. with a razor blade and file. As far as playability the Trem would hardly work. Upon disassembly I found the Trem would not function with the factory rout!!!! I took a Dremel and made the rout an 1/8th in. wider around the front and sides. Now it works great. I also put heat shrink around the bridge post, shimmed the neck, raised the action, put on a set of DR .011's, and intonated it. Now she is playing great. The neck is actually very comfortable. I also play Mosrites so the P90's are very workable for me. Not bad for the dough if you don't mind tweaking it  .
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Oct 01 2009 03:33 PM
My trem seems to work fine with no issues with the routing. A little bit of cling wrap on the end of the vibrato bar got rid of the clicking noise, too.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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Thunderhead
Joined: Apr 11, 2009
Posts: 201
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Posted on Oct 01 2009 04:14 PM
I've got my JM40 playing as good or better than all my Fender Guitars. I am really liking the neck, I don't even mind the Headstock!!!
— www.myspace.com/thethunderheads
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Oct 01 2009 04:31 PM
Thunderhead
I've got my JM40 playing as good or better than all my Fender Guitars. I am really liking the neck, I don't even mind the Headstock!!!
The headstock isn't bad at all, IMO. It grows on you. It's a solid guitar for sure.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 09:44 AM
So I made some upgrades to my Junglemaster. I had considered buying some real Jazzmaster pickups, but I've always loved the Gretsch sound (two of my favorite bands are Shadowy Men and Atomic 7), so I though I'd try out some Filtertrons on it. I also added some Jaguar hardware. I'll have some real pics and clips hopefully by this weekend. Early verdict is: I'm digging the Filtertrons. Not as bright as singles, but still quite bright, especially in the bridge and bridge/neck positions with a bright amp. Sounds great clean with reverb or dirty.
Here's a blurry pic with the parts not yet installed, just kind of sitting on the guitar.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 10:21 AM
That's looking really great, now you got me thinking about a custom build. (Jag aesthetics with JM pups- maybe a Jaguar Special HH would get me mostly there.)
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 10:31 AM
Looks like Jimmy Shaw is already doing this:
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 10:54 AM
morphball
Looks like Jimmy Shaw is already doing this:
Yes, I saw that. I think chrome Jag hardware looks great.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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RecRoomSurfer
Joined: Sep 19, 2008
Posts: 206
Canada, eh?
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 11:50 AM
UmaFloresta
So I made some upgrades to my Junglemaster. I had considered buying some real Jazzmaster pickups, but I've always loved the Gretsch sound (two of my favorite bands are Shadowy Men and Atomic 7), so I though I'd try out some Filtertrons on it.
Interesting combination. When I listen to "Savvy Show Stoppers" I see
Jazzmaster on the back cover but hear Gretsch coming out the speakers.
Maybe youve solved the problem. 
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DeadRanchHands
Joined: Apr 15, 2008
Posts: 1281
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 12:00 PM
RecRoomSurfer
UmaFloresta
So I made some upgrades to my Junglemaster. I had considered buying some real Jazzmaster pickups, but I've always loved the Gretsch sound (two of my favorite bands are Shadowy Men and Atomic 7), so I though I'd try out some Filtertrons on it.
Interesting combination. When I listen to "Savvy Show Stoppers" I see
Jazzmaster on the back cover but hear Gretsch coming out the speakers.
Maybe youve solved the problem.
I think some of the earlier songs are recorded using a Jazzmaster. The brighter sounding ones, I think.
I believe after 1988 he was using a Gretsch most of the time, so any of the songs that were recorded previously might be the Jazzmaster. Savvy Show Stoppers contained a lot of songs from their early EPs, so it's possible.
Either that or he just didn't want to risk damaging his Gretsch for the photo.
— http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk
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elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
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Posted on Oct 14 2009 03:09 PM
Try Loctite on those bridge screws. I use it on the pickup poles and vibrato arm set-screw of my G & L S-500's and I used it on every screw and bolt on my old Hodaka Combat Wombat motocrosser and it HOLDS.
Great reviews by all! Thanks.
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