i have the venture's model jazzmaster. i'm guessing i'm it's first owner in the US as i bought it from a guitar dealer in leeds, england. it's really nice.

www.surfintheeye.com

That was a good article - and makes good points. Thanks for sharing.

I wish I could get an AVRI left handed Jazzmaster, but being a left handed player, my only choice has been the Japanese Jazzmaster (and Jaguar) models. There are some vintage USA ones out there, but they usually go for the $5K plus range, which I can't spend on a guitar. I have seen some really clean vintage closet gems that have gone for almost $8K!

With both of my Jaguars, and also my Jazzmaster, I have completely gutted and rewired as an AVRI (Switchcraft switches and jack, AVRI pickups, CTS pots, cloth wire, etc.). I have also upgraded to a Staytrem Tremolo arm/collet, and a mastery bridge. These upgrades have made huge improvements to the tone and playability of the Japanese guitars for me. They are as close as I can get to an AVRI.

Now, since Fender Japan has closed its doors as of April, 2015, I can no longer get new left handed Jaguars or Jazzmasters, and the used ones are very few and far between. I would like another Jazzmaster, so I have plans to build one.

Anyways, if anybody is considering retro-fitting a Japanese made Jaguar or Jazzmaster with upgraded US electronics and pickups, there are some things that need to be done for the components to properly fit. I have written an article for Toneshapers (formerly Acme Guitar Works), and it can be found HERE

Cheers,
Jason.

The Counselors

Last edited: Dec 02, 2015 23:58:33

Jason wrote:

Now, since Fender Japan has closed its doors as of April, 2015

What? That's the first I've heard of it. Jason, can you tell us anything more about this?

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

I have a 96 Japanese Jazzmaster. I've rewired it with American components and replaced the pickups with SD Antiquities, AVRI Trem with Staytrem arm, Staytrem bridge, and Spitfire guard. So basically, just the body and neck are still the original Japanese. But the neck is thick and perfect and the body is heavy and super resonant. The wood on this thing is on par with, or even superior to any AVRI I've touched/played. It is my baby, and even if I got a brand new AVRI Jazzmaster, this guitar would still be my baby.

I also have a 2006 Japanese Jaguar. I did the rewire myself using Jason's detailed method mentioned above, and I put in AV65 Jag pickups in as well. Also replaced the trem with AVRI & Staytrem arm, and I put in a Mustang Bridge. The neck is a bit thin, and I find myself needing to adjust it with the weather, but overall its a great guitar.

The staytrem and bridge mods are mods I would do on any Jag or JM, so they dont really count as JP mods. They're Fender offset mods I would do to every Fender offset I owned.

The wiring is more of a mental thing. Any difference I hear is so slight that it is probably just mental. Maybe folks with super ears can tell the difference, but I can't. So, I wouldn't say that wiring kits or re-wiring are necessary either.

What I do find necessary is replacing the trem units. The JP trems have the strings closer together, so when you put in a different bridge, the strings spread out a little and then get skinnier up to the nut. This puts a toward-the-center tension on the outside (high and low) strings, which can be problematic when heavy strumming or double picking. Strings pop out of saddles all the time. Even with deeper routed and solid saddles like the Staytrem, the tension will still pop a string off in the heat of battle. Replacing the unit with an AVRI fixed it as the strings were farther apart at the start and didnt have as much central tension.

Before swapping the trem units I tried thicker strings, filing down bridge slots, shiming the neck to increase break angle, and all that good stuff. It wasn't until I changed the trem that I completely stopped getting string slippage.

The other necessary mod, at least for Jazzmasters, is the pickups. The JP JM pups are wound differently (more like strats than JMs). So if you want that deep/dark/fat JM tone, a pup swap is needed. The JP Jag pups sounded ok, but the AV65s sound so freaking good that it will be a mod for me and all future Jags, but I wouldn't say its necessary.

I hope this helps.

ps - I'm no expert. YMMV

That's really sad news about Fender Japan. I have and have owned a number of Japanese Fenders, including my two main guitars, which are Jazzmasters from the same year with fairly close serial numbers. What makes them special is the necks, which are slender front to back. I was told by someone that's fairly well-versed in MIJ Fenders that it was the case across the board that Fender Japan beefed up their necks post-'98 to more closely resemble traditional Fender necks.

Both of my MIJ Jazzmasters came from Eddie Katcher (my former bandmate and lead guitar player of The Surge!), and both were upgraded (pickups) and set up prior to my getting them and have never needed anything other than strings. If I weren't so attached to both of them I would sell one to get an AVRI/Pure Vintage Jazzmaster, but I know I'd be sorry so I never have.

The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31

-

Last edited: Dec 18, 2015 02:58:47