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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Music General Discussion »

Permalink My jazzmaster has 21 frets but I need 22 frets. Any suggestions?

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I need 22 frets to play penetration and also out of limits. Can I swap my neck for a Stratocaster neck that has 22 frets? Any other ideas for a workaround?

Last edited: Oct 27, 2020 07:09:38

Transposition.

But yeah, a Strat neck fits right on, even if the headstock doesn't look right. Actually, the big 70s neck can be reshaped to closely approximate the Jazzmaster shape.

At the time Penetration was done, there were only 21 frets on Strats...if you play it the way the band originally recorded it, in F#, not G, you are ok with 21 frets. Like a lot of songs of its tume, they were sped up the tape machine a semitone after the recording was done. Much easier to play in F#, too.

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Sonic,
Maybe play Penetration in F#m instead of Gm??? There's a youtube video of the Surfaris playing in this key at a club (Paul Johnson on second guitar)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKCsWBN6OE
Side benefit - you get to do the Root-Dominant seventh bass notes a lot easier - it's F#-(open)E.. a lot easier than G-F. And you have your high Fifth - C# - at fret 21.

Leo Fender wasn't a musician or guitar player of any real renown. So his eyes would have probably glazed over if someone told him to have a high seventh note as a last note on the high 'E' string instead of the sixth - especially since a lot of guitar music is in the key of "E".
(Disclaimer: My music theory may be off but you get the idea)

I might also think adding a 22 fret neck might cause some interference with your Jazzmaster pickguard or the intonation.
So -
See if you can hook up with someone who has done the swap before you go mucking with your guitar.
Or -
Do what I did - get a MOSRITE...22 frets are standard.

J Mo'

shake_n_stomp wrote:

At the time Penetration was done, there were only 21 frets on Strats...if you play it the way the band originally recorded it, in F#, not G, you are ok with 21 frets. Like a lot of songs of its tume, they were sped up the tape machine a semitone after the recording was done. Much easier to play in F#, too.

Ok, I just assumed they used a jaguar... I will try playing it in F#. Thanks.

No Jag in the Pyramids. Both guitars were Strats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPSTw8PfSos

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Other possibilities: You could...

...play an artificial harmonic (AKA false harmonic) where the 22nd fret would be. YouTube has several tutorials on this. It's not practical unless you use a thumbpick.

...bend the high E string to raise the note on the 21st fret.

...use a pitch change electronic effect. If you are committed to the key of G you can play the entire song in a lower-pitched key and have the electronic device transpose it to G.

...tune all your strings up one semi-tone to accomplish the same as pitch change electronics without electronic weirdness. This may be the simplest path if you are committed to the key of G.

...use a metal or glass slide (as on a lap guitar) where the 22nd fret should be.

I'm posting these as hypothetical solutions to the general question. The simplest solution has already been posted by others.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Oct 27, 2020 13:14:52

I agree with transposing it to F#. That seems like the easiest way with the fewest changes. Everything down 1 fret.

Rev

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

Pretty sure Ivan is playing it in F# here.

I’ve always played Penetration in Gm, many times with a Jazzmaster or a Strat with 21 frets. If you press down real hard where the 22nd fret would be, the correct note does play. It might not sound quite as clear as it should, but I‘ve always gotten away with it.

Listening to the rhythm guitar part, it's pretty obvious that they are playing in F#m, and the guitarist is lifting his index finger to play the open E.

As others have stated, either the session tape was recorded too slowly, or it was played back too fast during mixing, or the band was accidentally tuned up a 1/2-step (no digital tuners back then!).

Thee Original Beachniks...surf music from the caves of old Cape Cod!

Bend it a half step for that magic note?

Squid From Madrid - New Single on Bandcamp
MB Website

I tuned it to F# and that works perfectly! Now I can get those high notes.

okay question. I thought I had this. Is there a difference between tuning in F# and F#m? Can someone tell me how to tune to F#m?

Last edited: Oct 31, 2020 18:26:54

It’s just up 1/2 a step from E?

Last edited: Oct 31, 2020 18:43:05

Tuning in F# would be tuning all strings a full step up. But the point is not tuning in F#, but playing the song in F# minor, which just requires transposing all the notes and chords down a half step.

As for me, I've always played Penetration in F# - as mentioned by beatcomber, it makes the most sense for lifting your index finger to play the open E. Playing in G would be trickier, though you could use a capo.

But in the end, if you must play it in G and have but 21 frets, you can tune up a half step to F, and then play it as if you were playing in F#.

Some well meaning and helpful suggestions here but I think the easiest solution is pretty clear. This is a perfect excuse to get a Jag or Strat!!! Big Grin

By the way, this thread really belongs in the Gear section.

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