I've seen the various threads here, folks saying that the Fender Jazzmaster is the holy grail of surf guitars, with a Fender Jaguar being a suitable substitution, but WHY? It's not like I'm unfamiliar with the Jazzmaster/Jaguar sounds, but not all first wave surf bands used 'em. Dick Dale plays Strat, and The Trashmen used Danelectros, and The Ventures have signature models by Mosrite.

I may hold off a bit longer, on my buying a Fender Jazzmaster in the future, as 2 guitars in my collection could handle surf guitar quite handily. My Fender So-Cal Speed Shop Strat should be a no-brainer that it'd work for surf guitar music, and my Ibanez Jet King could go from surf guitar to country with just the flip of a rocker switch or two.

Matt in Indiana

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

So I should at least consider a Jaguar, rather than "beat myself up" over when I might be able to afford a Jazzmaster? If I do that, then I'll have a nice triple-whammy going, in my choice of surf guitars...including the 2 that I've previously mentioned. Once I get around to buying just a Standard Stratocaster, I'll have a quadruple-whammy going, in the surf guitar "department."

Thanks for the insight!

Matt in Indiana

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

I'll stick to saving for the Jazzmaster, after all...having looked at the prices after my last reply. In the future, I intend to do some straight forward (old school...as in early 60s) original surf guitar instrumentals, but I'm also planning to create some surfabilly and surfadelic instrumentals, and it'll be nice to have a variety of guitars and effects to play with, toward getting the soundscapes just right.

You're right about the Ibanez Jet King having humbuckers, but both are coil tapped, and it was while playing around with the coil taps, when test driving it through a 30W Vox ValveTronix (as close as they had to my Peavey TransTube 258 EFX), that I was sold on going for the Jet King. The Fender So-Cal Speed Shop Strat is a stripped down Strat (single Alnico humbucker and a volume knob) with the So-Cal Speed Shop red & white color scheme (including the neck and headstock) and the So-Cal Speed Shop logo above the bridge.

I also have a Squier Bullet Special that I'm going to upgrade with a TV Jones MagnaTron (sometime within the next two months), which is essentially the same configuration as the Fender So-Cal Speed Shop Strat, but since I also have the Fender I've realized that, with the current stock pickup, it'll never hold a candle to the Fender. Once the Squier Bullet Special is upraded, I'll do some experimenting, to find out which one I'll standard tune, and which one I'll tune a whole note down from standard...D,G, C, F, A, D.

I do realize it's not necessarily about "the purity of the surf guitar sound," but given what I'm looking to create, in the near and coming future, it'll be nice to have plenty of options available.

Matt in Indiana

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

Many types of guitars have been used in surf music during the first wave (60s), second wave (late 70s-80s) and third wave (90s-'til today). The assortment of makes and models is quite varied. It seems that many surf guitarists used whatever guitar was handy, especially during the first wave.

I think that the Jazzmaster and Jaguar (and to a lesser extant the Jazz Bass) gained prominence during the first wave because they were Fender's "top-of-the-line" models. Bands who could afford to do so outrfitted themselves with new gear, and they inevitably choose Fender's top models.

Your point regarding the Stratocaster is well taken: Dick Dale, Paul Johnson and Hank Marvin all utilised the supremely versatile Stratocaster as their guitar-of-choice.

Of course, The Ventures (and others) used Mosrite gear, and they were very well known among surf music fans back in the day: in other words, the Ventures were extremely influential.

Many bands used Danelectro, Harmony, Old Craftsman, Gretsch, Yamaha, Vox, Eko, Hagstrom, Teisco, Gibson, Guild, Framus, Burns, Epiphone and many other makes to produce surf or instrumental tunes. Even the venerable Fender Telecaster made an appearance in surf every now and then.

I believe that the main difference in choosing between the Jazzmaster and the Jaguar is the choice of neck scale length: the Jazzmaster is full-scale, the Jaguar has a slightly shorter scale. Admitedly, the Jaguar has a "snappier" appearence: sort of like the Jaguar XKE sprots car of the same name and vintage, it's a real sporty looking guitar. The Jazzmaster is somewhat plainer looking, but that look may also be interpreted as "classic" sort of styling.

I believe that the Jazzmaster and Jaguar do have subtle differences in tone due to their construction and pickups. I prefer the slightly more robust tones of the Jazzmaster, but I'm sure there are those equally devoted to the Jaguar tones as well.

Ultimately, your choice in guitar will be based upon personal preference. In surf music, I believe that even though there are boundaries, there is also room for mucho individuality and choice. In other words, there are many ways to achieve "THE Surf Sound"...it's up to you to find the way that works best for what you want to do...

best wishes,
-dp

DP, I thought DaveW was all jag? but my only J&TNR is tucked away on vinyl tho... JM back then? don't remember

fwiw, I own jag nor JM (yet) but from listening to bands, I don't find the differences between jag and JM not so subtle. to be honest, soundwise, I always categorize jag and strat on the one side (sharp and snappy), and mosrite and JM on the other (dark and full)....

strat's, awww, there are so many different strats, 'there's a strat for every occasion.'

WR

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WR
DP, I thought DaveW was all jag? but my only J&TNR is tucked away on vinyl tho... JM back then? don't remember

fwiw, I own jag nor JM (yet) but from listening to bands, I don't find the differences between jag and JM not so subtle. to be honest, soundwise, I always categorize jag and strat on the one side (sharp and snappy), and mosrite and JM on the other (dark and full)....

You know, maybe Dave W. does play all Jags...I'm not sure, I thought I saw him playing a nice all-white Jazzmaster with custom dice-knobs at one point...back in his Jon&TNR days, I remember Dave W. played Mosrite pretty frequently.

I agree with you, a Jag and a Strat are similar sounding (probably due to pickup construction)...

-dp

That's a real cool guitar. I like everything about it save the 'buckers.

<img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img>

After seeing The Cocktail Preachers, The Madeira & The Volcanos in Chicago, on Saturday night, I truly understand why Jazzmasters and Jaguars (and Stratocasters) are prefered for surf guitar. In meeting and talking with IvanP before the show, it became clear to me that most all of my guitars are humbucker equipped, save for my Fender Standard Telecaster...with Ivan reacting like I was a vampire, at most of the guitars in my collection that I mentioned.

Somewhere along the line, within about the next 12 months, I'll manage to add a Fender Jazzmaster to my collection, along with an Ibanez Artcore AFS75 (since my Artcore AG75 don't have a Bigsby) for some surfabilly stuff. My Ibanez Jet King would be good for hot rod instrumentals, and of course a Jazzmaster would be perfect as rhythm guitar behind the Jet King lead.

Matt in Indiana

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

To my ears, the JM has a more 'sustainy' sound. I know that sounds pretty dumb, since we're runnin' 'em through drenched reverb tanks, but that 25.5" scale versus the 24" has a pretty profound effect on tone, due to string tension being so much greater on the JM. I'd be curious to hear a JM pickup configuration played on a 24" scale, and a Jag with a 25.5" scale using the Jag's 'keeper' p'ups. Those 'keepers' really do bring out those mids, and I'm curious what that would sound like on the longer scale.

Hmmmmm...

Of course, that 1.5" difference will make a big difference to most players. Some like the longer scales, some don't. I know for me and lap steel, I LOVE the tone and sustain of the longer scales, but hate the longer scales for doing bar slants. I think 22.5 or 23 is about perfect in that respect.

Once again, IMO... ymmv...

Aloha,
Kanekila

You would either have to move the bridge back or use a conversion neck. A stock JM/strat neck would not work on a Jag...your intonation would be all messed up.

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