Dumb Question about JM's

WaimeaBay

Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
United States

Posted on Sep 07 2006 07:51 PM

Was the Jazzmaster intended to be a Jazz Guitar? I know this sounds so dumb, I just not sure I can see a Jazz Musician playing a JM.

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WoodyJ

Joined: Apr 05, 2006
Posts: 1544
Bethlehem, GA
United States

Posted on Sep 07 2006 09:03 PM

Yep, that was Leo's intention, but the jazz players of the day were hooked on hollowbody archtop electrics. However, Roy Lanham, who I believe was the guitarist in Lawrence Welk's Orchestra, played an early Jazzmaster - a '58 or early '59 with the gold anodized aluminum pickguard.

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(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1060
Berlin, Germany
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Posted on Sep 07 2006 09:09 PM

As far as I remember from old Guitar Player interviews and such, Leo Fender tried to get into that market, yes. It should have a softer sound and feel than the Tele and Stratocasters. And a few jazz guys played it for a while. Not the deep jazz guys like Wes Montgomery, but westernswing and guys like Mickey Baker who played everything from Jazz, R&B to RockânâRoll. Around jazz edges so to speak.

KK

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The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

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WaimeaBay

Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2006 10:47 AM

good info guys, yeah it just seemed to be nearly impossible to tap into the jazz market without copying the archtop hollowbody guitars. Well Leo did a greta job giving surf muscians a great instrument, whether or not that was his intentions.

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1060
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on Sep 09 2006 12:15 PM

It clearly wasnât his intention as surf music and Jazzmasters birthdays are 3 years apart. BUT bands like the Ventures soon discovered them and when the rockânârollers began destroying speakers with the broad attack of JMs, Leo quickly changed the design to the Jaguar. I guess you could say the Jag was taylormade for surf musicians.

KK

—

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

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chad3006

Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 76
USA

Posted on Sep 09 2006 03:16 PM

It's my understanding that the Jazzmaster was the top of the line for Fender in the late 50's too.

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wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Sep 09 2006 03:20 PM

What kind of strings or other gear were they supposed to be played with for jazz?

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Brian

Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2006 03:28 PM

I think there was prototype Jazzmasters in 1958, but I think it came out in 1959 as their top of the line guitar until the Jaguar in 1962. Yes, I believe it was aimed at the Jazz players, but didn't really catch on with that crowd.

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WaimeaBay

Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 969
United States

Posted on Sep 09 2006 04:07 PM

wooza
What kind of strings or other gear were they supposed to be played with for jazz?

well considering flatwounds were much more common in that era, I am pretty sure they came standard on the JM's

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Sep 11 2006 10:29 AM

WaimeaBay
Was the Jazzmaster intended to be a Jazz Guitar? I know this sounds so dumb, I just not sure I can see a Jazz Musician playing a JM.

For some reason, Leo Fender wanted to design a solid-body jazz guitar...as well as a complimentary jazz bass...the Jazz Bass did catch on with many in the jazz realm, unfortunately, the Jazzmaster guitar never really caught the fancy of hollow-body jazz players.

That's okay, even though Leo ste out to design a "Jazz" guitar, he really ended up developing an excellent "Surf" guitar...and also a great "Studio" and "Recording Session" guitar.

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WaimeaBay Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 969	Posted on Sep 07 2006 07:51 PM Was the Jazzmaster intended to be a Jazz Guitar? I know this sounds so dumb, I just not sure I can see a Jazz Musician playing a JM. Top
WoodyJ Joined: Apr 05, 2006 Posts: 1544 Bethlehem, GA	Posted on Sep 07 2006 09:03 PM Yep, that was Leo's intention, but the jazz players of the day were hooked on hollowbody archtop electrics. However, Roy Lanham, who I believe was the guitarist in Lawrence Welk's Orchestra, played an early Jazzmaster - a '58 or early '59 with the gold anodized aluminum pickguard. — Jack Booth (aka WoodyJ) The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005) The Hula Hounds (1996-current) The X-Rays (1997-2004) The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012) Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990) Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1060 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Sep 07 2006 09:09 PM As far as I remember from old Guitar Player interviews and such, Leo Fender tried to get into that market, yes. It should have a softer sound and feel than the Tele and Stratocasters. And a few jazz guys played it for a while. Not the deep jazz guys like Wes Montgomery, but westernswing and guys like Mickey Baker who played everything from Jazz, R&B to RockânâRoll. Around jazz edges so to speak. KK — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Top
WaimeaBay Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 969	Posted on Sep 09 2006 10:47 AM good info guys, yeah it just seemed to be nearly impossible to tap into the jazz market without copying the archtop hollowbody guitars. Well Leo did a greta job giving surf muscians a great instrument, whether or not that was his intentions. Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1060 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Sep 09 2006 12:15 PM It clearly wasnât his intention as surf music and Jazzmasters birthdays are 3 years apart. BUT bands like the Ventures soon discovered them and when the rockânârollers began destroying speakers with the broad attack of JMs, Leo quickly changed the design to the Jaguar. I guess you could say the Jag was taylormade for surf musicians. KK — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Top
chad3006 Joined: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 76 USA	Posted on Sep 09 2006 03:16 PM It's my understanding that the Jazzmaster was the top of the line for Fender in the late 50's too. Top
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Sep 09 2006 03:20 PM What kind of strings or other gear were they supposed to be played with for jazz? Top
Brian Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19286 Des Moines, Iowa, USA	Posted on Sep 09 2006 03:28 PM I think there was prototype Jazzmasters in 1958, but I think it came out in 1959 as their top of the line guitar until the Jaguar in 1962. Yes, I believe it was aimed at the Jazz players, but didn't really catch on with that crowd. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Top
WaimeaBay Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 969	Posted on Sep 09 2006 04:07 PM wooza What kind of strings or other gear were they supposed to be played with for jazz? well considering flatwounds were much more common in that era, I am pretty sure they came standard on the JM's Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Sep 11 2006 10:29 AM WaimeaBay Was the Jazzmaster intended to be a Jazz Guitar? I know this sounds so dumb, I just not sure I can see a Jazz Musician playing a JM. For some reason, Leo Fender wanted to design a solid-body jazz guitar...as well as a complimentary jazz bass...the Jazz Bass did catch on with many in the jazz realm, unfortunately, the Jazzmaster guitar never really caught the fancy of hollow-body jazz players. That's okay, even though Leo ste out to design a "Jazz" guitar, he really ended up developing an excellent "Surf" guitar...and also a great "Studio" and "Recording Session" guitar. Top

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Dumb Question about JM's