synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 2715
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on May 24 2020 02:07 PM
raylinds wrote:
While I have been happy with my Strat (pictured above), I liked the idea of having a surf-specific guitar. I play a lot of blues and Hendrix on it and do a lot of bending, so I didn't want to put heavy strings on it.
To be honest, I always assumed that Jaguars were just Strats without the middle pup, and the Jazzmaster was very similar, but slightly different pups.
After reading this thread I became intrigued by Jaguars, Jazzmasters, and Mosrites.
I spent a good deal of time on YouTube listening to some surf music played on these guitars. I first researched Mosrites. Funny thing was that most of the live footage of The Ventures had Nokie on Strats (and he sounded like Nokie on both guitars)! I did manage to find some proper samples of the Mosrite sound. I liked the sound but, other then the pickups being a little hotter, I didn't think it was enough of a different flavor than the Strat.
I have always loved the sound of The Astronauts, so really explored Jazzmasters. In the end, though it was the Jaguar sound that got me. I also liked the idea of the short scale that would allow me to use 12s and still have the same playability as my strat.
I think I really could have been happy with any of the three, but I just placed and order for a AVRI sunburst Jag.
The Jaguar was a major component of early Surf. Some feel that it's the ultimate Surf guitar, and while I agree that it has its own unique charms, one could make an equally persuasive argument that the Strat was the ultimate Surf axe. Having owned and played both, I would only venture to say that either guitar is quite capable of being a great Surf instrument, but they are quite different from one another.
The control set on a Jaguar is really quite appealing to me. To be able to preset the rhythm sound you want and switch in and out of that mode easily strikes me as a great idea. The main control set still functions normally and no flexibility is lost by having a separate control set for the rhythm preset. I assume that Leo Fender dreamed this up, and as was usually the case, his idea was pretty good.
One thing a Jaguar does surprisingly well is a bright, Bakersfield sound. For a while I played in a quartet and the other guitarist had a Tele. We played a Country song and I took a solo on it which ended up sounding more like a Tele than the other guitarist's actual Tele. It surprised both of us.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
My Guitar WebSite

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Squid
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 867
Portland, Oregon with The Insanitizers
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Posted on May 24 2020 03:25 PM
raylinds wrote:
While I have been happy with my Strat (pictured above), I liked the idea of having a surf-specific guitar. I play a lot of blues and Hendrix on it and do a lot of bending, so I didn't want to put heavy strings on it.
I think heavy strings are needed only for the lower two--and perhaps just the lowest one. On my strat type guitars I use size 50 for the low E string and the rest of the strings are the same as a 10-46 set.
In the 1960s the Jag was the one Fender identified as top-of-the-line, so you should get a great guitar right out of the box.
Since you asked, the widest range of tones I get--those beyond my imagination--come with the Roland pickup (shown). I eventually figured out how to get sweet surfy-spacey tones with it and am recording with it.
— The Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com
Last edited: May 24, 2020 15:27:13
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Harrynp
Joined: Apr 21, 2019
Posts: 1
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Posted on May 26 2020 07:50 AM
I bought Squier vibe 60 and it is great surf guitar. Love the sound and tone.
Exactly this one - https://www.awkwardsound.com/squier-fender-classic-vibe-60s-stratocaster-review/
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raylinds
Joined: Jul 05, 2019
Posts: 123
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Posted on May 26 2020 08:30 AM
Harrynp wrote:
I bought Squier vibe 60 and it is great surf guitar. Love the sound and tone.
Exactly this one - https://www.awkwardsound.com/squier-fender-classic-vibe-60s-stratocaster-review/
Those are great guitars for the money.
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raylinds
Joined: Jul 05, 2019
Posts: 123
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Posted on Jun 19 2020 02:18 PM
So I've had my MIM vintage Jaguar and Jazzmaster for a few weeks now. I put Fender Pure Vintage pups in the Jaguar and Seymour Duncan Vintage in the JM. I put .012 flats and did a very precision setup on both.
These are really very different sounding guitars, but I can see a place for both. I think I like the JM more for chord rhythms and the lead for mellower surf. While not necessarily mellow, Pipeline sounds right on the JM.
The Jag sounds great on more aggressive Dick Dale type stuff like Miserlou. I thought the scale might bother me because I am big, but it doesn't.
It's nice to have the luxury of having both. I can also leave roundwounds on the Strat for a real aggressive sound and other styles.
Last edited: Jun 19, 2020 14:21:44
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ArabSpringReverb
Joined: Jul 13, 2012
Posts: 425
San Diego CA
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Posted on Jun 19 2020 06:50 PM
raylinds Did you get Seymour Duncan 'Vintage For Jazzmaster ' ? I bought a set from an SG101-er and put them in my MIM jazzmaster and I love them ..most people go with the Antiquity series but these Vintage are great too. Just what I was looking for .
I know what you mean about very different sounding and I think it is mostly due to the scale length . I use the same strings on my Jm , Strats and Jag , and the strat and JM seem more alike than the Jag and jazzmaster even though the jag and JM have the same hardware ,similar body and electronics .
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raylinds
Joined: Jul 05, 2019
Posts: 123
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Posted on Jun 19 2020 07:06 PM
ArabSpringReverb wrote:
raylinds Did you get Seymour Duncan 'Vintage For Jazzmaster ' ? I bought a set from an SG101-er and put them in my MIM jazzmaster and I love them ..most people go with the Antiquity series but these Vintage are great too. Just what I was looking for .
I know what you mean about very different sounding and I think it is mostly due to the scale length . I use the same strings on my Jm , Strats and Jag , and the strat and JM seem more alike than the Jag and jazzmaster even though the jag and JM have the same hardware ,similar body and electronics .
Yes, SD Vintage for Jazzmaster. I liked the samples I heard better than the Antiquities that sounded brighter.
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tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1419
Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Oct 16 2020 04:07 AM
My new favourite

— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
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Bill_Ashton
Joined: Nov 15, 2008
Posts: 121
Massachusetts
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Posted on Oct 16 2020 11:29 AM
The control set on a Jaguar is really quite appealing to me. To be able to preset the rhythm sound you want and switch in and out of that mode easily strikes me as a great idea. The main control set still functions normally and no flexibility is lost by having a separate control set for the rhythm preset. I assume that Leo Fender dreamed this up, and as was usually the case, his idea was pretty good.
Actually, it was Freddy Tavares who came up with that switching scheme; believe it was also used on some of their steel guitars...or at least, one's Freddy had made for himself.
— Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most...
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 2715
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Oct 16 2020 11:40 AM
Bill_Ashton wrote:
The control set on a Jaguar is really quite appealing to me. To be able to preset the rhythm sound you want and switch in and out of that mode easily strikes me as a great idea. The main control set still functions normally and no flexibility is lost by having a separate control set for the rhythm preset. I assume that Leo Fender dreamed this up, and as was usually the case, his idea was pretty good.
Actually, it was Freddy Tavares who came up with that switching scheme; believe it was also used on some of their steel guitars...or at least, one's Freddy had made for himself.
In any event, it's a great idea.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
My Guitar WebSite

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raylinds
Joined: Jul 05, 2019
Posts: 123
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Posted on Dec 15 2020 09:27 AM
Now that I have owned my Jazzmaster and Jaguar for over six months, I thought I would share my impressions here.
Despite their very similar look, these are very different guitars. The Jazzmaster has a mellower and richer sound and the Jag has a more aggressive biting sound, though the controls allow for a lot of tone shaping.
I find myself going for the Jazzmaster for most surf songs, as it has a really authentic first wave sound. However, the Jag sounds incredible when a more aggressive sound is called for and it, too, provides an authentic, but different, authentic retro surf sound.
I think I could make do with either of these as my only surf guitar, but am extremely happy that I have both.
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Chmason85
Joined: Dec 25, 2020
Posts: 20
Ardmore, PA
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Posted on Jan 07 2021 10:25 PM
I think strats are the ultimate in general, not only for surf. I only have one guitar and it’s a strat. However, I really want a nice Jaguar and think that will be my next axe when I’m ready to add a second guitar.
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