grayn
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
Posts: 114
East Lancashire
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Posted on May 03 2022 01:26 PM
After a period of not playing surf guitar, I had a strong urge to return to reverb heaven. So, for me it had to be a Strat or
Jazzmaster. So I went out today to try a few. I decided to try some from Fender's Vintera range. So I picked up a 60s
Strat, in ice blue and a 60s JM, in artic white. All sounds very chilly. Anyway, both were nicely made guitars, with some
60s features. Nice pickups and smooth trems made for some cool sounds, through the shop's Deluxe Reverb combo.
Of course, I had to try out some other guitars and so preceeded to twang furiously on a Fender Noventa JM, a Player Plus
Strat, a Squier 40th Anniv Strat and a Vintage John Verity Sig Strat. The Noventa was very cool but I didn't think the P90 pickups
quite had the sound I was looking for. The Player Plus was quite a stunner, that played well but again, the pickups didn't
hit the spot for me. The 40th Anniv was very pretty and well made but felt and sounded a bit cheap. The cheapest guitar I
tried was the Vintage J.V. Sig and it nearly stole the show. It was less than half the price of the Vinteras but was a really
well made guitar, with a gorgeous blue colour, with matching headstock, Wilkinson, very smooth trem, locking tuners and
awesome pickups. I seriously considered getting it but realised that it's sound was probably best suited to blues, rather than
surf.
So it was down to the 2 60s Vinteras, I'd started with. There wasn't a lot to choose between them, for nice playability and good
tones. But I went for the Jazzmaster, as to my ears, it just sounds so surfy and of course, looks so cool. The artic white has a
slightly creamy hue to it, that is set off very nicely, by the tortoiseshell pick guard. I'm always a bit nervous of the trems you get
with JMs and Jags but this one has no clunks, clicks or rattles thus far and is very smooth and keeping very much in tune. So
it's home and getting a lot of play.
— http://soundcloud.com/graham-pike
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on May 04 2022 09:16 AM
Congrats on your new Jazzmaster. It looks awesome. I hope you enjoy it. I've been playing them since the late '60's.
Reverbs,
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1428
Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 04 2022 10:25 AM
I have that exact guitar, and I love it. I kept the original pickups, but had .12's put on mine. It looks great, and plays / sounds amazing. If you want to darken that fretboard, let me know and I'll tell you my trick. Enjoy! 
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website.
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4542
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on May 05 2022 12:48 PM
The Vintera line is pretty nice. Looks like you got a keeper, there.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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xavi
Joined: Nov 04, 2013
Posts: 58
Balearic Islands
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Posted on May 08 2022 03:02 AM
Very nice looking JM. Let me ask how is the neck on those Vintera?
Congrats
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grayn
Joined: Apr 07, 2012
Posts: 114
East Lancashire
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Posted on May 09 2022 07:53 AM
xavi wrote:
Very nice looking JM. Let me ask how is the neck on those Vintera?
Congrats
The profile is called a mid 60s C, with a Fingerboard Radius of 7.25".
Not a chunky neck but a very comfortable one, in my hands.
The Neck Finish is Gloss Urethane, so glossy, if that's a problem.
It's not, for me. as I don't sweat much, on my hands.
I do slightly prefer a chunky neck but this one is easy to skip about on.
— http://soundcloud.com/graham-pike
Last edited: May 09, 2022 07:55:02
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beatcomber
Joined: Jun 30, 2019
Posts: 154
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted on May 09 2022 01:40 PM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
I have that exact guitar, and I love it. I kept the original pickups, but had .12's put on mine. It looks great, and plays / sounds amazing. If you want to darken that fretboard, let me know and I'll tell you my trick. Enjoy!
I'm curious to know what your method is.
I used a dab of Music Nomad oil and it seems to have deepened the hue nicely so that it looks less cocoa-ish.
— THE HYDRONAUTS…Surf Music from the shores of old Cape Cod.
CLICK HERE to check out our first album, Interstallar Clambake!
Last edited: May 09, 2022 13:40:29
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beatcomber
Joined: Jun 30, 2019
Posts: 154
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted on May 09 2022 01:44 PM
xavi wrote:
Very nice looking JM. Let me ask how is the neck on those Vintera?
Congrats
I'd say the neck is slightly wide but not overly deep, so it feels pretty substantial. I've never played a genuine '60s Jazzmaster, so I have no idea how it compares, but it feels bigger than the neck on my 2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele, FWIW.
— THE HYDRONAUTS…Surf Music from the shores of old Cape Cod.
CLICK HERE to check out our first album, Interstallar Clambake!
Last edited: May 09, 2022 13:44:38
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1428
Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 09 2022 01:46 PM
I use Fender Fingerboard Remedy. It has beeswax in it, which helps to darken the wood. I generously apply the oil on the fretboard, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then remove it with a microfiber cloth. I'll do that once every few months, and it really seems to help. I posted a photo of my Vintera Strat in another thread, and it looks like rosewood.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website.
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beatcomber
Joined: Jun 30, 2019
Posts: 154
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted on May 11 2022 11:35 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
I use Fender Fingerboard Remedy. It has beeswax in it, which helps to darken the wood. I generously apply the oil on the fretboard, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then remove it with a microfiber cloth. I'll do that once every few months, and it really seems to help. I posted a photo of my Vintera Strat in another thread, and it looks like rosewood.
Awesome, thanks!
One needs to be aware that applying too much oil, and too frequently, can possibly soften the wood, creating problems with the frets popping out.
— THE HYDRONAUTS…Surf Music from the shores of old Cape Cod.
CLICK HERE to check out our first album, Interstallar Clambake!
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Uncle_Lew
Joined: Oct 05, 2006
Posts: 1
San Francisco
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Posted on May 12 2022 12:31 PM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
I have that exact guitar, and I love it. I kept the original pickups, but had .12's put on mine. It looks great, and plays / sounds amazing. If you want to darken that fretboard, let me know and I'll tell you my trick. Enjoy!
Welp, I wanna know! I have the exact same one with the 'slightly strange' NOT rosewood fretboard and it's a bit light colored for my taste. WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?!
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beatcomber
Joined: Jun 30, 2019
Posts: 154
Massachusetts, USA
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Posted on May 16 2022 02:15 PM
beatcomber wrote:
I'd say the neck is slightly wide but not overly deep, so it feels pretty substantial. I've never played a genuine '60s Jazzmaster, so I have no idea how it compares, but it feels bigger than the neck on my 2005 Fender Japan '60s Tele, FWIW.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to play a genuine 1963 Jazzmaster, and I'm happy to report that the size and shape of the Vintera '60s neck is pretty darn vintage-accurate.
— THE HYDRONAUTS…Surf Music from the shores of old Cape Cod.
CLICK HERE to check out our first album, Interstallar Clambake!
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1428
Memphis, TN
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Posted on May 16 2022 03:13 PM
Uncle_Lew wrote:
SixStringSurfer wrote:
I have that exact guitar, and I love it. I kept the original pickups, but had .12's put on mine. It looks great, and plays / sounds amazing. If you want to darken that fretboard, let me know and I'll tell you my trick. Enjoy!
Welp, I wanna know! I have the exact same one with the 'slightly strange' NOT rosewood fretboard and it's a bit light colored for my taste. WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?!
I revealed the secret a couple of post up. Added more oil a few nights ago, it gets darker every time I apply it!
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New EP Louder Than Life available on bandcamp and website.
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Samurai
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2283
Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on May 17 2022 04:35 AM
I had a chance to play it along with my 62 Thin Skin and it was pretty great! Ice Blue with matching head also looked nice.
— Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine
https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki
Lost Diver
https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin
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