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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Jazzmaster vs. Strat

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HBkahuna
The AVRI's are really nice for both the Strat & Jazzmaster. I own one of each. My advice is play each. Play several of each. Go with what sounds & feels best to you. You will not regret going with a AVRI.

I'd really like to try AVRI and a real vintage Jazzmaster. I brought new CIJ Q serial JM very cheap, it had been sitting a shop for years unsold. I read on-line a small batch of Q reg JM's reached the states and everyone was impressed, have to admit the finish is top notch. Ocean Turquoise with matching headstock, i changed the pickups and trem for stock U.S. units, the bridge is still problematic even with mustang saddles.
Weighing in at 4.25 Kilos (9 pounds?) it will make your shoulder feel like it's dropping off after a couple of hours! the neck is quite a chunky C shape with vintage radius. It's an experience to play and the sound is killer! but for me to fall in love with jazzmasters it would have to be lighter with a slimmer neck.. D shape maybe. For sure playing at home the hand always reaches out for the strat.

It's funny, I have an old JM and a cheap Chinese Squier strat. I love the way the JM sounds and feels, but when I'm sitting around noodling I usually pick up the strat, just because it is so much lighter. Nice to see other people are the same way.

"We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .

Baine
It's funny, I have an old JM and a cheap Chinese Squier strat. I love the way the JM sounds and feels, but when I'm sitting around noodling I usually pick up the strat, just because it is so much lighter. Nice to see other people are the same way.

I have a Squier '83 JV export (Japanese Vintage) super lightweight! it's a '62 blueprint with original fender U.S. fiber/cloth-wire pickups, D shape neck with gorgeous beveled edges and correct vintage profiles including headstock shape. Unlike a Tokai or whatever which is similar this is as near to a '62 that i'll ever get! Only made 'em for 3 years under CBS, i'm sorta wondering why the surf community hasn't picked up on them.

Check it out:
http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/index.htm

crumb
If guitars were women..

Stratocaster = Nastassja Kinski

Jazzmaster = Joann worley

Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

wrong:

Stratocaster = kate moss

Jazzmaster = Gisselle Bundchen

El Papu & los Fantasticos Reverberantes

Good call on the Kate Moss. Straight as a board and plain.

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 19:39:41

zak
A Jazzmaster is a specialized and idiosyncratic guitar, not popular qualities when "versatility" is considered to be a virtue (not by me, mind you).

If you're gonna pull out the feminine comparisons...I'd say the Strat is the $20 hooker on the corner that will give anyone a handjob any time, and the Jazzmaster is the Catholic chick that you have to date for 3 months before you get into her pants.

sometimes catholic chicks do better blowjobs than hookers do ;)

El Papu & los Fantasticos Reverberantes

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 19:39:50

zak

big_papu

zak
A Jazzmaster is a specialized and idiosyncratic guitar, not popular qualities when "versatility" is considered to be a virtue (not by me, mind you).

If you're gonna pull out the feminine comparisons...I'd say the Strat is the $20 hooker on the corner that will give anyone a handjob any time, and the Jazzmaster is the Catholic chick that you have to date for 3 months before you get into her pants.

sometimes catholic chicks do better blowjobs than hookers do ;)

Laughing
My point was that you have to work harder to get results from the Jazzmaster.

What! Weight lifting do you mean? Smile

big_papu

zak
A Jazzmaster is a specialized and idiosyncratic guitar, not popular qualities when "versatility" is considered to be a virtue (not by me, mind you).

If you're gonna pull out the feminine comparisons...I'd say the Strat is the $20 hooker on the corner that will give anyone a handjob any time, and the Jazzmaster is the Catholic chick that you have to date for 3 months before you get into her pants.

sometimes catholic chicks do better blowjobs than hookers do ;)

Laughing

I'd go with a Jazzmaster.....I own 5 of 'em, and my 2 Strats sit in the corner. I prefer the Jazzmaster trem, pickups, and overall look. I don't really get off on the quacky Strat sound, unless it's Mark Knopfler playing.

That said, the Jazzmaster will likely require more frequent adjustment of the bridge, but if you Loc-Tite the saddles and bridge posts, it will make things much more stable. Also, the only buzz I ever get is if the bridge isn't centered in the thimbles. I use Mustang bridges on 2 of my JMs, but they're not really necessary. I just like the simplicity on my main axe. Plus I play that one pretty hard.

IMO for my purposes.... JM > EVERYTHING.

RumorsofsurF
I don't really get off on the quacky Strat sound, unless it's Mark Knopfler playing.

Indeed.

JakeDobner

RumorsofsurF
I don't really get off on the quacky Strat sound, unless it's Mark Knopfler playing.

Indeed.

The problem with my Am Dlx Strat is that it sounds like an icepick being attacked by a gang of razor blades . . . unless I punch in the S-1 switch, then it sounds like an L-5. Smile

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

RumorsofsurF

big_papu

zak
A Jazzmaster is a specialized and idiosyncratic guitar, not popular qualities when "versatility" is considered to be a virtue (not by me, mind you).

If you're gonna pull out the feminine comparisons...I'd say the Strat is the $20 hooker on the corner that will give anyone a handjob any time, and the Jazzmaster is the Catholic chick that you have to date for 3 months before you get into her pants.

sometimes catholic chicks do better blowjobs than hookers do ;)

Laughing

I'd go with a Jazzmaster.....I own 5 of 'em, and my 2 Strats sit in the corner. I prefer the Jazzmaster trem, pickups, and overall look. I don't really get off on the quacky Strat sound, unless it's Mark Knopfler playing.

That said, the Jazzmaster will likely require more frequent adjustment of the bridge, but if you Loc-Tite the saddles and bridge posts, it will make things much more stable. Also, the only buzz I ever get is if the bridge isn't centered in the thimbles. I use Mustang bridges on 2 of my JMs, but they're not really necessary. I just like the simplicity on my main axe. Plus I play that one pretty hard.

IMO for my purposes.... JM > EVERYTHING.

well, i only can said that my japanese jazzmasters, with the proper modifications, are solid like a rock, and are a lot less heavy than a 79 strat

El Papu & los Fantasticos Reverberantes

Last edited: Sep 29, 2008 12:22:50

Does Dick Dale sound 'quacky' to you? (He even uses the in-between pickup setting a lot.) I don't think so. A Strat most certainly doesn't have to sound quacky. As an owner of both a JM and several Strats, I find that a Strat can sound MUCH more aggressive than a JM, but also a lot sweeter and gentle than a JM. A JM has a nice woody tone that a Strat cannot duplicate, but there's no question that even if you're just playing surf music, a Strat is a more versatile animal. And a Strat was used by most iconic first-wave surf players (DD, Jim Messina, the Chantays, the Belairs, the Atlantics, the Pyramids, Bobby Fuller, the Original Surfaris, etc.)

However, there are tons of surf players that have adopted a JM as their primary weapon, and get amazing tones. My favorites: Frankie Blandino (the Fathoms), Phantom Frank Gerritsen (the Treble Spankers, the Phantom Four), Dalibor and Dinko (the Bambi Molesters). Few first wave lead guitarists played a JM, but one does stand out: Rich Fifield (the Astronauts). That's a pretty good list!

Nevertheless, I remain a fully-dedicated Strat guy! Smile

Good luck with finding what best works for you and juices your creativity.
Ivan

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 19:52:33

well to put my input in:

i own a strat and a jaguar, but not a jazzmaster, however i would probably prefer a jazzmaster to my strat, which in my opinion is the best looking strat on the planet and the most comfortable strat i have played...i love that guitar like a child, don't get me wrong, but now i've just gotten too used to that jag/jazz offset body, and now compared to playing my jag all the time, i feel my strat is too versatile and sensitive, and it's hard for me to get a good sound out of it anymore. i know it's me being lazy because i'm used to not having to try as hard on the jag, but i don't care.

The Tremblors on Facebook!

The Tremblors on MySpace!

IvanP
Does Dick Dale sound 'quacky' to you?

No, but this new Madeira song sounds quacky to me. I really appreciate the whole avant garde thing, but...
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=R1PiiugqtjI

Although I wish this one had sound.
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=pNNi5Kcx7VQ&feature=related

Also, I don't think strats sound quacky. I was just agreeing with whoever said they liked Knopfler.

Jake, you've got too much time on your hands...

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

I now have two monitors at work, which makes my work more efficient... which in turn makes me with more free time on my hands.

Both are fantastic guitars (given decent specs). My favorite strat tones come from Jim Messina and Hank Marvin. My favorite JM tones come from Frankie Blandino, Phantom Frank, Chris Barfield, and Nels Cline Wink

I'll take a crack at the woman analogy though:
Stratocaster = Brigette Bardot
Jazzmaster = Claudia Cardinale

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook

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