tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post9121913477852773955..comments2023-08-19T09:35:54.104-04:00Comments on ALPHABET CITY: Fender Jazzmaster Setup and Maintenance - or How I Learned to Love My GuitarJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11824929910429164650noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-59279118625420723692010-02-08T03:45:14.008-05:002010-02-08T03:45:14.008-05:00Hi Jeff, I'm not sure how much you know about ...Hi Jeff, I'm not sure how much you know about the MIM Classic Player series JM's, but I just scored one on ebay for super cheap and your setup guide has great information - I figured I'd ask a few questions before screwing it up...<br /><br />1.) The seller tells me this guitar has been through his and a previous owner's hands, but it wasn't too heavily-played. I'm a StratAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03257054855724576113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-53407953581488405002010-01-31T13:11:26.179-05:002010-01-31T13:11:26.179-05:00Anon:
The JM was made for jazz players but it was...Anon:<br /><br />The JM was made for jazz players but it was never all that successful in that role. There are a couple reasons why standard JM's are not that well suited to being a fast playing guitar:<br /><br />1) It works best with heavy strings. This is mostly because of the bridge design.<br /><br />2) It's got a 7.25 radius neck. That's a classic radius better suited for Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11824929910429164650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-46571225948897264102010-01-31T11:28:07.893-05:002010-01-31T11:28:07.893-05:00First off, great article Jeff, wonderful reading.
...First off, great article Jeff, wonderful reading.<br />I am very close to buying a jazzmaster, but one thing has nagged at me for a while. What is all this talk about it not being a virtuosic guitar?<br />I play weird instrumental and improvised music, I am an advanced player, and I like to play fast sometimes. If I recall this guitar was originally made for jazz players, who are most likely theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-8291568997460366982009-11-30T17:39:44.009-05:002009-11-30T17:39:44.009-05:00Since I've referenced this blog a few times ov...Since I've referenced this blog a few times over the past few months when it comes to Jazzmaster related issues, I figured I'd chime in with this as I haven't seen it mentioned.<br /><br />It's an expensive, but interesting take on the Jazzmaster bridge. I haven't used one myself, but it's in use by some big names and I'm definitely curious. I'm thinking about Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-6848543962371922062009-11-19T12:54:04.139-05:002009-11-19T12:54:04.139-05:00Hello Jeff,
Thanks a lot for all the useful tips....Hello Jeff, <br />Thanks a lot for all the useful tips. <br />I'm trying it right now on mine, <br />Looking forward to reading stuff about your new pickups, <br />Cheers,<br />Jérôme (Paris-France)Jérômenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-36375415801925829632009-09-23T10:29:10.738-04:002009-09-23T10:29:10.738-04:00Oh, I missed one comment - two comments up there, ...Oh, I missed one comment - two comments up there, about the tremolo. You've probably figured this out by now, but I'll answer anyway.<br /><br />1. I think you probably have the correct arm.<br /><br />2. I think your tremolo is probably at least a little bit out of adjustment.<br /><br />You say the lock works "okay" - it needs to actually be exact for your tremolo arm to Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11824929910429164650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-67323613316273609512009-09-23T10:24:33.895-04:002009-09-23T10:24:33.895-04:00No, you can bend any Fender JM bridge cover, new o...No, you can bend any Fender JM bridge cover, new or old, they're pretty much the same. (The only difference that I know of in the original ones is that for a few years they had a little "ear" on each side, but only until something like 1964.) I bent the tabs on mine, that's what you're supposed to do. Just cover the thing with a towel and use a pliers.<br /><br />The fit Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11824929910429164650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-90073702049325182772009-09-23T07:15:13.974-04:002009-09-23T07:15:13.974-04:00I have a little question. I have a MIJ JM, and I r...I have a little question. I have a MIJ JM, and I recently bought a bridge cover. I have no idea how to attach it, there aren't any screws so I'm guessing I may have to put it on and bend the metal a little to get it to stick, but somebody told me you can only do that with the original models. How did you attach yours to your MIJ?<br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-21330871353725202472009-08-21T17:27:47.370-04:002009-08-21T17:27:47.370-04:00i'm totally inspired. i'm all over it this...i'm totally inspired. i'm all over it this weekend. thanks Jeff!Jupiter Jones (London)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-91266731162447290572009-02-25T12:16:00.000-05:002009-02-25T12:16:00.000-05:00I have just been given what I think is a Japanese ...I have just been given what I think is a Japanese tremolo arm for my Jazzmaster (CIJ 2007). I thought I would have trouble inserting it but it slips right in and out and sits right up to the bend in the insert arm, this makes it next to useless (it sits about 5mm above the bridge and hits it when you press down). So two questions:<BR/>1. have I got the correct arm? This one is 5mm thick, about Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-67535266071276842662009-01-16T20:29:00.000-05:002009-01-16T20:29:00.000-05:00Good point on the Jazzmaster not being a shedder. ...Good point on the Jazzmaster not being a shedder. As good as you can set it up it will never be able to be a strat. There will be no Gilmore solo's high on the neck with that smooth strat action, but it is a phenomenal rhythm guitar and lead guitar with the right playing style. I own a '69 and love it to death.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-30271878203963596702009-01-13T15:32:00.000-05:002009-01-13T15:32:00.000-05:00See here about the bridge: http://www.alphabetcit...See here about the bridge: http://www.alphabetcityblog.com/2008/11/fixing-jazzmaster-bridge-buzz.html<BR/><BR/>:)<BR/><BR/>I do not recommend a buzz stop. It kills the harmonics behind the bridge, which is one of the things responsible for Jazzmasters sounding like Jazzmasters.<BR/><BR/>My goal in writing this was to show how I got the most out of my Jazzmaster and maybe to help others do the Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11824929910429164650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-1966549507025688802009-01-13T15:21:00.000-05:002009-01-13T15:21:00.000-05:00I have an almost identical jazzmaster (minus the b...I have an almost identical jazzmaster (minus the bridge cover, which is something i'd remove anyway) made in japan. same finish/matching headstock and all. It's a great guitar, especially after a setup.<BR/><BR/>I have to add a little bit of information to this guide though:<BR/><BR/>The Jazzmaster (and much more so the Jaguar) is infamous for a major design flaw with the bridge - the strings Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-65907744339707289712008-05-11T05:01:00.000-04:002008-05-11T05:01:00.000-04:00another small comment: lemon oil is fabulatastic! ...another small comment: lemon oil is fabulatastic! I clean my fingerboard with it, removes the grease from my finger yet keeps the wood from drying out. This will prevent the wood from chipping whenever it's time to renew the frets. Even clean stainless stell in my kitchen with it.<BR/><BR/>Cheerio!<BR/><BR/>MarcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-56298645533355991862008-05-11T04:55:00.000-04:002008-05-11T04:55:00.000-04:00Hi Jeff,great site, very useful. Building me a Jaz...Hi Jeff,<BR/><BR/>great site, very useful. Building me a Jazzmaster from scratch I was Googling for 'angle Jazzmaster neck' and came across your page. Have seen pictures of shims in the neckpocket of a JM before indeed, but I routed the pocket in an angle, by tilting the template I made for this purpose. Was hoping to find anywhere what the correct angle to the body should be, but I did not. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054414.post-53442208143569311432008-04-12T04:22:00.000-04:002008-04-12T04:22:00.000-04:00Hey Jeff, its Ali. I emailed you months ago about ...Hey Jeff, its Ali. I emailed you months ago about travelling in Japan and you were nice enough to email back. I land in Tokyo in about 2 weeks so thats very exciting.Plus I was in New York, I ventured into alphabet city briefly, thier wasnt much their and it took me ages to find a subway so I could go somewhere more interesting. Anyway back to the point do you have like a comprehensive what not Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com