NGD: MIJ Jazzmaster

[godgrinder]

Went to Tokyo for a few days and wanted to get a MIJ Jazzmaster. I like the JM shape but I haven't had a "real" one yet. There were a few humbucker models (Modern/Elemental) that looked good online but were mostly out of stock in shops. The final contenders were this Heritage 60's VS an Inoran (Luna Sea) sig model. Eventually went with this one after trying both since this one just sounded better to me.

It has ash body and nitro over urethane finish. 7.25" radius. On the chunky side at 4.07kg. Plays good as you'd expect from a MIJ guitar.

I haven't run into any string slippage issue so far but I can hear some rattles for sure. I've joined the waiting list on a Staytrem just in case.

[dayl]

Thats nice and tidy. Love that colour combination

[Starfire]

A fine choice of guitar and bridge. Straytrem arm and collet are also a worthwhile upgrade.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Cough mastery cough

[godgrinder]

Cough mastery cough

I need individual saddle adjustment for open tuning though.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Lovely looking JM congrats
Not sure about open tuning but sounds like you know your needs bridge wise.
Other things you might consider are upgrading the vibrato spring from the stock japanese one. You can go all the way upgrading the whole vibrato to a avri if your a wiggle snob.
Pickups tend to be a weak point of mij JMs tho this might have changed since I last checked. Lots of great upgrade options there. I have some avri sets and other misc ones about if you go that way.

[GrantB]

With some tweaking the original saddles can work fine. In some ways, I prefer the tone of the original saddles on mine, vs the Mastery. The mastery has it in other areas though.

[StrummersOfThunder]

With some tweaking the original saddles can work fine. In some ways, I prefer the tone of the original saddles on mine, vs the Mastery. The mastery has it in other areas though.

This is something ive never heard before.
Have you A/Bd the same guitar?
I had the exact opposite experience. But ill agree that the mastery does denote a hifi feel both in looks and tone. But ill take that over cheese grating and string pinging.
You are right that the original saddles can be improved.

[GrantB]

Yep, on my ‘63. The original bridge (not just saddles) sounds tighter and more solid. So not necessarily better, maybe just different. But I did like it. The Mastery is airy and a little bit hifi as you say.

Just realised, it turned 60 the other day! (thanks Starfire for maths)

[jeremyb]

Gorgeous!

[sunburster]

With some tweaking the original saddles can work fine. In some ways, I prefer the tone of the original saddles on mine, vs the Mastery. The mastery has it in other areas though.

I've tried all the fancy boutique bridges and I always come back to the stock AVRI bridge on my Jag and Jazzmaster due to its inherent tone. There is a good video showing how each bridge changes the tone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viES3qFHnIA

[Starfire]

These newer MIJs have a little neck pocket angle, which tends to fix the sometimes-issue of lighter strings jumping out of the saddles.

The stock bridge can be totally fine. I don’t like threaded saddles, which was the main reason for swapping the bridge on my JM to an American Professional/Mustang bridge.

[Starfire]

Yep, on my ‘63. The original bridge (not just saddles) sounds tighter and more solid. So not necessarily better, maybe just different. But I did like it. The Mastery is airy and a little bit hifi as you say.

Just realised, it turned 60 the other day!

60, even!

[GrantB]

Yep, on my ‘63. The original bridge (not just saddles) sounds tighter and more solid. So not necessarily better, maybe just different. But I did like it. The Mastery is airy and a little bit hifi as you say.

Just realised, it turned 60 the other day!

60, even!

Oh shit! Thanks, fixed! Yes. I'm in denial about the age of things that were born in the 60's....

[olegmcnoleg]

Cough mastery cough

Wot he said, they really are very good.