Fender classic player jazzmaster GAS

[IMOCD]

Hi. Iv'e been a good boy lately and it's looking like the taxman will owe me a few quid this year. Sooo....as a treat to self, I have been perusing what guitars are on offer out there. Up till now I have been solely hollow body but I am currently lusting after a classic player jazzmaster. Reviews seem favourable and i love the tonal range they have, but I am looking for some first hand experience from folk here. Any opinions? Are they worth $2k? I know it's not vintage correct with the bridge etc but that doesn't bother me.

I'm too much of a newbie to post in the wanted section but if anyone is selling one.....cheers.

[bender]

Seeing as the vintage style bridge is one of the biggest complaints about a JM, that's a practical change. The pickups are more like P-90s than standard JM pickups too. I rather liked the ones I've tried, but I feel like they're a bit overpriced. Maybe look out for a used one? Or even a used Japanese one from J-Guitar.

[GrantB]

+1 ^

[Reg18]

They come up used pretty often around the $850-1100 range, I like them but if I had 2k to spend I would be looking at other options as well. The bridge works pretty good but from what I understand the term really needs the bridge to rock back and forth on a JM to work properly and the classic player which has a TOM (I think) doesn't do that. I stand to be corrected though.

[IMOCD]

Thanks for the replies. I can't help but wonder if they are a little overpriced too -$2k certainly does open up the playing field a bit, but I get the squishies when I see and hear the JM. Had a quick look on j guitar but most were 'vintage' with hefty price tags. By all accounts the TOM works ok with the trem ( if online reviews are to be believed).
I will keep an eye on TM for a used one I guess. Advantage of buying used is I may just get away with keeping my current guitar which on times I think I must be nuts to be considering moving on. That's GAS for you!

[Cortez]

I've had one for about 5 years as my main guitar. I toyed with selling it for a little while, but I don't think I could. I've played a few MIJ/CIJ ones and an American 62 reissue and I like the CP the most. The bridge on them still isn't that great, but I've persevered with mine. It's a fine line between getting good range on the tremolo for crazy stuff and not having your strings pop off the bridge. It's all about lack of string tension. They are a jack of all trades kind of axe when set up correctly. I've used mine playing with folk musicians and for blaring alternative stuff. Good luck on your hunt.

[bender]

Thanks for the replies. I can't help but wonder if they are a little overpriced too -$2k certainly does open up the playing field a bit, but I get the squishies when I see and hear the JM. Had a quick look on j guitar but most were 'vintage' with hefty price tags. By all accounts the TOM works ok with the trem ( if online reviews are to be believed).
I will keep an eye on TM for a used one I guess. Advantage of buying used is I may just get away with keeping my current guitar which on times I think I must be nuts to be considering moving on. That's GAS for you!

You regularly see JM66s on J-Guitar for around 70,000 yen which would be pretty close to $1k landed. I've also seen AVRIs on Reverb pop up fairly regularly for around $1400US... just a thought.

[bigporridgeday]

The only appealing feature of the Classic Player, in my opinion, is the 9.5" fingerboard radius and larger frets.

[IMOCD]

Thanks for the replies. I can't help but wonder if they are a little overpriced too -$2k certainly does open up the playing field a bit, but I get the squishies when I see and hear the JM. Had a quick look on j guitar but most were 'vintage' with hefty price tags. By all accounts the TOM works ok with the trem ( if online reviews are to be believed).
I will keep an eye on TM for a used one I guess. Advantage of buying used is I may just get away with keeping my current guitar which on times I think I must be nuts to be considering moving on. That's GAS for you!

You regularly see JM66s on J-Guitar for around 70,000 yen which would be pretty close to $1k landed. I've also seen AVRIs on Reverb pop up fairly regularly for around $1400US... just a thought.

I take it then you have some experience with importing guitars? Has it worked out OK? I'm struggling to get it past my 'better half' - The converstion goes something like 'What! You want to spend how much on something you have only seen pictures of....'

[IMOCD]

I too have have gigantic jazzmaster lust. Wouldn't go for one with a TOM though, definitely mustang or mastery for me. I reckon a jap one with an upgraded bridge and pups would be the way to go if you can't spring for an american one.

Interesting.... so why no TOM? Is it about vintage correctness or are the older style bridges actually better if set up properly? This seems to be rather polarising amongst JM players.

[IMOCD]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Jazzmast ... Swvg9Xe-27

Awww man.... that is rather delicious. So you'd have no probs buying from an overseas supplier?

[Jay]

Here's a '58 one for a few Yen...

http://www.j-guitar.com/product_id468941.html

[bender]

You regularly see JM66s on J-Guitar for around 70,000 yen which would be pretty close to $1k landed. I've also seen AVRIs on Reverb pop up fairly regularly for around $1400US... just a thought.

I take it then you have some experience with importing guitars? Has it worked out OK? I'm struggling to get it past my 'better half' - The converstion goes something like 'What! You want to spend how much on something you have only seen pictures of....'

Yep, I've got a 60s Gretsch on my lap right now that I imported a few months ago, and another one on the way... not to mention a Japanese Jazzmaster that I brought in at the end of last year. The Jazzmaster didn't last for fairly spurious reasons, the main one being that I bought it to play in my surf band, but found that I sounded too much like the other guitarist (who plays a Jag) and only a Gretsch seemed to fit right.

[IMOCD]

Here's a '58 one for a few Yen...

http://www.j-guitar.com/product_id468941.html

Yes, a few yen indeed. Rather nice too! I can't quite explain where this sudden lust for a JM has come from - up until recently I thought they were pug ugly! My version of guitar design perfection i.e 335 style has been seriously tested of late. Maybe a mid life crisis or maybe just evolving tastes.

[IMOCD]

You regularly see JM66s on J-Guitar for around 70,000 yen which would be pretty close to $1k landed. I've also seen AVRIs on Reverb pop up fairly regularly for around $1400US... just a thought.

I take it then you have some experience with importing guitars? Has it worked out OK? I'm struggling to get it past my 'better half' - The converstion goes something like 'What! You want to spend how much on something you have only seen pictures of....'

Yep, I've got a 60s Gretsch on my lap right now that I imported a few months ago, and another one on the way... not to mention a Japanese Jazzmaster that I brought in at the end of last year. The Jazzmaster didn't last for fairly spurious reasons, the main one being that I bought it to play in my surf band, but found that I sounded too much like the other guitarist (who plays a Jag) and only a Gretsch seemed to fit right.

Funny, one of the reasons I am looking at a JM is to stir things up a bit in the band- tis all a bit too humbuckery at the moment.

Tis good to know that importing can go smoothly. It certainly opens up a world of new options - rather than waiting for TM to turn something up only to have to do battle with potentially heaps of other bidders. Cheers.