It's so refreshing to see a young person who plays a guitar with great finesse and the ability to get a great tone out of it . I saw a young fellow beating a vintage Moserite to death thinking he was getting the most from it .Anyone that knows Moserite knows it's not a cheap guitar to fram on .
Agreed. There are a ton of videos out there. I hear jazzies run through fuzzes and mulitple delays, shimmer revebs, distortions, etc. And some of that is great, especially the really atmospheric stuff, but this is the gold standard for PURE Jazzmaster tone, in all its supple, sexy, uptown glory. One listens to the gorgeous, unadorned voice of the Jazzmaster and suddenly understands Leo Fender's vision of the perfect solid body jazz guitar. Absolutely mesmerizing.
Shell Pink was the colour in my two elder sisters bedroom in 1965. Same year I touched a Fender Mustang my brother bought. Seeing these makes me smile! Thanks for the video.
The Shell Pink Jazzmaster w/Antiques II Seymouur Duncans's is for real, the sound is just like I remember in the mid 60's when I grew up listening to the Ventures.
Great demo - great playing !! Thanks !! I have 14 guitars: Les Pauls; SG; strat; Tele; ES335; ES369; etc. And my Jazzmaster is my favorite of the bunch !! It is a huge mystery to me why they were not way more popular thru the ages ! I LOVE the tone !! The body shape is most elegant and very comfortable to hold/play. And the tremolo is the best design of all types !! In my opinion !!
This was so helpful. I’ve been considering some Antiquity 1s for my Jazzmaster and you’ve helped me decide to go for it. Such a great comparison video. And you’re a fantastic player! Thanks so much.
Why is the jazzmaster so overlooked?!? I have two with antiquity I in one and II in the other. Love them. I enjoy playing them far more than my strats.
Thanks for the great comparison and wonderful playing (and useful clean dynamic playing). Love the sound of the SD Ant. II in both position. It's my fave.
Damn I was sold on those antiquity II's right when you got started. Aso I can't believe how close in tone the II neck is with the original 59 neck pickup. Bridge pickups of each guitar were pretty close but more noticeably different. Fantastic tone and really nice, pretty playing!
Awesome demo! In tune guitars!!!! Nice playing! Complete absence of wanking through a Big Muff!!! Structured comparison! Great sounds from the Anitiquity 2s and and the 59. Less impressed with the Antiquity 1s. And again: This is how a demo should be done! AAA+++ from me!
Best Jazzmaster demo ever....your riff selections were so spot on...captured all those Jazmaster nuances.....and I sooooo badly want a '59 Jazzy now...thanks !! Lol! They all sounded super... Antiquity II's might end up in my Mascis soon...though Kinman pickups are quite fabulous in their own right...and dead quiet!
I got some Ants put in mine inspired by this video some time last year and I've been super happy with them ever since. I'd been through the stock ones and some others I didn't care for but loved the sound you got on this video. I got a I in the bridge and a II in the neck. That along with a Stay trem bridge has turned it into a great machine so thanks for your fantastic demo!
I'm thinking of putting an antiquity 1 in the bridge and an antiquity 2 in the neck of my squire classic vibe Jazzmaster. Does the antiquity 2 in the neck kind of sound like a strat or is it still Jazzmaster sounding and kind of mellow but also has clarity? Also how does the middle position sound? Combining those two pickups still makes it sound like the classic middle position sound of a Jazzmaster right?
Alex Strahle- Thanks for this demo, due in great part to it- I ended up putting Antiquity 1's in the lefty Jazzmaster build I just completed. Couldn't be happier! Fantastic tone, and all that bright Jazzmaster goodness. Appreciate you putting this up, it was tremendously helpful! Great playing, and fantastic guitar collection! Cheers!
Thank you ,I am having one built for me and really enjoyed hearing antiquity 1 comparison. They have been my choice but I gotta admit I like the 2s better than I expected but still going with the 1s... Those original pickups have some little different mojo to my ears though ' wow,'. Just finally caught the jazzmaster vibe after spending some time with one..I never even considered owning one,Im a a telecaster guy but now its all I can think about since playing one for about a hour. Thanks again for this amazing comparison. JB
Oof! The chime is gorgeous! (Gold guard). Don't know why these never took off - it does cleans cleaner and..well, better, than Strats. We all just have grown accustomed to that spongey sound Strats are known for ...but I would put it to you that Jazzies might just be the tone we all [r/whoosh!] missed.
Alex Strahle, thanks so much for demoing these 3 guitars and pickups! This is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been researching how to best convert my Classic Player JM so that it sounds like a '59 JM for months now. I'd settled on the idea of getting Lollars and cutting the pots down to 500k, but after doing some research I didn't like how hot those pickups are compared to SD Antiquities (or the fact I'd have to spend extra changing the pots out). The SD Antiquity I set is what I was leaning towards, but after watching your video, I think I'll go with a SD Antiquity I neck pickup, and a Antiquity II bridge pickup (the A1 bridge pickup sounded a little muddy compared to the '59 bridge pickup IMO, perhaps you could offer your opinion on that idea? having played a real '59!) Also, great playing, and the proper clean tone in your video is much appreciated.
Guitar #1 with SVR-2 pickups on the rhythm circuit sounds closest to my original '65 Jazzmaster. I no longer have the guitar, way back from 1970, but do have two original tunes from my band "The Blank Expression". My '65 Jazzmaster was played on these, the Rhythm circuit and thru a '69 Deluxe Reverb, sweet as can be. Your '59 has a wonderful jazz tone, and this rhythm circuit very special indeed. It sounds wonderful!
Fantastic demo and really beautiful tone and playing. Quick question: Your bridge tones are so nice and not "shrill" on the high-end which can happen on Jazzmasters. Were you running the guitar volume and tone knobs on 10 or were they backed down a little? Just curious.
I'm contemplating on whether to get my 3rd JM. I've had a couple MIJ's from the 90's and sold them both. I've been a Vox guy for the last few years which was sometimes a harsh combo, and I just switched over to a Fender DR a few months ago… really thinking about getting another Jazzmaster after hearing and seeing your 59 JM. God bless - this junk is so good!
Thanks Alex, nice vid. Love the Jazzmaster - I have a '66 in Olympic white. I can also vouch that it sounds amazing overdriven through an AC30 - such a fat sound. Rhythm circuit is really usable too. I've had to install a buss stop behind the bridge to stop the strings jumping out if you hit them even moderately hard. Apart from that, great guitar for live work and recording. Steve
Very much enjoyed this excellent video, great pickup comparison. I'm considering the SD Antiquity I's or the SD Vintage for JM pickups for my MIJ lefty Jazzmaster, so if you get a chance to compare the two in a video that would be useful. Anyway, lovely tasteful playing and I appreciate you actually playing the 59 (which sounds fantastic btw!) as guitars are made to be played not to gather dust, good on ya!
I have a 59 too and the body wood is alder but its super light and like yours I can get a super sweet round sound out of it. Some of that seems to do with the aluminum pick guard- I have had alot of different pickups in it and compared it to plastic guards. Mine has an unusual neck taper too- very thin at the nut
Alex Strahle For “wobble”P90 deployment I have a Reverend 390 that functions beautifully. I need some of that glassy goodness I think. (At least on the bridge.)
No, you're right! The 59 rhythm circuit does sound very jazz box-y for a solid body. I'm working on a Warmoth JM build as I don't like 7.25 radius or vintage frets. This was great research for me, other than the fact I realize I must buy original '59 pickups and wiring harness to get the sound I want! Thanks for making this video!
I'm thinking about getting a chambered JM body from Warmoth and getting a solid maple neck with maple fretboard(sacrilege, I know) to make up for some of the brightness that may be lost by chambering the body. I think that will get me into the territory I am looking for. I agree with on the SD Ant. Ones.
Good shootout. All great sounding guitars with the Pups as modded. Great range of playing. My vote is for the slab board '59. You always DO hear the Brazilian rosewood tone. Cool early 59 gold guard. Rhythm circuit sounds way smooth in those pre-CBS guitars. AVRI gets 2nd place. I wonder how it would sound with some Mick Brierley jazzmaster pups.
Love the sounds and playing. My opinion will probably deviate from the popular one, but even though the '59 is the business, I'm loving the Antiquity IIs. Hopefully it's not because I'm a Ric Ocasek fanboy and the color scheme has me going there. Your bridge pickups are everything I want mine to be. Bright, chimey and twangy...where as mine would be more described as...ear piercing, blood curdling, insanity inducing. I had stock MIJs in mine and swapped them for Duncan Hots years ago but it was scarcely an improvement (though the middle and neck sound fine). Love that bridge sound you're getting though, and you and I have similar clean playing styles so it makes me even more like, "I KNOW THIS CAN HAPPEN FOR ME!" Are you running 1M pots in everything and are you rolled off the treble or volume knobs at all? I was looking into a Novak Fat for my bridge but if I can get things warmed up even JUST A BIT for about half that price I might look into the Antiquity IIs.
I am using the stock pots in all of the guitars. Which I should know the value of but I don't. The Deluxe Reverb helps a lot. It pairs nicely with the Jazzmasters. I was using an AC30 6/tb that I loved but it was way too brittle with these guitars. If you want warmth from the bridge pickup, I feel like the I's do that better.
Just had a Jazzmaster built with some awesome Lindy Fralin Jazzmaster pickups. Sounds incredible, but boy do they hum like a beast. This is my first single coil guitar. Is this a normal experience. I know they also make a hum-canceling version, but I'm very happy with the sound of the current pickups.
You're SO talented man. I love older stuff especially because Luther Perkins is my favorite guitarist! From 5:10 to 5:35 I would love to play like that as well. I wish you played more into that sad sounding tune. I need to learn more solo type stuff and it's hard. I've been playing for years and can't do that still
I think you have a Jazzmaster fetish. They have a very warm sound. Currently I am installing Vintage 65 Jazzmaster pickups and 1 Meg pots on my Squire Strat . It has the sound but not the tremolo. Another project another day. I don't play out so I can't justify buying one.
Man, it helps a lot for me! I have no money for a good guitar but I want to try to transform a brazilian Gianinni Supersonic in something good enough for training seriously. Sorry if I'm writing wrong but I'm trying. This Gianinni was the trigger of my passion to Jazzmaster model, it looks like in the shape of the body and the intention of the tone unplugged. Something that I miss is the rhythm circuit. If you want to talk about my crazy project I'll really appreciate. Thank you for the references!
Well not sure how easy they are to get where you are from, but I'm willing to bet you could put it on e-bay and sell it with the quickness of lightning. Just checked there aren't any.
Here in Brazil is not easy to find a used Jazzmaster, even Squier, and a new one is very expensive. The Squier JM vintage modified, that has a great sound for me, is $399 dollars, something like 1500 in Brazilian currency. the same guitar is selled here for 3100. Import that would be very expensive because we have a 60% tax of the total amount. this difficulties made me think about a loaded pickguard from 920D. I made a video talking about this possibility but it's in Portuguese.
Also, Brazilians don't use to sell things in e-bay. most of us don't talk English and the taxes make it difficult to sell internationally. We use to buy/sell in ML (mercado livre or mercado libre in spanish)
Could you breakdown the settings you did to achieve that warm jazzy sound in the last guitar demo? I just picked up a Jazzmaster and I'm working on figuring out the seemingly endless combinations of settings between the numerous switch, rollers, and tone. MY GOD it's overwhelming....and I LOVE it. So many sounds from one guitar. The Tele is going to be collecting dust for a while I believe... Thanks for any help, suggestions, info. you can provide. Great playing by the way....really, really nice!
I thought the Antiquity 1's were supposed to be darker but in this video they are more thin and a bit more bright..or maybe just less bass. The Antiquity 2's sound best although the old jazzer sounds a bit punchier on the jazz circuit, I think the 2's sound best and the other two are tied..giving the edge to the old guitar cuz of the jazz circuit. Very nice video - no effects, no over-playing. and most importantly a deluxe r. instead of a hotrod fender. Thanks you..good work. Bass response usually never comes thru this good.
Wow that 59 sounds amazing, it reminds me of the 59 I played at Norms, it was a beat to shit 3tsb. I was pleasantly surprised with the Antiquity 1 pickups too. Im in the process of building a JM and was thinking either the A1 or Lollar but I might go for the A1 after hearing them. I have a Road Worn JM with the AV65 pickups and they are pretty bright and I love them but want something different.
great vid. So many JM pickup shootouts feature tons of overdrive, which is not really the point. The clean sound is what you should compare imho, as a guitarist. After that crank it by all means.
on my two Jazzmasters I did the very same thing by mounting Antiquity I on one and Antiquity II on the second. I gotta say the first is more dark and baritone, a sort of jazzy '59 jazzmaster flavor. The second is more stingy and twangy, just like a '65 surf rock guitar. They are both amazing.
Btw I have to same pink classic player. Didn't care for it at first, but it holds weird tunings well and I fell in love with it. Now it's my main recording guitar.
Very nice comparo demo, great job! There are tonal differences as we can all hear. As for what each player prefers, well that's always a difference, and the main reason why there is a whole industry dedicated to various pups, and electronics. The pink JM is my least favorite. It sounds ok, but nothing special about it. I don't know, obviously, how each guitar feels when playing it, but based solely on the tones I wouldn't want the pink one. The '62 JM w/SD 1's and the '59 JM is a toss up as far as which one is better. On some things you played, and with certain pup position the '59 had great tones. For me though the best overall tones with the greatest clarity, note definition with the right balance of Fender single coil brightness and that sweet mid singing of the neck pup the '62 wins it for me. I'm actually considering gettig a new JM, but I want the baritone version. For whatever reason Fender decided to only make the JM Baritone as an Indonesian Squier version with "Duncan Designed" pups, meaning they are not actual Duncan made pups, but another company making copies where the parts quality is going to be questionable. I've heard great Mexican made Fenders, and of course great Japanese Fenders, along with some "what the hell happened" American made models. But I am leery of an Indonesian Fender. ESP has some excellent Southeast Asian made LTD guitars that rival even original ESP's, and that's how I feel about some Mexican made Fenders and Japanese Fenders. But, I don't hear as much great things about Southeast Asian made Fenders. I will say that the reviews for the baritone JM Squier have been surprisingly great. So, I might take a chance. The price is so low at $450 that I can mode it with the best hardware and electronics if needed. The other option is the Squier Bass VI, which is also a baritone 30" scale guitar/bass, or bassitar or maybe guitbass. :) Both models are Indonesian made. Why Fender doesn't make American or Mexican versions of these I don't know. I did find a Japanese made Bass VI, but I need to verify that it's authentic before I shell out the $1100 the seller wants for a new one. Thanks again for the demo, it has been helpful.
My rank: 1. Original '59 2. Classic Player 3. AVRI Surprised by how much better I thought the Antiquity IIs were. Nothing beats that creamy original tho!
I'm surprised to hear that the II's sound more like the 59's than the I's. Also, surprised that 59's seem to be the highest output. Does the two newer guitars have the same value of volume pots?
Nicely executed video! If you discover the secret behind the sweeter-sounding rhythm circuit, please report. I heard the clearer, woodier sound you were referring to, compared to the duller tone I associate with that circuit (my J Mascis bears this out).
After watching your video I am seriously considering buying a Jazzmaster. Stratocaster lower horn always gets in the way when playing in higher registers, this doesn't appear to be an issue on the Jazzmaster
To my ears, the 59 pickups seem to have quite a bit more low end and mids. Maybe more balanced than current manifestations of "vintage style" pickups? Badass playing, delicious guitars, thanks for sharing.
I would normally be skeptical and refuse to believe that all vintage is good cos some are bad too, but goddamn those '59 pickups have amazing balance and loveliest sounds. Otherwise I take the Antiquity I any day. Thanks for good demo
Is this the new host of Adam Ruins Everything? I'm kidding around! Those are some beautiful guitars you've got their. Good video! Just a little criticism: demo the same riffs on different guitars so we can focus on the sound and not the riffs.
![[Re:all TREASURE] EP.6 in 방콕ㅣ🚩 쩡캠의 방콕 투어 빵 마이 와이 👍](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/uyFw-nItA_s/mqdefault.jpg)
For those who have trouble comparing
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II bridge @ 1:15 both @ 1:44 neck @ 2:10 rhythm @ 2:40
Seymour Duncan Antiquity I bridge @ 3:22 both @ 3:53 neck @ 4:23 rhythm @ 5:05
59's bridge @ 7:14 both @ 7:55 neck @ 8:29 rhythm @ 9:53
Nice pickups and playing btw
This is awesome thanks!
Alex Strahle btw which of the three pickups demoed had the deepest low end to you?
The 59's, then the Antiquity I's
Big Smonk Thank you!!
Big Smonk, thanks for making these shortcuts!
Great video, I like the range of genres in the demos. Radiohead, The Smiths, some blues, some jazzy stuff. Well done.
+Joaquin Lopez Thanks! Glad you liked it!
What radiohead song is it?? Its driving me nuts
It's so refreshing to see a young person who plays a guitar with great finesse and the ability to get a great tone out of it . I saw a young fellow beating a vintage Moserite to death thinking he was getting the most from it .Anyone that knows Moserite knows it's not a cheap guitar to fram on .
The best Jazzmaster tone on TH-cam. I love your 59! (Also I bought Antiquity1s after listening to this video! Thanks! )
Thank you so much man!
How do you like the Ant I?
Agreed. There are a ton of videos out there. I hear jazzies run through fuzzes and mulitple delays, shimmer revebs, distortions, etc. And some of that is great, especially the really atmospheric stuff, but this is the gold standard for PURE Jazzmaster tone, in all its supple, sexy, uptown glory. One listens to the gorgeous, unadorned voice of the Jazzmaster and suddenly understands Leo Fender's vision of the perfect solid body jazz guitar. Absolutely mesmerizing.
The original vintage really sends chills down your whole body....
It's even better in person haha
depends on your computer volume "knob" setting tho :-D
Shell Pink was the colour in my two elder sisters bedroom in 1965. Same year I touched a Fender Mustang my brother bought. Seeing these makes me smile! Thanks for the video.
Probably the best Jazzmaster demo on TH-cam.
The tone on that '59 literally made my jaw drop. Goddamn dude.
Yeah, that guitar is my favorite!
The Shell Pink Jazzmaster w/Antiques II Seymouur Duncans's is for real, the sound is just like I remember in the mid 60's when I grew up listening to the Ventures.
Is this Morrissey's blond cousin?
All jokes aside, tasty playing man, it's always good to see great jazzmaster videos.
Hahahah thanks man!
I don't know why you're talking about pickups. Your more urgent issue is knee patches.
Can't afford new pants when you buy all these pickups
LOL, good reply
Ur gay
+Jelton Inc., Immature troll comment.
No U r
Thanks for playing them clean and delicately, and not putting them through a ton of gain like people like to do in other demo vids.
Great demo - great playing !! Thanks !! I have 14 guitars: Les Pauls; SG; strat; Tele; ES335; ES369; etc. And my Jazzmaster is my favorite of the bunch !! It is a huge mystery to me why they were not way more popular thru the ages ! I LOVE the tone !! The body shape is most elegant and very comfortable to hold/play. And the tremolo is the best design of all types !! In my opinion !!
Man I dig your style. Thanks for posting. Got all the info I needed on the antiquity 1's and 2's. Thank you.
Awesome! so glad I could help!
This was so helpful. I’ve been considering some Antiquity 1s for my Jazzmaster and you’ve helped me decide to go for it. Such a great comparison video. And you’re a fantastic player! Thanks so much.
Thank you so so much! Glad it was helpful
Why is the jazzmaster so overlooked?!? I have two with antiquity I in one and II in the other. Love them. I enjoy playing them far more than my strats.
oufff the original 59 blowed my mind. The bridge is so well balanced. Thanks for sharing.
That '59 is absolute Jazzmaster perfection man. Wow.
Thank you so much! I'm a big fan
Thanks for the great comparison and wonderful playing (and useful clean dynamic playing).
Love the sound of the SD Ant. II in both position. It's my fave.
Damn I was sold on those antiquity II's right when you got started. Aso I can't believe how close in tone the II neck is with the original 59 neck pickup. Bridge pickups of each guitar were pretty close but more noticeably different. Fantastic tone and really nice, pretty playing!
Awesome demo! In tune guitars!!!! Nice playing! Complete absence of wanking through a Big Muff!!! Structured comparison! Great sounds from the Anitiquity 2s and and the 59. Less impressed with the Antiquity 1s. And again: This is how a demo should be done! AAA+++ from me!
Thank you so much man!
damn i dont get how these vintage pickups have so much more more sparkle. sic vid
Yeah! it's crazy. Thanks!
KingDilph the gold guard has a big effect on the sound.
Best Jazzmaster demo ever....your riff selections were so spot on...captured all those Jazmaster nuances.....and I sooooo badly want a '59 Jazzy now...thanks !! Lol! They all sounded super... Antiquity II's might end up in my Mascis soon...though Kinman pickups are quite fabulous in their own right...and dead quiet!
I got some Ants put in mine inspired by this video some time last year and I've been super happy with them ever since. I'd been through the stock ones and some others I didn't care for but loved the sound you got on this video. I got a I in the bridge and a II in the neck. That along with a Stay trem bridge has turned it into a great machine so thanks for your fantastic demo!
I'm thinking of putting an antiquity 1 in the bridge and an antiquity 2 in the neck of my squire classic vibe Jazzmaster. Does the antiquity 2 in the neck kind of sound like a strat or is it still Jazzmaster sounding and kind of mellow but also has clarity? Also how does the middle position sound? Combining those two pickups still makes it sound like the classic middle position sound of a Jazzmaster right?
My search for the elusive fsr in shell pink always brings me back to this fantastic video-- thank you!
Thank you so much!
Alex Strahle- Thanks for this demo, due in great part to it- I ended up putting Antiquity 1's in the lefty Jazzmaster build I just completed. Couldn't be happier! Fantastic tone, and all that bright Jazzmaster goodness. Appreciate you putting this up, it was tremendously helpful! Great playing, and fantastic guitar collection! Cheers!
Thank you so much man! I love hearing that I was able to help someone else!
That 59 sounds amazing.
Thank you so much
I liked the sound of the shell pink JM!
Thank you ,I am having one built for me and really enjoyed hearing antiquity 1 comparison. They have been my choice but I gotta admit I like the 2s better than I expected but still going with the 1s... Those original pickups have some little different mojo to my ears though ' wow,'. Just finally caught the jazzmaster vibe after spending some time with one..I never even considered owning one,Im a a telecaster guy but now its all I can think about since playing one for about a hour. Thanks again for this amazing comparison. JB
Yeah, they're all good but there are just subtleties about the 1's that I like better
You’re playing with the Rhythm circuit on the 62’ White Jazzmaster is just making me want to get a Jazzmaster, absolutely phenomenal!
Oof! The chime is gorgeous! (Gold guard).
Don't know why these never took off - it does cleans cleaner and..well, better, than Strats.
We all just have grown accustomed to that spongey sound Strats are known for ...but I would put it to you that Jazzies might just be the tone we all [r/whoosh!] missed.
Alex Strahle, thanks so much for demoing these 3 guitars and pickups! This is exactly what I've been looking for. I've been researching how to best convert my Classic Player JM so that it sounds like a '59 JM for months now. I'd settled on the idea of getting Lollars and cutting the pots down to 500k, but after doing some research I didn't like how hot those pickups are compared to SD Antiquities (or the fact I'd have to spend extra changing the pots out). The SD Antiquity I set is what I was leaning towards, but after watching your video, I think I'll go with a SD Antiquity I neck pickup, and a Antiquity II bridge pickup (the A1 bridge pickup sounded a little muddy compared to the '59 bridge pickup IMO, perhaps you could offer your opinion on that idea? having played a real '59!)
Also, great playing, and the proper clean tone in your video is much appreciated.
Awesome! Glad this was helpful
Guitar #1 with SVR-2 pickups on the rhythm circuit sounds closest to my original '65 Jazzmaster. I no longer have the guitar, way back from 1970, but do have two original tunes from my band "The Blank Expression". My '65 Jazzmaster was played on these, the Rhythm circuit and thru a '69 Deluxe Reverb, sweet as can be. Your '59 has a wonderful jazz tone, and this rhythm circuit very special indeed. It sounds wonderful!
that 59 still has so much clarity in the rhythm circuit! holy crap! my antiquity i sounds nothing like that... that thing is rad!
Thanks Man! Something about that 59 haha
Great collection. luv the jazzmasters. Love the J. Marr melodies at the end.
Thanks man!
This is brilliant, been debating on antiquity ones or twos as of late, great playing also!!
Glad I could help haha! I'd love to hear which ones you preferred.
Fantastic demo and really beautiful tone and playing. Quick question: Your bridge tones are so nice and not "shrill" on the high-end which can happen on Jazzmasters. Were you running the guitar volume and tone knobs on 10 or were they backed down a little? Just curious.
Very nice playing my friend! Liked hearing the Radiohead piece in particular but it all was good. Antiquity 2’s sounded great.
Great demo! The Antiquity I's are the winner to my ears!
I have a from scratch build going. Got a custom body made with a flamed maple top. Still have to get a neck, and pups. Thanks for the video
Excellent playing beautiful rich 59 tone - others are lovely amazingly different voices!
Like similar people except very different!
I'm contemplating on whether to get my 3rd JM. I've had a couple MIJ's from the 90's and sold them both. I've been a Vox guy for the last few years which was sometimes a harsh combo, and I just switched over to a Fender DR a few months ago… really thinking about getting another Jazzmaster after hearing and seeing your 59 JM. God bless - this junk is so good!
you are exactly who I imagine would play a jazzmaster
No question, but you play beautifully… Great taste and choice of notes.
Great video and playing! Just learning about Jazzmasters. Interesting to hear the difference in these pickups. Thanks!
Thanks Alex, nice vid. Love the Jazzmaster - I have a '66 in Olympic white. I can also vouch that it sounds amazing overdriven through an AC30 - such a fat sound. Rhythm circuit is really usable too. I've had to install a buss stop behind the bridge to stop the strings jumping out if you hit them even moderately hard. Apart from that, great guitar for live work and recording. Steve
Yeah, I love them!
Very much enjoyed this excellent video, great pickup comparison. I'm considering the SD Antiquity I's or the SD Vintage for JM pickups for my MIJ lefty Jazzmaster, so if you get a chance to compare the two in a video that would be useful. Anyway, lovely tasteful playing and I appreciate you actually playing the 59 (which sounds fantastic btw!) as guitars are made to be played not to gather dust, good on ya!
Thanks! I don't have the SD Vintage but maybe i'll try and get some from him to try out!
I have a 59 too and the body wood is alder but its super light and like yours I can get a super sweet round sound out of it. Some
of that seems to do with the aluminum pick guard- I have had alot of different pickups in it and compared it to plastic guards. Mine has an unusual neck taper too- very thin at the nut
I feel the same way about the pick guard! and mine has the same neck taper, I think it was a jazz master thing and love it
All beautiful sounding guitars and nice playing as well👌
that 59 is one of the most gorgeous base sounds ive ever heard.
Thank you so much! it's my #1 for sure
That '59 sounds killer, man!
Thanks!
Thanks. This was VERY useful. Pondering replacing the critters in the Mascis as I have 2 “real” P90 instruments.
If you like the pickups in that guitar I wouldn't change anything but if you're looking for something fresh I absolutely recommend them.
Alex Strahle For “wobble”P90 deployment I have a Reverend 390 that functions beautifully. I need some of that glassy goodness I think. (At least on the bridge.)
P.S. Nice touch. You played things that would actually appear in a rhythm section! HUZZAH!!
@@THEItchybruddah Thanks! Tried to make it useful.
No, you're right! The 59 rhythm circuit does sound very jazz box-y for a solid body. I'm working on a Warmoth JM build as I don't like 7.25 radius or vintage frets. This was great research for me, other than the fact I realize I must buy original '59 pickups and wiring harness to get the sound I want! Thanks for making this video!
Watch out. It sounds weird, but my refin 59' JM sounds more hollow/ woody than all new JM's I've tried. New wires, SD ant.1's.
I'm thinking about getting a chambered JM body from Warmoth and getting a solid maple neck with maple fretboard(sacrilege, I know) to make up for some of the brightness that may be lost by chambering the body. I think that will get me into the territory I am looking for. I agree with on the SD Ant. Ones.
Sounds awesome! fun fact the original Jazzmaster prototype had a maple fretboard so it's not sacrilege haha
Good shootout. All great sounding guitars with the Pups as modded. Great range of playing. My vote is for the slab board '59. You always DO hear the Brazilian rosewood tone. Cool early 59 gold guard. Rhythm circuit sounds way smooth in those pre-CBS guitars. AVRI gets 2nd place. I wonder how it would sound with some Mick Brierley jazzmaster pups.
I've never heard of those pickups? I'll check them out
I wanna weep, these guitar tones are so gorgeous --- all of them in their own way, with the '59 as quite simply tone nirvana.
That 59 sounds amazing!!!
blkcrowe999 thanks! It's my favorite
Cool collection I want a TVL jazzmaster that ox blood one is such a classy look n I like the layout with the two toggles 👌
Love the sounds and playing. My opinion will probably deviate from the popular one, but even though the '59 is the business, I'm loving the Antiquity IIs. Hopefully it's not because I'm a Ric Ocasek fanboy and the color scheme has me going there. Your bridge pickups are everything I want mine to be. Bright, chimey and twangy...where as mine would be more described as...ear piercing, blood curdling, insanity inducing. I had stock MIJs in mine and swapped them for Duncan Hots years ago but it was scarcely an improvement (though the middle and neck sound fine). Love that bridge sound you're getting though, and you and I have similar clean playing styles so it makes me even more like, "I KNOW THIS CAN HAPPEN FOR ME!"
Are you running 1M pots in everything and are you rolled off the treble or volume knobs at all? I was looking into a Novak Fat for my bridge but if I can get things warmed up even JUST A BIT for about half that price I might look into the Antiquity IIs.
I am using the stock pots in all of the guitars. Which I should know the value of but I don't. The Deluxe Reverb helps a lot. It pairs nicely with the Jazzmasters. I was using an AC30 6/tb that I loved but it was way too brittle with these guitars. If you want warmth from the bridge pickup, I feel like the I's do that better.
I like the 59's for their warmth and antique 1 for it's darkness. Antique seem similar to 1's less with less character
Just had a Jazzmaster built with some awesome Lindy Fralin Jazzmaster pickups. Sounds incredible, but boy do they hum like a beast. This is my first single coil guitar. Is this a normal experience. I know they also make a hum-canceling version, but I'm very happy with the sound of the current pickups.
Yeah, Single coils are kinda noise I just use my volume pedal to help battle hum.
Exactly my thoughts. I end up rolling my volume knob down currently out of habit.
That works too!
I believe played as Leo intended. Nice!
Nice playing and terrific tone.
Thanks man!
I use to work for fender and I sanded SO MANY DANG American made jazz masters, but I haven’t even wanted one until recently :’(
You're SO talented man. I love older stuff especially because Luther Perkins is my favorite guitarist! From 5:10 to 5:35 I would love to play like that as well. I wish you played more into that sad sounding tune. I need to learn more solo type stuff and it's hard. I've been playing for years and can't do that still
I think you have a Jazzmaster fetish. They have a very warm sound. Currently I am installing Vintage 65 Jazzmaster pickups and 1 Meg pots on my Squire Strat . It has the sound but not the tremolo. Another project another day. I don't play out so I can't justify buying one.
Man, it helps a lot for me! I have no money for a good guitar but I want to try to transform a brazilian Gianinni Supersonic in something good enough for training seriously. Sorry if I'm writing wrong but I'm trying. This Gianinni was the trigger of my passion to Jazzmaster model, it looks like in the shape of the body and the intention of the tone unplugged. Something that I miss is the rhythm circuit. If you want to talk about my crazy project I'll really appreciate. Thank you for the references!
Well not sure how easy they are to get where you are from, but I'm willing to bet you could put it on e-bay and sell it with the quickness of lightning. Just checked there aren't any.
I'm always down to talk guitars
Here in Brazil is not easy to find a used Jazzmaster, even Squier, and a new one is very expensive. The Squier JM vintage modified, that has a great sound for me, is $399 dollars, something like 1500 in Brazilian currency. the same guitar is selled here for 3100. Import that would be very expensive because we have a 60% tax of the total amount. this difficulties made me think about a loaded pickguard from 920D. I made a video talking about this possibility but it's in Portuguese.
Also, Brazilians don't use to sell things in e-bay. most of us don't talk English and the taxes make it difficult to sell internationally. We use to buy/sell in ML (mercado livre or mercado libre in spanish)
Could you breakdown the settings you did to achieve that warm jazzy sound in the last guitar demo? I just picked up a Jazzmaster and I'm working on figuring out the seemingly endless combinations of settings between the numerous switch, rollers, and tone. MY GOD it's overwhelming....and I LOVE it. So many sounds from one guitar. The Tele is going to be collecting dust for a while I believe... Thanks for any help, suggestions, info. you can provide.
Great playing by the way....really, really nice!
Its the jazz circuit on the Jazzmaster and the amp is treble on 5 bass on 5 and a little spring reverb
The Pink one goes well with your pink legs. They all sound good regardless though.
I thought the Antiquity 1's were supposed to be darker but in this video they are more thin and a bit more bright..or maybe just less bass.
The Antiquity 2's sound best although the old jazzer sounds a bit punchier on the jazz circuit,
I think the 2's sound best and the other two are tied..giving the edge to the old guitar cuz of the jazz circuit.
Very nice video - no effects, no over-playing. and most importantly a deluxe r. instead of a hotrod fender. Thanks you..good work. Bass response usually never comes thru this good.
I’m going with Antiquity 1’s. Still don’t know if I’d life smaller pot values. Great video, my friend z
i actually liked the bridge tones better on the newer ones, which surprised me but the middle and neck on the 59 are just immaculate
Wow the '59 is really something different! Joking, it's simply louder.
@3:48, “Faith, you’re driving me awaaayy”
Hell yeah. This video is great.
+Evan Maines Thank you so much man!
Wow that 59 sounds amazing, it reminds me of the 59 I played at Norms, it was a beat to shit 3tsb. I was pleasantly surprised with the Antiquity 1 pickups too. Im in the process of building a JM and was thinking either the A1 or Lollar but I might go for the A1 after hearing them. I have a Road Worn JM with the AV65 pickups and they are pretty bright and I love them but want something different.
you seem to know your jazz masters well, nice trio.
im jelly
great vid. So many JM pickup shootouts feature tons of overdrive, which is not really the point. The clean sound is what you should compare imho, as a guitarist. After that crank it by all means.
on my two Jazzmasters I did the very same thing by mounting Antiquity I on one and Antiquity II on the second. I gotta say the first is more dark and baritone, a sort of jazzy '59 jazzmaster flavor. The second is more stingy and twangy, just like a '65 surf rock guitar.
They are both amazing.
Totally agree!
Great comparison, and what an awesome collection of JM's!! subbed =)
Btw I have to same pink classic player. Didn't care for it at first, but it holds weird tunings well and I fell in love with it. Now it's my main recording guitar.
Yeah, the long string length makes it ideal for alternate tunings
I've been waiting for a vintage jazzmaster to come through the shop I work at but no luck as of the year I've been there :/
Bummer. It'll happen someday
Very nice comparo demo, great job! There are tonal differences as we can all hear. As for what each player prefers, well that's always a difference, and the main reason why there is a whole industry dedicated to various pups, and electronics. The pink JM is my least favorite. It sounds ok, but nothing special about it. I don't know, obviously, how each guitar feels when playing it, but based solely on the tones I wouldn't want the pink one. The '62 JM w/SD 1's and the '59 JM is a toss up as far as which one is better. On some things you played, and with certain pup position the '59 had great tones. For me though the best overall tones with the greatest clarity, note definition with the right balance of Fender single coil brightness and that sweet mid singing of the neck pup the '62 wins it for me. I'm actually considering gettig a new JM, but I want the baritone version. For whatever reason Fender decided to only make the JM Baritone as an Indonesian Squier version with "Duncan Designed" pups, meaning they are not actual Duncan made pups, but another company making copies where the parts quality is going to be questionable. I've heard great Mexican made Fenders, and of course great Japanese Fenders, along with some "what the hell happened" American made models. But I am leery of an Indonesian Fender. ESP has some excellent Southeast Asian made LTD guitars that rival even original ESP's, and that's how I feel about some Mexican made Fenders and Japanese Fenders. But, I don't hear as much great things about Southeast Asian made Fenders. I will say that the reviews for the baritone JM Squier have been surprisingly great. So, I might take a chance. The price is so low at $450 that I can mode it with the best hardware and electronics if needed. The other option is the Squier Bass VI, which is also a baritone 30" scale guitar/bass, or bassitar or maybe guitbass. :) Both models are Indonesian made. Why Fender doesn't make American or Mexican versions of these I don't know. I did find a Japanese made Bass VI, but I need to verify that it's authentic before I shell out the $1100 the seller wants for a new one. Thanks again for the demo, it has been helpful.
Nice demoing with some Radiohead and The Smiths!
Only way to demo properly haha
First and last guitars are brilliant. Real magic.
My rank:
1. Original '59
2. Classic Player
3. AVRI
Surprised by how much better I thought the Antiquity IIs were. Nothing beats that creamy original tho!
Nice demo comparison.
Interesting, I thought the antiquity 2 sounded closer to the vintage sound!
Certain aspects of both sound like the vintage pickup. But I like the low end of the originals so the I's appealed to me more
I'm surprised to hear that the II's sound more like the 59's than the I's. Also, surprised that 59's seem to be the highest output. Does the two newer guitars have the same value of volume pots?
You really like the Jazzmaster.
Indeed I do
Love the color on the classic player but Antiquity 1 for sound.
Nicely executed video! If you discover the secret behind the sweeter-sounding rhythm circuit, please report. I heard the clearer, woodier sound you were referring to, compared to the duller tone I associate with that circuit (my J Mascis bears this out).
I've heard they used a different capacitor value on the early 59's. I'll look into it and keep you posted!
After watching your video I am seriously considering buying a Jazzmaster. Stratocaster lower horn always gets in the way when playing in higher registers, this doesn't appear to be an issue on the Jazzmaster
Yeah, they are great for upper register playing.
To my ears, the 59 pickups seem to have quite a bit more low end and mids. Maybe more balanced than current manifestations of "vintage style" pickups? Badass playing, delicious guitars, thanks for sharing.
I would agree. The 59' sits very well in mixes.
Came for the pickup's, stayed for the knees.
I would normally be skeptical and refuse to believe that all vintage is good cos some are bad too, but goddamn those '59 pickups have amazing balance and loveliest sounds. Otherwise I take the Antiquity I any day. Thanks for good demo
I agree 100%. I don't buy into vintage being the best that's why I played 50 plus new and vintage Jazzmasters looking for the best sounding one.
When I grow up I want to be able to play a Jazzmaster like you! BTW I am 44!
Hahaha Amazing! Thanks for the support
Is this the new host of Adam Ruins Everything? I'm kidding around! Those are some beautiful guitars you've got their. Good video! Just a little criticism: demo the same riffs on different guitars so we can focus on the sound and not the riffs.
For sure!
Love that 59! I am surprised how the antiquity II's sound almost identical the real deal vintage ones.
They're close the vintage are a little warmer
I have some 65 reissued Pups on my jazzmaster and they sound great.
Wow great playing and sounds!
Thanks!
Thanks for the video. I’d love to hear the Lollar Gold Foil pickups. If you ever snag a set.
The 59 sounds brilliant ❤