Guitar Tech Tips - Fender Jazzmaster Deep Dive Setup
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Full guitar setup start to finish on my various Fender Jazzmasters. This video goes through every part of the setup process to allow you to work on and play the guitar with confidence! It is a full overview on how to setup your Fender Jazzmaster.
Guitars used in this video
• 1963 Fender Jazzmaster
• Fender Japan Inoran Jazzmaster
• Fender Vintera II ‘50s Jazzmaster
• Fender American Original ‘60s Jazzmaster
Tools Used
• Music Nomad Gauge Set
• Music Nomad Truss Rod Set
• Music Nomad Screw Driver Allen Key Set
• Music Nomad Nut File Set
I watched the whole video in one sitting. The way you carefully explain every step is therapeutical. My jazzmaster feels safe now
@@nicolasbalerio9392 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Jazzmaster is not only a guitar. It's a way of life.
This is truth!
There really IS a lot of difference between a Jazzmaster and a Stratocaster, and a person with both is indeed blessed.
I think we’re the friendliest, most welcoming bunch in the guitar community. You won’t find a group more happy to share our knowledge; I think we understand the learning curve & amount of tweaking offsets require for them to be their best.
In 1960, my older brother brought home a Jazzmaster and a Fender PRO amp. I was already playing guitar and so I jumped on THAT guitar! Back in the day (and I STILL do this) we would gouge out room in the pickguard for the screwdriver so we could adjust the neck (a cone bit on a Moto tool should work great!) ... no other techniques were needed. However, Jazzmasters -- by their design -- need a neck shim up by the body in order to keep downward pressure on the bridge. Cut a business card in half after taking off the neck, of course, and try one half of the card as a shim. If it needs more, stack both halves on top of each other. Reattach the neck and retune. Big difference. This guy knows a lot about this process and really cares that it is done right. I very much appreciate that!
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
This is one of the BEST and comprehensive set up video. Thx!!!!
@@gabrielglenn1714 very kind words! Thank you!
Absolutely the clearest information about Jazzmaster set up . Superior content and a good teacher. Many have knowledge. Only a few can teach. I have been scouring the net and had I found this first my search would’ve ended. It’s easy to determine who is his sponsor. That’s ok, just know there are common tools one can substitute for the ones he used. Like automobile feeler gauge from your local auto parts store. The BLACK gauge he used has white markings and are easier to see than scratches on a chrome tool.
Thanks for the kind words! 🙌🏼
thanks. this was very useful for me setting up my 66 jaguar.
18 minutes ago? wow, quality content right there, delivered by TH-cam straight from the Recommended section.
That’s my favorite type of delivery other than miss delivered Uber Eats showing up at my doorstep!
Love these videos! You are single handedly saving my jazzmaster.
Thank you! Appreciate it! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
That first jazzmaster is gorgeous
Thank you!
The purpose of an angled neck shim on an offset guitar is not just for too-high action when the bridge is as low as it will go. Most importantly, the shim creates a higher neck angle and higher bridge, to ensure sufficient string downforce on the saddles - the result of the higher string break angle over the (higher) bridge and string tension. That downforce ensures that the strings maintain their grip on the saddles of the rocking bridge with trem action (so never lubricate the string-saddle contact points on a rocking bridge). Which keeps tuning stable. Sufficient downforce also helps keep the strings in the saddle grooves with heavy playing.
Super helpful! 🙌 Been setting up my guitars myself for the last three years but once i got a Jazzmaster i realized they can be a bit finnicky for a beginner to setup haha.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Thanks so much for this video. What an excellent tutorial. You’re a great teacher. Music nomad stuff is great too, so much more affordable than Stewmac.
Thanks for watching 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Hi bro my Fender Classic 60’s Jazzmaster & me say Thaks a lot…
Grate class & great teacher 👏🏼🙏🏼
Glad I can help 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Very good explanation dude!! I love your approach towards explaining this guitar. I been messing around guitars 55 years ago, no proper tools or TH-cam like yours to give me all the important pointers. Just using my ears n eyes as my gauges, I’m glad I didn’t go much off with those numbers you shown. As for the 12 fret harmonic tuning, pls allow me to share my experiences before touching on some of those off strings. Recheck the main tuning again to confirm that it’s precise spot on before adjust the bridge nut. Sometime a little high or low twist on the spot on note while still maintaining in tune can actually sort out the off 12 fret harmonic note.
As for those who still wondering is Jazzmaster that good? Here’s my view, it sounded crystal clear n full like piano, will always be outstanding with noisy bands in clean tones. BUT….. Telecaster seems to be an all rounder and won’t fail me when playing in any genre. Which means, Jazzmaster is my second go to guitar.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
The heel truss rod adjustment is possibly the worst idea in all of guitardom along with Rickenbacker using their narrow six-string neck on their early twelve-strings, making them virtually impossible for most adults to comfortably play. These things make no sense at all. WTF was Leo thinking? I mean, it's not as if virtually EVERY other electric guitar with an adjustable truss rod didn't access it from' the headstock.
What a great tutorial. Thank you!
@@paulfield6815 thank you!
Picked up my first Jazzmaster this morning, it’s a 2013 MIM. Bought it knowing it needs a tune up, played it anyway and I’m still amazed with its tone. Looks for the cool clip ✌🏼🏁🏜️
@@right_on_riggins 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Best set up video ever....thank you!
Thank you! Very kind!
Hrmmmm... is that an ocean turquoise jazzmaster??? lol
Excellent resource for JM setups!
Haha yup! Thank you!
I like the locktite tip! I always do that.
Yes!
Great video!
Thank you! 🙌🏼
Amazing!
Thank you! 🙌🏼
love this video. whats the best video like this for a stratocaster?
Muchas gracias por tu contenido!!
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Lovely clear linear vid,I like the cut of your jib Sir! On the Custom Shop rsd bridge- does it rock back n forth or is it fixed please?
Hey! Thank you! The RSD bridge rocks back and forth.
@@LoungingGuitars cheers mate!
I still can't get my trem lock to work properly. I'm not sure why. The tremolo also pops when I use the arm.
I watched this whole video even though my Jags don’t need any set ups.
🙌🏼🙌🏼 appreciate it!
This probably isn’t the best place or way to do this, but I have a question that I need answered:
What’s the best WRHB I can get for my Jazzmaster? I have Lollars right now, and I feel like they’re a little bit too clear and maybe stale. Do you have a recommendation? The rest of my rig is good, and my Lollar imperials in my Les Paul are fantastic (so not a Lollar in general problem). I’m wondering if Creamery, Fender CuNiFe, Novak, or something else would have a little more zest and life to them.
There’s a chance I just need to spend some more time with these Lollar Regals, so that’s a reasonable approach. It may also be that WRHBs aren’t the right pick for my ears. Before this Jazzmaster, I’d only played single coils in a Jazzmaster and had never played with a WRHB.
@@samwise217 Hey! The wide range buckers take some getting used to. I love PAF style humbuckers, but I gave the Lollar Regals a chance. I liked the PAF style Imperials more at the time. Recently decided to put the Regals back in and man... in the bridge position, I am loving it. It gives me clarity, but with a humbucker punch that I always need. I would try different drives. I'm using the Bondi Effects Sick As as my main drive with a Benson Germanium Boost in front of it for more gain.
@@LoungingGuitars I’m gonna keep experimenting. It’s really great with the bridge, but I got a low-wind neck that I think my ear isn’t liking in the upper mids. I got it thinking it would sound more like a single coil in the lows and low mids (I have the Lollar Jazzmaster 58s in another Jazzmaster), but I feel like it’s too bright and punchy in the high mids and highs without the magic in the mids, low-mids, and lows. I think I’m gonna order a Regular wind regal for the neck.
I got a Jazzmaster not too long ago, and I get really annoying buzz on the 5th and 6th strings. I had a guitar shop do a bit of a set up, and they adjusted the action, neck relief etc. but I still get the buzz. Anyone know what it could be? Is it a common problem with Jazzmasters?
@@AlexanderWinship that is not a common problem. Unfortunately, many guitars shops don’t know how to work on Jazzmasters and Jaguars giving them the same treatment they would a Tele or a Strat.
Without having the guitar in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to diagnose, but it could be a number of things. Fret level issue, the neck could be too strait or too much relief from the setup. Theres too manny things at play for me to know.
I had a question about Mastery Tailpieces/Trem arm. I installed one on my Fender Mod Shop Jazzmaster, and I think the arm is longer than Fender’s, and I also think the string tension is a little higher with the Mastery system (compared to my other Jazzmaster which also has Mastery’s bridge but not tailpiece). Do those seem like legitimate observations to you, or am I not seeing/feeling this correctly?
Also, I got Lollar Regal for Jazzmasters in this one, and I really love them so far.
So the trem arm is longer on the mastery. They follow the actual vintage spec on that. The strings should not have more tension because it’s the scale length that determines string tension. Now the spring is a stiffer high carbon steel so the trem action could be stiffer.
Would the same principles apply for a Jaguar?
@@findskyler yes! On a Jaguar I wouldn’t go any lighter than 11 gauge strings.
@@LoungingGuitars Thank you! Great video. Very clear and thorough.
Can anyone make any suggestions/ solutions for me.. I have an American pro 2 Jazzmaster and I keep breaking my high E string on solo bends it’s snapping/ unraveling at the slot where the string goes through on the trem area? What going to increase string gauge but I play best with slinky hybrids
@@nicfabrizio1776 use Ernie Ball Paradigm strings or D’Addario NYXL strings. Both of these are reinforced on the ball end and will not break there. Not just Ernie Ball or D’Addario strings. Buy those specific model of strings. That will take care of your issue.
@ good to know I normally use slinky’s but I know daddario make quality strings that’s what I use on acoustic
If it’s always breaking in the same spot you might have a metal spur or rough spot.
if only this had some time stamps
I really want a jazzmaster but i'm going to build one so the truss rod is where the tuners are.. This is such a wonky setup that I don't want to deal with it...
🤘🔥🤘
I wish I could add a picture; I offer and make a permanent mod to the guitar that lets you use the "Truss Rod Crank for Tele" tool in real time. This is the old timer’s way and most techs’ I know can't see the reasoning or effectiveness of this method? I just did one of these too, the customer was very happy with his instrument. A previous tech had left the customer not so happy. thanks for the vid
What size feeler gauge do you use to check the neck relief? Bit foxed overall by anything to do with necks/trussrods!
Hey there! All of that information is in the video. Enjoy!