Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. I created this website to share everything I've learnt over the past 15 years of playing guitar. check out my related article comparing the solid-body Telecaster vs the Thinline Telecaster. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. Along with Stratocasters, these guitars helped to make Fender as recognizable as it is today. The JM over drives really nicely as well. These guitars can easily have a big, crunchy distorted sound, while still having that signature Fender jangle. The Jazzmaster isn't a well understood guitar, and I know that it's been getting a lot of attention on this site lately, which is a great thing. You Hey, Adam here! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Teles have that unmistakable Fender twang that made them especially popular among country guitarists. You can swap strings easily. In contrast, the Telecaster is one block of wood with strings but it is an incredibly light and very forgiving shape which is why it is known as one of the most comfortable and playable guitars. link to Dog Ear vs Soapbar P90 Pickups: Is There a Difference? Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. Both guitars have a Bolt-On neck joint. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_resonance, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz5p4DcEyOw. This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. Fender American Professional II Telecaster. The Jazzmaster announced itself in 1958 and based on its name, was originally designed, marketed and put forward to Jazz players as an innovative, smooth and classy jazz companion. Now, those instruments are joined in the otherworldly Parallel Universe by the limited-edition Jazz-Tele. They are usually C-shape (however will vary depending on the version/ era), maple and have a bolt-on construction. 2022 MusicStrive.com | As an Amazon Associate Music Strive earns from qualifying purchases. One way to fatten up the bridge in a Jazzmaster, is to go with your favorite P90 as a replacement. I just want to add one thing. The Jazzmaster can do a wider variety of tones from brittle bright to dark. Both the Jazzmaster and its cousin the Stratocaster dominated the surf rock decade. Unlike the Jazzmaster, the Telecaster does not come with set in stone pickups. Guitar Center are always the first place I look at when Im interested in a new electric guitar because have a huge range of models for sale and always have some excellent deals on. These prices are searched for automatically and are prone to error. Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to an electric guitar is simply unperceivableif they're all well built. The pickups in a Jazzmaster have a higher output and suffer less from feedback, making it a more suitable guitar for metal and heavy rock. Enjoy all the free information on the site. Not exactly the jazziest sound you will hear compared to the traditional warm sounding hollow and semi-hollow body jazz guitars ironically the genre the Jazzmaster was designed for. What Are Pedal Platform Amps Complete Guide 2022. First lets start with the specifications. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Prosoundhq.com is also a member of other affiliate programmes. Playing around with the Jazzmasters unique rhythm and treble controls you can dial in a massive range of tones allowing darker, warmer and brighter selections. As someone with some mild back problems, Teles appeal to me much more than Jazzmasters. Back during their early design and construction days, Leo Fender recognized that all of his guitars must be constructed with comfort and playability with the highest priority. On first glance, players will be mistaken for assuming these pickups can produce the same warm and beefy tones as they are bigger than the size of a humbucker. As with anything else in life, the choice between a Jazzmaster and a Telecaster isnt quite cut and dry. The fret board is usually made of either maple or rosewood, the only difference being that the Stratocaster has 22 frets and the Jazzmaster has 21. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. Let's now compare the playability of both guitars. Fender PlayThe #1 guitar learning platformTRY FOR FREE. This makes Strats better for clean styles of music, and Jazzmasters suited to higher-gain. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. Click here to see it! This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jim Root Telecaster, especially closer to the nut. Before we get into it, both these Fender creations are brilliant precision instruments worthy of any guitar collection. Both guitars are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option. In fact, Teles are more versatile than Jazzmasters, at least in my opinion. Telecasters generally have a straightforward 3-way pickup selector, volume knob, and tone knob. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. However, some bridges are more expensivelike Floyd Roses and Evertunesand thus add more value to a guitar. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Open chords are especially wonderful to play, having a nice airiness to them. Fender occupies a long impressive list of guitars to their famed arsenal, none more so than the iconic Telecaster and Jazzmaster. The only downside is that they dont sustain quite as well as Teles, which would have helped to make their tone even more monstrous. Although they both have floating bridges, the appearance is slightly different, with the Jazzmasters tremolo sitting further back on the guitars body. Both guitars thin sound would suit playing in a band with a guitarist wither a thicker sound say from a Les Paul or semi-hollow body guitar. Let's see how the Fender Jim Root Telecaster compares to the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster. The Telemaster just sits perfectly balanced even without a strap that grips my shoulder. Are they the same, with just a few small differences? They both share the following switching options: When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more. Overall both guitars are perfect guitars to sink a lot of hours into one playing session without any issues in the playability and comfort department. This was until the punk decade regenerated the guitar bringing it back from the dead. This makes a Tele a bit easier to control and play, at least in my opinion. However, some of them do have advantages over the others. I would highly recommend going with a Jazzmaster instead of a Tele. The most common Strat variant has a humbucker pickup in the bridge, and single coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. But how do these guitars compare? No matter which one you decide to pick up, I am positive that you wont be disappointed. Another big difference comes in the form of the pickups on each guitar. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch. This gives them this nice mellowness, I feel. Both the Stratocaster and Jazzmaster have floating bridges, meaning they have a tremolo arm. The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. Jazzmasters suit higher gain amp settings more. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands. There was the Strat-Tele combination that, obviously, mashed up a Stratocaster and Telecaster. On a Jazzmaster, the lead/ rhythm switch allows you to set the guitar up differently. In many ways, country music wouldnt sound the way it does if it werent for the Telecaster. You will likely be fairly familiar with the Telecaster sound. Guitarists have played proverbial volleyball with the term 'pedal platform amp' for quite some time. The Telecaster compared to the Jazzmaster is rewound for sounding thin and twangy when there are single coil pickups at the helm. For me, though, I think that Jazzmasters sound best with some dirty overdrive added. Jazzmasters sound more warm and mellow by comparison, as they have wider pickups instead, and some even have humbuckers. The Jazzmaster includes a unique feature to most guitars with its soapbar pickups which are commonly mistaken for P90s. Things lean in another direction with a Jazzmaster pickguard assembly, complete with Pure Vintage '65 pickups, which boast clean and clear vintage-style tone that can also give you an edgy snarl when needed. No single neck shape is better than others. No other guitar does it. Most electric guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. In this article, Ill compare the features of each guitar type, the sound, the look and feel, and also take a look at the full Fender and Squier ranges so you can see what is available to you based on your budget. For me, the Jazzmaster to my ears just wants to be spanked with power chords and full-bodied rhythm to make the most of its sound. Fender Jim Root Telecaster vs Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster, 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles, 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm), 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge, Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners. Read why both these guitars are awesome in their own right. Prosoundhq.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge. Learn the usual guitars, effects, and how to get that silky jazz tone. This twangy tone has immortalized the Telecaster for producing the best country lead tones with models adopting the single-coil pickup in the bridge position. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. Offset design of the Jazzmaster compared to the regular shape of the Stratocaster, The Jazzmaster has 21 frets and the Strat has 22, 3 pickups on the Strat compared to the 2 on the Jazzmaster, More colour options available on the Strat. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. The Jazzmaster is usually slightly more expensive than the Stratocaster. I personally dont use the whammy bar too often, so I dont really have a preference here. For me personally, the Jazzmaster looks vintage and modern sound definitely makes it the edgier and wildcard choice compared to its usual Fender cousin the Telecaster. Although, I do believe in rather having the option and not needing it, than needing it and not having it. I love both the Jazzmaster and the Tele. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide. For a guitar that can do pretty much anything, the Telecaster is a solid option. However, we still can take a look at the instrument specifications to determine how versatile, how much sustain, and the tuning stability it might have. Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. Single coil pickups have one magnet, and are brighter and suffer the most with humming and feedback when using high-gain amp settings. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to. Of course, its hard to demonstrate the differences in the tone without actually hearing it. Our aim is to motivate you to strive to become a better musician. Ive written a complete guide to using a Stratocasters controls if you want to learn about the Strat. Fender makes the more premium versions whilst Squier produce more affordable and entry-level options. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. The rhythm pickup tone and volume are controlled by the tone switches at the top of the body which is a unique circuitry and configuration. The rhythm switch bypasses the 3-way pickup selector, and activates only the neck pickup, and the rhythm tone and volume controls. Apart from the famous Stratocaster, Fender also makes the equally famous Telecaster, and slightly less famous Jazzmaster. You must log in or register to reply here. Keep in mind, this all comes down to individual preferences. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Whereas the bridge pickup of the Jazzmaster although sounds great is incredibly bright and can melt your face off at high volumes which may not be to every guitar players tastes. Check out my articlecomparing pickup typesto learn more. The Telecaster is a guitar that has proven its worth and dominance over the years with its classy looks, simple design, and killer sound and the most versatile option of the two. The Jazzmaster has a slightly offset design compared to the Strat, arguably making upper fret access slightly easier. Larry Mal knows what he's talking about (and he posts on Offsetguitars.com as well). Combine that with its unusual looks, floating bridge, and visual appeal the Jazzmaster is the choice for more modern styles of music but can also play blues, rock, and any other styles which you throw at it. Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing a guitar, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Or throw a Curtis Novak humbucker in there and use the switch to coil tap. Fender's Parallel Universe Collection has introduced several mind-blowing models to the world that combine hybrids out of some of their classic platforms. The winner is the one that appeals to you the most in many departments, that being tonally, visually and creatively as a guitar player. The clean tone of a Tele is still quite special. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. We are not a store, we're not owned, nor are we related to these retailers in any way beyond receiving a fee from qualifying purchases. Jazzmasters, however, come with pickups that are often mistaken for P90s. But because you have the option of getting Teles with different pickups, its sound isnt as set as a Jazzmasters. Both guitars usually have alder bodies and their comfortable design makes them easy to sit and stand with. The second thing you will notice that differs between these two guitars are their controls. In this case, both guitars have Synthetic Bone nuts. These controls are used to switch between rhythm and lead modes, as well as controlling the volume and tone in rhythm mode. But there are a lot of misunderstanding about the model, and it's not helped by Fender's seeming confusion about the model either. While they are somewhat similar to P90s, they are slightly flatter and wider, and their tone is slightly sharper. The Jazzmaster has a slightly more hollow and mellow tone with a modern twist compared to its Telecaster and Stratocaster cousins with noticably less bottom end, hence why it sounds super bright and articulated. They just have this shimmering quality that very few guitars, even other Fenders, can beat. Wide single coil pickups also have one magnet, but suffer less from humming and feedback due to their wider and shorter bobbin giving them a higher output. This is what made Jazzmasters so popular in the 60s, especially among surf rock guitarists. Comparing both the Telecaster and Jazzmaster when it comes to comfort is hard to set apart. The Jazz-Tele is a true amalgamation of a Jazzmaster and Telecaster, allowing you to play any genre of music with vintage-inspired sound and sensational aesthetics. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the guitar for you. In terms of build-quality, these are Fender guitars. Although players have questioned the tremolo systems design combined with a bridge that can cause the dreaded bridge buzz depending on model and design. They arent just grunge machines, though. With its early foundations set, the Telecaster conquered the country, blues and rock genres and defined the rock n roll era for many decades with its popularity. The neck comes from an American Professional Jazzmaster, which features a 9.5" radius and narrow-tall frets to give it a comfortable feel while making it easier to bend notes without fretting out. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slipperywhich helps with tuning stability, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics. Both guitars have similar neck profiles (mainly C-shape) and fairly similar weights making them both quite close together in terms of how easy they are to play and sit and stand with. When combined with distortion, the tone sounds jangly and crunchy offering a nice range of frequencies lending itself to a solid in your face rhythm tone. Their bodies are slightly rounded on the edges and they feature a nice contour at the back. Its unusual shape carried a purpose, it was designed to be the most comfortable in the sitting position which is how most jazz guitarists play. The Jazzmaster includes not one, but two tone circuits giving the player the control of the bridge pickups with the volume and tone knob while the neck pickup is modified with the tone reels. As of writing, both could possibly be the most desirable instruments to add to any proud guitar owners collection in todays guitar circle. The reason I created Tone topics, was to infrom and educate all players out therewith a range of helpful articles from my personal experince. It is definitely going to come down to your own preference. However, to give you something more definitive, here are some things to keep in mind: A Stratocaster is usually recommended over a Jazzmaster for beginners because it starts at a lower price. So, the slightly sharper top edge of a Teles body does cut into my arm a bit from time to time. The only caveat is that the Jazzmaster is known to not sustain as much as the Telecaster which is something to be aware of if you happen to be a keen lead player.