jazzmaster vs telecaster

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Telecasters generally have a straightforward 3-way pickup selector, volume knob, and tone knob. Most electric guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. Whether it's the traditional stacked controls on your Jazz bass or the three-knob layout. But Jazzmasters will often also have three additional switches at the top of the guitar. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. These guitars were made for genres like alternative, grunge, and punk. Read why both these guitars are awesome in their own right. I personally dont use the whammy bar too often, so I dont really have a preference here. Jazzmasters suit higher gain amp settings more. The Jazzmaster can do a wider variety of tones from brittle bright to dark. I love both the Jazzmaster and the Tele. No matter which one you decide to pick up, I am positive that you wont be disappointed. This rounds out their tone quite nicely, making them fit into practically any genre quite easily. I personally like Teles a bit more than Jazzmasters. Although the Jazzmaster is as equally as versatile in a number of genres and styles. Factor in the tone shifting capabilities via the bridge and rhythm pickup the tone can be shifted in all directions for players tastes making it very versatile in a number of genres. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. Luckily depending on company and model the choices available for pickups are single coils, humbuckers, and even models with P90s. 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. However, the Telecaster and Jazzmaster do it slightly different both using their own individual flair and flavor. Both the Stratocaster and Jazzmaster have floating bridges, meaning they have a tremolo arm. No jazz band is going to turn you away when you show up to a gig with one of these. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. The Jazzmaster has a fuller and warmer sound. The Stratocaster is available in more colour options and pickup configurations and has more models available to suit different budgets. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. I have been playing guitar for over 15 years. The sharp and piercing clean tone these pickups produce is the main reason why they became so popular with surf rockers back in the 60s. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. The Jazzmaster just has a bit more weight to it. The floating tremolo is what sets it and the Telecaster apart when it comes to features allowing the player the freedom and control for interesting soundscapes and vibrato which in my opinion sounds best when combined with bright, lush clean tones. They are a bit more comfortable to play, and their tone is a bit more versatile. Even though Jazzmasters have larger bodies, they are still comfortable to play. Of course, its hard to demonstrate the differences in the tone without actually hearing it. As a side note, speaking of jazz, I have an ultimate post on the jazz guitar tone. link to What Are Pedal Platform Amps Complete Guide 2022, link to Fender Jazz Bass Controls (Explained), The reason I created Tone topics, was to infrom and educate all players out there. However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Fender makes the more premium versions whilst Squier produce more affordable and entry-level options. The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. He mostly listens to classic rock and punk bands, but sometimes also likes listening to rap and acoustic songs. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty. The JM over drives really nicely as well. The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Jim Root Telecaster meets only 6. 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. I would highly recommend going with a Jazzmaster instead of a Tele. 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. I will add, that if you live on the bridge pickup, a Jazzmaster is not for you. 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. This was until the punk decade regenerated the guitar bringing it back from the dead. However, surf rockers picked up this new guitar, and soon there was a tidal wave and wash of popularity with the Jazzmaster and surf rock back in the early 60s. Jazzmasters, however, come with pickups that are often mistaken for P90s. Question is, are you a Tele or Jazz man? They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz. Fender quickly changed the name to the Nocaster while in a transitional phase and in the summer of 1951, Fender christened the guitar as the Telecaster the recognizable name guitar players worldwide know and love. Both posts are incredibly informative, thoughtful and very, very helpful. Their bodies are slightly rounded on the edges and they feature a nice contour at the back. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most guitars end up needing a complete fret replacement. Then, there was the American Elite Telecaster HSS that super-charged an American Elite Tele with a mighty ShawBucker pickup in the bridge position. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing. The other major difference is that a Jazzmaster has a floating tremolo, while a Telecaster has a fixed bridge. We publish detailed guides and helpful advice on creating and promoting music, as well as gear guides on musical instruments and audio equipment. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar. This configuration has stayed with the Telecaster since the first design which has worked so well in simplicity over the years. That said, if you never use it, there are a lot of fun things you could do with the pre-drilled spaces and switches, such as wiring it as a Les Paul with 2 tones and 2 volumes and using the switch to go serial/parallel. But because you have the option of getting Teles with different pickups, its sound isnt as set as a Jazzmasters. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. No single neck shape is better than others. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money. Kind of depends on what type of music you play/compose. check out my related article comparing the solid-body Telecaster vs the Thinline Telecaster. I prefer the Tele sound to the Jazzmaster sound by far, there's something to be said about the popularity of the Tele over the Jazzmaster. They just have this shimmering quality that very few guitars, even other Fenders, can beat. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. I just want to add one thing. After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both guitars in this comparison favor small hands . 2022 Copyright Tone Topics - Dedicated guitar site with everything guitar gear, how-to guides, tutorials, reviews for all guitar players. This makes them sit snuggly against your body and gives your arm a nice spot to rest on while you are playing. I would say that the Teles sound is thinner than the Jazzmasters. Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when we're comparing guitars. See more of the Parallel Universe Collection here and here to grab one of only 300 limited-edition prints inspired by this unique guitar from artist Ivan Minsloff. There was the Strat-Tele combination that, obviously, mashed up a Stratocaster and Telecaster. If you got small hands, none of these guitars will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability. To my ears, it has the best blend of high and low frequencies with one not overpowering the other. The pickup design is a traditional 3-way switch. If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. As of writing, both could possibly be the most desirable instruments to add to any proud guitar owners collection in todays guitar circle. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better. Hard to choose between the two for me. A lot of people say they never use the Jazzmaster Rhythm circuit. You Hey, Adam here! 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. Stratocasters sound brighter and suit clean tones the best. The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Jim Root Telecaster's Medium Jumbo frets. Are they the same, with just a few small differences? One thing that is a bit odd to me is that the Jazzmasters frets feel a tad larder than the Telecasters. Traditionally a large percentage of Telecasters are more famed for having single coils so it makes sense to discuss them first. 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. Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/embed/RETB7MkHxOI?rel=0. (humbucker in the bridge). This favors people with big hands. Both the Jazzmaster and its cousin the Stratocaster dominated the surf rock decade. 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. In reality these pickups are known as soapbar pickups. They both have locking tuners. I realize that it's a bit of an "apples or avocados" question, but I'm weighing the merits of each for my home/experimental/compositional playing and would love input from the aficionados of each. Unfortunately, losing works- in-progress posts occurs on many forums using this web template. Were a small team of passionate musicians. When in reality they are piercingly bright and chimey, they certainly come with a false sense of perception. On a Jazzmaster, the lead/ rhythm switch allows you to set the guitar up differently. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon. 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. I think it's good to have at least one guitar that has one. 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. Keep in mind though that there are multiple versions of both guitars (as discussed above), so Ill be talking about the traditional versions of the Jazzmaster and Strat. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands. Fender occupies a long impressive list of guitars to their famed arsenal, none more so than the iconic Telecaster and Jazzmaster. Teles shine particularly bright when you add some reverb to their clean tone. I've got my friends Telemaster right now and the big difference that I notice between it and my Tele is the balance. I play a little jazz, and I love the rhythm circuit. For beginners looking to play heavy rock and metal, a Jazzmaster may be more suitable as they suffer less from feedback. Lets find out, The Telecaster was born in early 1951 originally named the Broadcaster., However, Gretch quickly caught wind of this new guitar on the block and filed a lawsuit on release, the reason was that Gretch already possessed a line of drums sporting a similar name (Broadkaster.). Fast forward to the modern era with the abundance of distortion/overdrive the Jazzmaster combines with gain and saturation incredibly well for spanking crunch tones. In this case, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster is the only one with a compound radius. The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. Unfortunately, the Jazzmaster was never embraced by jazz players (possibly for its unconventional looks and sound.). Let's see now how both these guitars compare to each other when it comes to sound quality. 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. Ive written a complete buyers guide for electric guitars which takes you through all the things you need to consider and a step-by-step method to narrowing down your selection and choosing the best option. Depending on pickup configuration the standard set up is a simple 3-way pickup selector or 5-way selector depending on the model. This design has stayed with Jazzmaster since which is completely unique to the guitar. This is twice that I've written out a pretty long, detailed thing about the Jazzmaster and twice that it's claimed I have to log in when I went to post it, then losing all I've typed due to the time out. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Therefore, it is down to the guitar players own individual tastes to decide which dish they prefer. Throw in a premium nitrocellulose lacquer finish that lets the body breathe and ages gracefully, and the Parallel Universe Jazz-Tele is a truly distinctive instrument that mines some of Fender's classic DNA. Before we get into it, both these Fender creations are brilliant precision instruments worthy of any guitar collection. Although they both have floating bridges, the appearance is slightly different, with the Jazzmasters tremolo sitting further back on the guitars body. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster is the better choice. The second thing you will notice that differs between these two guitars are their controls. 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. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. While both guitars have that distinctly Fender tone, I do believe that each has its own unique sound. This makes Strats better for clean styles of music, and Jazzmasters suited to higher-gain. "Yeah we should definitely jam some time". 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. 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. I'm annoyed, though, that a long post about Jazzmasters I had just done is gone, so I'll have to do it again. Some Jazzmasters have two humbucker pickups instead. Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory: Determining which guitar sounds better objectively is a difficult task since not everybody will love the same pickups. Below you'll find how both guitars compare when it comes to versatility. You will likely be fairly familiar with the Telecaster sound. Both guitars have a Bolt-On neck joint. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The Telecaster is a simple plug-in and play design absent of any tremolo system. After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Fender Jim Root Telecaster's 72 score, although not by a lot. This could be selected for a player who uses distortion requiring a pickup to cancel the annoying hum and buzz known as 60 cycle hum, especially when playing through a loud amplifier on stage. Teles also tend to be a bit lighter than Jazzmasters. You are using an out of date browser. Jazzmasters sound more warm and mellow by comparison, as they have wider pickups instead, and some even have humbuckers. yet makes up for it with a well-positioned belly contour for comfort although it is the heavier guitar out the two. Both guitars usually have alder bodies and their comfortable design makes them easy to sit and stand with. However, as time moved on the Jazzmasters heyday was over with Fender discontinuing production in the 80s due to poor sales. The scale length is also the same. Let's now compare the playability of both guitars. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output. The rhythm switch bypasses the 3-way pickup selector, and activates only the neck pickup, and the rhythm tone and volume controls. In my opinion, it sounds at its best when slapped with a mild amount of dirt in the bridge position combined with aggressive power chords for a modern alternative rock or punk rhythm tone. However, if they're too talllike Jumbo frets, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. So, the slightly sharper top edge of a Teles body does cut into my arm a bit from time to time. Both guitars have an HH pickup configuration. Fender PlayThe #1 guitar learning platformTRY FOR FREE. For me, though, I think that Jazzmasters sound best with some dirty overdrive added. You have to appreciate the distortion mainly because it sounds slightly quacky making it unique and individual perhaps thanks to the bridge and tremolo system influencing the sound. Most guitar fret wire is made of nickel silver. I have had hours of fun playing on both guitars. We do this by linking to products and services we highly recommend. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. However, the Jazzmaster just brings something different to the table hence why they are so popular in todays modern music. Jazzmasters produce less feedback and hum when using distorted amp settings. As of writing this, The Jazzmaster is well and truly back with a resurgence during modern times being popular with genres such as modern rock, alternative, and indie. On the other hand, the Fender Jim Root Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money. The Jazzmaster comes with more real estate in the form of a larger offset shaped body. 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. The main issue with using a Stratocaster with high-gain amp settings is that you get a fair bit of feedback or humming, due to the single coil pickups. The guitar has the perfect blend of sonic characteristics hence why the Tele is famed for being a versatile and great overall sounding guitar. Teles sport a more compact design. The Jazzmaster has a slightly offset design compared to the Strat, arguably making upper fret access slightly easier. Am i being too picky in regards to a dead spot on a suhr? This is what made Jazzmasters so popular in the 60s, especially among surf rock guitarists. If I had to toss my coin into the hat, however. Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. Granted both guitars are manufactured by Fender meaning they naturally give off that classic, rich, spanky, and chimey tone. Defining the era tonally with the sound of iconic, twangy, and thin clean tone drenched in the iconic reverb of the Fender Twin Reverb amplifier. Along with Stratocasters, these guitars helped to make Fender as recognizable as it is today. Both guitars come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. That's why you should always test a guitar before buying it. We'll earn a small fee if you purchase after clicking. Bear in mind that the guitar will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. But they also arent the best at jazz, ironically. The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. You must log in or register to reply here. The Jazzmaster is usually slightly more expensive than the Stratocaster. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same guitar model. Even though I think there are guitars that are better for jazz, these guitars still sound amazing. You'll find amp controls guides, tips to improve your tone, and answers to loads of specific issues. In terms of build-quality, these are Fender guitars. Unlike the Jazzmaster, the Telecaster does not come with set in stone pickups. Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. For the brightest and twangiest Telecaster, the single coils are the choice for the jangliest guitar which lends itself for articulate and lush clean tones the reason that made them so popular with country guitar players. The Telecaster compared to the Jazzmaster is rewound for sounding thin and twangy when there are single coil pickups at the helm. On its birth, the Telecaster was deemed a revolutionary guitar with a completely individual sound and oozed a cool vibe with the new combination of solid body and bolt-on neck design. What Are Pedal Platform Amps Complete Guide 2022. Or are they two wildly different beasts? Fender guitars are incredibly unique and some of, if not the most, iconic guitars ever. The best way to figure out if you should get a Stratocaster or Jazzmaster is to give them a try in the store and see what feels, sounds and looks best to you. Apart from the famous Stratocaster, Fender also makes the equally famous Telecaster, and slightly less famous Jazzmaster. With my past experiences with both guitars, I will outline the main differences what set them apart and make them both individually awesome. Jazzmasters have offset body shapes unlike Stratocasters. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. 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. You know, this site kind of sucks. link to Dog Ear vs Soapbar P90 Pickups: Is There a Difference? This makes them better for distorted amp settings, and also means they sound a bit more warm and mellow compared to single coils. 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. In this case, both guitars have Synthetic Bone nuts. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jim Root Telecaster, especially closer to the nut. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. 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. Both guitars come with a similar bridge: Fixed. As someone with some mild back problems, Teles appeal to me much more than Jazzmasters. Click here to see it! The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build. 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. Open chords are especially wonderful to play, having a nice airiness to them. None of these guitars are near equals in the sustain department to Les Paul/335 types. 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. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. 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. If you liked this post. The clean tone of a Tele is still quite special. Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. Heres a table comparing the key features of the American Standard/ Original versions of the Fender Stratocaster and Fender Jazzmaster. However, some expensive guitars come with stainless steel frets. And even though I prefer Teles, I am very fond of Jazzmasters. We disclose that we earn commissions based on referring traffic and potential customers to these companies. Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. 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. 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. In many ways, country music wouldnt sound the way it does if it werent for the Telecaster. 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. It is definitely going to come down to your own preference. Jazzmasters have a 3-way pickup selector, lead/ rhythm switch, 2 tone controls and 2 volume controls. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They arent just grunge machines, though. It starts with an ash Telecaster body, a classic resonant Fender tonewood that offers clearly chiming highs, well-defined midrange and strong low end. Or throw a Curtis Novak humbucker in there and use the switch to coil tap. 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 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. Here are some more articles you might find interesting: Hey, I'm Heather. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. This gives them this nice mellowness, I feel. Now lets take a deeper look into the Jazzmaster and Stratocaster ranges. 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. But you know that already. The Jazzmaster includes a unique feature to most guitars with its soapbar pickups which are commonly mistaken for P90s. In this article I'll compare everything you need to Hey, welcome Pro Sound HQ. While they are somewhat similar to P90s, they are slightly flatter and wider, and their tone is slightly sharper. Larry Mal knows what he's talking about (and he posts on Offsetguitars.com as well). That means that you are getting some of the finest made guitars around, regardless of whether you are going with a Telecaster or a Jazzmaster. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. None of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. 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 Telecaster is so versatile in sounds and more importantly can do them well. This is a 0.8mm (0.031'') difference. Best bang for your buck guitar right now. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility. In my opinion, the Jazzmaster has a unique and edgy sound I agree that the Telecaster sounds better in most departments, tone, character, and frequencies. However, some bridges are more expensivelike Floyd Roses and Evertunesand thus add more value to a guitar.

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