About Fender Jazzmaster Guitars
The 1958 Fender Jazzmaster was initially conceived as a guitar for jazz musicians. Though it first failed to reach its intended audience, this defiant Fender offset went on to define the surf rock movement and later became a staple in the alternative rock scene. Thanks to high-profile users like Elvis Costello and Ric Ocasek, the Jazzmaster soon established itself as a standout for all genres of music. Today, you’ll find Jazzmasters in the hands of leading metal axemen to country balladeers — and yes, even a few jazz guitarists.
What’s Special About the Fender Jazzmaster?
Although it may look similar to its offset cousin, the Jaguar, the Fender Jazzmaster remains tonally and physically distinct. Traditional Jazzmasters are known for their wide, unique single-coil pickups (often confused for soapbars). These pickups give the guitar a thicker and warmer sound than conventional single-coil pickups and feature a hum-canceling effect when the middle pickup is activated. Another difference compared to the Jaguar is the scale length. A Jaguar’s scale length is 24 inches while the Jazzmaster’s is 25.5 inches.
One feature shared between traditional Jags and Jazzmasters is their floating bridge/anchored tailpiece locking tremolo (vibrato) system. This Trem-Loc design helps maintain tuning integrity and plays a key role in the Jazzmaster’s plunky articulation and haunting harmonic sustain. For a detailed comparison of these groovy Fender offsets, see “Jazzmaster vs. Jaguar: Which Is Best for You?”
What Do the Switches on a Fender Jazzmaster Do?
One might be puzzled by the controls of a Jazzmaster, due to the switches above the neck pickup. The vertical switch allows you to toggle between both pickups in the down position and just the rhythm circuit in the up position. The rhythm circuit control is unique to the Jazzmaster and Jaguar guitars and gives the guitars a distinctly warm and rounded tone.
Which Artists Have Played Jazzmasters?
Scores of legendary guitarists are synonymous with playing the Jazzmaster, including Jim Root of Slipknot, Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher of My Bloody Valentine, Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Robert Smith of The Cure, and many more. Check out “17 Famous Jazzmaster Players” for more Jazzmaster users and to get inspiration for your next Jazzmaster build.
Find Your Next Fender Jazzmaster at Sweetwater
Looking to get your hands on a Fender Jazzmaster guitar? You’ve come to the right place! Sweetwater carries a vast selection of Fender’s renowned short-scale offset in nearly every finish and pickup configuration under the sun. If you have questions, have a look at our electric guitar buying guide or reach out to our knowledgeable Sales Engineers. They’ll help you choose the Jazzmaster (or other Fender electric) that best suits your style.
