Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster HS Electric Guitar  

Well I got this guitar about a year ago (Sept 2011) an well I've been having problem's since, this type with the old "Tele" bridge on it, the bridge saddle screw's always keep coming out, the pick-ups hardly work, an it won't let me bend ANY of the strings higher than the 12th fret, its weird, I don't know if I just got the dog's end of this guitar or this is happening with other people who bought this guitar too, but right now, this is not my favourite guitar.

Quiality of this guitar is AWESOME, when it works

Its at a nice price, I thought

It is ok, but when your pick-ups aren't workin' right, well..its a piss off

During the month of December of last year, I purchased one of these jazzmasters in a black finish.  Now that I have had the time to actually play this guitar and get to know it, I can confidently say that although the blacktop isn't a perfect instrument, it is one that you will definately enjoy and learn to love.  Upon receiving this guitar you will discover that the bridge is an idiosyncratic piece of hardware, as the saddle screws will constantly worm out of their holes and fall out while you are playing.  However, I used a simple remedy to fix this; using drops of loctite blue on the saddle screws will lock them in place.  Tone wise, the single coil provides a very nice tone that is quite mellow but also a bit more crisper than that of a typical American reissue jazzmaster.  The humbucker is HOT.  Some players trying to search for a more vintage tone may choose to do a pickup swap, but the humbucker will work for situations that require a high gain sound.  The middle position on this guitar provides a tone that will appeal to many players; you get clear note articulation with a slight overdriven sound courtesy of the humbucker.  The black finish is simple yet beautiful, and the c shaped neck fits like a glove.  The tremelo on this thing is actually wonderful.  Contrary to the idea that jazzmaster tremelos never stay in the tune, mine has put up with all the warbles and wobbles I have given it and still stays in tune.  It's not a floyd rose, and it's not meant to be like one.  The obviously noticeable lack of a rhythm circuit may bother purists, but it's actually something that makes the design more appealing to players who want simplicity and zero possible chances of accidently hitting a switch while playing.

When I received this guitar, the saddles needed some adjustment.  But the quality control was excellent overall.  A while ago I tried my friends American made stratocaster and compared it to the neck on the jazzmaster.  Guess what?  Both of us actually thought that the neck profile and fretwork on the jazzmaster's neck was just as good (or perhaps even better) that the strat's neck.  Best of all, it came straight as an arrow with no fretboard buzzing.  Despite the issues I intially had with the bridge, that is a problem that was easily fixed.  Playing the guitar through an Epiphone tube amp, I noticed that the sound quality and timbre was top notch; although there was some slight hum from the pickups, they both sounded great.  I've played several vintage Fender Jazzmasters in the past, and although the blacktop does not sound the same as they do, it captures the essence of the traditional jazzmaster sound but also beefs it up, making it more applicable to modern styles of music such as alternative and hard rock.  Who once knew that a jazzmaster could wail and sustain so well?

A jazzmaster for less than half a grand was the dream of many players including myself.  In my own opinion, a instrument like this one is a steal.  It's like getting a jazzmaster with the mods already done on it-simplified switching, humbucker in the bridge position, amp knobs.  This guitar has been my main no. 1 after I bought it and has been the guitar that's always featured in my band's recordings.  Versatility is where this guitar shines.  There are so many different sounds you can get out of the pickups and will suit many different tonal needs. 

This guitar is different from the rest of the Fenders that can be purchased, and it is proud to be different.  I can play jazz and alternative rock on it with the luscious warm tones of the single coil, yet turn it into a snarling monster with just some fuzz and a flick of a switch.  Although there are many people out there who might turn there nose at such an evolution in the jazzmaster line, there will be many others like myself who want a versatile instrument that can handle the sounds of all kinds of music. I, without any hesitation reccomend this guitar to anyone trying to get a instrument that is reliable, simple, and elegant.

What can I say, the three tone finish is absolutely beautiful with lots of character.  Most people who are familiar with Jazzmasters and Jaguars know about the bridge problems.  This is more like a Mustang bridge but the screw poles that are used to adjust the string height become loose when strumming.  I prefer to put Elmer's glue on the top of the hole after setting the height and let it dry.  You can always go back and take the glue out if you want to re-adjust your height.  Some people put more permanent glue on the poles.  Anyways, I wish it had the rhythm sliders but for the price I will not complain.  Pretty simple layout.  Tuners are cheap but actually stays in tune.  Whammy bar is different than the other Jazzmasters I own but it works fine.

Beautiful and flawless paint and gloss finish on body and neck. I prefer gloss.  Pickups are excellent and I do not plan on changing them.  Very cool vibe with the middle selector which activate the single and humbucker.  I think the single coil is more pronounced in the middle selector because of the jingly tone but with a hint of the humbucker make this a great sound for my alternative recordings.  Plastic parts are cheesy but work.  

No complaints.  I bought them when they first came out.  I would pay more for this guitar.

Great guitar.  Most people will upgrade on some parts but overall it is a very good deal.  I play this more than some of my other guitars because I am really digging the tones of the middle selector.  I just love the sound of this guitar.

there pretty good love having the single and the humbucker. the humbucker  that was in was ok was not super impressed so change it and put a seymour duncan pearly gates in it and the best guitar i have heard but the bridge is obsolete the action adjustment screw always lossen them selfs and the strings some times pop out of the saddles.

over all i love this guitar with a few adjustments its great has a great neck and i will probably never sell mine