It may not display this or other websites correctly. Some great insights so far. Comparing both the Telecaster and Jazzmaster when it comes to comfort is hard to set apart. Single coil pickups have one magnet, and are brighter and suffer the most with humming and feedback when using high-gain amp settings. Both guitars usually have alder bodies and their comfortable design makes them easy to sit and stand with. 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 scale length is also the same. One way to fatten up the bridge in a Jazzmaster, is to go with your favorite P90 as a replacement. Now, those instruments are joined in the otherworldly Parallel Universe by the limited-edition Jazz-Tele. 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. 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. Our aim is to motivate you to strive to become a better musician. I've got my friends Telemaster right now and the big difference that I notice between it and my Tele is the balance. But how do these guitars compare? Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. But there are a lot of misunderstanding about the model, and it's not helped by Fender's seeming confusion about the model either. This rounds out their tone quite nicely, making them fit into practically any genre quite easily. Telecasters generally have your standard single coil pickups, although you can get models with humbuckers. 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. You know, this site kind of sucks. Let's see now how both these guitars compare to each other when it comes to sound quality. 2022 Copyright Tone Topics - Dedicated guitar site with everything guitar gear, how-to guides, tutorials, reviews for all guitar players. 
This means that the neck is not only comfortable to play, but smooth and fast. Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. link to Gibson 498T vs 500T: Bridge Pickup Comparison, link to take you directly to Guitar Centers electric guitar range, complete guide to using a Stratocasters controls, complete buyers guide for electric guitars. Despite what the name might suggest, Jazzmasters arent limited to jazz. It would really help us out! Both posts are incredibly informative, thoughtful and very, very helpful. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Depending on pickup configuration the standard set up is a simple 3-way pickup selector or 5-way selector depending on the model. Jazzmasters produce less feedback and hum when using distorted amp settings. The Stratocaster and Jazzmaster are two iconic guitars made by Fender and Squier, but which is the best? 
They are a bit more comfortable to play, and their tone is a bit more versatile. Open chords are especially wonderful to play, having a nice airiness to them. The Jazzmasters chimey and jangly tone has regenerated itself from the 90s era to become popular with a number of modern styles of music such as alternative rock, indie, punk and many more. You can swap strings easily. 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. Both the Jazzmaster and Stratocaster have double cutaway bodies, making upper fret access very easy. This design has stayed with Jazzmaster since which is completely unique to the guitar. I personally dont use the whammy bar too often, so I dont really have a preference here. Since the Stratocaster has a 3-pickup configuration, and the Jazzmaster has a two-pickup configuration, the number of controls also varies. You Hey, Adam here! I have had hours of fun playing on both guitars. Both guitars are made by Squier and Fender. Some of these include Amazon Associates, Reverb, and Rakuten Affiliate. Dedrich is a guitar player, songwriter and sound engineer with extensive music production and studio experience. Guitarists have played proverbial volleyball with the term 'pedal platform amp' for quite some time. Apart from the famous Stratocaster, Fender also makes the equally famous Telecaster, and slightly less famous Jazzmaster. The Jazzmaster includes a unique feature to most guitars with its soapbar pickups which are commonly mistaken for P90s. 
There are many different Fender and Squier versions of the Jazzmaster and Stratocaster available, and the specifications will vary depending on the model (more on that later). Of course, its hard to demonstrate the differences in the tone without actually hearing it. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. 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. Teles shine particularly bright when you add some reverb to their clean tone. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility. Jazzmasters sound more warm and mellow by comparison, as they have wider pickups instead, and some even have humbuckers. No single neck shape is better than others. 
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. Before we get into it, both these Fender creations are brilliant precision instruments worthy of any guitar collection. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Below you'll find how both guitars compare when it comes to versatility. Some Jazzmasters have two humbucker pickups instead. I would go for the Tele if I was a heavy rock n roll fan for blues, rock, country as this is where it can really be at home. The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. The Trem range is the perfect sweep. Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. Another big difference comes in the form of the pickups on each guitar. Unfortunately, none of these guitars come with stainless steel frets. Simply put, switching to rhythm mode deactivates the neck pickup and volume and tone knobs. Fender occupies a long impressive list of guitars to their famed arsenal, none more so than the iconic Telecaster and Jazzmaster. 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.). 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. Some guitars offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. The telecaster is the all-time country/rock workhorse. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same guitar model. Humbucker pickups suffer the least from feedback, due to their two magnet design, and have the warmest, fullest tone with the highest output. It starts with an ash Telecaster body, a classic resonant Fender tonewood that offers clearly chiming highs, well-defined midrange and strong low end. Unlike the Jazzmaster, the Telecaster does not come with set in stone pickups. 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. yet makes up for it with a well-positioned belly contour for comfort although it is the heavier guitar out the two. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide. 2022 MusicStrive.com | As an Amazon Associate Music Strive earns from qualifying purchases. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. The Jazzmaster is usually slightly more expensive than the Stratocaster. With my past experiences with both guitars, I will outline the main differences what set them apart and make them both individually awesome. I also wanted to compare the designs of each guitar and how this affects the tone, look and feel of each instrument. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. 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. 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. What Are Pedal Platform Amps Complete Guide 2022. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar. Am i being too picky in regards to a dead spot on a suhr? Design is where they differ quite a bit. The Jazzmaster has the tremolo bar which could be essential or unimportant depending on your tastes. The neck feels smooth when transitioning from lead runs to playing simple chords. 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. This makes them better for distorted amp settings, and also means they sound a bit more warm and mellow compared to single coils. 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. This makes a Tele a bit easier to control and play, at least in my opinion. Or are they two wildly different beasts? 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. Best of all it was affordable, comfortable, the design was simple, it sounded killer and was easy to repair and modify. 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. Both guitars are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option. The Jazzmaster and Stratocaster both have similar necks on most models. Both guitars have a Bolt-On neck joint. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24. Were a small team of passionate musicians. These controls are used to switch between rhythm and lead modes, as well as controlling the volume and tone in rhythm mode. The Telecaster is just as cool of a guitar as it is today with its domination in the industry still going strong to this present day. The Telecaster compared to the Jazzmaster is rewound for sounding thin and twangy when there are single coil pickups at the helm. I play with my guitar a bit higher up against my body. 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. 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. Most electric guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. In this case, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster is the only one with a compound radius. These controls just provide greater control over the guitars tone. 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. Teles have that unmistakable Fender twang that made them especially popular among country guitarists. These pickups are flatter and wider than most single coil pickups traditionally adopted by most Fender guitars including the Telecaster. One thing that is a bit odd to me is that the Jazzmasters frets feel a tad larder than the Telecasters. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. 
Prosoundhq.com is also a member of other affiliate programmes. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. The Stratocaster is available in more colour options and pickup configurations and has more models available to suit different budgets. If you got small hands, none of these guitars will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability. The lead circuit allows you to use the 3-way pickup selector to activate different pickups, and use the master tone and volume controls. Adam is the founder and author of Tone Topics and dedicated to providing the best guitar content for like-minded gear nerds. 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. Then, there was the American Elite Telecaster HSS that super-charged an American Elite Tele with a mighty ShawBucker pickup in the bridge position. So, the slightly sharper top edge of a Teles body does cut into my arm a bit from time to time. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon. 
However, the Jazzmaster just brings something different to the table hence why they are so popular in todays modern music. Fender American Professional II Telecaster. 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. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. But they also arent the best at jazz, ironically. I would say this guitar is a lead monster with its thin and bright tone but also has the ability to clean up beautifully for some tasty crunchy rhythm tones. Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when we're comparing guitars. Compared to the Jazzmaster, the Telecaster although both guitars sound bright and articulate the Telecaster has slightly more bottom-end giving it the best balance when it comes to frequencies. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. 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. In fact, Teles are more versatile than Jazzmasters, at least in my opinion. The Telemaster just sits perfectly balanced even without a strap that grips my shoulder. Jazzmasters and Stratocasters are both double-cutaway electric guitars, however the Strat has a more regular shape compared to the Jazzmaster which has a more offset design. Single coils also sound great with low and mild amounts of distortion for a crunchy and defined rock rhythm tones.
But, if you are a grunge or alternative player in the vein of Nirvana, Soundgarden, etc. What's more, the American Professional tremolo and bridge assembly has upgraded Mustang saddles and barrels with different widths to match perfectly with the fretboard radius. The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. That's why you should always test a guitar before buying it. 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. 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. Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. 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. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar is to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other. Jazzmasters have offset body shapes unlike Stratocasters. It is definitely going to come down to your own preference. These are affiliate links. 
However, some expensive guitars come with stainless steel frets. Fender guitars are incredibly unique and some of, if not the most, iconic guitars ever. They just have this shimmering quality that very few guitars, even other Fenders, can beat. For a guitar that can do pretty much anything, the Telecaster is a solid option. Now lets take a deeper look into the Jazzmaster and Stratocaster ranges. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases. The rhythm switch bypasses the 3-way pickup selector, and activates only the neck pickup, and the rhythm tone and volume controls. Traditionally a large percentage of Telecasters are more famed for having single coils so it makes sense to discuss them first. Their bodies are slightly rounded on the edges and they feature a nice contour at the back. No matter which one you decide to pick up, I am positive that you wont be disappointed. It's nice to see someone patiently explaining just what makes Jazzmasters so interesting and unique. If you are into using a whammy bar, then you will obviously prefer a Jazzmaster. They both have locking tuners. Best bang for your buck guitar right now. 
I love both the Jazzmaster and the Tele. This is what made Jazzmasters so popular in the 60s, especially among surf rock guitarists. The pickups used on each guitar probably provides the biggest contrast between the two instruments. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. Thanks for the excellent information, Larry! For the neck, both guitars feature a C-shape neck. Jazzmasters have a 3-way pickup selector, lead/ rhythm switch, 2 tone controls and 2 volume controls. 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 only downside is that they dont sustain quite as well as Teles, which would have helped to make their tone even more monstrous. Both Guitars sport the traditional Fender C shape neck rewound for being comfortable, fast and provide a good balance of weight and control in the palm of the hand. On a Jazzmaster, the lead/ rhythm switch allows you to set the guitar up differently. Remember to scroll sideways if youre on mobile to see the full table! I would go as far as saying they are more brighter and more brittle than the bridge pickup of a single coil Telecaster. 
As someone with some mild back problems, Teles appeal to me much more than Jazzmasters. 
Although the Jazzmaster is as equally as versatile in a number of genres and styles. But Jazzmasters will often also have three additional switches at the top of the guitar. This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jim Root Telecaster, especially closer to the nut. Heres a link to take you directly to Guitar Centers electric guitar range so you can see all the offers available at the moment. Whether it's the traditional stacked controls on your Jazz bass or the three-knob layout. Fender's Parallel Universe Collection has introduced several mind-blowing models to the world that combine hybrids out of some of their classic platforms. And just like the Jazzmaster, Teles arent limited to just country music. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 
Thanks for visiting! Their clean sound is bright and shiny, but with just a touch of warmth. 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. In many ways, country music wouldnt sound the way it does if it werent for the Telecaster. 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. When in reality they are piercingly bright and chimey, they certainly come with a false sense of perception. However, as time moved on the Jazzmasters heyday was over with Fender discontinuing production in the 80s due to poor sales. Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/embed/RETB7MkHxOI?rel=0. Telecasters with stock humbucker pickups naturally fatten up the tone losing some of the brightness and twang but repaying with a thicker and warmer tone which lends itself better to rock and heavier music when applied with distortion. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. Let's now compare the playability of both guitars. Most guitar fret wire is made of nickel silver. 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. This incredibly thin and bright tone is what made it so desirable with surf rock guitar players during the 60s. 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. Even though I think there are guitars that are better for jazz, these guitars still sound amazing. When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the guitar. (humbucker in the bridge). Of course, that comes at a price. 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. 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. Stratocasters sound brighter than Jazzmasters because they have three single coil pickups. However, both guitars are great for beginners and are comfortable to use. The Jazzmaster has a slightly offset design compared to the Strat, arguably making upper fret access slightly easier. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. In reality these pickups are known as soapbar pickups. Despite looking and feeling reasonably similar, the Stratocaster and Jazzmaster sound very different from one another. This can be pushed/ pulled on to change the pitch of the strings when playing. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands. As of writing, both could possibly be the most desirable instruments to add to any proud guitar owners collection in todays guitar circle. 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 . 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, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. This was until the punk decade regenerated the guitar bringing it back from the dead. This makes Strats better for clean styles of music, and Jazzmasters suited to higher-gain. The Stratocaster has a brighter but thinner sound. On the other hand, the Fender Jim Root Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money. Teles sport a more compact design. You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings, Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes, Easier to press down strings and bend them, You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings, Balanced playability for chords and single-notes, Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle, Comfortable neck that works for most people, Copyright 2022 FindMyGuitar.com | All Rights Reserved. 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. 
Heres a table comparing the key features of the American Standard/ Original versions of the Fender Stratocaster and Fender Jazzmaster. 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. 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. Regardless of which guitar you choose, neither one is a bad choice. A Tele with humbuckers will fatten up the tone, making it even more aggressive and punchy than a Jazzmaster. Let's see how the Fender Jim Root Telecaster compares to the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster. It also comes down to your personal requirements in a guitar. I play a little jazz, and I love the rhythm circuit. Luckily depending on company and model the choices available for pickups are single coils, humbuckers, and even models with P90s. This makes the pickup sound warmer and thicker in Gibson 498T vs 500T: Bridge Pickup Comparison. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune the guitar without wrapping the strings around the posts. If I had to toss my coin into the hat, however. 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. 
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