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Post subject: Tele vs Strat Vs Jazzmaster fundamental differences *JimRoot
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 2:40 pm
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Hey guys,

I'm looking for some more technical answers regarding the differences on these 3 Jim Root signatures.

I own the Jazzmaster and Telecaster, and they play worlds apart. The Jazzmaster is what essentially won me over to Fender from Gibson, despite owning an American Standard Strat and '52 Tele Reissue.

However, the Telecaster and I are not getting along. It likes to fight back. It sounds great, but it just makes me work for it. I just picked it up from a guy who bought it in 2012 and pretty much left it in it's case throughout his ownership. Both are at my luthier now getting checked over, and I'll probably have him dress the frets and see how close he can get it to set up to my Jazzmaster.

This brings me to my question; What kind of fundamental differences are there between these 3 Fender models that can affect the set up potential? It's all wood, hardware and strings, but there must be some true differences that causes each guitar to react to playing differently besides that, right?

The Jazzmaster and Stratocaster are essentially the same guitar spec wise and aside from the body shape, so should I expect them to have the same 'potential' as far as set up goes? The Telecaster has smaller, medium jumbo frets and a straight 12 degree radius (as oppose to Jumbo and 12-16 compound) so I expect the strings won't lay as flat on the Tele, no matter the work that's put in. So where do the fundamental construction differences come into play here? Things like neck angle, neck-to-body contact area, things like that.

I have the Strat on order, because I'm paranoid that the Tele isn't going to work out for me. But despite the specs, is it reasonable for me to believe it will be any closer to the Jazzmaster, or any different from the Telecaster?

In short, what I want is this:
A guitar to compliment my Jim Root Jazzmaster for different tunings.
I would like it to not be another Jazzmaster, purely for aesthetic reasons
I want it to sound the same, and have the same control layout
One guitar in D standard drop C, and one double duty E standard drop D/DADGAD

Is there anything that says, fundamentally the Jazzmaster will be better for one tuning over the other.. Then will either the Strat or Tele compliment it better for the other tuning?


Thanks for all your help!


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Post subject: Re: Tele vs Strat Vs Jazzmaster fundamental differences *Jim
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 3:20 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
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OK, I don't claim to be an expert on Jim Root models (I guess only JR is...) or drop tunings, but let's get the topic rolling anyways.

Basically, the neck angle doesn't matter - it is adjustable.
The neck-to-body contact area is (practically) the same.
The scale length in all those guitars is 25.5".
The bridge is the same.
The radii are different, Strat and JM 12"-16" compound and Tele 12". (Actually, that difference could be 'flattened out' by partially shaving the fret tops and flattening the bridge saddles radius.)
The frets are different - and if you say the Jumbo on Strat&JM is bigger than the MedJumbo on the Tele, that tells they are on the old Fender fretwire specs (the 2017< Jumbo would be smaller than the old MedJumbo).

But techwise/structurewise, I see no fundamental reasons why one couldn't get low action on any of those guitars. Or why one would be better suited for different tunings.
A side note here: when intonation & fine tuning really matter, the same guitar can be set up differently when studio recording different songs with different chord structures.

So I "blame" it all on different guitar models and how that effects on the player's gut feelings.
Thus, if you feel the Jazzmaster suits you best, forget the aesthetics (or have one refinished in Shell Pink...) and get another JM for the alternate tunings.
One note on that, though; even two exactly similar guitars can feel very different... :wink:


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