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Post subject: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:07 am
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Hi guys, first post for me, and unfortunately the day after I bought my new guitar-Classic Player Jazzmaster 3 colour sunburst.

Please note that this guitar had to be ordered in to my local store because it's difficult to find places that stock them where I live. (Somewhere in the uk)

Firstly I noticed the intonation was out a lot in the store, ok no biggie I thought, It's a new guitar, I'll set it at home....

I managed to get all the strings intonated correctly apart from the low E or 6th, it was too sharp at the 12th. As these have a Tunomatic bridge I was able to turn the saddle around and get more adjustment, also I noticed because the strings that were on had obviously been sat in the same position a while they had developed a small kink just next to the saddle, so I changed the strings.

After all this I can set the intonation of the low E at the 12th fret correctly but with no more room for adjustment of the saddle towards the tremplate to flatten the note. Also, even with the intonation set at the 12th ok, frets 1 to around 9 all sound a little sharp. The only way to get around this is to tune the 6th string a little flat when using a tuner.

The strings that were on from new were (I think) 10-46, The new ones I put on are 10-46 also.

Should I try different gauge strings?
Would straightening the neck out solve this? (It has a fair bit of bow in it from new)
I also noticed the Low E string is resting on the big phillips head screw in the trem plate where the string passes through, would this affect it?


Second problem I have is that the volume wheel for the neck pup's rhythm circuit will not lower the volume, it turns until the volume switches off completely, so it stays at maximum volume and then nothing. Also it crackles a tiny bit as it turns off. Now I'm relatively new to Jazzmasters but I'm guessing that this controller should lower the volume gradually right?

Faulty volume wheel?

Any help from people who know would be much appreciated, I'm obviously gonna take it back to the Fender dealer where I bought it in the next few days.

Thanks,

Karl.
Am I being stupid?


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:06 am
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My advice would be to take it back and swap for another. These come out of mexico where quality control is a bit hit and miss. You shouldn't have to reverse the saddles to set the intonation. Before you do all this though, let's go through all the bases:
1) FLIP THE SADDLES BACK AROUND
2) CHECK YOUR STRING HEIGHT, YOU MAYNEED TO RAISE SADDLE HEIGHT A BIT
3) CHECK THE RELEIF IN YOUR NECK, STRAIGHTEN IF NEEDED
4) CHECK YOUR STRING HEIGHT, AGAIN
5) TUNE TO PITCH, INTONATE

repeat all steps over and over again. this can be a tedious process, but such is the nature of a set up. I use GHS TNT's (10-52) on my MIJ JAZZMASTER, but string guage shouldn't be a problem. Just keep at it until you have a desired string heightand straightness in your neck, thenintonate. If you still cannot get it, you may have a defect.

Rock and or roll!
Bob-o


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:10 pm
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Bring it back to the Dealer without waiting..

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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:36 pm
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Thanks for the reply guys!!

The strings are a little higher than I would have expected them to be, and defo higher than the recommended height in the manual I got with it. Also the neck does have quite a lot of bow. I guess if the neck is straightened then that would make the string longer and reduce the need to move the saddle.

Because it brand new and am reluctant to take it apart myself, I'll take it back to the shop tomorrow and hopefully they will carry out the steps you suggested.

I'm checking again and low E is defo resting on the large cross head screw that is holding the trem plate down. I read somewhere that using Fender Bullet strings solves this problem because they don't have the extra string wrap around. Since this is the string I'm having problems with it is a bit suspicious. If I tune the string to pitch, even the lightest touch of this string between the tail piece and bridge raises the pitch a lot. Can you tell me if I'm able to remove that screw without affecting anything else so I can check the intonation then? This seems like a major design defect to me! Especially when you consider I'm only using 10-46's.

Also, the bridge only has about another 1mm left to lower it. I've since read that to get a lower action one has to shim the neck, something I think the shop will be reluctant to do :(

Many thanks,

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:17 pm
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Karl,

can you post a picture of the problem area, I'm not sure if I follow? The MIM jazzmasters have the tailpiece moved a bit closer to the saddles, claiming to improve the break angle. My MIJ doesn't have that issue as it was made to '62 specs.

Bob-o


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:47 pm
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Karl, IMHO there are way too many issues with this new guitar.Put your tools down and return for another (hopefuly better) copy.

my .02 worth,
John.E


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:48 pm
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No time to post pics before I take it back tomorrow morning.

I don't think the screw is affecting it now, I spun the string around so that the winding on the end wasn't in contact but the intonation is still the same.

I think It will probably need everything setting up properly to be sure like you say, and I ain't touching any more!

Just tested the rhythm circuit pot again now. Imagining the pot has numbers like a normal volume pot-from 0 (no sound) to about 3 there is a tiny bit of volume gain and then after that it crackles a bit and then goes straight to full volume around 4!

Even if it was made in Mexico they should still check the intonation before it goes to a customer! And my dealer should make sure it's right before they give it to me!

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:50 pm
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Best to let the dealer jive with it. Sad to say but some guitars, wherever they be made and whatever brand and model they be ...

...sometimes need a bit of tweaking before being right.

BTW, personally use .11s with a wound 3rd on the MIJ Jazzmaster for best results.

Best of fortune.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:55 am
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Ok got it back from the shop, they straightened the neck a little and lowered the action and that seems to have helped the intonation a lot, I was VERY fussy with them and I'm not sure they like me now :D

Oh and the volume pot just started working on it's own, there is a bit of resistance at one point when moving it, but it seems to be freeing up the more I use it.

Next thing is how to stop the trem arm wobbling about in the socket, it's the screw in type. I'll start a new post for this unless you guys can help me? Some PTFE tape or electricians tape perhaps? I really don't wanna be taking it back to have a different part fitted if I can help it.

Thanks again,

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:20 am
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good deal, glad they were able to get your JM up and running. As for the trem arm, these screw in types have a little spring that sits in the socket before you screw the arm in. They fall out of the guitar all of the time. You can buy a 12 pack for a few dollars.

happy rocking!


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:30 am
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Don't bother with the tape on the tremolo arm. I'm sure that the tension spring fell out of the tremolo collet/receptacle - my Classic Player Jazzy had the same issue. You should ask the dealer if they have any tension springs. All you need to do is drop one of these tiny springs into the hole, then screw the trem down. You'll feel tension after just a few turns, and the arm will stay in place wherever you want it. Here's a link to the tension springs: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-tremolo-arm-tension-springs-12/420519000000000

Also, make sure to put a piece of tape over the hole whenever you remove the arm to ensure that the spring doesn't fall out again. Good thing they're cheap!


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:30 pm
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Ok thanks, got some on order! Loving my Jazzmaster now!!!


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:25 am
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Electricians tape is a no no, it just breaks up and falls inside, PTFE tape would be better I guess but haven't got any yet.

I now I have some springs, but I've been told that they don't work to good with Jazzmasters. Apparently if I put a spring it will just drop inside the trem housing and be lost unless I take ity appart!?

Can anyone confirm this for me on my Classic Player? I don't wanna put anything in there I shouldn't be.

Karl.


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Post subject: Re: Need advice from Jazzmaster masters!!?
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:41 am
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Can now confirm that the 'AM Series Trem Arm Springs' work fine with new Classic Player screw in trems :)


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