Upgrade a Japan JM or buy a TVL JM?

[Radiohead625]

I'm trying to decide which is going to be more worth it and make more sense. Would you buy a Japan Jazzmaster under $600 and upgrade it or would you buy a TVL Jazzmaster? From what I'm hearing, you have to throw a new bridge on the TVL anyway because the string spacing is off.

I don't know, what would you guys do?

[WayToHip]

Get a Japanese and turn it into your own signature? The TVL one is pretty sweet, love the oxblood colour of it. The mustang saddles mod is pretty common also on the TVL so why you'd immediately want to change the bridge.

[Radiohead625]

Get a Japanese and turn it into your own signature? The TVL one is pretty sweet, love the oxblood colour of it. The mustang saddles mod is pretty common also on the TVL so why you'd immediately want to change the bridge.

I've heard a lot of issues with the string spacing and the high e falling off the fretboard on these guitars.

As for the Jap idea, that's kind of what I was thinking, but was wondering if it would make financial sense lol. After all is said and done, it would probably cost the same. However, I could do it at my own pace.

[repoman]

If I had the cash for a TVL, I'd go for that and just get a staytrem bridge if it wound up needing one with the high string falling off the edge. That guitar is just too sexy. I've had that before and a neck adjustment was the cure (the neck has a tiny bit of wiggle room either side that permits the neck to be adjusted). The staytrem I stuck on my jaguar fixed the string spacing to make it more like a gibson, but had a lot of other benefits that made it worth it even with out the spacing- it doesn't sink down into the body, it doesn't rattle, and (this maybe placebo) but I also though it made a big difference in note clarity and sustain.

[Ghost Hip]

I love my TVL. I did not have any issues with string spacing. The high e is a tad close to the edge than normal but I never have an issue of it slipping off while playing. I have always loved blocks and binding on Jazzmaster, matching headstock, mustang bridge, all American electronics, and I definitely prefer the big rhythm switch over the smaller ones. Only issue I had was the trem arm collet was way loose out of box. So the whammy bar wouldn't stick in place and just swing around. I had my coworker set it up and he tightened the collet, its all good now.

Keep in mind with my GC discount I paid a little under a grand for it. You could probably get a Japanese Jazzy and mod it and be under $1300. For me it wasn't worth it to buy an American trem, new pickups, new bridge, and also finding one with a matching headstock in a color I actually liked. Also helped I could play the TVL first, and like I said before it had all the features I wanted and a color I would be more than happy with. I have had people at gigs ask me if it is a custom shop haha.

Another pro for the TVL, the thing stays in tune remarkably well, even when I am getting my Swirlies MBV Swervedriver on.

[DarkAxel]

Pumpkinz brings some good points as always

If you're really into modding, I'd go the MIJ. But if you don't have anything a bit more unique in mind than just a bridge and pickup swap, i'd not bother and just get the TVL. It's a sweet looking guitar, I only heard good things about it and as PP pointed out, it has all the good stuf such as matching headstock etc.

What I¨m trying to say - if you only want to mod it towards the all-mod-cons approach of the TVL, just get the TVL (in case you like the colour and matching headstocks, of course)

I mean

I'm a bit of a fanboi of his, but if I had to choose, Troy would be my first choice for the "I'll own a signature instrument" moment.

[indianDYsummer]

I would get a used 60s classic lacquer MIM model and upgrade it.

[Radiohead625]

I would get a used 60s classic lacquer MIM model and upgrade it.

You know I was actually thinking about the roadworn. I mean if we're going made in Mexico, it has a nitro body and American pickups. The big thing is I could get it used for under $800. How are they though? Haven't heard much talk about them.

[Ghost Hip]

I would get a used 60s classic lacquer MIM model and upgrade it.

You know I was actually thinking about the roadworn. I mean if we're going made in Mexico, it has a nitro body and American pickups. The big thing is I could get it used for under $800. How are they though? Haven't heard much talk about them.

A former bandmate kf mine got the Fiesta Red Jag and it was pretttttttty dope. Comes with hardshell case too.

[waltdogg]

Yoooo!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/5410550628.html

[repoman]

I bought a used TVL JM today that I had found on CL for a good price. Its quite nice, the neck is larger than I had expected, the wider string spacing feels pretty good now after playing it for the past couple hours. I'm wondering what the deal with the bridge is, its better quality than the fender mustang replacement bridge I had bought for a Jag. It has screw bushings and weighs as much as the staytrem bridge I have.

Sound is very even keeled, its not screaming...very balanced EQ from the pickups. Frets are not jumbo but they must put some attention into them at the factory because it's very buzz-free with very low action. It's been holding tuning quite well too, even with some really skinny strings on it at the moment, they feel like 9s. Wonder what the nut is.

Really nice guitar. Never had a MIM Fender before.

[rfurtkamp]

High end MIMs are stupid good. It's like the Squiers - don't buy the baselines.

[Faldoe]

Yoooo!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/5410550628.html

Damn. Saw that a few weeks ago and figured it sold cause the ad was gone. Wasn't it at $1000 before?

[waltdogg]

Yoooo!

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/5410550628.html

Damn. Saw that a few weeks ago and figured it sold cause the ad was gone. Wasn't it at $1000 before?

It was up at $910 earlier in the day before they edited the ad and lowered it to $850.

[repoman]

It was on Ebay for a while at $1050

Wonder whats up with it.