Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster

Cool, styleful (and unusual) Jazzmaster

The block inlays look awesome (as does the metal kill switch). A lighter tone than other Jazzmasters, so it really offers something new!

Fenomenal guitar

I started playing guitar almost 30 years ago, I've owned Gibsons, ESPs, Duesenbergs and more, and I can't be more honest when I say this is the best guitar I've ever owned or played. Flawless construction, very good looking, extremely versatile and above all, fenomenal tones in whatever pickup/channel combination you use. Superior tone, really.

I always found the concept of using a "signature guitar" kind of cheesy, but I ended up buying this one, and I couldn't be happier I did.

Couldn't recommend more.

Masterfully made guitar

This Fender Jazzmaster is thoughtfully created and sounds perfect no matter what style you wish to play. Even with its faults, you cannot but admire the charming nature of this beautiful guitar.

Pros

- Great Sound

- Beautiful Finish

- Great Variety of Tones You Can Create

- The Vintage Tuners Feel Great to Use

Cons

- Flimsy saddle bridge

- Will need a guitar tech/luthier to work out kinks/treat the wood of the fretboard

All in all, this is a perfect guitar, with faults that almost seem charming. It is dedicated to the people who want an interesting, crafted guitar as Troy van Leeuwen wanted for himself, and is a joy to play with and find its potential in the hands of any guitarist. Personally, I love this guitar as it invites the performer to explore the tonal nature of the guitar in such a variety of ways and with such clarity and warmth that it seems impossible to put down once you've started fiddling with it. Highly recommend this guitar for people who want a guitarist's guitar.

Probably the best choice on the market for Jazzmaster

This review is for those who is really struggling with the choice of spending his hard-earned money for a guitar; on the first glance stunning super fashionable piece of gear; on the other hand - Mexico-built signature version of almost regular Jazzmaster.

So here is the truth, my friend:

This is the most incredible guitar you could possibly get on the market today. You can hunt on Ebay for years for nice-looking second-hand AVRI or built your own Japan-made beauty way replacing the pickups and electronics. I know what I'm talking about - I did it, not once.

Or you can go for this precious thing.

Let's start from the finish, look and overall craftsmanship - 10/10.

The Mexican factory is as good as Californian. The same people, the same procedures, the machines and tools. Do not be fooled by "patriots".

The sound:

Fastinating! Boy, what a killer thing it is. With dual circuit you can explore for hours. It takes time to understand and get used to this setup. But when you do, you are in guitar heaven.

Cons:

The factory setup was awful.

If I would pick this guitar from a hook in a shop, probably I would say that it is a piece of junk. And I would be wrong as hell.

Let's be honest - guitar is a personal thing, so be prepared for a need of adjustments here and there.

It took me a hour or two to lower down the action and correct the bridge. As soon as I finished, I was shocked - this is the best guitar man can buy today.

Overall:

10+/10

Look, playability, sound, versatility. Everything is in its right place.

I really is a very good guitar

This guitar is well built, is handsome, keeps its tuning well when using the tremolo, is extremely versatile and sounds great.

The tremolo arm often falls out.

I play this guitar in a 60's, 70's, and 80's classic rock and roll covers band. I play both lead and rhythm. I can get an appropriate sound out of this thing for just about any song. So far i have played it through a Lacquered Tweed Fender Blues Junior, a Palmer Fab 5, and an Orange Tiny Terror combo. It sounds pleasing(pleasingly nice AND pleasingly disgusting, depending on my mood) through all of them.

Frankly; i love the thing. It's not too heavy. The frets are large and it is eminently playable. The tuning heads are extremely smooth. I almost look forward to it going out of tune as the act of turning those almost frictionless devices is massively satisfying. I don't have to do this that often as it is very stable.

The pick ups sound great. As mentioned before you can coax a huge range of sounds out of this thing. Bright, twangy sounds from the bridge pickup, thick and crunchy goodness from the neck pickup and the rhythm circuit provides a tastefully darker set of tones.

I had read that there was a problem with the first string slipping off the bridge and sometimes off the neck but this has never happened to me.

It played well straight out of the box. The case it comes in can support the weight of (and protect it from the bouncing up and down of) a fairly hefty 2 year old boy with a taste and a talent for destruction.

I'm not a fan of the tremolo arm falling out though and didn't give full marks for quality because of this. It IS a quality instrument and I have read that this is a feature of Jazzmaster tremolo units.

I'm not that animated a player and it does fall out a lot. Having to look about on the floor for the tremolo arm mid-song is enormously tedious. It bounces and it travels. It is even more tedious trying to the the tremolo arm BACK INTO the unit while playing.

In spite of this, I heartily recommend this guitar.

I enjoy playing it.

A lot.

You probably will too.