A Fender American Professional Jazzmaster Review

Body And Neck:
Electronics:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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Fender's storied history includes some of the largest milestones in the history of the electric guitar. But while the California manufacturer has become one of the world's largest fretted instrument manufacturers, they're far from resting on their laurels. After recently reorganizing their product lineup, they've released a new Jazzmaster model as part of the American Professional series.

Made in Corona, California, this guitar is one of Fender's higher-end models. For well under $2,000, the Jazzmaster offers eye-catching style and finishes, premium materials and construction, and top-notch sound. Let's take a closer look and break down all of the details!

Body and Neck

Like most Fender models, the American Professional Jazzmaster features an alder body paired with a bolt-on maple neck. Shaped in Fender's new “Deep C” profile with a 9.5″ radius, the neck offers a nice balance between thin styles better for lightning-fast playing and thicker, meatier necks that offer a superior foundation for bends.

While it might not be as famous as the silhouette of the Stratocaster or Telecaster, the Jazzmaster's offset body is a classic design in its own right. The body contours are comfortable whether you're sitting down or standing up, and the shapely cutaways give you quick access to the very top frets. If you do love to play above the 17th fret, though, the squared heel joint may slow you down a bit.

Depending on the finish, you can get the Jazzmaster with either a maple or rosewood fingerboard. The maple, finished in a gloss urethane, plays with a slick feel and injects some snap and zing into your tone. Rosewood, on the other hand, is a more mellow choice and is noted for its low-end warmth.

Electronics

Despite the large soapbox-style casings, the Jazzmaster comes outfitted with standard single-coil pickups rather than P-90s. These particular pickups are V-Mod versions, designed by Michael Frank specifically for this model.

The control setup is simplified from the more complex layout found on many other Jazzmaster models. Rather than the combination of wheels and switches, the American Professional includes only the master tone and volume controls along with a three-way selector switch.

The knobs utilize Fender's new treble-bleed system, designed to preserve the high-end in your signal even as you turn the volume knob down. It solves a major issue for players who want to use their guitar to practice at low volumes but don't want to deal with muffled or sludgy tones as a result.

The selector switch is straightforward, offering each pickup individually and a combination of the two in the center position. Unlike other versions of the Jazzmaster, it has been moved up to the top horn from its traditional spot on the lower bout.

Hardware

Another feature that distinguishes this specific model from other Jazzmaster releases is the new fret wire. The 22 frets here are a special “narrow tall” design, which makes them more conducive to precise bends and easy solo note lines.

Beyond the new fret design, the rest of the hardware is more similar to the rest of Fender's American line. The signature floating tremolo is the most visually striking piece of hardware; it's a classic design that players love from surf rock to shoegaze.

This guitar's bridge uses small metal cylinders to provide tuning stability and maintain a fixed action — there's no need to fiddle with multiple adjustments to raise or lower the strings. The barrels are also cut deeper to prevent the strings from popping out, a trick borrowed from the Mustang. At the other end of the neck, this Jazzmaster features a genuine bone nut and Fender's sealed cast tuning machines. As a bonus, a molded hardshell case comes standard when you purchase the guitar.

Sound

Fender boasts that the V-Mod pickups in this guitar mix vintage tone with modern breakup and flair (hence the name). There are a few points for improvement, but by and large, they deliver some great sounds.

The neck pickup is decently warm and full-bodied; it can sound a bit harsh with the tone knob cranked, and somewhat muffled if you roll it all the way off. In the middle, though, you can find tones running from mellow and smooth to clear and cutting.

The bridge pickup is harsher and delivers more bite than its companion. It's easy to let this one turn tinny or shrill, but if you keep it under control, it delivers outstanding spank and twang. Both of the pickups shine with some overdrive applied. The added grit brings out a layer of saturation and overtones that modern players will love.

Some players who want a more quintessentially “Jazzmaster” sound aren't so hot on these pickups. They have a point — it's true that the V-mod pickups do lean more towards the modern side of the equation than the vintage. However, a discerning player can coax a wealth of different sounds out of this instrument. Though tastes differ, it's hard to argue with the versatility and quality of the tones on offer here.

Conclusion

Jazzmasters have long been a favorite of alternative and underground players, and it's not hard to see why. The quirky design and unique pickups lend themselves to a broad range of different applications. This American Professional version streamlines the classic Jazzmaster experience into a well-built and intuitive package. Players in search of a flexible yet distinctive new axe should check this out.