JM Custom 2012 closet classic

Postfuzz

Hello all...

I'm new to this JM world although almost all my life I've been craving for one!

So i decided to put all my savings once & for all for some good use.

I'm very exited about this decision, so if this post turns to be a bit long... Please bear with me 8 :]

I've seen this JM Custom 2012 closet classic in Lake placid blue.

Picture

After i played it, it sounds and look awesome! but I was wondering a few things about it.

1. about the finish:

Picture

I'm not an expert but it looks maybe cracked from weather conditions or something

and the seller hasn't mention anything about that so I'm guessing this how it was custom made??

what do you think?

2. Playability:

Though I'm really used to a well setup Gibson SG (it was cool for me when i was 12)

This JM feels kinda stiff, but if the action will be lowered it seems that the fret buzzes will only increase

And she will be unplayable.

Maybe a dumb question... Does closet classic necessarily means that the guitar won't be setup-ed correctly "out of the box"

3. Tremolo arm & tailpiece:
The arm end that goes in the guitar is grooved all right.
But it slips in until the very end of the arm angle & no clickpush sound or feel to hold it in place.
i understand that the arm should hang & move freely from side to side (hope I'll deal with that later)
but is it normal that it's not caught at all?

Also all the hardware of the tailpiece seems to be chrome except the tremlock button itself which looks like nickel...

The guitar has it's fender certificate & the seller assured me that it hasn't gone any modifications.

Does all of this seems legit & expected to you?

Thank you all!

I'll be glad to read any inputs you have on these issues & learn from your experience.

Postfuzz

HNB

someone said:
The guitar has it's fender certificate & the seller assured me that it hasn't gone any modifications.
Does all of this seems legit & expected to you?

Thank you all!
I'll be glad to read any inputs you have on these issues & learn from your experience.

Postfuzz

Probably not how it was made by Fender. Paint cracks happen from temperature and humidity change over time.

Closet Classic nornally means the guitar will look like an old guitar that sat in a closet for most its life. It shouldn't change the set up. You likely need to check your neck relief and adjust the truss rod to help with the buzz. Your frets could also need leveling if you end up having and high ones that are fretting out.

Make sure you are pushing the arm in all the way. If it is loose, on the underside of the tremolo plate you will see little teeth tht hold the arm in place. They can be gently squeezed in to help tighten the fit. The tremolo has to be unscrewed to do this.

The tremolo lock on American Jaguars and Jazzmasters are brushed looking. That is normal.

Postfuzz

HNB said:

Probably not how it was made by Fender. Paint cracks happen from temperature and humidity change over time.

*what do you think i should expect with time to all these finish cracks?
Do you think it has/will have any change sound wise?

Closet Classic nornally means the guitar will look like an old guitar that sat in a closet for most its life. It shouldn't change the set up. You likely need to check your neck relief and adjust the truss rod to help with the buzz. Your frets could also need leveling if you end up having and high ones that are fretting out.

*I'm planing on going for a "Mastery Bridge" it it proof to be exactly the same measures so no modifications will be required?

Make sure you are pushing the arm in all the way. If it is loose, on the underside of the tremolo plate you will see little teeth tht hold the arm in place. They can be gently squeezed in to help tighten the fit. The tremolo has to be unscrewed to do this.

*Do you think that there might be a way of unscrewing the tremolo & putting it back
without the later need to re adjust or do the intonations again, by gluing it in some way?

The tremolo lock on American Jaguars and Jazzmasters are brushed looking. That is normal.

Hi HNB,

Thanks for you reply, It's a big help!

Iv'e got few other questions with your clarifications...

HNB

The finish cracks are called checking. It happens as wood expands and contracts in different heat and humidity. On an electric guitar, it won't change the sound since sound is mostly influenced by the pickups, neck, nut, bridge, tremolo, and pots. It is a cosmetic thing. 😀 Lots of people try to mimic checking with razorblades or by using canned air, etc. I wouldn't worry about it sound wise. It is just cosmetic and it happens with guitars that age or have been artificially aged. 😀

No modifications are required. Make sure you buy the right one. (They make them for USA guitars and Japanese ones.) Below is my Jazzmaster (Japanese) with a Mastery.

IMG_1193 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

The tremolo doesn't really change the intonation. That is set at the bridge by moving the saddles towards or away from the nut and changing string length. Under the tremolo will look like this except the long screw with the spring on yours will have a brass looking end instead of silver like the one pictured. On the left is where your arm goes through. Those little "teeth" (rectangles at the end) put pressure on the arm to help it stay in place. You can gently squeeze them in towards the center so they help grip the arm more. Be careful because you don't want to snap them off by bending them too much. If you do by accident, you can buy a new collet (that one piece of the tremolo), so all will not be lost.

IMG_1475 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

robertoriginal

i have a question for the original poster. are you new to playing the guitar? if so, you may want to start on something a bit more user friendly...

the finish cracks will get bigger over time, like in 30 more years they may grow 1/5th of thier size right now, or a lot more, depending on how it is kept.

don't glue the trem arm in, if thats what you are asking, just push it in, it will click or "pop" into place. its supposed to move easily, but it won't fall out once its popped into place.

the mastery bridge will need to modification. i suggest if you indeed purchase this guitar having it setup by a pro FIRST. and if you have any problems with it, have the TECH sort them out before immediately trying to glue stuff on or switch out parts.

Postfuzz

Thanks for your answers 8]

To HNB:

Maybe i wasn't clear, I'm aware that intonation is done be saddles moving forward & back.

I was only trying to get away with dismantling the trem piece without any effect of moving bridge parts...

Anyway, that's in the past.

I've removed the trem piece to find out that 3 of the 4 "teeth" are broken 😠

I'm now contacting the seller to try & replace this.

You wrote: "you can buy a new collet (that one piece of the tremolo), so all will not be lost."

Do you know if this collet piece can be purchased separately?

My Exploration revealed only whole tremolo parts with collets in them.

To Robert:

I've been playing guitar for 20 years now as you can see in my first post.

It's been a dream for me having a Jazzmaster for most of those years,

And you can be sure I'm going to deal it with great respect & pampering...

All my questions are from the place of being extra safe in all manners that i can.

You Wrote:"the mastery bridge will need to modification"

Did you mean it will need NO modification? or it WILL need modification?

Thanks again for all the help & Info you are kindly willing to share.

Its of great value to me.

HNB

someone said:
The Mastery Bridge requires no modification to guitars originally equipped with Fender’s “floating” style bridge and stock body thimbles. The bridge easily fits into vintage guitars as well as new and used American or imported guitars with these thimbles.<p style="font-size:1.2em;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif;color:rgb(62,62,62);background-color:rgb(241,240,219);">If your guitar has been fitted with an alternative style bridge and you would like to use our bridge, contact us and we will be happy to assist.

No mods needed on the mastery. Mine is sitting in stock thimbles.

http://www.masterybridge.com/offset-bridge/

Below is a link for the tremolo arm bushing. 😀

http://angela.com/jazzmasterjaguarvibratoarmmountingreceptacle.aspx

robertoriginal

i meant to say "no" modification, i type a bit faster that i should at times and make mistakes.

some of the questions you were asking just seemed to very "novice" thats all.

tho, the jazzmaster and jaguar are finicky and odd instruments if you come from a hard tail les paul/tele world.

even folks that rave about the floyd rose are confused about the jaguar/jazzmaster vibrato system.