Squier VM Jazzmaster Special?

[Benlostforyears]

There is a Butterscotch Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster Special with the hardtail bridge that is for sale in my area. It looks to be in decent condition without too much fret wear. The only issue I see is the neck needs to be readjusted in the pocket to realign and center the strings on the fretboard. He's asking $300, which seems fairly reasonable, but I was hoping to get some opinions from members who've owned or played one. What is the neck like, and how does the somewhat odd hardtail bridge fair? Thanks

 

[Azureglo]

Interesting one this: Its like a Tele/LP junior with two JM style pickups but with an art deco top loader bridge and a Strat jack.... In truth the one I had was a good guitar but I prefer the higher tension of string through body so it was moved on in favour of a VM tele with the same JM neck pickup. If you've played any top load six saddle Teles or Strats you'll find the playing experience similar. The generic JM pickups are surprisingly loud and characterful, good for indie/modern rock and well controlled for hum if you shield the guitar.

What you lose is the wacky behind the bridge overtones and weird but musical vibrato, but then again you don't have many hours of setup, shims etc to get to it work with lighter strings. For $300 or less depending on your haggling skills, its well worth trying. I found mine surprisingly easy to move on after a good clean and fret polish, it sold for slightly more than I paid, they're pretty rare but they have some fans.

 

[Azureglo]

PS forgot to add, it had two volumes and two tones but in concentric pot form, again quite useful for dialling in selective amounts of both pickups like a Les Paul. Unusual but useful for me or annoying if you're used to a single volume/tone setup, though its 15 minutes to change to single vol/tone while you're upgrading the usual bargain basement electrics

The bridge is much wackier than it seems...

 

[Benlostforyears]

Interesting one this: Its like a Tele/LP junior with two JM style pickups but with an art deco top loader bridge and a Strat jack.... In truth the one I had was a good guitar but I prefer the higher tension of string through body so it was moved on in favour of a VM tele with the same JM neck pickup. If you've played any top load six saddle Teles or Strats you'll find the playing experience similar. The generic JM pickups are surprisingly loud and characterful, good for indie/modern rock and well controlled for hum if you shield the guitar.

What you lose is the wacky behind the bridge overtones and weird but musical vibrato, but then again you don't have many hours of setup, shims etc to get to it work with lighter strings. For $300 or less depending on your haggling skills, its well worth trying. I found mine surprisingly easy to move on after a good clean and fret polish, it sold for slightly more than I paid, they're pretty rare but they have some fans.

Thanks that's good to know. I had a VM Jazzmaster with the trem and really liked the tones, but I did not have the patience for all that setup. I currently have a Blonde Squier '51 that's a toploader, but once I found some replacement saddles that fit, its been a great guitar. The seller said he'd take $280, so I might just have to grab it and find out for myself.

 

[Azureglo]

enjoy! @$280 its a steal.

 

[Robb]

Ain't nothing like trying !!!

 

[kjohns339]

I had a sunburst one and wish I hadn't sold it. It had an amazing thick maple neck. The bridge was quirky but did it's job. I could take or leave the concentric pots. I thought about swapping it to standard one volume, one tone, but never got around to it.

 

[Benlostforyears]

Unfortunately, I may have to pass on this one. A few unexpected expenses came up, and now the only way I fund this purchase is by selling my 2005 Squier '51, and I'm not sure if it's worth it.

 

[MAS Tequila]

My 1st question: Where are you located in NC?

If you're not going to buy this JM would you mind hooking someone up with the seller?

 

[archetype]

There is a Butterscotch Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster Special with the hardtail bridge that is for sale in my area. It looks to be in decent condition without too much fret wear. The only issue I see is the neck needs to be readjusted in the pocket to realign and center the strings on the fretboard. He's asking $300, which seems fairly reasonable, but I was hoping to get some opinions from members who've owned or played one. What is the neck like, and how does the somewhat odd hardtail bridge fair? Thanks

The neck alignment can likely be cured in less than a minute. Back the neck screws out a quarter turn and push the neck sideways at the headstock to align the strings with the neck.

 

[Benlostforyears]

My 1st question: Where are you located in NC?

If you're not going to buy this JM would you mind hooking someone up with the seller?

Western NC. It's on Craigslist Asheville.

 

[Benlostforyears]

The neck alignment can likely be cured in less than a minute. Back the neck screws out a quarter turn and push the neck sideways at the headstock to align the strings with the neck.

Yes a quick and easy fix, if the neck pocket itself isn't the issue.

 

[MAS Tequila]

Western NC. It's on Craigslist Asheville.

I lived outside of Charlotte for about 10 years.

Explored most of the hills on 2 wheels.