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Average Price: $700

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$400

$1001+

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Description

The Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar skillfully marries vintage allure with modern performance enhancements, making it an essential addition to any guitarist's arsenal. This guitar stands as a testament to Fender's commitment to quality and craftsmanship, offering the iconic offset body shape that Jazzmasters are known for, along with upgraded features tailored for today's musicians. Whether you're channeling the jangly vibes of surf rock or the textured soundscapes of indie rock, the Jazzmaster Special delivers with distinctive sound clarity and versatile tone options. Its unique floating tremolo system allows for expressive pitch modulation, while specially designed pickups offer a wide range of tonal possibilities that are both rich and dynamic.

Designed for musicians who seek authenticity without sacrificing contemporary playability, this Jazzmaster Special includes modern updates like an Adjusto-Matic bridge for enhanced tuning stability and an improved neck angle for better action. These thoughtful enhancements ensure that this guitar is not just a nod to the past but a reliable workhorse for the present.

Key Features:

  • Offset body shape for classic Jazzmaster aesthetics
  • Specially designed pickups for a versatile range of tones
  • Unique floating tremolo system for expressive pitch modulation
  • Adjusto-Matic bridge for improved tuning stability
  • Modern neck angle for enhanced playability
  • 21 medium jumbo frets on a rosewood fingerboard
  • Alder body with a bolt-on maple neck
  • Vintage-style tuners for a retro touch

Product specs

Brand Fender
Model Classic Player Jazzmaster Special
Finish 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Lake Placid Blue
Year 2009 - 2019
Made In Mexico
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Tremolo Tailpiece
Color Family Black, Blue, Brown
Finish Features Matching Headstock
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Finish Style Gloss, Metallic
Fretboard Material Pau Ferro, Rosewood
Model Family Fender Jazzmaster
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 21
Number of Strings 6-String
Offset Body Offset Body
Pickup Configuration SS
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Series Fender Classic Player
Wood Top Style Opaque

FAQs

What type of pickups does the Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special have?

The Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special is equipped with hotter single-coil pickups designed to deliver a powerful and versatile sound, perfect for various music genres.

How does the Adjusto-Matic bridge on the Classic Player Jazzmaster Special improve playability?

The Adjusto-Matic bridge provides enhanced tuning stability and precise intonation, making it easier to achieve the desired sound and sustain during performances.

Is the Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special suitable for surf rock music?

Yes, the Classic Player Jazzmaster Special is well-suited for surf rock, offering the characteristic bright and twangy tones associated with the genre, thanks to its unique pickup configuration and floating tremolo system.

What is the neck profile like on the Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special?

The neck of the Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special features a comfortable "C" shape profile, providing a smooth playing experience suitable for both rhythm and lead guitarists.

Does the Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special come with a tremolo system?

Yes, the Classic Player Jazzmaster Special includes a floating tremolo tailpiece, allowing for expressive pitch bending and vibrato effects.

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Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special

Video thumbnail for Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special by ProGuitarShopDemos

Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special

ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Video thumbnail for Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special by N Stuff Music

Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special

N Stuff Music

N Stuff Music

Video thumbnail for Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar by Guitar Center

Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Guitar Center

Guitar Center

Video thumbnail for Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar by Musician's Friend

Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Musician's Friend

Musician's Friend

Video thumbnail for Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special by Bart Dietvorst

Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special

Bart Dietvorst

Bart Dietvorst

Reviews

PROS

  • Offers glassy, warm Jazzmaster tone with SD Antiquity pickups

  • Excellent neck comfort and dark fretboard appeal

  • Modern 4-way switch adds versatility over traditional rhythm circuit

  • Mustang saddles prevent string popping, enhancing playability

  • Fast, satin-finished neck improves playability

  • Great tuning stability for a traditional Jazzmaster tremolo

  • Vintage look with 95% accurate appearance and 98% sound recreation

  • Balanced tone with both pickups in series for unique sound

  • Lighter body compared to some Jazzmaster models

  • Affordable price compared to similar models like Vintera

CONS

  • Vibrato system less smooth than other Jazzmaster models

  • Bridge and guard can't be easily upgraded without modification

  • Pickups may be too hot for those seeking a cleaner sound

  • AOM bridge and unmatched radius may not suit all players

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar.

Features and functionality

  • The coil split feature doesn't fully replicate single coil tones but leans towards a Strat/Tele twang, offering a wide tonal range but with a noticeable volume drop.

    Source
  • The guitar's tremolo system is described as "squishy" and struggles with 1/2 tone bends, indicating limitations in range.

    Source
  • The rhythm/lead circuit offers a kill-switch effect and provides a bass-heavy tone in the rhythm mode.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Pickups offer a P-90ish sound, described as hotter than vintage Jazzmaster pickups, but the rhythm circuit allows for a more mellow tone.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Buzz specifically noted on the 7th fret, particularly affecting the D string.

    Source
  • The neck requires removal for truss rod adjustments, complicating setup tweaks.

    Source
  • The tremolo's spacing is unconventional and lacks a lock function, which can impact tuning stability.

    Source
  • The bridge's string height screws may come loose easily and rattle; gluing them is recommended to prevent this issue.

    Source
  • The Halon JM-AOM bridge offers string height matching to the fretboard radius but may require a rubber mallet for tight fitting on AOM posts.

    Source

User experience

  • Noted "clanky" sound characteristic, especially minimized by the tune-o-matic style bridge and tremolo placement.

    Source
  • The guitar is heavier than expected, which some owners find excessive for a Jazzmaster.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (10-52) strings maintain tuning stability well, even with frequent tuning changes between E standard and drop C.

    Source
  • The neck of the 2009 model has developed a yellow tint over time, suggesting aging characteristics in the finish.

    Source

Build quality

  • The high E string has been reported to misalign with the pickup magnet and sits too close to the neck edge, causing it to slip off during play.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • The DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickup fits under the original cover but requires bending the legs for height adjustment due to the angled neck pocket.

    Source
  • Swapping the bridge for a Mustang style one is advised for improved comfort and string breakage prevention during tremolo usage.

    Source
  • Gotoh SD91 MG-T locking tuners are favored for easy string changes and come with two sets of bushings to fit different hole sizes.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar is noted for its versatility across genres like indie, psych, blues, metal, punk, shoegaze, and jazz with its medium-hot humbuckers.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 65 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
atr89

Versatile Guitar. You'll be amazed. :)

I've had this guitar since 2010. Guitar was in perfect condition. Bought it new. MIM. Action was perfect out of the box. Stays in tune great. Took it for some routine service like 3 years later, and it got better. Recently i changed the pickups for some Seymour Duncan Hot For Jazzmaster 2. Bridge and Neck. It really boosted the guitar's output, it gave it more kick. I believe it got the real tone out of this great guitar. I've never had any problems with it. I also modded the guitar by getting it a tone bypass. I sold it for a year ando got the same one I sold, I regretted that so much. But now it's back. Great guitar and great sound... the only down side i can find is probably the problem it was to find a case that fitted this guitar, but that's like something that has nothing to do with the guitar at all.

C

Amazing sounding guitar!

This guitar sounds amazing for anything. I mean it seriously, you could honestly play metal on it, but the p-90's aren't hot enough to handle hi-gain, but the neck is really comfy. Put a touch of reverb on it, even a little crunch and boom these fuckers sing. The jazz box setting sounds super killer, all in all super awesome guitar if you don't have over a grand to spend this guitar should definitely be one you check out at your guitar shop!

samuelisaachewitt

Newest Guitar (12/2015)

Great clean sound but can cut through when it needs to happen. Matched with my AC-15, this thing is a beast.

just1m

Awesome

Great tone, good update of the Jazzmaster to more modern spec, does not replace a vintage, but still a very usable instrument.

jaybirsongs

Apollo County's primary workhorse

AKA Allison

This is a 2015 Fender Jazzmaster Special (Tri-color Sunburst). This tone monster makes up the foundation of Apollo County's guitar sound.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Troy Van Leeuwen uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Troy Van Leeuwen

Guitarist

Queens of the Stone Age

...
Verified via Photo

Troy Van Leeuwen has been using a black Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar for performances since 2011, as shown in a photo featured on Premier Guitar.

See how Toro y Moi uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Toro y Moi

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Vimeo

In the Vimeo video "Chaz :in Parts" by Primary Colors, Toro y Moi is seen playing the Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar around the 11-minute mark during the recording of "The Flight."

See how Ben Howard uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Ben Howard

Guitarist, Singer

A Blaze of Feather

...
Verified via YouTube

In the BBCRadio1VEVO video of Ben Howard covering "Wildest Moments" in the Live Lounge, he plays a Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar. The guitar features neck binding and delivers an impressive look and sound, which he has likely used on multiple occasions.

See how Anthony Gonzalez uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Anthony Gonzalez

Guitarist, Composer

M83

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo of Anthony Gonzalez performing live, he can be seen playing a 3-color sunburst Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar. The writing on the headstock can clearly be seen in this photo, and it matches that of the Classic Player Jazzmaster Special exactly (as does the rosewood fingerboard, pickups, knobs, and toggle switch).

See how Jimmy Smith uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Jimmy Smith

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Foals

...
Verified via Photo

Smith’s Jazzmasters are all supplied by Fender, and the company has even made him his own bespoke range with original colours and matching headstocks.

“I’ve had quite a few Jazzmasters from Fender, all Mexican Classic players, and I had a problem with the strings coming off,” says Jimmy. “We played Lollapalooza in Chicago. It was my birthday and they gave me a Mexican Sunburst Jaguar and told me it was specifically designed so I could play it really hard, and I plugged it in on stage, and on the first note the three bottom strings all came off! Now my guitar tech is on it and sorts it all out for me.

“My guitars are super-cool. I requested that I repaint some of the guitars Fender give me, and wanted to paint them the original surf colours – Sonic Blue and Surf Green – and Neil [Whitcher, Fender’s European head of artist relations] said ‘how about we just make them for you?’. I’ve got four now – two of each. It’s pretty great!

“I like the fact that Jazzmasters are pretty loud. I always play them on the neck pickups, and they’re big and warm, and for the studio they’re pretty versatile. You can get a lot of different sounds out of them. They’re nice to play, and I like the size of the body and the way it’s cut. If I’m playing it every single night, sometimes I struggle with other guitars. I used to really want a Mustang but I just couldn’t get to grips with the body. It’s strange, the Jazzmaster just seems to totally suit me… and I really love Sonic Youth. I grew up looking at those old beaten-up Jazzmasters.”

“Jimmy has been playing Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special guitars since the Holy Fire album cycle,” says Whitcher. “He was looking for a robust touring instrument, the Classic Player suited him well due to the nature of the tune-o-matic bridge and the break angle over the saddles being increased, as the trem system is moved slightly closer to the bridge than on vintage and traditional Jazzmasters.

“He’s pretty hard on his guitars, I’ve seen them go through stage ceilings, strung up on lighting rigs, even being kick flipped… amazingly they always seem to be able to put the guitars back together.

“For the new album campaign, we decided to do a couple of custom colour guitars for Jimmy to take out on the road – he wanted matching headstock models, which are not available in the Classic Player series, so I commissioned the factory in Ensenada to build him a Surf Green and a Faded Sonic Blue (with tortoise shell guard), both are Classic Player Jazzmasters, both with matching headstocks.”

Smith’s currently playing Limited Edition Olympic White, Black and Sunburst models and Surf Green and Faded Sonic Blue guitars specially made for him by Fender, through an Orange Rockerverb head.

(Source).

See how Mike Sullivan uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Mike Sullivan

Guitarist

Russian Circles

...
Verified via Photo

Source from the "Other Band's Stuff" Tumblr, this photograph taken at a show on August of 2012 shows a rare occasion of Mike when he had used a Jazzmaster.

See how Jesse Lacey uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Jesse Lacey

Singer, Guitarist

Taking Back Sunday

...
Verified via Photo

It is used at nearly every concert, and can easily be seen in videos and pictures of live performances.

See how Lyndsey Gunnulfsen uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Lyndsey Gunnulfsen

Singer, Guitarist

PVRIS

...
Verified via Instagram

Lyndsey used this guitar on September 8th, 2018 , she played this guitar as the lead guitarist for The Aces.

See how Mami Sasazaki uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Mami Sasazaki

Guitarist, Composer

SCANDAL

...
Verified via Photo

This guitar was first spotted during the AniUta KITAKYUSHU 2011 event in February of 2011. -SCANDAL HEAVEN

This JM appears to still be in regular use at SCANDAL's live gigs.

See how Taylor Madison uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Taylor Madison

Guitarist

Superheaven

...
Verified via YouTube

Taylor talks about this guitar at the beginning of this video.

See how Kjartan Sveinsson uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Kjartan Sveinsson

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Sigur Rós

...
Verified via YouTube

Of the three guitars that Kjartan is said to use, one of them is shown in thi sRig Rundown. This one is a Fender Jazzmaster.

See how Andrew Savage uses Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar

Andrew Savage

Singer, Guitarist

Parquet Courts

...
Verified via Just One More Concert

Andrew Savage can be seen playing a Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster when he opened for Lux Prima at Kings Theatre in November 2019.

Album Usage

The Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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