Sonic Youth signature Jazzmasters (official)

aen · Post by **aen** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:28 pm

And anyway, I garauntee you build a functional jazzblaster for less than a grand. esp. if you have forum homies.

Jagmaster used = $250
WRHPs NEW = $140
NIce strat neck = $350
Trem/bridge = $80ish

Then the routing is tricky I guess, but still you're at 8 something with seriously expensive options for the body and neck.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:43 pm

jcyphe wrote:The people who are in their twenties and listened to these bands are second wavers and people who probably get into them through Nirvana.

NOBODY KNOWS I'M SECOND WAVE.

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 7:42 pm

aen wrote:And anyway, I garauntee you build a functional jazzblaster for less than a grand. esp. if you have forum homies.

Jagmaster used = $250
WRHPs NEW = $140
NIce strat neck = $350
Trem/bridge = $80ish

Then the routing is tricky I guess, but still you're at 8 something with seriously expensive options for the body and neck.

Why bother getting the Jagmaster at all if the only thing being utilized is the body (which is cheap alder, also thinner than a real Jazzmaster).

At that point it would be better to just go Warmoth/USACG/Guitar Mill/etc. and get a JM body. Or get a used CIJ body.

Either way you are still approaching $1k, and that's without the Fender case, warranty, and resale value. Also sans professional finish -- even if you did it on your own you can tack on at least $25 for the paint/supplies to do so.

My estimates to build a Jazzmaster to the same specs as the Ranaldo model, using USACG as the source for some of the materials:
$240 neck
$190 body
$220 transparent body finish
$130 vintage tint nitro neck finish
$40 colored gloss peghead
$80 tremolo assembly/arm
$30 Mustang bridge/thimbles
$80 anodized pickguard (probably more for the custom cut)
$20 switch, knob, jack electronics, etc. (probably more here)
$140 WRHB (these are still just the Mexican versions, it's possible the new ones are more faithful reproductions)
$90 decent case

total: $1260

Can you get these parts second hand for far cheaper? Yes. Can you skimp on the finishing and other options? Yes.

But to get a brand new, professionally-made guitar with the same specifications as these artist series is going to cost quite a bit. And never mind the fact you will never be able to sell it for anywhere near what you paid for it. It is entirely possible that these guitars could become collectable down the road -- I certainly doubt they will have the staying power like the Eric Clapton strat does.

aen · Post by **aen** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 7:54 pm

Aeon wrote:never mind the fact you will never be able to sell it for anywhere near what you paid for it.

True, I have never minded that fact.

However, I did swap this:

Robert OG special Basswood swiming pool routed body with a stupid strat neck and QPs, no rhythm circuit, finished by yours truly,for this:

So resale is not a definite thing.

IroniaSudby · Post by **IroniaSudby** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:47 am

hotrodperlmutter wrote:
jcyphe wrote:The people who are in their twenties and listened to these bands are second wavers and people who probably get into them through Nirvana.
NOBODY KNOWS I'M SECOND WAVE.

Isnt it "Nobody knows im new wave"

BTW, were can i get that shirt.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:10 am

IroniaSudby wrote:
hotrodperlmutter wrote:
jcyphe wrote:The people who are in their twenties and listened to these bands are second wavers and people who probably get into them through Nirvana.
NOBODY KNOWS I'M SECOND WAVE.
Isnt it "Nobody knows im new wave"

BTW, were can i get that shirt.

I think therein lies the joke.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:04 pm

Facepalm.

jimib · Post by **jimib** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:31 pm

Mike wrote:
aen wrote:
Mike wrote: It's not my fault I can see through posturing to the banal wank they are.
I'd rather listen to sonic Youth having a group shit in a slaughter house for a week than suffer through an elliot smith record.
Quoted for Stupidity. They're shit and shite and Smith was an incredibly gifted songsmith whose skills cannot be underestimated, and nothing he did was EVER masturbatory or extraneous. Much of Sonic Youth's output is both.

on my last.fm elliott smith is the most listened to followed by sonic youth at number 2, go figure.

i liked the idea of the guitars but way too expensive for me. my friend got a 2nd hand j mascis sig and it is all kinds of awesome, id much rather that.

IroniaSudby · Post by **IroniaSudby** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:35 pm

Shit...i just realized i fucked up.

landon · Post by **landon** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:24 pm

ive liked sonic youth for some time
i actually ended up stumbling upon a free live show they did in salt lake and i had no idea they were playing
one of the better bands ive seen live

very raw
and for there age they still put on a great show

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:33 pm

landon wrote:ive liked sonic youth for some time
i actually ended up stumbling upon a free live show they did in salt lake and i had no idea they were playing
one of the better bands ive seen live

very raw
and for there age they still put on a great show

You resurrected this thread for that?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:25 am

(Hendrix)Necro bump: Lee talks about the development of his, and clears up some rumours about the development of the pickups (and isn't entirely complimentary about them) here.

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:16 am

I really like Lee's signature JM.

Although I like his semi acoustic JM style guitar more.

brainfur · Post by **brainfur** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:44 pm

aen wrote:And anyway, I garauntee you build a functional jazzblaster for less than a grand. esp. if you have forum homies.

Jagmaster used = $250
WRHPs NEW = $140
NIce strat neck = $350
Trem/bridge = $80ish

Then the routing is tricky I guess, but still you're at 8 something with seriously expensive options for the body and neck.

RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS

I have a jagmaster already, and I've made peace with the bridge on it already... so really, All I NEED is neck and pups?

(...and refinish)

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:20 pm

benecol wrote:(Hendrix)Necro bump: Lee talks about the development of his, and clears up some rumours about the development of the pickups (and isn't entirely complimentary about them) here.

Interesting interview. True his new stuff is a total 80s REM rip, which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. This does confirm what everyone believes about the pups. Happily the Lollar/Novak versions aren't too dear.

BoringPostcards · Post by **BoringPostcards** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:12 pm

timhulio wrote:
benecol wrote:(Hendrix)Necro bump: Lee talks about the development of his, and clears up some rumours about the development of the pickups (and isn't entirely complimentary about them) here.
Interesting interview. True his new stuff is a total 80s REM rip, which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. This does confirm what everyone believes about the pups. Happily the Lollar/Novak versions aren't too dear.

Interesting conclusion. REM and Sonic Youth have known each other since the early 80s, Thurston played on Monster, The bands toured together in the 90s and Lee and Michael Stipe are good friends. I always found Lee's voice reminiscent of Stipe's. Saying Lee's solo album is a rip off is sort of a stretch IMHO.