When Leo Fender was designing the Jazzmaster , he wanted to imbue the instrument with a heaping dose of Fender personality , while also making it attractive and somewhat familiar to the conservative elements within the old guard of East Coast jazz guitar . As we know , his goal was not quite achieved to anyone ’ s satisfaction , but in pursuit of artful compromise he managed to design pickups that kept the Fender single-coil sound intact while also offering some of the warmth and mellowness of a Gibson-style hollow-body . This singular blend of twang , articulation , warmth and girth is a huge part of the Jazzmaster ’ s personality , and a crucial element of its continuing popularity . are constructed using a single bar magnet and steel screws that function as polepieces beneath each string , whereas Jazzmaster pickup polepieces are actually individual alnico magnets themselves . Jazzmaster pickups are constructed similarly to a Strat pickup in many ways , but much wider and flatter , in a so-called “ pancake ” wind . Sonically , these physical differences make Jazzmaster pickups smoother and less mid-rangey than a P-90 , while also being fatter , louder , and warmer than a typical Stratocaster pickup . As such , they are tremendously versatile , capable of delivering dulcet , jazzy cleans , Tele-like twang , and articulate , effects-friendly distorted raunch in equal measure .
Though often confused with Gibsonstyle P-90s or “ soapbar ” pickups , Jazzmaster pickups are completely unique in function and tone . P-90s
When Leo Fender was designing the Jazzmaster , he wanted to imbue the instrument with a heaping dose of Fender personality , while also making it attractive and somewhat familiar to the conservative elements within the old guard of East Coast jazz guitar . As we know , his goal was not quite achieved to anyone ’ s satisfaction , but in pursuit of artful compromise he managed to design pickups that kept the Fender single-coil sound intact while also offering some of the warmth and mellowness of a Gibson-style hollow-body . This singular blend of twang , articulation , warmth and girth is a huge part of the Jazzmaster ’ s personality , and a crucial element of its continuing popularity . are constructed using a single bar magnet and steel screws that function as polepieces beneath each string , whereas Jazzmaster pickup polepieces are actually individual alnico magnets themselves . Jazzmaster pickups are constructed similarly to a Strat pickup in many ways , but much wider and flatter , in a so-called “ pancake ” wind . Sonically , these physical differences make Jazzmaster pickups smoother and less mid-rangey than a P-90 , while also being fatter , louder , and warmer than a typical Stratocaster pickup . As such , they are tremendously versatile , capable of delivering dulcet , jazzy cleans , Tele-like twang , and articulate , effects-friendly distorted raunch in equal measure .
Though often confused with Gibsonstyle P-90s or “ soapbar ” pickups , Jazzmaster pickups are completely unique in function and tone . P-90s