Guitar of the week #109: Ibanez S521
Old school cool for a nice price.
The Ibanez S521 is an old design. And by old I mean that this particular design is either at or over 30 years old at this point.
I remember seeing Ibanez guitars almost exactly like this back when I was a teenager. The only 3 differences between the design back then and the design now is a) the inlay dots are offset instead of centered on fretboard, b) it's a hardtail instead of having a Strat-style tremolo system, and c) this one does not have a bolt plate for the neck connection.
All 3 of these things are actually improvements. The inlay dots are easier to see when offset to the top of the fretboard, the hardtail keeps the guitar in tune better, and the redone neck connection allows for easier access to the higher frets.
I personally like this particular Strat-style Ibanez over others because the price is good, the raised pickup selector is easier to use than a typical Squier/Fender Strat selector, and the best part - the output jack.
I wish more guitar companies would put use this style of output jack. It's angled perfectly so you can snake the guitar cable above the strap very easily. The angle also significantly decreases the chance of the jack becoming loose. Out of all output jack designs that exist, this is arguably the best one. Or at least the best one for a Strat-style guitar.
The other specs of this guitar is standard Ibanez fare, which in this case is a good thing. "Wizard III" neck, "Quantum" pickups, jumbo fret wire, black hardware, good tuners, premium metal knobs, good stuff all around.
In other words, the S521 is a good, solid, workhorse rocker guitar that doesn't need any upgrades. It's an old design that's only been slightly tweaked with small improvements, but that's a good thing because not much needed to be improved. This is a good buy and priced fair for what it is.
Fender string guides improve nothing
Some upgrades are worth doing while others are useless. This is one of the useless kind.
A Fender American string guide is Fender part #099-4911-000. They are also known as string trees or roller guides, and are seen on guitars like the Fender American Special Stratocaster headstock.
I've actually recommended this cheap mod for those who own Squier guitars in a previous article, with emphasis on mod because it's not an upgrade. It just looks cool.
Truth be told, American string guides do absolutely nothing to improve string travel. What is thought to be true is that a rolled edge at either end of the guide decreases string bunch-up. That's not really accurate since it's the nut where string bunch-up happens far more often than the string guide itself.
If you want a rolled edge on a wing style string guide, a few light passes with a nail file, as in an emery board used to file your fingernails, will smooth out the edge and make the roll. Heck, you could probably even do it with steel wool. Do you need to do this? No, because again, string bunch-up happens primarily at the nut and not the guide.
The absolute easiest way to make a wing string guide have the best possible string travel is to use masking tape under the wing where the string presses against it. Yes, really. You don't need to lubricate the guide nor do you need to file anything down. On every string change, just add a little piece of masking tape under the wing. The string will travel across it very easily and all string bunch-up issues at the guide - presuming there were any - will be 100% gone.
Small but significant change to the 2017 Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster
This is a small change that most people would miss. But I noticed, and it does matter, especially if one plans to upgrade the guitar later.
For those keeping up with the happenings on my Facebook page, you know I recently acquired a new Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster. Upon inspection of the serial number, I've confirmed it is a 2017 build.
I now have 2 Squier Jazzmasters, the first being a 2015 build.
What's changed is the distance between the two screws under the thumb wheel controls is now further apart.
On the inside
It's on the inside where you can see why this screw distance matters. The bar that holds down the thumb wheel controls has changed. In addition to the screw holes being wider apart, the bar itself is now longer.
Why does this matter?
There are two main reasons.
First, it's now possible to transfer Squier electronics to an aftermarket pick guard without the need to buy a separate mounting bar for the thumb wheel controls.
Second, this is in fact period-correct to vintage Jazzmaster spec. Squier actually now more closely matches correct Fender specification.
Does this make the pre-2017 Squier VM Jazzmaster a collector's item?
Yes it does.
I'm not a guitar collector, but little changes like this from year to year are what collectors pay attention to. Years from now when collectors are going after "the first Jazzmasters" from Squier, the little detail of the screw spacing will factor in to the value of the guitar.
On a final note, no, the Fender web site does not show this change. The photo of the Squier VM Jazzmaster is still shown with the older, narrower screw spacing for the thumb wheel controls.
Guitar of the week #108: Squier FSR Affinity Telecaster HH
These are some seriously good Telecaster digs for dirt cheap.
The Squier Affinity Telecaster HH in orange one truly is "FSR" (Fender Special Run).
Cheap to buy? Yes. Worth more than its selling price? Also a yes.
Something you'll notice about a lot of Fender and Squier guitars is that the headstock isn't painted. There's a reason for that. Cost. Because the neck is bolt-on, to match the color on the body always adds in extra cost because it's a completely separate painting process.
Fender would (and still does) charge extra for any Stratocaster or Telecaster they make that has a painted headcap that matches the body color.
When Fender or Squier does black or white body with matched headcap, that really doesn't add in too much cost because those two colors are easy to match up. But when you get a color that's not black or white, especially one that's a metallic color, that means extra commitment was made to make that very specific color matched on the headcap...
...and that's why this truly is FSR. Metallic orange + metallic orange headcap + blackout hardware on a Telecaster - any Telecaster - is basically unheard of. Combine that with the fact this is HH and oh yes, this is a rare bird, especially considering how cheap it's selling for.
I'm not one to collect guitars, but this is a stupidly easy collector's buy. Or if you just want a rocker Telecaster that really has some pop and wow to it, this is your Tele.
How would you know if you'd like this guitar or not? Go and play any Squier Affinity Series Telecaster. If you've played any of those, you already know how it feels. As for the sound, this is just a basic HH model.
Let's say for the moment you don't collect guitars but just want a nice bang-around beater Telecaster. This one definitely fits the bill and it easily looks twice as expensive as what it sells for. I've seen Squier Metallic Orange before, and believe me, the color looks good. This is a Tele that can easily be used for country, rock or even metal and totally fit right in.
Again, if you want to know how this guitar feels and plays, go try an Affinity Telecaster and you'll know. Same guitar, same neck. This FSR just happens to be Metallic Orange with matching headcap, HH electronics and blackout hardware.
I'll put it another way. This is a look you would ordinarily only see from the Fender Custom Shop. I'm not kidding. If you're a Tele fan and want something cool, collectible and cheap, get this guitar.
Hello Jag, goodbye Jag
Where to begin with this one...
I had a Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar, but not anymore. It's gone. In fewer than 2 days of ownership, I returned the guitar. Why? Because I found a rather large finish crack at the neck pocket. This was something I didn't notice it at first because it was a crack that was painted over at the factory, and against the red finish disguised itself as a dark line that was easy to miss. But in a well lit room, oh yeah, I saw it. So I took it back.
However, even if the Jag had been 100% good, I'm certain I would have have grown to hate it, and that's the main topic of discussion I'll be making here.
I do understand that there are dedicated Jag players who really, really like the Jaguar guitar and consider it very good if not Best Guitar Ever. I've no problem with anyone who believes that. What I'm about to describe is simply my experience with the guitar.
Sound (surf)
The pickups in the Squier Jag are voiced absolutely correct. I've almost no complaint about them (I'll describe the complaint in a moment). These are not cheap Strat pickups with Jag "teeth" on either side. The Duncan Designed JG-101 pickups are true Jag pickups, and I was easily able to get proper surf tone out of the guitar.
My only complaint about the pickups is that while they are voiced right with proper output, I found myself missing the greater output of the bigger pickups in the Jazzmaster.
And yes, the Squier Jag does in fact sound distinctively different than the Squier Jazz. The Jag has less output and more treble response while the Jazz has more output and more midrange response. But make no mistake, both guitars are ridiculously bright due to the 1meg pots used in both guitars on the lead circuit (Strats and Teles use 250K pots).
What I can say is that with the Jazz, it takes a little (but not much) effort to get the surf rock sound out of it. With the Jag, no effort is required. Getting it to surf is ridiculously easy.
Sound (shoegazer and grunge)
For those of you out there who don't play surf at all, you're probably wondering how the Jag performs for shoegazer or grunge.
Here's how the Jag fares concerning those two styles.
Shoegazer
The Jazzmaster is actually better for this over the Jaguar, for the reason the pickups are better suited for it. When you apply chorus, flanger, delay and other effects typical to the shoegazer sound, the longer note decay (as in "more sustain") of the Jazz is much more desirable.
Can the Jag do the shoegazer sound? Yes, of course it can. But for those long, droning tones shoegazer is known for, especially for the "fat-but-not-distorted" sound, that's where the Jag falls short and puts the Jazz in front.
If using a Jag for shoegazer, a compressor is absolutely required to "fatten up" the thinner Jag sound and bring out longer note decays. What position should the compressor be in the effect chain? First.
Grunge
A stock Squier Jag is a terrible guitar for grunge. You absolutely do not want those bright single-coils for the grunge tone. Maybe with some EQ "massaging" you could make it work, but in the end, highly overdriven Jag pickups just sound bad. Believe me, this is why Kurt Cobain's Jag had a pair of humbuckers in it.
Would the Jazzmaster be any better? Only slightly. The tone will be easier to manage because you won't have to use as much overdrive, but it will still be an unmanageable mess in the end.
The best guitar for grunge is not the Jag or the Jazz. It's the Fender Duo-Sonic HS. That's the little short scale you can absolutely wail on, throw as much overdrive/distortion as you want at it, and it will work. Purposely seek out the HS (humbucker/single) model. Remember, the humbucker does split to single-coil for when you play the cleaner stuff. There is seriously no better grunge guitar than the Duo-Sonic.
The only reason not to get the Duo-Sonic for grunge duty is if you can't afford it. Fortunately, there is another short scale that will work for grunge. The Squier Bullet Mustang. It is insanely cheap and believe me, you can afford it. In fact, it's so cheap that you could buy 2 easily. One for regular play and one to smash on stage if you wanted to (not that I recommend that).
Switchgear
On the majority of electric guitars, you're dealing with knobs for volume and tone control and a 5-way blade or 3-way toggle for pickup selection...
...except on the Jag. On the lead circuit, pickups are selected via on/off switches and they're just annoying to use. But not so annoying as to make you totally frustrated.
The lead switches are just part of the Jag's character. While true there are several ways to improve the switching with something else (such as what Fender did with the fender American Professional Jaguar), visual character is lost whenever anything is changed down there.
I may not like the lead circuit switches, but it is part of the whole Jaguar look and I wouldn't change it.
Scale length
The single biggest difference between the Jazzmaster and the Jaguar is that the Jazz has a Fender standard 25.5" scale length while the Jag has a 24.0" short scale.
Things change significantly from 25.5 to 24.0. Frets are spaced closer, the headstock is closer and the tension of the strings is looser.
I did find myself fighting with the guitar. I can rip out The Wedge by Dick Dale on the Jazzmaster without a problem, but could not on the Jaguar. I kept pushing the 6-string low E off its saddle and the looser tension of the strings made it difficult to butterfly-pick. I even used a thicker string, but that didn't help.
Eventually, yes I would have become accustomed to the short scale, but it would have taken a while.
Will I ever get another Jag?
Probably not, because I don't think I would ever truly get used to the 24.0" short scale length. At best, the Jag would always be a secondary guitar. Since I don't collect/hoard instruments, I don't like a guitar that sits in a case and only gets used once every few months. I buy guitars to use them and not be case queens.
Back in November 2013 when I bought my first Jazzmaster, I had the choice of whether to go with that or the Jaguar. Even back then, the Jazz just felt so much better. My playing style has changed a lot since '13, but what hasn't changed is that I still greatly prefer the 25.5" scale length.
It was a blessing in disguise that my Jag had a crack at the neck pocket that prompted me to return it, because ultimately I'm just not a Jaguar guy.
Again, I've no issues with anyone who loves the Jag. And yeah, I know some who read this will be disappointed that I didn't fall in love with the guitar. The guitar just wasn't for me, and I prefer the Jazzmaster.