A hybrid guitar of eye-popping proportions.
Following on from the lauded release of their Acoustasonic Telecaster and Stratocaster models, Fender have now introduced a familiar new face to their hybrid electric-acoustic range: enter the American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster.
Summary
- Available in five unique finishes, the Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster features an all-mahogany construction with an ebony fretboard.
- The guitar boasts a powerful acoustic engine to emulate ten different body styles and tonewood combinations, and adds four new acoustic voicings to the mix.
- A blend control lets you fuse the acoustic body voicings with three different pickup systems to harness a huge range of electric and acoustic tones.
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Fender American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster
It goes without saying that the Jazzmaster is one of the unsung heroes of the Fender catalogue. It’s been utilised by a wide range of genre-defining alternative guitarists – think J Mascis, Kevin Shields, Thurston Moore, Tom Verlaine and Thom Yorke – and this new acoustic iteration seeks to push the boundaries of what this iconic offset can achieve even further.
Following the trail previously laid before it by the Acoustasonic Telecaster and Stratocaster, the new Jazzmaster features a sophisticated blend of electronic and acoustic appointments, evident both in its aesthetic and technical design.
A hollow mahogany body and Deep-C neck with a 25.5″ scale length is paired with an ebony fretboard to tap into classic unplugged tones, with the slim body shape and larger size making for an ultra-comfortable feel and producing some pretty impressive unplugged tones. A carved neck heel enhances this experience even further, allowing you to reach right up the neck for zippy lead lines.
Where the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster really shines, however, is in the electronics department. It’s loaded with no less than three pickup systems – a Fender Tim Shaw-designed Acoustasonic Shawbucker, Fishman Under-Saddle Transducer and a Fishman Enhancer, each of which can be paired and blended to unlock a colourful palate of tones.
There’s also a nifty five-way switch and Mod Knob to flick between both pickups and acoustic guitar voicings, with position one correlating to the Jazzmaster’s overdriven voicings courtesy of the Shawbucker. The other four positions allow you to switch between a number of classic acoustic sounds, including lo-fi piezo, rosewood auditorium, mahogany jumbo, mahogany orchestral and mahogany dreadnaught tones.
Other specs include a Graph Tech Black Tusq nut, Fender Standard sealed chrome tuners, 22 narrow tall frets and a micro-USB on the output jack for charging the guitar’s internal batteries, while the guitar comes finished in a light coat of satin urethane.
Shipping with a sturdy soft case for safe-keeping, the American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster is available in five vibrant finishes: Ocean Turquoise, Natural, Tobacco Sunburst, Tungsten and Arctic White.
Given that previous Acoustasonic models have received incredibly polarising reactions from the guitar community, it’ll be interesting to gauge the consensus on this new Jazzmaster model. From what we’ve encountered, most are in favour of the range’s concept and tonal diversity, yet balk at the hefty price-tag that they’re bestowed with.
That being said, we’re awfully keen to get our hands on one of these things when they land in Australia – watch this space.
For all the specs and further details, head to Fender Music Australia.
