[SOLVED!] Jazzmaster Vs. Tele: Which One Is The Winner?

Contents

Considering the differences in preferences, it’s no surprise that the guitar community is at odds about the winder in Jazzmaster vs. Telecaster. You have difficulty choosing between the lines of guitars from Fender and need some help? Then there is a good chance that you would find this article useful. Down below is everything that you must consider regarding  Jazzmaster and Telecaster from specification to performance. 

Breakdown

Design

At a glance, Jazzmasters boast large bodies with rounded edges and a nice contour at the back. Because of that, models in the line usually prove comfortable to play with as you have a place to rest your arm. In addition, you should know that the large bodies of Jazzmasters mean they feature big fretboards. If you look for guitars that match your big hands, you won’t regret picking up Jazzmasters.

In the case of Telecaster, models in the line tend to be compact and weigh less than their Jazzmaster counterparts. Therefore, you don’t have to strain yourself to play Telecasters, especially during long gigs. However, you may need to change your posture a bit to be able to hold on to Telecasters comfortably. That is by no means a deal breaker though. 

Controls

In Jazzmasters, besides the three-way switch, volume, and tone knob, three additional switches sit at the top of the instrument. About Telecaster, models in the line each carry a three-way pickup selector, a volume knob and a tone knob. All of the controls help you manage rhythm/lead node changes, volume control and tone in the rhythm mode. Thus, you would have an easy time manipulating the guitars to your liking.

Noteworthily, Jazzmasters have a floating tremolo while Telecasters pack a fixed bridge. If you prefer using whammy bars, Jazzmaster should fit you well. 

Pickups

Known as “soapbar”, Jazzmasters’ pickups sometimes get mistaken for P90s. In reality, compared to P90s, the “soapbar” pickups have a flatter and wider construction which provides slightly sharper sounds. Regarding Telecaster, most of the models in the line integrate single-coil pickups but some also contain humbuckers.

Sounds

In play, Jazzmasters produces big, crunchy distorted sounds alongside the signature Fender jangle. That is why Jazzmasters give a good account of themselves once it comes to playing alternative, grunge, and punk. Also, as the name suggests, models in the line work well in jazz settings but many other hollow and semi-hollow guitars could provide superior sounds. Aside from that, the sounds of Jazzmasters don’t sustain quite as well as Telecasters.

Thanks to the signature Fender twang in their sounds, Telecasters become recognizable among many country guitarists. However, models in the lines could be put to good use outside of the country genre too. Possessing a nice-bottom end, the sounds of Telecasters efficiently and effectively match quite a few genres. You should still know Telecasters sound kind of thin, clean and not as set as Jazzmasters.

Jazzmaster Vs. Telecaster: Summary

Fender TelecasterFender Jazzmaster
Body ShapeTele-styleJazzmaster
Body WoodAlderAlder
Neck ShapeDeep CDeep C
Neck WoodMapleMaple
Neck ConstructionBolt-onBolt-on
Fretboard MaterialMapleRound-laminated Rosewood
Scale Length25.5″25.5″
Number Of Frets22, Narrow Tall21, Narrow Tall
Frets MaterialNickel SilverNickel Silver
Type of BridgeTwo-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Cold-rolled Steel BlockJazzmaster/Jaguar Bridge with Panorama Tremolo
Tuning MachinesFender Standard Die-castFender Standard Die-cast
Pickups3 x Fender V-Mod II Single-coilDual Fender V-Mod II Jazzmaster Single-coil
Pickup SelectorFive-way blade pickup switchTwo-way slide switch (rhythm/lead)3-way toggle switch
Controls1 x master volume and 2 x tone (push/push add neck)Two-way slide switch (rhythm/lead) and three-way toggle switch
Weight8.5 lbs (3.85 kg)8.5lbs (3.9 kg)

Conclusion

Fender is well-known for manufacturing high-quality guitars so regardless of your decision on Jazzmaster vs. Telecaster, you should be able to secure a solid instrument. Telecasters have excellent versatility but if you play genres such as grunge, alternative,… Jazzmasters won’t let you down. 

https://www.fender.com/articles/setup/best-guitar-for-beginners