FENDER JV MODIFIED ’60S STRATOCASTER

85
AUGUST 2022 GUITARIST
FENDER JV MODIFIED ’50S TELECASTER & ’60S STRATOCASTER
THE RIVALS
Fender’s Vintera ’50s Modified Strat and
Tele (£999 each) have revoiced, higher-
output pickups, C-shaped (Strat) or ‘soft V’
(Tele) necks with 241mm (9.5-inch) radius
and medium-jumbo frets. Bridges are
contemporary two-point with bent steel
saddles on the Strat and vintage-style for
the Tele, whose Twisted Tele neck pickup
packs a Strat-like punch (four-way switch
and out-of-phase facility, too).
Moving down the scale a little, the Player
Series Strat and Tele (both £719) are built
in Mexico, come in a range of finishes and
fingerboard types (maple and pau ferro
with 241mm radius). Pickups are designed
by Tim Shaw. Extraordinary quality and
value-for-money balance.
The Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Strat and
Tele (both £389) are made in Indonesia
and take cues from models from this
decade, with maple necks, vintage-style
bridges, Alnico pickups and narrow-tall
frets, but fingerboards are the modern
241mm (9.5-inch) radius. Available in many
colours and configurations.
2
with soft ‘V’ profile and modern 241mm
(9.5-inch) slab maple ’boards sporting 21
medium-jumbo frets. They also have bone
nuts, vintage-voiced single-coil pickups,
and locking vintage-style tuners. Truss rod
access is at the headstock end rather than
at the body, making the necks that much
easier to keep in shape, and both guitars
come strung with D’Addario 0.009 to
0.042-gauge strings.
As you would expect from instruments
made in Japan, their build, fit and finish
are exemplary. The finishes are flawless,
fretting and fret finishing are as good as
almost anything out there, and actions on
both guitars are exactly as you’d want them
– low enough for comfort but with enough
clearance for buzz-free playing. We do take
slight issue with the pickup heights, though.
The Strat’s especially are set way too low for
our tastes, but a quick fettle with the cross-
head screwdriver soon had that sorted.
However, what makes the whole
JV Modified range instruments most
interesting is their pickup switching.
What makes the
whole JV Modifi ed
range most interesting
is the instruments’
pickup switching
1. The JV Modified Tele’s
tinted neck is satin
urethane and drag-
free to the touch. An
anodised gold pickguard
sets it apart others in
the Fender line; notice
that the neck pickup
can be adjusted without
removing said article
2. Fretting is exemplary,
as are fit and finish. The
body’s urethane gloss,
although stated as White
Blonde, has a definite
tinge of grey about it
3. Tuners on both JV
Modified guitars are
vintage style but with
locking mechanisms.
These are super easy
to use and keep the
instruments’ classic
looks intact
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GIT487.rev_fender.indd 85GIT487.rev_fender.indd 85 09/06/2022 17:5909/06/2022 17:59