SQUIER 40TH ANNIVERSARY JAZZMASTER GOLD EDITION

W
e could start with
some spiel about
how much guitar
players get for their
money with a Squier
compared to 40 years ago, but the
brand started out very strong with
Japanese-made instruments, and
this is one with an RRP of £499,
so is not exactly entry-level.
Instead we should focus on the
more interesting Squier narrative
that’s been unfolding in more
recent history: the brand is
becoming increasingly distinct
in its own right. In addition to
aff ordable takes on Fender
cornerstones, there’s plenty of
alluring models exclusive to
Squier. And if they can hold their
own with the Mexican Fenders,
that’s cause for real celebration.
We’re here to fi nd out.
The 40th Anniversary models
have come in two waves; the gold
hardware/block inlay ‘Gold
Edition’ example we have here and
the aged hardware/satin fi nished
Vintage Edition guitars that are
more understated. Both sets
feature anodized aluminium
pickguards. For us, this Jazzmaster
from the former camp is the most
visually appealing of the bunch;
surely even gold hardware cynics
can’t deny this Olympic White
off set wears it well. The context
of a guitar’s fi nish matters and
it’s interesting to see how gold
anodised scratchplate and
hardware gives the white
more of a creamy look here in
combination. It looks regal and
very Fender without overstating.
The build here is of a standard
to match it.
We have to be honest, pau ferro
fretboards can be hit and miss for
us in terms of aesthetic. The issue
has been sidestepped here with the
use of the consistently darker Indian
laurel – though it’s the same
material used for Squier’s entry-
level Affi nity series. The downside is
it looks quite dry, and ours would
benefi t from some conditioning.
The Fender-designed soapbar
pickups hold their own with our
Fender guitars in terms of output.
The spiky, sometimes brash bridge
and warm but defi ned neck position
have a girth in character, especially
on the bridge, compared to the
traditional Tele, Strat and Jag. And it
can divide opinion, but we’re fans of
the rhythm circuit ‘preset’ switch
on the upper horn that can mellow
things out quickly by isolating the
neck pickup with a diff erent
capacitor and thumbwheel
tone and volume controls.
Of course our big question is how
well does the tuning hold up with
the vibrato unit in action? And that’s
where our glee fades a little. It
doesn’t take much use to throw it
out by quite a margin. Such issues
aren’t unusual for off set fans, and
tech attention, a shim or even
a third party bridge upgrade can
usually off er a remedy. But for a
player who doesn’t know this, or
isn’t willing and able to deal with it,
it could put them off their £500
purchase. So caveat emptor, but this
is still the closest Squier to a true
Fender Jazzmaster in the current
catalogue – idiosyncrasies included.
Rob Laing
SQUIER 40TH
ANNIVERSARY
JAZZMASTER GOLD
EDITION
The price of gold...
1
2
3
AT A GLANCE
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
Photography Phil Barker
1
BLOCK INLAYS
An offset with
pearloid block inlays is
like strawberries and
cream, but surprisingly
the only other
Jazzmaster models in
the current Fender
catalogue offered with
them are the Jim Root
and Troy Van Leeuwen
signature models.
2
NECK PROFILE
Narrow tall frets and
a gloss back finish
remain true to vintage.
It’s quite a chunkier,
deep ‘C’ profile that
nods to vintage, too,
and you’re getting
the optimum of
a well-carved bone nut
for your money here.
3
POTS
It’s not unusual for
fairly abrupt tapering of
treble response as you
wind down a Squier’s
volume pot, that’s
evident here, too. It’s
worth upgrading if you
have soldering chops, or
money to pay someone
to do it.
BODY: Poplar
NECK: Maple
SCALE: 25.5”
FINGERBOARD:
Indian laurel
FRETS: 21, Narrow Tall
PICKUPS: Fender
Designed Alnico
Single-Coil
CONTROLS: ‘Lead circuit’
controls (slide switch
down): master volume,
master tone; ‘Rhythm
circuit’ Controls
(slide switch up):
2x thumbwheel controls
for neck pickup volume
and tone
HARDWARE: Gold-plated
six-saddle Vintage-style
bridge with non-locking
floating vibrato,
Gold-plated vintage-
style tuners
WEIGHT: 7.8lb
GIGBAG: No
LEFT-HANDED: No
FINISH: Olympic White
[as reviewed], Lake
Placid Blue
CONTACT: Fender,
www.fender.com
£499
NOVEMBER 2022 TOTAL GUITAR
REVIEW
91
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