Fender Acoustasonic Player Jazzmaster 2-Color Sunburst

The guitar appears well built. It came with 11 gauge strings, which I found a bit too difficult so I replaced them with 10s (I use 10s on my regular acoustic). I also adjusted the truss rod to lower the relief a little to make it feel more like an electric.As for the sound, I practice unplugged a lot and it's definitely quieter than my parlour acoustic, and louder and more resonance than my thinline Tele. Plugged in you need to make sure you're getting enough volume from your amp so that you can hear the modelling above the guitar's natural sound, or use headphones. For me, there's not a massive difference between some of the models, but there are decent differences between dreadnought, parlour, the unmodelled piezo, and the electric. Personally I think they ... MoreThe guitar appears well built. It came with 11 gauge strings, which I found a bit too difficult so I replaced them with 10s (I use 10s on my regular acoustic). I also adjusted the truss rod to lower the relief a little to make it feel more like an electric.As for the sound, I practice unplugged a lot and it's definitely quieter than my parlour acoustic, and louder and more resonance than my thinline Tele. Plugged in you need to make sure you're getting enough volume from your amp so that you can hear the modelling above the guitar's natural sound, or use headphones. For me, there's not a massive difference between some of the models, but there are decent differences between dreadnought, parlour, the unmodelled piezo, and the electric. Personally I think they should have put the body sensor as a separate switch, so you could use that for all of the models (including electric, for something a bit different).Overall I'd day it's a fun guitar, with some useful tones and good modelling, but on the pricey side. They could really do with a Made in Mexico version to bring the price down.

Acoustic Salvation

I was hesitant about the Acoustasonic guitars until the Jazzmaster version was reviewed in Guitarist and elsewhere, then decided that I really should give this a try. I have a beautiful Taylor 424 in full Koa that sounds wonderful unplugged and amplified - tones to die for. But when playing it for occasional acoustic numbers within a live electric band situation, controlling the induced resonance from other loud instruments is really difficult. Sufficient volume to cut across for a solo would lead to a huge howl-around, and much moving around to find a spot blocking the acoustic feedback path.So enter the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster, shipped with usual efficiency by PMT. Some great acoustic tones, easily varied to taste, as loud as you like and not affected by pickup ... MoreI was hesitant about the Acoustasonic guitars until the Jazzmaster version was reviewed in Guitarist and elsewhere, then decided that I really should give this a try. I have a beautiful Taylor 424 in full Koa that sounds wonderful unplugged and amplified - tones to die for. But when playing it for occasional acoustic numbers within a live electric band situation, controlling the induced resonance from other loud instruments is really difficult. Sufficient volume to cut across for a solo would lead to a huge howl-around, and much moving around to find a spot blocking the acoustic feedback path.So enter the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster, shipped with usual efficiency by PMT. Some great acoustic tones, easily varied to taste, as loud as you like and not affected by pickup from the bass amp or kick drum. Is it as tasty as the Taylor? No. But the sounds played through LR Baggs Venue into the PA are truly convincing as an acoustic guitar within an electric band. And of course, in the event of a broken string or other failure of your electric guitar, a quick flick to the humbucker at the bridge could save the day.

Amazing guitar and great service from PMT

This is my first Fender after 15 years of playing bass and guitar. It's a fantastic piece of kit and sounds brilliant. Much louder than I expected unplugged, can be used acoustically no problem at all.The gig bag it comes with it also really premium quality.I was very pleased with the service from PMT, with simple next day delivery, plenty of tracking updates etc.All round very very pleased with this purchase!

Amazing, versatile and hard to put down

This mahogany Acoustasonic Jazzmaster is an amazing guitar. First, the build quality is superb - it is gimpy gorgeous. Second, the neck and action are outstanding - it is a joy to play. Third, with three different pickup types, there are ten different adjustable voice settings (six acoustic and four electric), so the sound possibilities are almost endless.But make no mistake, this is an electric hollow body guitar. Playing unplugged is just ok for noodling about, as the sound is less than impressive. Plug it in though, and youza, what sound! A caveat here though, you need an amp that can act as an acoustic amp and electric amp to get the most out of the guitar (I play it through a Spark which is a perfect companion to maximize the guitar possibilities). With a ... MoreThis mahogany Acoustasonic Jazzmaster is an amazing guitar. First, the build quality is superb - it is gimpy gorgeous. Second, the neck and action are outstanding - it is a joy to play. Third, with three different pickup types, there are ten different adjustable voice settings (six acoustic and four electric), so the sound possibilities are almost endless.But make no mistake, this is an electric hollow body guitar. Playing unplugged is just ok for noodling about, as the sound is less than impressive. Plug it in though, and youza, what sound! A caveat here though, you need an amp that can act as an acoustic amp and electric amp to get the most out of the guitar (I play it through a Spark which is a perfect companion to maximize the guitar possibilities). With a foot switch, and the onboard selector switch, you can flip between acoustic and electric on the fly.The six acoustic tones are beautiful. The two piezo electric pickup settings produces a nice thick crunchy tone. And the Shawbucker pickup produces an awesome distorted sound, but doesn't have quite the low end as my Starcaster or Les Paul. Partly, this is because I replaced the Fender 11 strings that came on it with D'Addario 10s. But running through some pedals / effects fixes that right up.I highly recommend this instrument; however, you could end up disappointed if you don't pair it with the right electronic amplification. If you do, though, I think you'll be delighted.

Buyer Beware - TEST IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT!

On my second acoustasonic jazzmaster at this point. First one had issues with the pickup switch mechanism essentially not working 90% of the time. Warrantied that instrument through GC, no problem. I was shipped a second one and this one has an issue with battery life (one charge is supposed to support 20hrs of playing, mine lasts 40mins max). This is TWO failed guitars due to the electronics. The technology is simply NOT there yet, and these instruments are extremely overpriced for what they are. I'll give a brand a pass for 1 faulty instrument - 2 in a row is not a coincidence. I would strongly advise against buying this instrument until these kinks are worked out. It simply is NOT worth 2k. Buy two 1K guitars (electric and acoustic) and some pedals and you can do ... MoreOn my second acoustasonic jazzmaster at this point. First one had issues with the pickup switch mechanism essentially not working 90% of the time. Warrantied that instrument through GC, no problem. I was shipped a second one and this one has an issue with battery life (one charge is supposed to support 20hrs of playing, mine lasts 40mins max). This is TWO failed guitars due to the electronics. The technology is simply NOT there yet, and these instruments are extremely overpriced for what they are. I'll give a brand a pass for 1 faulty instrument - 2 in a row is not a coincidence. I would strongly advise against buying this instrument until these kinks are worked out. It simply is NOT worth 2k. Buy two 1K guitars (electric and acoustic) and some pedals and you can do much more than what this guitar can do. Sorry Fender, but this is a dud.

Fantastically versatile.

God’s gift to loop pedal performers who play both acoustic and electric, this guitar is light, portable and comfortable to play. The battery lasts well and charges quickly. The acoustic tones are full and rich when played through an appropriate acoustic amp, or fed directly into an audio interface for home recording. The Tim Shaw designed humbucker is smooth and growly, and the distorted tones that the guitar provides are convincingly good.I’ve read less than enthusiastic opinions of this guitar’s sound online and can only surmise that people have been demoing them through amplifiers designed for electric guitars, which in my opinion do not capture the best from the Fender/Fishman acoustic engine, although the humbucking pickup does sound good through an electric amp.

Run don't walk

This is an incredible axe! Fender wasn't lying when they said it's their most versatile guitar yet. You'll pull sounds out of this thing that you only used to dream about. It's light on the shoulder but not at the expense of tone and voice, actually I should say voices. It replaces at least 10 of my guitars. It's a giggers dream come true. Worth every penny. I just hope that it can take a licking and keep on picking. Thanks Fender and thanks Sam Ash! Jake at the San Diego store went the extra mile that I've come to expect from Sam Ash. They never disappoint me.

The guitar is cool, but...

I like the guitar fine; it works pretty well for what it's designed for...it sounds acousticky and it's a whole lot easier on the fingers than a standard acoustic guitar.And it's pretty versatile, so if you're out gigging and need an instrument that can decently cover a range of sounds, this works well.But if you're recording or if you absolutely REQUIRE a truly acoustic sound, you'll still need to break out the big box guitar and stick a mic in front of it.There are a couple of things that irritate me though...ONE...it has an internal battery that can only be charged using a specific USB charger that's NOT included.True, they do give you the correct cable, but not the wall wart.This was never mentioned ANYWHERE by Fender OR Guitar Center.MAJOR failure ... MoreI like the guitar fine; it works pretty well for what it's designed for...it sounds acousticky and it's a whole lot easier on the fingers than a standard acoustic guitar.And it's pretty versatile, so if you're out gigging and need an instrument that can decently cover a range of sounds, this works well.But if you're recording or if you absolutely REQUIRE a truly acoustic sound, you'll still need to break out the big box guitar and stick a mic in front of it.There are a couple of things that irritate me though...ONE...it has an internal battery that can only be charged using a specific USB charger that's NOT included.True, they do give you the correct cable, but not the wall wart.This was never mentioned ANYWHERE by Fender OR Guitar Center.MAJOR failure folks.And after several emails to Fender, it's become absolutely clear that they will NOT even offer a list of compatable chargers.So you're left to peruse hundreds of wall warts until you find one that (hopefully) works without frying the guitar.Sad.It's also recommended that you have a professional replace the battery.I believe that the standard guitarist would have been MUCH happier if it had a 9v stuck inside.And TWO...it comes in a gig bag. Really?$2000 and you get a bag?As far as I'm concerned, an item that costs this much should give you the proper (required) charger and a decent hard case to protect it at the very least.I do enjoy the guitar, but corporate avarice is killing the industry.

This Guitar Is No Gimmick

I've had this guitar since early August, so I've had time to thoroughly test drive this machine. And what a machine it is. But first I have to give kudos to Sweetwater for their excellent follow through as I had the Jazzy on backorder for months, but they always kept me up to date on the status and shipped it right out after they got it from Fender. And their estimate of when they would get one was spot on. Plus their typical excellent packing and shipping can't be beat. Thanks Alan (my Sweetwater engineer). I'm a smallish woman who has been struggling with a standard size acoustic guitar and a small body acoustic electric Yamaha. The Yamaha is okay, but the smallish frets are difficult to finger at times. Not so the Jazzy. Generous jumbo frets on the Jazzy's ebony ... MoreI've had this guitar since early August, so I've had time to thoroughly test drive this machine. And what a machine it is. But first I have to give kudos to Sweetwater for their excellent follow through as I had the Jazzy on backorder for months, but they always kept me up to date on the status and shipped it right out after they got it from Fender. And their estimate of when they would get one was spot on. Plus their typical excellent packing and shipping can't be beat. Thanks Alan (my Sweetwater engineer). I'm a smallish woman who has been struggling with a standard size acoustic guitar and a small body acoustic electric Yamaha. The Yamaha is okay, but the smallish frets are difficult to finger at times. Not so the Jazzy. Generous jumbo frets on the Jazzy's ebony fretboard make it a joy to finger up and down the fretboard. And it stays in tune really well with tight, very playable strings (I think they are 11's that come with the guitar). I was unsure how I would like the rechargeable battery thingy, and I was really disturbed when I drained it in only two days (about 5 hours of play time). But I realized that I couldn't leave the cord plugged in because that's the switch for the battery. After I learned to unplug it, it does last over 20 hours of play time. Still, I would rather see Fender have a quick swappable battery arrangement than the current setup. Strangely, the guitar does not come with a charging power supply. It does come with a nice long cord, but you have to get your own power do-hicky. I thought that was odd. But most of us have them for our cell phones so I guess they figured we didn't need it? I dunno. The fit and finish on Jazzy is outstanding. Made in the custom shop, each guitar is unique. Mine weighs 6.45 pounds. I was surprised by how light and nimble it feels. I love running my hands over the rounded sides to feel the grain of the mahogany body. However, I am not a fan of those giant black panels on the back of the guitar body. Of course they have to be there for access to the electronics and battery, but they are jarring against the beautiful wood grain of the mahogany body. If they ever make after market panels that more closely match the body, I'm all in. Other than that, this is a well crafted guitar made with quality materials. I was worried that the guitar might be too big for me - that I would have to reach to hit the basic open chords near the nut, but the way it sits on my lap is such that it feels right in my hands, and everything is in reach. I love that! It looks so big, but feels so small. And the C Shape neck is also a great fit for me. I've included pictures of it next to my Strat, Telle, and Yamaha acoustic. You can see that the neck seems higher, but not when you play it. Fits like a glove. I have a few different amps (Fender Acoustic Junior Go, GTX Mustang, and Deluxe Reverb) It sounds great on all of them, and I have still to pick a favorite. I use the acoustic amp when playing at church. It's more bassy than the other amps but sounds great when plugged into their PA system. The Mustang has an unlimited number of sounds, and is a riot to play through. The Deluxe Reverb? Well, it's a Deluxe Reverb. Of course it sounds AWESOME. The combination of sounds the Jazzy has available are simply wonderful. I can sweetly play Psalm 34: The Cry Of The Poor on settings 1, 2, or 3 and switch to settings 4 or 5 and jam on Tom Petty's Refugee or Joan Jett's I Love Rock and Roll, and they sound Boss! The controls are simple and straight forward, and work well. Although it did take me awhile to figure out A from B on the blend knob as there are no labels to mar the cool look of its face. Finally, it comes with a really sturdy gig bag, better then many you see out there. I am so happy with this guitar. I do play it unplugged at times when practicing at home, but it is not a $4,000+ acoustic slope shoulder. So it doesn't project broadly or sound as good unplugged. This is a hybrid, but done so expertly, that you will be astonished at how beautiful it sounds, and how versatile it is to play. To sum up, if you're in the market for a versatile, quality acoustic electric instrument that can closely duplicate different voicings of other high end acoustic guitars and also perform as an amazing electric, this guitar will not disappoint.

Very nice fit and feel.

I got this guitar because I wanted an acoustic guitar and I'm used to the feel of electric guitars. I find that the ability to dial-in different tone to be a vey nice feature and I like to be able to amplify my sound. The different tones is are a bonus.What I really, really like after the sounds, is the weight and balance overall and the feel of the neck. It is much nicer than a bulky acoustic which usually requires a sitting position.The one drawback that I've run into is that the amplification hardware is battery driven (rechargeable) via a USB cable and it appears that it discharges even when not being played. Its rated at 20 hours but even if I don't play it, it needs a recharge in a day or two. I hesitate to leave it on the charger every time I put it down.