Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster

I ordered this Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster last April, after receiving a very bad Fender SQ Classic Vibe Jazzmaster. I decided to ask Thomann to not replace the Squier Jazzmaster but put my money in an upgrade to this TVL signature Jazzmaster.

Yesterday it finally arrived, well packed in two cardboard boxes and its own black Fender case.
On the Fender cardboard there was a sticker which indicated a final double-check had been performed before leaving the Ensenada Fender Plant. The result is most definitely noticable, please read on;

Right out of the beautiful guitarcase the TVL was almost in tune, after less than 15 seconds I plugged the beauty in, turned up the tube amp and started experimenting with all the various tones through my digital and analogue pedals and effects.

After 15 minutes my fretboard hand was already perfectly accustomed to the amazing rosewood fretboard with its beautiful block inlays and silver shiny frets.

The dark deep red Oxblood glitter colour is the most beautiful guitar colour I have ever seen, seems like it’s coming alive while you play the guitar in studio lighting or sunlight. Together with the chrome bridge and creamwhite vintage witchhat knobs the TVL JM looks like it beamed itself up right from a music shop window out of the 1960’s.

The hardware is very good, the floating bridge a litte sturdy but in my honest opinion that is a good sign and a guarantee for long endurance.
The vintage tuners keep the strings perfectly in tune.
The 65 Jazzmaster pickups take some time to get used to but after adjusting all the switches and pedals and knobs on the amp in the end in no time you are creating your own miracle with this guitar. What I discovered for myself is that the pickups seem to change in their bite if you start strumming chords harder or put more pepper in your string picking. Nice extra surprise!

Today, that is day TWO that I have the celestial privilege to play this Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster, I could not stop putting base rythms in my looper with the alternative circuit, to complete them by weaving chords in over them.

This guitar, for anyone, from beginner to decades of professional guitar playing, at this moment, is really the best Jazzmaster money can buy!

Thank you Fender and Thomann !

I had my eye on this for a year before I decided to pull the trigger. I waited patiently until it was finally available and arrived in my hands.
Visually this is a stunning guitar and the colour changes quite a bit depending on the light. Soundwise it is very versatile and covers different sounds than my other main guitar (Les Paul). The bridge is very bright and twangy, so using the tone knob is recommended especially on cleans. With overdrive this pickup screams though and delivers classic rock tones. The neck is great for cleans and smooth leads and the middle position offers nice humcancelling and is great offer cleans and funky rythms. The rythm circuit is also great especially with a brighter amp. So all together this a great guitar, with similar features as more traditional inspired American jazzmasters, but with a "custom" colour, at a lower price.
However, the condition this came in was not to the standard of this price. The action was almost unplayably high (and I don't mind high action in general), the fretboard was dry and covered with polishing residue which I still haven't gotten fully off, the truss rod needed to be readjusted (the neck needs to be taken off to do this- I guess to be "vintage correct"...) and there were microscratches on the body (nothing terrible but you would expect a pristine guitar when you buy it new for 1400€). There were more minor issues with the set up and the hardware, but I don't want to go into to much detail. I did not want to send it back as I waited forever for this and this is visually the coolest jazzmaster I have ever seen so I didn't want to buy a different one.

All in all, this is an amazing guitar for me, which I plan to keep as long as I can. However, the condition this was in was unacceptable for any price point and makes me very sceptical of buying another MiM fender and also buying such an expensive guitar on thomann.

I've been waiting far too long for this to arrive - but my, it was worth the wait.

As with Mountainhop's review, I was really surprised that it was in tune out of the box, and very well set up. And then I was expecting the whammy to put it out of tune pretty quickly, as I'm no subtle player, but it just stays in tune regardless. Bending notes played behind the bridge, whammy down a semitone and more, whammy up - no matter it seems to cope. It plays beautifully. The sonic range is awesome, as anticipated - though the sonic impact of the main circuit volume control adjustment is an unexpected extra. Hours of noise fun to be had.

Confess I was a little anxious that the finish might be a little on the 'metallic paint job' end of things as I'd seen some photos of second hand ones that didn't seem as subtle as the 'official' images on Thomann's and other sites. But no, it really is as good (well actually better) than those images. It actually changes lustre in different light.

One teeny issue - the trem plate adjustment screw is missing. Hopefully Thomann will promptly send one as requested.

This guitar is well built, is handsome, keeps its tuning well when using the tremolo, is extremely versatile and sounds great.

The tremolo arm often falls out.

I play this guitar in a 60's, 70's, and 80's classic rock and roll covers band. I play both lead and rhythm. I can get an appropriate sound out of this thing for just about any song. So far i have played it through a Lacquered Tweed Fender Blues Junior, a Palmer Fab 5, and an Orange Tiny Terror combo. It sounds pleasing(pleasingly nice AND pleasingly disgusting, depending on my mood) through all of them.

Frankly; i love the thing. It's not too heavy. The frets are large and it is eminently playable. The tuning heads are extremely smooth. I almost look forward to it going out of tune as the act of turning those almost frictionless devices is massively satisfying. I don't have to do this that often as it is very stable.

The pick ups sound great. As mentioned before you can coax a huge range of sounds out of this thing. Bright, twangy sounds from the bridge pickup, thick and crunchy goodness from the neck pickup and the rhythm circuit provides a tastefully darker set of tones.

I had read that there was a problem with the first string slipping off the bridge and sometimes off the neck but this has never happened to me.

It played well straight out of the box. The case it comes in can support the weight of (and protect it from the bouncing up and down of) a fairly hefty 2 year old boy with a taste and a talent for destruction.

I'm not a fan of the tremolo arm falling out though and didn't give full marks for quality because of this. It IS a quality instrument and I have read that this is a feature of Jazzmaster tremolo units.

I'm not that animated a player and it does fall out a lot. Having to look about on the floor for the tremolo arm mid-song is enormously tedious. It bounces and it travels. It is even more tedious trying to the the tremolo arm BACK INTO the unit while playing.

In spite of this, I heartily recommend this guitar.

I enjoy playing it.

A lot.

You probably will too.

This review is for those who is really struggling with the choice of spending his hard-earned money for a guitar; on the first glance stunning super fashionable piece of gear; on the other hand - Mexico-built signature version of almost regular Jazzmaster.

So here is the truth, my friend:
This is the most incredible guitar you could possibly get on the market today. You can hunt on Ebay for years for nice-looking second-hand AVRI or built your own Japan-made beauty way replacing the pickups and electronics. I know what I'm talking about - I did it, not once.
Or you can go for this precious thing.
Let's start from the finish, look and overall craftsmanship - 10/10.
The Mexican factory is as good as Californian. The same people, the same procedures, the machines and tools. Do not be fooled by "patriots".

The sound:
Fastinating! Boy, what a killer thing it is. With dual circuit you can explore for hours. It takes time to understand and get used to this setup. But when you do, you are in guitar heaven.

Cons:
The factory setup was awful.
If I would pick this guitar from a hook in a shop, probably I would say that it is a piece of junk. And I would be wrong as hell.
Let's be honest - guitar is a personal thing, so be prepared for a need of adjustments here and there.
It took me a hour or two to lower down the action and correct the bridge. As soon as I finished, I was shocked - this is the best guitar man can buy today.

Overall:
10+/10
Look, playability, sound, versatility. Everything is in its right place.

My oh my what a glorious delivery by Thomann! Impeccable servicde form start to finish! Well done and thank you Thomann!

Now to the guitar...ITS WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY!

From the glorious oxblood colour - which looks different colours in different lighting

Glorious rich tone from the Pure 65 Jazzmaster pickups

The block inlays and binding reminiscent of the 60's and the classic wood hardcase it comes in it's just beautiful all round.

Thsi guitar isnt a 1 trick pony. This can do it ALL! ANY guitar tone you want you can achieve with this. Whats even better? Nothing screams like its a signaure model. Understated and an absolute steal! - If you can get your hands on 1 right now!

A*****

This Fender Jazzmaster is thoughtfully created and sounds perfect no matter what style you wish to play. Even with its faults, you cannot but admire the charming nature of this beautiful guitar.

Pros
- Great Sound
- Beautiful Finish
- Great Variety of Tones You Can Create
- The Vintage Tuners Feel Great to Use

Cons
- Flimsy saddle bridge
- Will need a guitar tech/luthier to work out kinks/treat the wood of the fretboard

All in all, this is a perfect guitar, with faults that almost seem charming. It is dedicated to the people who want an interesting, crafted guitar as Troy van Leeuwen wanted for himself, and is a joy to play with and find its potential in the hands of any guitarist. Personally, I love this guitar as it invites the performer to explore the tonal nature of the guitar in such a variety of ways and with such clarity and warmth that it seems impossible to put down once you've started fiddling with it. Highly recommend this guitar for people who want a guitarist's guitar.