| Features: | Fender Player Jazzmaster | Gibson Les Paul Tribute |
|---|---|---|
| Neck: | Maple | Maple |
| Pickup: | Alnico 2 Humbucking | 490T |
| Frets: | 22 | 22 |
Fender Player Jazzmaster
If you were to walk into any pub in the Western world and there was a band playing on stage, then it’s more likely than not that someone will be playing a Mexican-made Fender electric guitar. Or a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Or maybe both.
Fender’s Player series is the brand’s entry price point if you’re looking for a traditional Strat, Tele, P-Bass, or Jazzmaster. As well as ticking all the ‘first serious guitar’ boxes for musicians taking a step up from their beginner guitar, Fender’s Player series is also a hit with professionals looking for a backup guitar.
Build
Aside from the new Modern C necks with classic ‘spaghetti’ headstock logos across the range and 22 medium-jumbo frets on all six-string electric models, Fender’s Player Jazzmaster model comes equipped with more curvaceous bodies with improved radii, newer hardware, an attractive palette of vibrant new finishes and perhaps most importantly, upgraded pickups featuring alnico magnets.
Fender has added a gloss urethane finish to the Jazzmaster Player series headstock that avoids the anaemic look of some older Mexican Standard instruments, while the smooth satin finish around the back of each guitar’s neck has a contemporary, drag-free feel.
If you’re someone that has smaller hands or a guitarist moving over to bass, the neck dimensions of a 50s-style Precision can sometimes be tough to get around, the good news is that there are no such problems with the svelte Player series model.
Performance
Once amplified, the Precision of the Jazzmaster Player Series immediately offers a very direct and slightly hi-fi version of the classic P-Bass sound. Really giving it out those clanky new strings certainly helps, and as ever a foam mute under the strings down by the bridge is the passport to woodier and more authentic 50s and 60s tones. However, it doesn’t offer as much girth and punch compared to the mid-2000s American Vintage model that’s often used as a benchmark. It still unmistakably delivers that sound, and you can make it work in the context of almost every genre imaginable.
While humbuckers on a Fender electric can sometimes be a disappointing compromise that stifles the natural bite and jangle of a bolt-on, leaving the player with a rather blunt instrument. When it comes to plugging Fender’s Jazzmaster Player Series in, it immediately reveals that the alnico II humbuckers have been worth the months of R&D, as there’s no shortage of high-end harmonics from the Jazzmaster’s pair of double creams and the fuss-free electronics stay out of the way allowing the player to get lost in the business of actually playing the thing.
Rather than using Mustang or vintage-style threaded units, Fender’s Jazzmaster bridge features fully adjustable barrel-type saddles that are notched properly to avoid strings jumping off saddles for attacking the guitar with an aggressive right hand. Although the unwound strings’ saddles may slide laterally when used with the supplied 0.009 to 0.042 gauge strings – a heavier set would defiantly have the tension necessary to keep this in check.
Gibson Les Paul Tribute
It wasn’t too long ago that Les Paul’s Studios were one of the most affordable lines in the range, giving many guitarists that classic mahogany body/maple cap and double humbucker tone without any need for re-mortgaging their homes.
With the latest model coming in at the £1,300 mark, it’s the revamped Tribute series that is now serving those looking for quality, American-made instruments on a more wallet-friendly budget.
Build
At first glance, not a whole lot seems that much different compared to the older Les Paul Standards, although the cut of the body feels marginally thinner. Unlike the Les Paul Faded, which sits at a similar entry-level to Gibson’s price point, this guitar has no weight relief whatsoever which effectively pays ‘tribute’ to the chunky blocks of wood that the brand built its name on, although in this case without being overwhelmingly heavy.
Despite the company’s attempt to update their solid bodies with robotic tuners, neon colours and floating bridges in recent years, the public vote through sales has been fairly unanimous: it’s the classic features that remain the biggest selling point for any quality guitar that’s emblazoned with the company’s logo. After all, why change a winning formula?
Les Paul’s Tribute is Faded with Honeyburst and Gold Top with a satin finish, along with acrylic trapezoid inlays, gold/silver top hat controls and vintage keystone tuners, which also adds to the timeless looks of the Gibson glory years.
Performance
Les Paul’s Tribute can cover a lot of tonal ground – from warm blues and woolly jazz and even heavy rock, however it naturally falls short on country spank, like any guitar lacking the glassiness of the single coil.
When dialling down the tone, the rhythm setting brings even thicker sounds, reminiscent of the creamy leads made famous by Slash or Gary Moore. The treble pickup brings more grit that’s suitable for everything from jangly indie-rock chords to full-blown heavy metal worship – and the thing that is the most impressive is that it cleans up incredibly well at around 3 on the volume dial.
With its low action out of the box and set up with light gauge strings running across its slim taper neck, Les Paul‘s Tribute is easy to pick up and play. It’s an ideal purchase for a newer player looking to get their 2nd or 3rd guitar.
Conclusion
So, which guitar is better for you? These guitars are very different and don’t sound the same or feel the same. To make a better decision, it’s highly recommended to try out both to find your personal preference.
Although in short, Fender’s Jazzmaster with its lead/rhythm circuit gives players the most versatility. Whereas the Les Paul gives more of a squeaky-ness.