“When Fender came to us with an offer to make signature models of our Jazzmaster guitars we jumped at the chance,† Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo.
“These are the guitars that have defined the sound of Sonic Youth for more than 20 years. Although we love all guitars, Jazzmasters are the ones we’ve modified and perfected for our uses over the years. With massive input from our great road crew, we’ve come up with a Thurston Jazzmaster and Lee ‘Jazzblaster’ that fully reflect the current state of the guitars we play in 2009. In fact, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on these axes—the prototypes of our Fender models have already been thrust into action during the recording of our latest album, The Eternal, and have already begun to acquire the scrapes and scars of live performance. These guitars rock Sonic style!â€
Lee and Thurston have always heavily modified their Jazzmaster guitars – removing all extraneous controls – simplifying and stripping them back to their essence, leaving just a 3 way switch and a volume knob. In many ways these 2 instruments are similar, yet in almost every major way (pickups, bridges, frets, pickguard) they are totally different.
“After playing and slaying Fender Jazzmasters for the last 20+ years we are totally PSYCHED and HONORED to have our very own signature axes.”
Both guitars have alder bodies, “Câ€-shape maple necks with rosewood fingerboards, American Vintage Jazzmaster tremolos and Black anodized aluminum pickguards.
Moore’s Jazzmaster features Seymour Duncan Antiquity II for Jazzmaster pickups, an Adjusto-Matic™ bridge and 21 jumbo frets, and is available in Forest Green Transparent satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish with satin black painted headstock.
Ranaldo’s guitar features revoiced Wide Range humbucking pickups, Mustang-style bridge and 21 vintage frets, and is available in Sapphire Blue Transparent satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish with satin black painted headstock.
Each Sonic Youth Jazzmaster guitar comes with a custom sticker sheet and a full-color 24-page indie rock ‘zine containing photos, set lists, tuning charts, illustrations, tech info and extensive interviews. Designed and laid out largely by Ranaldo himself, this is the definitive insider’s guide to all things Jazzmaster in the world of Sonic Youth.
Thurston Moore Jazzmaster
- Forest Green Transparent with satin black headcap
- 2 Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickups with aged covers.
- AdjustÂÂ-o-matic bridge
- Jumbo frets and 7.25†fretboard radius.
- Black Anodized Aluminum pickguard with split control assembly.
- Streamlined electronics- no rhythm circuit/one volume knob
- Vintage style nickel hardware
- Pickup selctor switch ‘side to side’ instead of up/down.
- Signature on back of headstock.
- includes ‘Sonic Jazzmaster/Jazzblaster’ ‘zine with SY crew interviews and sticker sheet with new artist-designed and vintage sonic gtr stickers.
Lee Ranaldo Jazzmaster
Based upon Lee’s iconic ‘Jazzblasters’
- Sapphire Blue transparent with satin black headcap
- 2 Newly revoiced and improved Fender wide range Humbucker reissue pickups (voiced to Lee’s specs)
- Fender Mustang Bridge
- Vintage frets and 7.25†fretboard radius.
- Black Anodized Aluminum pickguard.
- Streamlined electronics- no rhythm circuit/one volume knob
- Vintage style nickel hardware
- Pickup selctor switch ‘side to side’ instead of up/down.
- Signature on back of headstock.
- includes ‘Sonic Jazzmaster/Jazzblaster’ ‘zine with SY?crew interviews and sticker sheet with new artist-designed and vintage sonic gtr stickers.Â