If you've spent most of your guitar playing life on Teles and Strats, you owe it to yourself to checkout Fender's 'offset' offerings like the Jaguar, and oh, say this 2021 American Original Jazzmaster.

Jazzmasters occupy a unique spot in the Fender lineup. They don't really sound, play, or look (of course) anything like a Strat or a Tele - which is part of what makes them wonderful to explore.

The offset body balances beautiful for seated and standing playing. When seated, the body shape puts the neck in the optimal playing position (slightly pointed up) which makes these guitars a joy to play.

The bound mid-60s C neck is very comfy and reminds us a touch of a slightly thinner version of the Eric Johnson bound fingerboard Strat (for reference). The string feel is slinky, and the modern 9 1/2" radius ensures easy chord or single line work.

Ok...now to the tone. Jazzmaster pickups deliver clear, articulate, almost Strat neck pickup-like tones (and aren't P90s though they do resemble that style of pickup). Clean tones on a Fender style amp with some delay or reverb? We'll meet you back here in an hour. It will pull you in, trust us.

Overdriven? These guitars have a really unique, lo-fi style of break up which is no doubt why they're used by indie rock bands (think Dinosaur Jr). We love it, and have gigged with Jazzmasters in our own indie rock bands for years - but - don't go in expecting to rip blues licks on it. You can for sure, but other guitars will do that better. These are brilliant rhythm guitars, atypical soloing, noise rock, experimentation, etc...and, right, jazz. :-)