Members Notes_Norton Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hi, I may have a gig where I need to fly this summer (very "iffy" by the agency). I am doing research now so if it happens I'll know what to do. I do not want to bring my Gibson ES-330 or my Casino on the airplane, as they are dear to me. However, I really like the P90 sound. So I want a decent but inexpensive guitar to take along. This will end up as a spare guitar for me as I also have an ESP/LTD LP-ish axe. I read where headstock breaks are most common during flight so I decided on the straight headstock design. I don't want to spend the money on a Jaguar, although I like the looks. The JT-SFM appeals to me in looks the reviews show them decent for cheap guitars, but I have a few questions. 1) What is the scale length?2) What is the neck radius?3) How much does it weigh?4) Will I need to change the pups to better P90s?5) Your overall impression? I play sax, guitar, wind synth and flute on stage, and the guitar is not my primary instrument, which is the reason I cannot justify spending the money on a Jaguar - besides, I really, really, really like the P90 sound. I couldn't find any specs on this guitar, I e-mailed Turser but yet haven't gotten an answer. Thanks,Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nwtsnma Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 1. 25.5 but it feels less because of the roller bridge and tail2. flat, like 12"3. pretty light4. no5. ok but a bit characterless. everything is really smooth and polished and feels good. the wiring on the cutout switches is feedbacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcindc Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 You owe it to yourself to check out the SX P90 guitars at Rondomusic.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 You owe it to yourself to check out the SX P90 guitars at Rondomusic.com. I know the P-90's on my Agile Valkyrie II sound great. However that's a setneck, maybe he should check out the SX 2-P-90 Strat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcindc Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 I originally had in mind the LP Jr shaped ones, but then I remembered the SJM. Forgot all about the strats, but that is a great sugg. I love all of mine. Pics for GAS, these are about a hundred and a primary reason why I don't have a Turser Surf guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zerostreet Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 I was going to suggest the SX SJM. I think they run about $130 or so. Here's my Vintage White SJM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nwtsnma Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 the sjm is about 8 feet long and not a guitar to travel with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dogfish Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 I've heard (not done it) that when traveling, loosen the strings, capo them at a high fret, unscrew the neck. It now fits into your suitcase. It's understood that it's much easier to face doing this with an SX SJM than an original Jazzmaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tartanphantom Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 I've heard (not done it) that when traveling, loosen the strings, capo them at a high fret, unscrew the neck. It now fits into your suitcase. It's understood that it's much easier to face doing this with an SX SJM than an original Jazzmaster. This is definitely an option, I've done it with a Squier Telecaster with no problems whatsoever. But I DO suggest using an old-fashioned hardshell suitcase instead of the currently trendy "soft" luggage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cavadge Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 There is one glaring problem with the JT-SFM - the trem. It is a lousy Jazzmaster copy, and it doesn't return to "zero" - meaning tuning stability is horrible. I took mine apart, and examined it and messed with it. And ultimately replaced it with a Jazzmaster copy - which required hogging out some wood to fit. Now it works the way it is supposed to. The threaded inserts for the bridge are pressed in after the pickguard is installed, so you can't remove the pickguard. And mine had a bow in it from that, requiring installation of another pickguard screw to flatten it out. And as I've done with all my bolt-on guitars, I removed the neck, and found a shim to compensate for the rough finish under there. Using a file and some sandpaper, I cleaned that up, and the reward was a much more melodic instrument with good sustain. As to the P90s, I was underwhelmed at first. But I found the same issue I've found on another P90 guitar I own - the pickup height is set using adhesive foam strips stuck to the bottom of the pickups. I replaced the foam strips with hardwood blocks I made out of some red birch scraps I had laying around. The foam had killed the high and low end response. Sounds real fine now. Some pics of the mods here --> http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z14/cavadge/JT%20Surfmaster/ The pickup spacers here --> http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z14/cavadge/Misc/ Summary - as is out of the box - meh. With some work, though, it is now a very playable, giggable workhorse. HTH,Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dogfish Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 If you like that style of guitar, think about modding a Jagmaster. I recently bought a Squier Jagmaster for $150 ($200 is more to be expected, $250 new). About $70 to get a pair of GFS Mean 90's, and you've got a bottom-feeder's Jaguar. But the SX SJM62, at $130, is an even bigger steal, and if you want a hard-tail, or an official-looking floating trem, or 25.5" scale is important, that's the way to go. (The Jagmaster has a strat-style trem and 24" scale.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grantus Posted January 8, 2009 Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 I had one for awhile and thought it was uninspiring. The pickups seemed rather lifeless, the neck needed a shim to be set up correctly, and it just felt cheap. The trem system didn't seem all that stable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted January 8, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 8, 2009 If you like that style of guitar, think about modding a Jagmaster. <...> But the SX SJM62, at $130, is an even bigger steal, and if you want a hard-tail, or an official-looking floating trem, or 25.5" scale is important, that's the way to go. (The Jagmaster has a strat-style trem and 24" scale.) Not a bad idea. Short scale would be good since I generally play Gibson scale guitars. The neck radius is shorter than I prefer though (9.5"), I really prefer a flatter fretboard as I mostly play lead licks. I don't use the trem anyway, but have a pitch bend pedal that does the trick without putting the guitar out of tune. I suppose I could put some P90s that fit in a humbucker slot, like the ones here: Kent Armstrong or BG or Guitar Fetish Looking at the rondo page I'm actually drawn to the short-scale Strat copies, but I don't think the pups will sound very much to my liking. http://www.rondomusic.com/product904.html would fit my travel needs very well, lightweight, short scale, long neck radius -- but I don't think it will sound as good to my ears as a P90 guitar -- and even for a strat sound, how good are the pups going to be on an $90 guitar? The SX with P90s weighs a couple of pounds more. I'm used to a 6 pound Casino and a 6 pound ES-330. Since I switch instruments a lot, I might pick up and put down the guitar 30 times in a night, so lightweight is good The squier custom tele II would be decent if it weren't for the 7.24" radius -- I don't think I could get along with that. Hmmmmm..... more research needed........ Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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