Les Paul Jr. vs. Jazzmaster

[triplover64]

I know they're different animals and there doesn't seem to be as much love for the Les Paul Jr. as there is for the Jazzmaster but how does the Les Paul Jr. compare?

[Willyguitar]

They are completely different animals. I am a big Junior fan - I just sort of discovered that it is the guitar for me (well one of them!). I have found Jazzmasters a bit too fiddly and not as distinctive sounding as either a strat or a tele - certainly less solid than the latter... I think there is probably a reason why Fender's two biggest guitars are more popular. But there will no doubt be jazzmaster owners getting their knickers in a twist by me saying that.

 

On the other hand, the Jr is a gruff little bastard, which can get an amazing range of tones for a one pickup guitar, and on most models, sounds great clean as well as overdriven (better clean to my ear than most humbuckered LPs)... and most importantly, resonates like mad - more than most PAF LPs I've played, I think because of the slightly different neck-body join and lack of a neck pickup cavity/extra magnetic pull. It's an absolute cracker if you can live with just one pickup.

[Electric Monk]

Don't discount the Jazzmaster. It sounds, to me, like a fat Strat - its bridge pickup is meaty and entirely useable, unlike a lot of Strat pickups (to my ears). Same for the neck - like a strat, but meatier, fuller. It won't do metal, but it'll do high gain, just ask J. mascis.

[elvisart]

Les Paul Juniors are so nice, great tone. Jazzmasters were once my holy grail, but once I played one, meh...