Fender’s hot-rodded Modern Jazzmaster is its most contemporary offset yet
Top-spec made-in-Japan model part of highly limited run
![Fender Modern Jazzmaster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8Nq7Q3ayaTZLjxaQh6jtBH-1200-80.jpg)
Just three months ago, we opined that the Jazzmaster has finally gone mainstream, and as if to prove our point, Fender Japan has gone and announced its most contemporary incarnation of the classic offset design yet.
The made-in-Japan - and exclusive to that country - Modern Jazzmaster was first launched last year, but is now available in a limited 3-Color Sunburst run, with black-finished headstock.
Designed for contemporary playability, the Modern Jazzmaster boasts a three-piece alder body, with direct-mount fourth-generation noiseless humbuckers.
The neck has been given an overhaul, too, with a modern C-to-D shape, compound-radius rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets and glow-in-the-dark side dots, and a contoured neck heel.
There’s also a tune-o-matic-style bridge and locking tuners, while the whole thing comes wrapped up in a deluxe gigbag.
In this finish, we’d argue this is one of Fender’s most successful experiments with boutique-vibed electrics… So, why oh why, is it an online-only exclusive in Japan?
Should you so desire, the guitar is available for ¥153,000 (approx $1,365) - you can set your region to Japan and check out further info at Fender.com.
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Come on, Fender, bring this one to the rest of the world. Pretty please?
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
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