Well, after all but flat-out denying it for many months, Fender this week has finally revealed on its website the highly anticipated Signature Series Elvis Costello Jazzmaster… and just when I thought it was safe to put away my wallet.
According to Fender, while Costello’s original Jazzmaster has seen numerous modifications over its 30-plus years in existence, this new Signature Model was built to replicate the guitar as it was during the recording of Costello’s seminal 1977 debut LP (and still my favorite of all his records,) My Aim Is True.
Unique features are expected to include a Walnut stained finish in Nitrocellulose Lacquer, early ’70s neck design, and a “loose-set” tremolo tension with the trem arm bent away from the body to allow for more dramatic travel.
The Elvis Costello Jazmmaster will also sport an Alder body, Maple C-shaped neck (25.5“ scale length,) Rosewood fretboard with vintage 7.25” radius and 21 frets, vintage style “floating” tremolo w/tremolo lock button, Fender/Gotoh vintage style machine heads, 4-ply tortoise shell pickguard, chrome hardware, and aged white plastic parts.
Electronics will include a pair of special design American Vintage Jazzmaster single-coils, “lead circuit” Volume & Tone controls, “rhythm circuit” Volume & Tone controls, 3-way pickup switching, and a 2-position slide for selecting Lead & Rhythm tone settings.
The Fender Signature Series Elvis Costello Jazzmaster will ship with a Deluxe brown hardshell case, guitar strap, and cable. In keeping with other recent low-cost Signature models, the guitar is selling for a street price of just over $1500.
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April 11th, 2008 at 11:05 am
“In keeping with other recent low-cost Signature models, the guitar is selling for a street price of just over $1500.”
For a sufficiently loose definition of “low-cost.”
April 11th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hehe… but low-cost indeed in comparison to many outrageously-priced signature instruments coming out these days :)
Heck, I paid $1500 for my American Vintage ‘62 Strat.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
They were definitely denying its existence just a couple weeks ago. I was e-mailing them from all my different adresses trying to get an answer on it when it was coming out.
I’m trying to work an angle with a friend of a friend who works at a big box music store to get me an ‘at cost’ hook up. Fingers crossed.
My question for Fender is why the f**k don’t they have a story about in their NEWS section? I saw they added it to the Jazzmaster lineup on Tuesday. I just don’t understand.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
This is awesome. I’ve been wanting a Jazzmaster for some time now, but before this, the only one in my price range was the J.Macias signature. Now I can have one that’s not sparkily purple! :)
April 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
What a cool guitar.
The first Elvis tune I ever heard was “Blame it on Cain” as it was blasting out of someone’s dorm room. I asked the guy who he was listening to, then rode my bike to the record store on State Street in downtown Madison, WI. I still have that album, by the way..,
April 12th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Looks like every stripped-finish Jazzmaster you could get for $600 in the early-mid 90s.
Can’t think of anyone else who’s had current sig models from both Gibson and Fender, though…
April 14th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Looks totally retro man.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Nice looking guitar. Look forward to seeing reviews of the sound and playability!