hallmark 60s custom: how does it compare to a Jazzmaster?

[beenawhile]

Strat-o-rama....no need to upgrade your jazzmaster bridge for gigging, unless you want to....

Yes, my jazzmaster rattled with the best of them when I got it! I took care of it, permanently, over the course of a week. Add a few layers of tape to the bridge posts, applied threadlock to the bridge saddles, and filed a small groove in the low e string saddle. I use a set of 10s and pick with a heavy hand. Everything stays put, rings true, and there are no rattles. Completely gig worthy.

I grew up a strat guy (SRV, Hendrix, the works). The jazzmaster doesn't work well for any of that (especially with flats).

I echo the feeling that the 60s custom would be good for Charlie Christian or jump blues.

I don't recall string bending issues in when I tried it out. At least, I recall doing a sort of Chuck Berry thing, and it seemed silky smooth.

Anybody playing any Beatles or other early 60s British invasion material on the 60s? Is there any jangle? And how does it do with a little grit?

[vjf1968]

Strat-o-rama....no need to upgrade your jazzmaster bridge for gigging, unless you want to....

Yes, my jazzmaster rattled with the best of them when I got it! I took care of it, permanently, over the course of a week. Add a few layers of tape to the bridge posts, applied threadlock to the bridge saddles, and filed a small groove in the low e string saddle. I use a set of 10s and pick with a heavy hand. Everything stays put, rings true, and there are no rattles. Completely gig worthy.

I grew up a strat guy (SRV, Hendrix, the works). The jazzmaster doesn't work well for any of that (especially with flats).

I echo the feeling that the 60s custom would be good for Charlie Christian or jump blues.

I don't recall string bending issues in when I tried it out. At least, I recall doing a sort of Chuck Berry thing, and it seemed silky smooth.

Anybody playing any Beatles or other early 60s British invasion material on the 60s? Is there any jangle? And how does it do with a little grit?

I have been playing Beatles, Shadows, Neil Young, R & B, blues and other genres on the Hallmark 60's Custom and though it has a sound of its own it can handle it all.

With OD it sings. Fuzz sounds great with the back pick up. High gain distortion is also doable but with the pick ups still being single coil you are going to get buzzing.

[MWaldorf]

I've found that with split coil pickups you can get much closer to Fender territory on a Mosrite. The Mosrite style pickups are high output, 10K+, some over 13K (that's how I like them!). Fender pickups are in the 5-7K range. The M3 RH-100 pickups I've got in my Meshugga-rite have selectible output of 7K / 13K, and in the lower output level can do a reasonable fascimile of a Fender sound. Put a set into a 60C and you'd be able to cop most of the Jazzmaster's sonic territory.

Not that there's anything wrong with the stock pickups in the Hallmark 60C, but as far as I know the M3s are the only split coil Mosrite style p'ups on the market and it adds a lot of versatility.

[beenawhile]

vjf I just followed your link www.theabsinthedrinkers.com

The sample vids are great - a nice departure from what I usually listen to these days. Were those done with the 60s Custom - sort of sounds like it? Very nice guitar work - I'd like to hear more.

[beenawhile]

Mel, I agree...your tapped pups do sound fenderish in the cut positions. Nice flexibility.

So are the stock Hallmarks more like the C3s in tapped or full mode?

BTW, we exchanged a few emails regarding this vid - about a year ago. Thanks for the help

Steve

[MWaldorf]

Steve,

The stock Hallmarks are in the Mosrite realm. If you want to get a more Fendery sound out of them, you need to pull them pretty far away from the strings.

Mel

PS. Glad I can help out!

[vjf1968]

vjf I just followed your link http://www.theabsinthedrinkers.com

The sample vids are great - a nice departure from what I usually listen to these days. Were those done with the 60s Custom - sort of sounds like it? Very nice guitar work - I'd like to hear more.

Sorry, those recordings were done before I joined the band. The previous guitar player had "issues" and was basically fired. I been int he band for over a year so when the band gets the recording bill down we will start recording new material. Here a live recordings done with the Hallmark and a ZT Lunchbox amp.

http://theabsinthedrinkers.com/l-i-s-t- ... 1_Time.mp3
http://theabsinthedrinkers.com/l-i-s-t- ... 1_Time.mp3

[beenawhile]

"The previous guitar player had "issues" and was basically fired"

Boy, if I had a nickle for every time I heard that story

Let us know when you lay down some tracks with the custom 60

[vjf1968]

"The previous guitar player had "issues" and was basically fired"

Boy, if I had a nickle for every time I heard that story

Let us know when you lay down some tracks with the custom 60

Well not to talk out of turn but I think the progression went like this:

Friday-Kicked out of the band
Saturday-roommates kicked him out of their apartment
The following Tuesday he is fired from his job as bartender for stealing.

[beenawhile]

Steve,

The stock Hallmarks are in the Mosrite realm. If you want to get a more Fendery sound out of them, you need to pull them pretty far away from the strings.

Mel

PS. Glad I can help out!

Actually, I am not needing more Fender tones and am glad the Hallmark has its own sound. What I am looking for is a versatile guitar that can cover a wide range of vintage instro territory. Seems to be lots of proof on this forum that the Hallmark fits the bill.

Thanks again!