The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster is an affordable yet high-quality electric guitar model aimed at players looking for a classic offset body shape guitar at an entry-level price point. Part of Fender's Affinity Series of instruments, the Affinity Jazzmaster delivers the iconic Jazzmaster style and tone while keeping costs down through more budget-friendly hardware and electronics.

This review will provide an overview of the Affinity Jazzmaster's main features including its body and neck, pickups and controls, hardware, sound and playability. Both the pros and cons of this model will be examined to determine if it lives up to the Jazzmaster name and provides good value for money as an affordable Fender offset guitar. Continue reading to learn more about what the Affinity Jazzmaster has to offer.

Solid Alder Body and Maple Neck

One of the highlights of the Fender Affinity Jazzmaster is its solid alder body and maple neck. This not only gives the guitar a great look and feel, but also contributes to its full bodied tone.

The alder wood body is lightweight yet resonant, providing balanced and well-rounded tones across the frequency spectrum. This warmth and clarity allows the pickups and hardware to really shine. Though alder is a softer wood, the polyester finish helps protect against dings and scratches during heavy use.

The C-shaped maple neck offers smooth playability and stability. Its natural brightness pairs well with the alder body, adding snap and presence to the Jazzmaster's sound. The 25.5" scale length provides tension that facilitates complex chords and solos, especially when combined with the comfortable 9.5" radius fingerboard. Overall the solid alder and maple design makes this an extremely playable, durable, and great sounding guitar.

The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster features two single-coil Jazzmaster pickups that provide a wide range of tones. The bridge pickup delivers crisp and bright treble tones, while the neck pickup has a smoother, darker voice. This versatile pickup configuration allows for everything from sparkling cleans to growling overdrive.

Other great features include a 6-saddle adjustable bridge for precise intonation, master volume and tone controls, a 3-way pickup selector switch, and a vintage-style tremolo tailpiece for expressive effects. The Jazzmaster also comes with die-cast tuning machines that help keep the guitar in tune during performance.

Overall, the solid alder body and maple neck give the Fender Affinity Jazzmaster a resonant, balanced tone and smooth feel that players love. This is an affordable guitar that doesn't compromise on quality or sound. It's perfect for a wide range of musical styles thanks to its versatile single-coil pickups and flexible controls. If you're looking for your first Jazzmaster or want a high-value Fender model, be sure to check out the Fender FA-115 AUS-0916000021-COMBO-DLX-1.

Pickups

The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster features two Jazzmaster single-coil pickups that provide the signature jazzmaster tone. The bridge pickup has a brighter, punchier sound while the neck pickup has a smoother, fuller voice.

The single-coil design helps produce the jangly, clear tone the Jazzmaster is known for. There's an openness and clarity to the pickup sound that works very well for jazz, surf rock, indie rock, and other styles that benefit from crisp clean tones.

While they don't have the hum-cancelling abilities of humbuckers, the single-coil Jazzmaster pickups deliver the archetypal sound Fender is famous for. From sparkly funk to jazzy chords, the pickups complement the Jazzmaster design nicely.

The pickups in an electric guitar like the Gosila TLO-190CEQ-N play a major role in shaping the overall tone and sound. Pickups capture and convert the vibrations of the guitar strings into an electrical signal, which is then amplified and output through the speakers. The type of pickup, along with factors like placement and winding, have a big impact on the tonal characteristics.

Single coil pickups like those found on the Jazzmaster tend to have a brighter, crisper sound compared to humbuckers. The magnetic polepieces are spread out under each string, allowing each to vibrate individually. This gives a clear and articulate tone. However, single coils are also prone to picking up interference from electrical devices, which can lead to unwanted hum.

Humbuckers have two coils wired in opposite polarity to cancel out noise. This makes for a thicker, deeper tone and reduced hum. However, the side by side coil configuration means the strings' vibrations interact more, leading to a more blended sound across the strings.

Active pickups incorporate a preamp to boost and shape the signal before amplification. This allows for greater control over the EQ and gain. The preamp requires a power source, usually a 9V battery. Passive pickups have no active components and directly output the raw signal captured from the strings.

The Jazzmaster pickups are a big factor in the iconic jangly clean tones the model is known for. Their bright, crisp single coil sound allows the guitar's voice to shine with pristine clarity. The open spaced coils help produce definition and articulation. Together with the floating tremolo system, the pickups let Jazzmaster players conjure up all kinds of warbly, surf-inspired sounds.

At the bridge position, the pickup accentuates treble frequencies for a cutting presence. In the neck position the tone is more rounded out. Having separate pickups allows for a variety of tones simply by switching between the two or combining them. From spanky funk chords to smooth jazz comping, the Jazzmaster pickups serve up exceptional sonic versatility.

Overall the Fender Affinity Jazzmaster pickups provide an authentic Jazzmaster experience at an affordable price point. The crisp, articulate voice is great for all styles of music that benefit from open and airy clean tones. Paired with a quality amp, the Affinity Jazzmaster pickups will give you incredible bang for your buck.

Controls

The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster has simple but effective controls that allow you to shape your sound. It features a master volume knob and a single tone control knob.

The master volume knob controls the overall output level of the guitar. Turn it up higher for more volume, and lower for a softer sound. It allows you to easily adjust your loudness whether practicing at home or performing live.

The single tone knob controls the high-end brightness of the pickups. Turn it clockwise for a brighter, crisper tone with more bite and cut. Turn it counterclockwise to soften and round out the highs for a warmer, darker sound. The tone knob gives you versatility in dialing in just the right amount of treble emphasis for your playing style and musical needs.

With just these two knobs, you can quickly shape the Affinity Jazzmaster's voice for everything from jazz comping to alternative rock power chords. The controls are intuitive and give you a wide tonal palette while still keeping things simple.

Hardware

The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster features a fixed bridge for stable tuning and intonation. Unlike a tremolo bridge, the fixed bridge provides solid anchoring of the strings, preventing issues with strings going out of tune during heavy use.

The die-cast tuning machines are high quality with an 18:1 gear ratio for precise tuning adjustments. Each string posts through the back of the headstock into an individual tuning machine knob. Turning the chrome knobs allows for tightening or loosening string tension for proper pitch. The tuning machines hold the strings firmly in place at the desired tension.

Overall, the hardware on the Affinity Jazzmaster provides stability and easy, accurate tuning adjustments ideal for live performances or recording. The quality hardware ensures the guitar stays in tune even under heavy playing.

Sound

The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster Electric Guitar has a bright, clean tone that is well-suited for jazz and surf rock styles. The two single-coil Jazzmaster pickups provide a crisp, articulate sound with a lot of treble clarity. When played clean, the guitar has a jangly, chime-like quality to the tone. There is also a good amount of sustain and note separation.

The bridge pickup has a bit more brightness and twang compared to the slightly warmer neck pickup. Having separate pickups allows for more tonal versatility. The three-way pickup selector switch lets you choose bridge only, neck only, or both pickups together. When using both pickups, it creates a balanced and well-rounded tone.

Overall, the Fender Affinity Jazzmaster lives up to the traditional Jazzmaster sound. The tone is focused in the upper mids and treble, with tight lows and a lot of note definition. The clean headroom allows the guitar to sound great when playing jazz chords or quick surf rock riffs. The sound is crisp and articulate - perfect for these genres that require clarity.

Playability

The playability of the Fender Affinity Jazzmaster is quite good for its price point. It features a 25.5" scale maple neck with a 9.5" radius rosewood fingerboard. This gives the Jazzmaster a comfortable and familiar feel for most players.

The 25.5" scale length is considered a "middle ground" that can handle both chording and lead playing. It's not as tight and stiff feeling as a Gibson-scale guitar, yet still stable enough for complex chording.

The 9.5" fingerboard radius gives a nice rounding to the fretboard that makes chording a breeze. Your hands won't tire out as quickly compared to a fully flat fingerboard. The rosewood material also provides smooth playability.

Overall, the Jazzmaster offers a versatile and comfortable neck that most guitarists will find highly playable. The 25.5" scale and 9.5" radius specs hit a nice sweet spot. While not buttery smooth, it's impressive for an affordable instrument.

Pros

The Fender Affinity Jazzmaster has a lot going for it that makes it a great electric guitar option.

• Iconic Jazzmaster design - The Jazzmaster is one of Fender's most iconic and distinctive guitar designs, with its offset double cutaway body shape. The Affinity Jazzmaster retains this classic silhouette and vibe, but at a more affordable price point.

• Quality components - Despite the lower price, the Affinity Jazzmaster doesn't cut corners when it comes to components. It has a solid alder body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, two Jazzmaster single-coil pickups, and die-cast tuners. The hardware and electronics are faithful to the Jazzmaster formula.

• Great Jazzmaster tones - The two Jazzmaster pickups provide crisp, snappy tones that are articulate and clear. You can dial in classic Jazzmaster spank and jangle easily with the controls. The pickups and electronics deliver authentic Jazzmaster sound.

• Smooth playability - With its 25.5" scale length, C-shaped neck profile, 9.5" fretboard radius, and medium jumbo frets, the Affinity Jazzmaster offers comfortable playability and easy shredding. It's responsive and feels great in the hands, especially when combined with the tremolo bridge.

• Wide tonal versatility - From sparkling clean tones to growling overdrive, the Affinity Jazzmaster is flexible enough for jazz, surf, indie rock, punk, and more. The pickup switching and tone circuitry give you a wide sonic palette.

• Great value - For an authentic Jazzmaster at this price range, the Affinity Jazzmaster is hard to beat. You get the design, hardware, electronics, and playability without breaking the bank.

Cons

While the Fender Affinity Jazzmaster electric guitar has many great features for the price, there are some downsides to consider:

• May need setup adjustments - As with many mass-produced budget guitars, some users report needing to adjust the bridge, nut height, and neck relief out of the box to get optimal playability. The factory setup may need refinement.

• Limited controls - This Jazzmaster model has just one volume and one tone control, compared to the traditional Jazzmaster layout with separate controls for each pickup. Those seeking versatility from blending pickups may find the control options lacking.

• Simplified circuitry - Fender uses simplified electronics in the Affinity Jazzmaster compared to USA models. The rhythm circuit and lead circuit switches are omitted. The traditional Jazzmaster tremolo effect is also absent.

• Basic hardware - The hardware, tuners, bridge, etc are functional but basic. Upgrading these could help improve tuning stability and tone.

• May lack vintage Jazzmaster sound - While it nails the Jazzmaster style and feel, some find the Affinity pickup tones don't quite match the complex character of the original vintage models. The sound may not satisfy Jazzmaster tone purists.

Conclusion

The Fender Jazzmaster is a great entry-level guitar for players looking to get into the Jazzmaster style. It captures the classic Jazzmaster sound, look, and feel at an accessible price point.

The Jazzmaster body shape is comfortable to play sitting down and the offset waist gives easier access to the upper frets. The maple neck and fingerboard feel smooth and playable right out of the box.

The two Jazzmaster single-coil pickups offer crystal clear tones that are perfect for clean and crunchy indie rock. You get those signature Jazzmaster tones without breaking the bank.

While it doesn't have some of the more premium appointments of a Professional or Elite Jazzmaster, the Affinity version still looks, feels, and sounds like a real Jazzmaster. The vintage-style tremolo bridge gives you that classic wavering tone when used.

If you're a beginner or intermediate player looking to try out the Jazzmaster style, this Affinity model is tough to beat. You get the essential Jazzmaster elements at an affordable price. It's versatile enough for indie rock, surf rock, jazz, and more. For an accessible entry point into Jazzmasters, the Affinity delivers quality and value.