Crafted to embody the aesthetics, playability, and tonal characteristics of FenderS legendary offset design from the mid-1960s, the Vintera III Jazzmaster showcases a futuristic silhouette reminiscent of the Jetsons. Its alder body, a classic Fender tonewood, delivers a vibrant and balanced sound profile with pronounced mids and a solid low end.
Attached via a four-bolt joint, the C-shaped maple neck begins with a slim width of 1.65 inches at the nut, gradually expanding to just over two inches at the 12th fret. Topped with a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard, it features 21 vintage-tall frets that offer slightly more height than conventional frets, facilitating effortless bends and a wider vibrato range.
Available in striking Olympic White and vibrant Candy Apple Red, the Vintera III Jazzmaster emerged from its gig bag perfectly in tune and well set up. This visually appealing electric guitar proved to be a joy to play, thanks to its slim neck profile, low action free of buzzing, polished frets, and accurate intonation.
While the fret edges were slightly sharp, the nut was well-crafted and properly notched, preventing string pinching during tuning or tremolo use.A notable aesthetic change from the previous Vintera II Jazzmaster is the decals, which are now applied over the finish rather than beneath it, along with a genuine bone nut and period-accurate clay fingerboard dots.
The vintage-style floating tremolo tailpiece, paired with a six-saddle adjustable bridge, ensures that strings remain in tune even during expressive bends with the push-in bar.True to vintage specifications, the tailpiece includes a lock button designed to maintain tuning stability in the event of a string break. To engage it, simply press the bar down, slide the button back, release the bar, and keep rocking.
During testing,I intentionally broke the high E string,and the system effectively kept the other five strings in tune. However, they did go slightly sharp and required retuning. the tuning stability can be adjusted, and it’s advisable to check online resources for guidance on making these tweaks.
the Vintera III’s pickups are historically accurate, designed to capture the essence of classic Fender single-coil sound. Fender describes this tone as “rich and full-bodied, with the unique depth and clarity that made these offset guitars favorites among surf, pop, and indie artists.”
Using my PRS DGT 15 head and cabinet, along with a variety of distortion, compression, and delay pedals, this acoustically vibrant guitar was a breeze to set up for everything from clean, funky rhythms to gritty leads. The Lead/Rythm circuit, featuring an on/off slider switch and volume and tone thumbwheels for the neck pickup, allows you to preset two distinct sounds while maintaining full control over your lead tone when the slider is in the down position.
In this mode, you can choose between neck, bridge, or both pickups using the three-way toggle, controlling it with the volume and tone knobs. This feature is especially useful for live performances,minimizing the need for constant adjustments when switching between clean and overdriven tones.
the Vintera III Mid ’60s Jazzmaster stands out as perhaps the finest iteration Fender has released to date. It’s a joy to play, boasts stunning aesthetics, and its electronics offer a level of versatility that few vintage-style guitars can rival. If you have space in your collection for this retro-modern gem, don’t hesitate to make it yours.
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTACT fender.com
PRICE $1,349, includes gig bag
NUT Bone, 1.65″ wide
NECK Maple bolt-on, Mid-’60s C shape
FINGERBOARD Round-laminated rosewood, 25.5″ scale, 7.25″ radius
FRETS 21 vintage tall
TUNERS Fender vintage style,nickel plated
BODY Alder
BRIDGE Six-saddle vintage-style adjustable. Floating tremolo tailpiece with lock button and push-in arm
PICKUPS Era-correct mid-’60s Jazzmaster single-coils with vintage White covers
CONTROLS Volume,tone,three-way pickup selector. Lead/Rhythm circuit on/off slide switch, thumbwheels for neck pickup volume and tone
FINISH Available in Candy Apple Red, Sonic Blue, and olympic White
WEIGHT 7.94 lbs (tested)
BUILT Ensenada, Mexico
PROS Remarkable tones. Superb playability. Innovative electronics and tremolo lock feature.
CONS On the heavier side.
