Fender Kim Gordon Jazzmaster: Kool or Not?
New signature for an Alt-Rock icon
Fender just revealed the new Kim Gordon Signature Jazzmaster, a limited-run model based on the guitar she plays live.
Contents – Kim Gordon Signature Jazzmaster
Kim Gordon
Kim Gordon is known for playing bass in Sonic Youth; however ,she also dabbles in guitar and often plays a Jazzmaster live. This latest limited-run signature guitar is based on the old Blacktop model she used to use live.
I’m not sure Jazzmaster purists will love it, as it is stripped back and has a humbucker in the bridge position, but it looks like a ‘kool thing’ in Olympic White.
Kim Gordon Signature Jazzmaster
As I mentioned above, Kim was often seen playing a Blacktop Jazzmaster model, which has very similar specifications to her new signature guitar.
Her new model comes in Olympic White with a matching painted headstock, has an alder body, and comes with a 3-ply black pickguard. Visually, the blocks on the rosewood fretboard really help set this model apart from the older Blacktop models. It has a maple Modern “C” profile neck with a satin finish, so it should feel smooth to play.
As it is stripped back, there is no Rhythm circuit on this model, just volume and tone controls and a three-way selector switch.
Seymour Duncan
Pickups consist of a Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Jazzmaster neck pickup, and this is paired with a hotter Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker in the bridge position. This is a similar layout to the original Blacktop Jazzmaster that she used for quite some time.
Hardware
This model comes with a Jazzmaster bridge fitted with Mustang saddles and a Vintage-style tremolo with a push-in arm. The ClassicGear tuners and synthetic bone nut should help to keep everything in tune.
These models are built at the Fender Ensenada factory and come with a deluxe gig bag included.
They look nice, but are quite expensive when compared to what you can buy for similar money from other manufacturers.
I’m guessing Sonic Youth fans might want to pick one up, as would anyone who prefers a stripped-back offset guitar with a higher-output bridge pickup. Thurston and Ranaldo had their limited-run signature models, and they are now both quite desirable, so will Gordon’s signature follow suit?
Availability
The Fender Kim Gordon Signature Jazzmaster is available now at Thomann and Sweetwater.
More Information
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