Fender Updates the Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
The Queens of the Stone Age guitarist's signature axe now sports a Copper Age finish and a maple fingerboard.
Fender has announced an update of its Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster.
First introduced in 2014, the Queens of the Stone Age guitarist's signature axe can now be outfitted with an exclusive Copper Age finish and a maple neck with block inlays. Other tweaks to the guitar include the replacement of its rhythm/lead slider with a toggle switch and the use of a Mustang bridge with the Jazzmaster tailpiece.
Otherwise, the guitar's alder body, 7.25” fingerboard radius, Dual Pure Vintage ’65 Jazzmaster pickups and Jazzmaster floating tremolo remain.
“To have a Fender signature model is already a dream come true,” Van Leeuwen said in a press release. “So, to be asked to refresh the look is an honor. Aesthetically, it’s a 180 degree turn from my original Candy Oxblood signature Jazzmaster, which excites me as I was looking to do a color that has a classic look.
"Guitars and cars from the ‘50s and ‘60s used the same paint colors. So, I tried to imagine a 1955 copper convertible Corvette with accents of Aztec Gold. I think we nailed it.
"The metallic finish really shines on the curves of the offset body shape. I also like the maple fingerboard with the black binding, because it’s a unique look for a Jazzmaster and it adds an attack to the guitar’s versatile tones. I’ve seen vintage Jaguars with this neck, but not very many Jazzmasters.”
The updated Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster is available now for $1,349.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
For more info on the guitar, stop by fender.com.
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
“I got backstage and gave the watch back to him. He had a light — an aura or energy — about him." Guitarist Jim Suhler recalls meeting Stevie Ray Vaughan and the career-shaping advice he gave him
“There are these strange coincidences. It’s kind of amazing.” David Gilmour weighs in on the longtime conspiracy theory that links Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' to 'The Wizard of Oz'