Does a new Fender need a setup? Often yes. Factory action is a compromise spec built for broad playability, not for how you specifically play. The Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster is a great guitar out of the box, but the setup is rarely where a serious player wants it.
What Came In
A new Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster in Dark Night came in for a setup before the owner started playing it. Fresh out of the box, never gigged, never adjusted.
What We Found
Factory action was higher than the player wanted. Nothing was wrong with the guitar. Neck relief was reasonable, nut slots were cut to spec. The saddles just needed to come down, intonation reset, and the whole instrument dialed in to what the player actually wanted.
What We Did
Full setup. Neck relief adjusted, action lowered at the saddles to the customer's spec, nut slots checked and cleaned, intonation set, guitar played through end to end. No parts replaced. Forty-five minutes on the bench.
Result
Plays the way a Jazzmaster at this price point should play, with low fast action right where the player wanted it.
Worth Knowing
Factory setup specs are compromises. Fender has to pick an action height that works across a wide range of players, playing styles, and string gauges, something that won't draw warranty claims and will feel playable to most people out of the box. That's a reasonable thing to do at scale. It just isn't a setup for any specific player.
The Jazzmaster and Jaguar platform in particular has a floating tremolo and rhythm circuit that reward a careful setup. There's more to dial in than on a standard Stratocaster. We set up a lot of these in Glens Falls and the story is almost always the same: factory action too high for the player, saddles come down, intonation reset, guitar plays completely differently.
Bring It In
New guitar not playing the way you expected? That's a setup, not a return. Standard setup is $79 and we'll get it back in your hands as soon as possible.
Related
- What a Guitar Setup Includes and Why It Matters
- When Should a Beginner Get a Guitar Setup?
- 1988 Fender USA Telecaster Setup and Electronics Verification
- Why Won't My Guitar Stay in Tune
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If you need assistance, give us a call and we'll come down.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 5pm
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com