Longtermers

A few months’ gigging, recording and everything that goes with it – welcome to Guitarist ’s longterm test report

- Dave Burrluck, DAVE BURRLUCK

FENDER American Acoustasonic JazzMaster

Writer

DAVE BURRLUCK Guitarist, Gear Reviews Editor

Every time we mention this guitar we get mail. Our reviews editor continues exploring this divisive instrument, with additional viewpoints from a reader and a seasoned pro…

In the more sociable months of early summer, our borrowed Acoustasonic gets quite a lot of attention. “It’s much better in the flesh… but it still looks wrong,” offers one of my more traditional music mates. “Wow, it feels really good!” says a more open-minded pro musician whose world of work is only just beginning to look a little brighter.

I first encountered the modern Acoustasonic concept with the launch of the Telecaster version at Winter NAMM 2019. At Fender’s pre-show bash, Guitarist’s editor-in-chief, Jamie Dickson, and I were taken through the concept by key designer Tim Shaw as we listened intently and quaffed on a couple of Corona beers. A little while later, while power-walking to our next do and with perhaps jet-lag and those beers taking effect, we reckoned we’d found the guitar of the show before the event had even officially started. But bumping into a highly regarded UK dealer, he popped our balloon: “It’s too expensive. No-one will pay that. It needs to be made in Mexico and half the price.”