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Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
VS
Playability
70
Sound
75
Build
64
Value
65
Score
70
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
62
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster V4

Reasons to Get
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster over Jim Root Jazzmaster V4

Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 over Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
71 vs 65
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster V4

Bridge Pickup
Fender Pure Vintage 65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster vs EMG Jim Root Signature Daemonum Open-Coil Active Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Pure Vintage 65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster vs EMG Jim Root Signature Daemonum Open-Coil Active Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster V4

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 is the better choice.

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 Artist series
  • Troy Van Leeuwen Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Jazzmaster Bridge with Nickel-Plated Brass Mustang Saddles and Tremolo bridge
  • LEEUWEN C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 8.05lbs (3.7kgs) and 8.6lbs (3.9kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 Artist series
  • Jim Root Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG Jim Root Signature Daemonum Open-Coil Active Humbucking (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG Jim Root Signature Daemonum Open-Coil Active Humbucking (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Fender Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster has an SS configuration while the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 has HH pickups.

SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's online:

The Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's pickups are Passive while the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's switch options
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 75
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster compares to the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Mexico.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 64
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Nut Width
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Nut Width
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Nut Width
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.8mm (0.031'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster and Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Neck Profile
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's neck profile
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Neck Profile
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster and the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's Fingerboard radius
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Fingerboard Radius
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster favors large hands more than the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Frets Size
Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's Frets Size
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Frets Size
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4's Frets Size

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
General Fender Troy Van Leeuwen Jazzmaster Jim Root Jazzmaster V4
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: Orange, Red White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Jazzmaster Bridge with Nickel-Plated Brass Mustang Saddles and Tremolo 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking
Fretboard: Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Block Pearliod Block with Luminlay Fluorescent Side Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: LEEUWEN C Fender Thin C
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive) EMG Jim Root Signature Daemonum Open-Coil Active Humbucking (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive) EMG Jim Root Signature Daemonum Open-Coil Active Humbucking (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0