Modio Pick LogoModio
    Fender

    Vintera II '50s Jazzmaster

    The Vintera II '50s Jazzmaster is Fender's take on the original late-50s Jazzmaster: an alder body, a gold anodized aluminium pickguard, a late-50s C neck with a vintage 7.25 inch radius and tall frets, and a pair of warm, wide vintage-style single-coils with the full lead and rhythm circuit.

    9 mods reviewed: 6 drop-in, 1 needs verification, 2 need modification.

    Drop a hero product shot

    The Vintera II '50s Jazzmaster is Fender's take on the original late-50s Jazzmaster: an alder body, a gold anodized aluminium pickguard, a late-50s C neck with a vintage 7.25 inch radius and tall frets, and a pair of warm, wide vintage-style single-coils with the full lead and rhythm circuit. It uses the classic Jazzmaster floating bridge and tremolo, shared in design with the Jaguar but not with Strat, Tele or Mustang hardware, plus vintage-style tuners in vintage-size holes. Fender doesn't publish the bridge string spacing, so check it before buying a spacing-specific bridge.

    Quick facts

    Tailpiece

    None (bridge-integrated, floating)

    String spacing

    Not resolved

    Sources conflict, read why

    Scale length

    25.5" (648mm)

    Tuner hole size

    8.8mm (11/32")

    Nut width

    41.9mm (1.650")

    Not published by Fender: bridge mounting spacing. Measure this before buying a bridge.

    Watch out

    Fender does not publish the bridge string spacing for this model. The Jazzmaster and Jaguar floating bridge family has two spacing eras: true vintage spacing of about 56mm, and a narrower revision of about 52 to 53mm introduced around 2018. The wider Vintera line generally follows vintage spec, but that has not been confirmed for this bridge on this model. Measure your own bridge before buying a spacing-specific part.

    We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It doesn't change the price you pay. How we make money

    Bridge

    2 options
    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Staytrem Jaguar/Jazzmaster Bridge, 52mm spacing

    Needs verification

    Fits the existing bridge posts, but whether this changes your string spacing depends on which of this guitar's disputed spacing figures your unit actually has. Worth measuring first. No thimble replacement or body work needed, but Staytrem make it in two fingerboard radii, so order the one that matches your neck.

    Why we say this

    This bridge is built to 52mm spacing, matching one of the two disputed spacing figures for this guitar but not the other. Fits the same 2-post mounting either way, but whether it changes your actual string spacing depends on which figure your guitar shipped with.

    Help confirm this fit

    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Mastery M1-KIT Offset Bridge with MT Thimbles

    Requires modification

    This is the standard cure for offset bridge rattle and wandering saddles, but it is not a bolt-on. The bridge sits on Mastery's own thimbles, so the ones pressed into your guitar have to come out and be replaced, and on Mexican-built offsets the holes sometimes need opening slightly before the new ones seat. Buy the version that comes with thimbles and budget for a tech to fit them.

    Why we say this

    Mastery's own fitment guide specifies the M1-KIT for this guitar, not the bare M1 bridge, because the bridge seats on Mastery's own vintage-spec MT thimbles rather than the factory ones. The bare M1 is only correct for American-made Fender offsets built before 2013. Mastery further list Mexican-built Jazzmasters and Jaguars as a case where the factory thimbles have a smaller inside diameter and sometimes a smaller outside diameter as well, in which case they advise opening the body holes with a 3/8 inch bit run in reverse before the new thimbles will seat, and recommend a luthier for the job. That makes this a body-side fitting job rather than a post-for-post swap, which is why it is not classed as a drop-in. Mounting post spacing itself is not the issue and is unaffected by any string-spacing question on this guitar. Verified against masterybridge.com, September 2026.

    Help confirm this fit

    Pickup

    4 options
    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Seymour Duncan Antiquity Jazzmaster pickup set

    Likely drop-in
    Soldering

    Matches the shape of the stock pickups, this is not the same as a Strat or Tele single-coil, so don't try to swap in one of those instead.

    Why we say this

    Jazzmaster pickups are a distinct shape and route, not interchangeable with a Strat or Tele single-coil. Fits the existing Jazzmaster route.

    See current price at Reverb

    View at Reverb
    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Lollar P-90 for Jazzmaster

    Likely drop-in
    Soldering

    A purpose-built Jazzmaster-shaped P90, giving you that tone without changing the route or cover, fits where the stock pickup was.

    Why we say this

    Purpose-built Jazzmaster-shaped P90, fits the same body shape and pickup route as this guitar's stock pickups.

    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Fralin Steel-Pole (P90-in-Jazzmaster-shape)

    Likely drop-in
    Soldering

    Gives you a P90-style tone without changing the route or cover, this fits where the stock pickup was.

    Why we say this

    Purpose-built to fit the stock Jazzmaster route and cover. A genuine standard Gibson soapbar P90 will not fit this route.

    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 Humbucker (Black)

    Requires modification
    SolderingRouting

    This is a full-size humbucker, so it needs the pickup cavity routed larger to fit. Bigger job than a straight solder swap.

    Why we say this

    A standard Gibson-spec humbucker, so it fits the cavity once enlarged from this guitar's stock single-coil route. Sometimes called Jazzblastering in offset-guitar forums, a full body route job, not a solder-only swap.

    Help confirm this fit

    £129.99 at Andertons

    View at Andertons

    Tuner

    2 options
    Kluson Deluxe Vintage Tuners (6-in-line)

    Kluson Deluxe Vintage Tuners (6-in-line)

    Likely drop-in

    Vintage-style six-in-line tuners with press-in bushings, built for the smaller vintage tuner holes this guitar already has. Should swap straight in.

    Why we say this

    Kluson Deluxe 6-in-line tuners are made for Fender-style 6-in-line headstocks with vintage press-fit bushing holes of about 8.7mm. This guitar has a 6-in-line headstock and vintage-style tuners in vintage-size holes, so both the layout and the hole size match.

    See current price at Amazon

    View at Amazon
    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Hipshot Vintage 8.5mm Grip-Lock UMP Kit (6-in-line, Staggered)

    Likely drop-in

    Built for this guitar's vintage-spec tuner posts, and adds string locking that this guitar's stock non-locking tuners don't have.

    Why we say this

    Manufacturer-specified for 8.5mm vintage press-in bushing holes, matching this guitar's vintage-style tuner posts, while adding a locking mechanism the stock tuners don't have.

    See current price at Reverb

    View at Reverb

    Other Hardware

    1 option
    Illustration, photo coming soon

    Allparts BP-0653-010 Buzz Stop for Jazzmaster and Jaguar

    Likely drop-in

    An easy, reversible fix for string buzz behind the bridge. Doesn't require any other changes.

    Why we say this

    Universal accessory for the Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge design, addresses the shallow string break angle behind the bridge, unaffected by the spacing dispute.

    See current price at Amazon

    View at Amazon

    This page has 3 open questions

    If you have fitted any of these to this Fender Vintera II '50s Jazzmaster, tell us what you found and we'll update the data.