NGD: J Joye Roadmaster Diner
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 2:11 pm
I have to admit I've been watching this used guitar on Reverb for months without pulling the trigger. I didn't have a Cabronita because Fender can't find it in the numbers to offer a lefty. I found the space-agey retro table top fun, but didn't know enough about guitar maker J Joye (Jeremy Joye, I think) in France. I also didn't have any guitars with TV Jones pickups to guess at the tones I'd get out of this guitar. It looked well made, but I just had hesitation until the seller dropped the price into a very good range. I sent an offer, he countered not a lot more, and the deal was done.
So let me describe it better than the photo can. It has a chambered mahogany body described as more or less semi-hollow and it is, weighing in at only 6 lbs, 1.7 oz. The neck is a slightly thick C shape that I find very comfortable. The brass saddles have girth that I think translate into great tone in a tele shape (I can't explain, but thick brass barrel saddles always sound better to me than other teles). The tuners are not branded, but are very smooth and easy to dial in. The nut is cut well and I think it is bone. The fretboard is ebony, which is my favorite, and I think the frets are medium jumbo. There is no tone circuit, just volume and I am ok with that. The top doesn't just look like old laminate countertop, it actually is, with binding around it. I find that hilarious and cool at the same time. It made me play a very bad version of the Ren & Stimpy theme as my first song on it. Fit and finish all around seem flawless, I can't find the tiniest run, drip, scrape, whatever.
The action was horrible, and I realized there was a scary lot of relief - to the point I worried maybe the truss rod was busted. I started adjusting and after a while it was as straight and low as I like, whew! Maybe the 1st owner played slide on it. So getting the guitar dialed in, it became very comfortable and I put hours of play on it. As fun as it looks, and as great as it feels, I now have to gush a little bit. I absolutely love these pickups. The neck is a TV Jones Super'Tron, and the bridge is a TV Jones Filter'Tron Plus. I think these are the best thing about the guitar. Before this, the most articulate pickups I've played were goldfoils. These are just as articulate, but without losing low end punch. They have richness and sparkle at the same time, even chording. I have never heard as much going on in my playing (that can be good and bad). I like them so much, I will have to measure to see if another set would fit as replacements for the toasters in my Harm.
So yeah, bottom line is I love this guitar and paid way too little for it even with Reverb fees. I don't want to admit to my other teles how much I like this one!
So let me describe it better than the photo can. It has a chambered mahogany body described as more or less semi-hollow and it is, weighing in at only 6 lbs, 1.7 oz. The neck is a slightly thick C shape that I find very comfortable. The brass saddles have girth that I think translate into great tone in a tele shape (I can't explain, but thick brass barrel saddles always sound better to me than other teles). The tuners are not branded, but are very smooth and easy to dial in. The nut is cut well and I think it is bone. The fretboard is ebony, which is my favorite, and I think the frets are medium jumbo. There is no tone circuit, just volume and I am ok with that. The top doesn't just look like old laminate countertop, it actually is, with binding around it. I find that hilarious and cool at the same time. It made me play a very bad version of the Ren & Stimpy theme as my first song on it. Fit and finish all around seem flawless, I can't find the tiniest run, drip, scrape, whatever.
The action was horrible, and I realized there was a scary lot of relief - to the point I worried maybe the truss rod was busted. I started adjusting and after a while it was as straight and low as I like, whew! Maybe the 1st owner played slide on it. So getting the guitar dialed in, it became very comfortable and I put hours of play on it. As fun as it looks, and as great as it feels, I now have to gush a little bit. I absolutely love these pickups. The neck is a TV Jones Super'Tron, and the bridge is a TV Jones Filter'Tron Plus. I think these are the best thing about the guitar. Before this, the most articulate pickups I've played were goldfoils. These are just as articulate, but without losing low end punch. They have richness and sparkle at the same time, even chording. I have never heard as much going on in my playing (that can be good and bad). I like them so much, I will have to measure to see if another set would fit as replacements for the toasters in my Harm.
So yeah, bottom line is I love this guitar and paid way too little for it even with Reverb fees. I don't want to admit to my other teles how much I like this one!
