Jedson Unknown

Typical '60s British copy of a Fender Tele - looks nothing like a Tele unless you squint in a darkened room. It's got a Strat type headstock with a zero fret and one of those old string trees that goes over all of the strings, body is vaguely Tele-ish, 2 single coils with on/off switches for each and two pots (volume and tone). It also has a typical '60s British trem, like a Bigsby done for two and sixpence, which actually looks rather more like the ones on the Fender Jazzmaster.

The tuners look as though they were designed for acoustic guitars and take a bit of getting used to. The bridge is a bit like a tuner-matic but with no adjustment for intonation or even any form of compensation for it.

These pick-ups are worth their weight in gold, almost P90-ish. The lows are distinct and round, the mids are just as they should be and the top end is just right, there but not harsh. I think that they've put identical pick-ups in both positions as the bridge one is a bit quieter, but you get used to that. The slightly odd thing with this is that both pick-ups sound good through the same amp settings. Usually I find that the neck is too muddy or the bridge is too harsh, not with this. Play it clean and it has a lovely pure sound, a little overdrive and it's a great little rocker. Even with loads of gain it doesn't let you down. It's also much less likely to squeal than a real Tele.

One thing about this guitar is really odd though. It weighs virtually nothing but sustains better than my Les Paul or my Casino. Weird, but I'm hardly complaining.

Well, this guitar must be 40 years old by now, so I've no idea how it was set up when it left the factory. The intonation actually isn't far out, but I'd still like to be able to adjust it. I might have to put a Tuner-matic bridge on it one day. The tuners really aren't great but can cope as long as you tune up to the notes rather than tune down. Again, these might get replaced - I've seen pictures of one with Tele tuners and they seem to fit.

At the other end, the trem is difficult to judge as the arm has long since disappeared. It doesn't like more than gentle use, but that might be due to the zero fret that should have been replaced decades ago and has a small valley running through it. If you do push the trem down a fair way, you have to pull it above the return point to get things back in tune. Not perfect, but not that bad either.

When you look at the neck, it's far from straight. In practise this only shows up if you play the top E on the 14th fret, that will choke quite badly but it's only one note.

"Does the hardware seem like it will last?" It's lasted this long!

I suppose I could try a seance.

This is a great guitar for gigs. I'm really not a punk player, but it has that punky "sling it in the back of the car, drop it behind the amp, play the nuts off it and then sling it back in the car" feel. I'm sure that loads of punk bands would love it. Since I got this thing, I've left my other guitars (Les Paul, Casino, Tele) at home. It does all I need, and if it were nicked I'd just get another off Ebay.

If you're after a vintage guitar with old wood and pick-ups then you could pick up one of these for ??50 or spend a fortune on something else. It's a no-brainer. This one was found at a car boot sale by a mate of mine, he paid ??8 for it. I'd have paid much more than that for the pick-ups alone.

About a year ago I bought a jedson telecaster from ebay. I used to have a 60's model with a bigsby type tremelo and had been searching for another and came across a surprise. For ??50 I got pretty good bargain. The shape is more ike a proper tele and the pickguard and layout switches resemble the original fender design alot more than the earlier models did. Instead of a baseball bat of a neck, this one is pretty good, and it is much the same dimensions as my CIJ 62 RI Fender Tele neck. At some stage the tuners were replaced with Kluson ones and the brass bridge is a replacement too. the one thing letting this guitar down is the body. Its made of two pieces of glued wood, don't know exactly which but its really cobbled together. The whole thing wants to bend apart, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. You can get pretty subtle bendy sounds from it. I need to get it all stripped and put on a proper body though. Hardware like switches and pots are a bit crappy. Its probably worth ??50 quid though, that neck is really good if it didn't feel like the guitar was about to break in two on ya.

I play Through a 30 watt sound city tube amp. Sounds really juicy to me. A little on the buzzy side. I'm thinkin that could be sorted out with a new body and replace the rubbish pots and switches. The pick ups sound really good, super bright and crunchy and quite deep and growly from a tele ?? I get a really good slapping sound out of this one. could the pick ups have been changed too? Its not as good as my tele from japan with texas specials on it but it is different and good enough to warrent getting a new body for it.

This was second hand and the bridge and all was replaced so I guess everything was rubbish straight out of the box.

This thing is flimsy cos of the body the nice maple neck is so good it deserves a rebuild!!! I would never take this to play a gig. Its a safety hazard.

not dealt with em and I guess they don't exist either, their guitars were sold in woolworths and through mail order companies.

Worth it for the neck alone, calling all tele project enthusiasts, look out for this one !!!
I've been playing for around 20 years, I also own a 1981 Squier JV Bullet, and a 2007 CIJ 62 RI Tele with binding and texas pups.

I'm guessing this Jedson (full on Strat copy) was made late-60s in Japan. It's got a fairly nice Maple fingerboard/neck(?) with 22 frets, showing a little wear, but then again it's 40 years old, so there you go.
It's got the standard 3 single coil, with a 3 position switch that gives away the age a little bit.
Finish is a nice sunburst orange fading to black.
Bridge is standard strat style string-thru, and the tuners are really bad. I can keep this in tune. but I'd really like to get some better tuners for it.

My style is mostly in the vein of Black Sabbath, so it really doesn't fit my style too well, but GREAT for jazzy jamming, I either play through a Marshall full stack, my Peavy 4/10 with an Ampeg head, or Native Interments Guitar Rig.
My tech and I noticed and repaired a loose ground wire, which took care of the noise, along with the pickup replacements. It's great for playing light, funky stuff, not too great for heavier stuff, but there's still some variety with it.

Action is very low, not sure how it was set up from the factory, but that's how I've got it.

I've replaced 2 out of 3 pickups (Bill Lawrence in the bridge, and an DiMarzio single coil in the neck that sounds AMAZING)

I still have all the original pickups, I just wanted a thicker sound out of it.
A whole lot of oxidation, but then again, it's 40 years old.

I'd be scared to take this out without a backup. I would not recommend playing this for a full live set if you are 30+ years of age and not in the greatest shape, it is very heavy.
I've used it as a backup before and had to call on her. She did GREAT, while the much more expensive guitar squealed and moaned.
I'd replace the tuners and possibly the nut, but the bridge seems stable, and I haven't had any problems with it.
The finish has held up to me playing it for 20 years, with the exception of the neck, but that gives it a truly "loved" look.
If anyone would use any guitar without a backup, they need their head examined.

Never dealt with the company

Other gear: Jackson Pro, Ibanez K7, Ovation roundback, Ibanez bass, Fender 12 string, project piece Ibanez 7 string.

If stolen or lost, it would be irreplaceable.

I love the action, hate the tuners. I'd like the neck to be a little fatter. Did I mention this is HEAVY? I mean, Les Paul heavy. One of my buddies tried to pick it up like a strat and was almost seriously injured.

well iv bought this jedson guitar from ebay and i think it is really good and ive also got a freind who has bought the same one its got a tele body and a strat neck/head and the pickupp on it is very big and old but it sounds gd and the origanal machine heads were absoloughtly rubbish but i replaced them and they are good now oh and the bridge is very nice and a bit origanal.

well the clean is awsome and sounds absolutely brilliant but the o/d is quite edgy, it dosent sound great but it is good considering its from the 60's and at the moment i am planning to ad a 3 way stitch and put a humbucker on for a nice o/d.

well the 14/15 fret doesnt play properly on the top e string but i think i just need to adjust the neck to fix that but other than that it is very good the pickupp was adjusted quite well and it is decent to play

well its been here for about 40 years so it has done well to survive until now and i have used it at a few gigs and it sounded good, it would deffinately be dependable at gigs and i have and will use it at gigs without backupps.

if this guitar was irreversarably damaged or got stolen it would be on my top list of new guitars and overall it is a very reliable good sounding guitar with a uneque style and for that it is my favorite guitar EVER!!!!

Don't know a whole lot about guitars, stopped playing when I had a daughter and sold a custom tele to pay bills (13 yrs ago!)but was recently in a shop that has started dealing in 2nd hand instruments and saw this thing that looked so kitch I had to have it. It's a Jedson, the body is a tele shape but feels a little thinner, the headstock is strat style but bigger, a whammy bar, two strange-looking pickups, two little black pickup switches, one volume and one tone knob. It's bright red with white scratch plates and has a bridge like a banjo. Tuners look like mother of pearl but may not be, a cross-bar thing after the strings leave the tuners and cross the zero fret. No idea what the neck is made of but the fretboard is a dark wood

Lovely little guitar, but very idiosyncratic, won't hold tuning very well and little variety in sound. Nice on a clean 'chic'/funky sound but works really nicely through a korg 1500 effects bank. Need to be gentle on the whammy bar though.

Tuning pegs a little stiff but I may be using too high a string gauge as I've only played accoustic for the last few years, may also account for the action being just a little high. Rattle from the simplistic whammy bar arrangement but I reckon that could easily be sorted out.

Have not tried this guitar live as I'm just beginning to get back into things but know it'll do the buisness if it'll hold it's tuning. It is also the kitchiest, strangest looking thing I've seen for a long time. I would have to have a backup just incase a string broke on stage. The finish is lovely as far as the appearance of the guitar is concerned but the metal work (whammy bar and bridge covering-piece) can rattle.

I would love to know more about this guitar, it feels as good as my old custom tele and as soon as I saw it I knew it was a special thing. If you can give me any info please do.

Hi there just picked a Black Beauty Jedson up from ebay.Its a very good Les Paul looker with faded gold pick ups and hardware plus suare mother of pearl inlays on the fretboard.The body and neck are edged in white which has yellowed but looks really great it looks well played but i would not change anything on it its perfect.It has very powerful pick ups miles more guts to it than my Schecter or Gordon Smith ask my neighbours!

Ive been playing for 20 years now and new the second i picked it up didnt need to plug it in to a amp cos it sung like a humming bird.Im gobsmacked at this guitar and ive had a fair selection.It sounds so right tried Free all right now, Gary Moores parisenne walkways even Sex pistols pritty vacant none of the strats teles sgs have sounded right played against the record as this guitar honestly am bewildered at the tone and action of this guitar. Not looked at my other guitars since i found this beauty and if your in Blackpool England drop in and play it yourself

Obviosly the guitar has been used for more than 30 years it looks everyday of its age but i played a few expensive guitars whilst looking in the music shops and even the 2 grand new Les Pauls didnt feel right i suppose its like an old pair of jeans you know that comfy laze about the house feel. If a guitar doesnt feel just right dont buy it whatever the price

oh yes lasted 35 years and am having to turn the amp down because of the power of these pick ups sustains longer than any guitar ive played

really havent a clue on this one would think any Jedson factorys will be in existance but if you know otherwise let me know

Like ive said this guitar came out of the blue as i liked the look and the gibson case it was in so bidded and won it with no idea what to expect.Been playing a les paul type schecter for a bit after owning most strats few gibsons tokies etc picked this guitar up and new it was something special love its aged appearance and tone. Have a gordon smith with a pre amp on which still sounds weak to this guitar. Would a buy another? absolutely and will scour ebay plus any small ads just incase there is another out there. my fingers will be like stumps by the time i put this beauty down

From my research this guitar was made between 1964 and 1969. It has a standard 22 fret fretboard, with a zero fret. Solid top. Volume and Tone control knobs, with 2 on off switches for the two pickups.
Unknown make of pickups, but they appear to be encased single coils, with passive electronics. Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard. White/faded to off-white finish.
Body style is similar to Tele-style, but it is double cutaway and do different and unusual...very retro/funky looking.
Tele-style bridge, with non-locking unbranded tuners. Neck style is medium and has a fully working tremello system. No included accessories.

My musical style is extremely varied, I use this guitar for the same uses I would use a strat or tele. I tend to use it through a Fender Twin, with electro harmonix Small Stone and Big Muff efects...otherwise, just clean with some gain and reverb. It is somewhat noisy with all settings turned up...but not more noisyt than would be expected for a guitar of this age. On med range settings...it has a very warm sound...it really sounds like a good vintage 1960's Fender...being both bright and very warm at the same time. The guitar doesnt have a great variety of sounds...its really just the standard volume, tone and whammy bar sounds. I like the fact that its an affordable vintage 1960's guitar...with old wood..and a vintage sound. I dont like that its old trem system doesnt stay in tune. These guitars need to be set up properly...but once they have been...you get a 1967 ish guitar...at a fraction of the price...that looks funky and plays great....if set up right these guitars play like butter....whatever that means :)

I bought this secondhand. The action, fit and finish are all kinda poor...but with a little adjusting...can be made superb. Non of the setup came properly adjusted...but then these usualy only show up very old and secondhand. There are a few dents and chips on my model...but nothing that put me off.

This guitar is great live. Because its cheap, you dont worry about knocking it about...which is great as normally Im extremely precious about my vintage guitars....so oheres a 1967 axe you can really beat-up live. The finish seems like it will last just fine...strap buttons are very solid and it is a dependable guitar. I would use it at a gig without a backup...only if it was properly set-up...but if it is setup right...its a real useful axe. Not the fastest guitar for changing strings on though.

There is no customer support for these guitars. The company no longer exists...and only ever was around for a while in the 1960's...as far as I can tell. I would love to know more about the manufacturer and anything else about Jedson guitars.

I've been playing for around 17 years now. I also own lots of studio equipment, a Gibson L6-S and Eckleshall, an Aria 12 String accoustic, several keyboards inclding an SY-99 and a Rhodes. My original Jedson was stolen...so I ended up replacing this one for a lot more than I first paid. I reckon that as these are vintage 1960's guitars...and very hard to find...that they tru worth is around #400.00 even though you can get them much much cheaper.
I love that it's an affordable vintage sound...you really feel like your playing a 1967 axe with a vintage fretboard. I hate that it's not slightly better put together..and it has a really huge headstock, which is funky but a little weird. My favourite feature is its age, and incredible similarity in tone to a vintage Strat. i chose this guitar as it was the most affordable vintage sounding axe I could find.
I wish it had a locking trem...24 Frets...better pickups and came included with a Ferari, a beautiful nymphomaniac billionairess girlfriend and a lifeling subscription to Mad magazine :)