Here’s my 2025 Popcaster tele in all her beauty.
Unpacking the Popmaster and Initial Impressions
First Impressions of the Leo Jaymz Popcaster 2025
- Decently packed, undamaged box.
- It’s beautiful blue peeked through the wrapping, gorgeous.
- Wonderful neck, feels good and the fret ends aren’t spikey
- Not a big fan of the truss rod being at the bottom of the neck where it meets the bo
- Great resonance as I strummed it without an amp.
Yes, I had high hopes for my Leo Jaymz Popmaster until I plugged it into my various amps.
My Leo Jaymz Blue Popmaster is Gorgeous, Just Not Talented
After a week of playing this blue Popcaster it’s time to send it back to Amazon. I think I received a defective Popcaster.
I am an advanced beginner guitarist of 2 years and a bassist of 1 year. Love it. I also wear hearing aids (it matters for this review). I own my share of electric guitars.
Three respected Youtubers recommended the Leo Jaymz Popcaster for both quality and sound. That’s why I bought it.
Initial Testing of My Leo Jaymz Popcaster on 3 of My Amps
It’s a beautiful blue, gorgeous. But when I plugged it into my Peavey, Fender, and Roland amps it didn’t sound right. Better put on my hearing aids. It had too much hummm on switches 1 and 3. Not even my cheap, used Glarry Semi-Hollow hummed that much on switches 1 and 3.
“I am sorry, I don’t have a decent recording of playing the Popcaster. All I can tell you is I was ecstatic to receive a beautifully made blue Popcaster. I was also equally disappointed that the Leo Jaymz Popcaster just didn’t sound good on switches 1 and 3. I tested it on 4 of my amps.” – Shoshin Guitarist
My Guitar Repair Guy Examined the Leo Jaymz Popcaster
I took it to my guitar guy (ex-roadie guitar tech) to check it out. He absolutely adored its fit and finish, he loved the neck. He said, “It’s amazing they can build this, ship it, and still make a profit.” He played it on a cheap speaker in his garage setting. “Hello, hello?” I can hear myself. The pickups are microphonic. Wax potting would fix that (I don’t know how to wax pot an electric guitar pickup.)
Comparing the Popcaster Single Coil Hum against 7 Other Electrics
One more day I turned on my Fender LT25 Amp, put it on the Fender Clean 01 setting, and tested the Popcaster against all of my electrics.
I played the same riff on each guitar, same volume, and all switches. All of my electrics ranging from a 1980’s Harmony HT-80 strat to a Jet JT300 played better and with more diverse/pleasing sounds than the Leo Jaymz Popcaster.
And sadly, the Popmaster “hum” was the worst of all my guitars.
Now the G String is Rattling
Yikes. Maybe I am being too picky.
But I have only had this Popcaster for less than 2 weeks. I am returning it.
Pretty Guitars aren’t Good Enough for Me
So I don’t enjoy playing it. Beautiful looks aren’t everything. Sound matters more than anything.
But I think I got a slightly defective Popcaster. I may try Leo Jaymz again as I consider their Hurricane guitar. So I am being neutral and rating the Popmaster as a “3”.
I hope my review was helpful to you. The Popcaster is a beautiful tele. Perhaps I just got a “slightly defective” one.