Post by CkRtech on Nov 28, 2004 3:20:44 GMT -5
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/tfreviews1/jazz1.jpg)
Hipster.
There is just “that something” about every one of the 1984 Transformers. For Jazz, his voice and his music made the ‘bot. Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers provided the voice of Jazz and really helped add to the magical, capturing aspect of the original Transformers cartoon. Jazz had an ability to lead and party. This produced a fun Autobot to see on the TV screen as well as on your dining room table, floor, bed, or wherever you played with your Transformers.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/tfreviews1/jazz2.jpg)
The Jazz toy itself was just awesome (and it still is!) While each Transformer has pros and cons, the pros - and therefore excitement – truly help out the Jazz Transformer. His alternate mode is a Porshe 935. You know he had a great stereo system, but check this out: The 935 was a finely tuned version of the already highly tweaked 911. It ran on a flat-6 with a turbocharger which put out 590 bhp at 7,900 rpm. With a higher turbo boost, it could pull over 600 bhp (this was in 1976). If you have no idea what I just said, then know this – the car is pretty darn fast! Robot mode was great too. Jazz had all sorts of highlights about him – a nice paint job, chromed feet, waist and weapons, and a face that said “lay those tunes on me, man!” (The reissue even adds a smile to the face.)
I can’t remember if I asked for Jazz or just got him as a gift one Christmas. I think it was Christmas of 1985. Regardless, I played the heck out of that Transformer. In fact, I think I broke a back window in the first week. Eventually, both back windows and the windshield would get broken. This didn’t come from lack of care as much as it did extreme play. Despite the lack of usage of his rocket launcher in the show, I liked it and used it on him all the time when in robot mode.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/tfreviews1/iron3.jpg)
Toy Facts:
You know, sometimes we get so caught up in the vast quantity of Transformers to collect that we don’t take enough time to pause and admire them. I try to take time every now and then not only to admire what is there but be thankful that I have been able to collect what I have and that I truly do own it all. (If my younger self only knew….) I try to be thankful of everything I own. I am thankful for Jazz.
I am all about the colors in Transformers. There are so many colors that have been used. While Jazz is white, the added paint scheme and sticker colors really round out his race car presence. The stripes, the Autobot symbol, and spoiler stickers - everything just comes together. Jazz is a true example of style without the need of frilly colors or gimmicks. Die cast metal in the hood, front end, and rear wheel wells help iron out a sharp-looking Autobot. Of course, with a tec spec which reads “Do it with style or don’t bother doing it,” who could expect anything less?
While the toy has the typical Autobot “toy feet” that most of that year do, the rest of the toy says “I am the cartoon.” Purists out there can fold his doors back and leave the rocket launcher off, but I tend to let Jazz leave his doors out and rocket launcher on. The face is pretty much what does it for me. If you were looking to recreate Autobot vs. Decepticon battles, you could not have gone wrong by picking up Jazz.
Disappointments:
Well, the feet don’t really look much like feet. I suppose they look better than some of the other Autobots’ feet out there, but they still could look a little better. The two rear quarter windows and windshield are easily breakable. This drastically reduces the appeal of car mode as well as causes his head to not stay up in robot mode. All in all, the positives outweigh the negatives in my opinion.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/tfreviews1/jazz3.jpg)
Collecting Jazz:
An immediate concern that comes to mind with all of the Transformers with white-molded plastic is yellowing. The yellow pattern on Jazz is rather odd because of the balance between his plastic parts and his metal parts. The white paint on the metal holds true while the white plastic yellows away. After a large amount of UV rays, Jazz looks like something you would get if a bottle of whiteout and a yellow highlighter had a kid. Check him for yellowing.
As with all Transformers containing metal, check him for paint-chipping.
The windshield and two back pieces must be checked for breakage. Make sure you also check to make sure they haven’t been repaired. It is very easy to say that everything is there when the reason it IS there is because there is glue on everything. Look carefully. Note that if it isn’t a big deal to you, you may still want to point it out to get the seller to come down on the price.
Transform him to check for loose parts. Jazz has a semi-intricate transformation. There is a device which makes his abdomen, waist and chest fit together properly that should be checked for problems. A simple transformation helps confirm that this device is working properly as well as any loose pieces that might be on the transformer itself.
Check to make sure the blue headlight stickers are on there. If you are a purist and don’t go with reproduction labels, you should know that those blue headlight stickers are factory applied and will not be on any Jazz sticker sheet you might find.
The G2 Jazz is still a white Porsche 935, but the sticker scheme is different and he has a hole in his roof for a missile launcher. It should also be noted that there was a cookie crisp version of Jazz (a mail-in) which sports the same G1 look but with the Martinii logos missing.
The copyright for Jazz is located underneath his feet. The rubsign is located on the front passenger side of his hood.
Jazz, along with most of the 1984 first year toy line, is a must own.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/tfreviews1/jazz4.jpg)