Well, all I can say is that it’s truly been a banner year for Fender when it comes to obscure, but very well-deserved, signature model guitars––and you certainly won’t hear me complaining.
Hot on the heels of their new Joe Strummer Telecaster comes word that yet another of my all-time favorite guitar players is being honored with a Fender Artist Series guitar––the incomparable J. Mascis of early indie pioneers Dinosaur Jr.
Is this beginning to look like a trend? Can we expect to see a Thurston Moore Jazzmaster or John Frusciante Stratocaster coming down the pipe any time soon? A boy can dream.
As you can probably tell from the photo, in spite of his considerable chops Mascis isn’t known for taking himself too seriously, and the Jazzmaster that bears his name appears to be no exception––the body is apparently made of inexpensive basswood (something you see in a lot of Squiers,) and is decked out in a Purple Sparkle Polyester finish.
Other features unique to the instrument include a pair of “Special Design” MIJ single-coil Jazzmaster pickups, satin-finish neck, 21 Jumbo-size frets, adjusto-matic bridge, and an anodized Gold pickguard.
The J. Mascis Jaszzmaster will also sport a maple “C”-shape neck (25.5“ scale-length,) rosewood fretboard, Rosewood w/7.25” radius, “Lead” circuit volume and tone controls, “Rhythm” circuit volume and tone controls, 3-way pickup switching, vintage-style floating tremolo and tremolo lock button, and Fender/Gotoh vintage-style tuners.
Expect a full announcement from Fender at this weekend’s 2007 Summer NAMM show.
- Your Chance To Win A J Mascis Jazzmaster Signed By Dinosaur Jr.
- Fender Developing Elvis Costello Signature Jazzmaster
- It’s Finally Official: Fender Reveals Elvis Costello Signature Jazzmaster
- Win A Fender Jazzmaster Signed By Elvis Costello
- Fender Unveils G.E. Smith Signature Telecaster
- Fender’s Thurston Moore & Lee Ranaldo Jazzmasters Due In Stores Soon
- A Fender Tele With Active EMGs? Meet The Jim Root Signature Telecaster
- Fender Unveils New Highway One Strats, Teles, And Basses
July 26th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Love it. My first Fender was a candy apple red Jazzmaster, well worn, with plenty of sparkly gold bloom showing from under the top coats of red. I was very much influenced in this purchase at the time by my love of Mascis’s work. Hell, with the Strummer Tele, it’s like Fender are issuing a line of guitars aimed squarely at me. ‘Bout time!
July 26th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Yeah, I think it’s an age-group thing.
I would guess that no matter how much respect players of our age may have for the old guard (Clapton, Beck, what have you,) now that the baby boomers (as we call ‘em in the States) are getting too old to really be buying up instruments, signature models are going to be aimed squarely at you and me.
Should be fun… if a little dangerous for my pocket book.
I was lucky enough to see Dinosaur Jr when they were touring for their Green Mind release, and the show was phenomenal.
That was probably 15 years ago, but I’m literally getting tingles down my spine remembering their final encore…
FREAK SCENE.
Fucking fantastic…
August 6th, 2007 at 8:46 am
The signature J Mascis Jazzmaster looks great. I’m a little gutted about the body being basswood and that it is made in Japan (although i’ve heard on various occasions that these are comparable to USA Fenders), I would have happily paid more for an all american J Mascis signature model, but then i’m no snob. If it plays and sounds as good as it looks, i’ll be more than happy.
Has anybody played one of these yet? What did they think? I’ve been looking all over on the net for a review but can’t find one anywhere.
Can’t wait to get my hands on one and make some noise!!!
August 6th, 2007 at 8:58 am
Yeah Matt, unfortunately, I would guess that it’s far too early to find a review of the J Mascis Jazzmaster––the instrument was only released a few days ago, and I’m not even sure it’s actually shipping yet.
I’ll keep an eye out for a review though… or try to get my hands on one for a full review right here on EGR.
Ciao!
September 2nd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Was totally psyched to get this for Xmas from the wifey but just saw retailers arent going to have any till after the new year…
October 17th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Has anyone reviewed the J Mascis Jazzmaster yet? I live in lubbock tx the guitar center here pretty much will never get one to try out, trust me I have asked its a shot in the dark if they get one. WE NEED A REVIEW!!!!
October 17th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
DART, Vintage Guitar Magazine reviewed the J Mascis Jazzmaster last month, and they definitely liked the instrument… unfortunately, that’s the only review I’ve come across yet.
I’m actually trying to get one of these in for review (as Mascis is one of my favorite guitar players of all time,) but so far Fender doesn’t want to play with small frys like myself ;)
I’ll see what I can do though.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Cary, thanks for the info I can’t wait to see your review!!!
Cheers!!!
December 14th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
So I ordered the Vintage Guitar Magazine Oct edition and read the J Mascis signature jm review it was ok kinda of lack luster and I’d say a quarter of the review was spent telling me how a jm’s tremolo and bridge work ok we get it for the one thousandth time and another chunk explaining how influential the jm was to early surf records WE GET IT!!!!!!! Gimme the review like I said it was lack luster to say the least oh well nothing better than actually trying the guitar first hand…
December 18th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I own the J Mascis model and I can give you a little review or answer any questions you may have.
Construction: Very good, neck is really amazing, the best thing on the guitar really. Fretwork is very nice as well. I personally don’t love Jumbo frets, nor do I love a 7.5″ radius, however it does seem to work. I didn’t find a bad fret on this, and playability was very good. Not the best, but still very nice.
Pickups: I bought the guitar used, the person I bought it from swapped out the pickups with some Seymour Duncans. He also sent me the pickups that came with the guitar. Now here’s the deal, I have no idea if these are really the pickups that came with the JM Model or are some soapbars that normally come in MIJ Jazzmasters and the guy just kept the JM ones and sent me these instead. But these are not close to vintage style soapbars, these are single coils in a soapbar casing. Vintage soaps are wound short and wide, these are wound exactly like a strat single coil. Someone else would have to confirm the pickups, as I’m not in the position to validate that these are %100 stock. If they are stock then the company is misleading in stating that these are “Special Design” MIJ single-coil Jazzmaster pickups. Unless “Special Design” means Stratocaster Single Coils. Anyways the Seymour’s sound very good in it, and the guitar sounds and plays very nice.
Tremolo w/ Adjust-o-matic: Vibrato bar is nice works well with the bridge as long as you have 10′s on. Once I put 11′s I am having a problem intonating the A string by about 3 cents. Which is pretty annoying, however you really can’t tell. If you’re picky and I usually am it might really piss you off, but for this instance it just annoys me that I can’t get it exact, but because I can’t notice it audibly I’m not too irritated. This does show a little slack in craftsmanship though. I also prefer a Tune-o-matic over an adjust-o-matic because there is a little gap in the way the bridge sits on the threaded posts. The bridge will actually move a little bit in its seat. I don’t really see what has been re-enforced about the “tremolo” arm or seating. It looks exactly the same as all the other’s. Perhaps I’m missing it though.
Overall: You can walk into a GC and be able to get this for about $730 if not less (once they have them in stock). That is exactly what this guitar is worth. In my opinion it plays much better than an AVRI or even a vintage Jazzmaster. It is also my opinion that the bridge is an improvement over the vintage or RI’s. The neck is really very good, and the satin has a good feel. The construction honestly seemed to be better than a lot of Fenders that I’ve seen lately, even with its flaws. If you have any questions please feel free to ask, I’ll be more than happy to answer them.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Thank you jacuzzisuites, that was very informative I think I might just take the plunge and buy a AVRI. Again thanks for the info!!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
hello!
i’m from Spain
i would like to buy this guitar…i love jazzmaster sound
…but i have a question:
what about the purple sparkle color???
is it really purple?
(sometimes it looks like pink or red sparkle…)
please, can anybody answer to me?
thanks
iv
March 26th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
it is PURPLE Sparkle,
March 31st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
hi just saw this guitar today and looked red sparkle but think it was the low light in the shop playing tricks on me. am going to buy one when i can afford to(or cant as the case may be). will let u all know how i get on.Cant wait to get hold of one :)!!