Jazzmaster Shootout: J Mascis vs Classic Player

[taylornutt]

I am interested on your thoughts on these two Jazzmasters and which one you think is better. Both are modern, though the Mascis is closer to original design than the CP.

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[Lucamo]

I am no expert but I'm gonna say the Mascis.

Aesthetically it is amazing... to me atleast.
But the demo for the mascis doesn't show enough cleans to see how the special pickups sound clean so I dunnoooo...

They both are sexay

[kypdurron]

main technical differences are:

J Mascis has (vintage correct) 7.25 Radius, CP has the flatter modern Radius (9.5)
J Mascis has the japanese JM pickups that are somewhat thinner and brighter than "real" JM pickups. CP has some sort of P90 pup that does the opposite. It's fatter than the classic sound. You can even hear in the videos what this does: It's a more precise distortion sound, but a less transparent clean sound.
The J Mascis has the japanese trem, which is imho not as convenient as the screw-in system they use in the classic players.
and then the J mascis is Basswood, while the CP has an alder body.

I haven't played the Mascis, but several other japanese JMs. I'd say quality is no issue on both models. If the optics of the signature is what you want, then get it. If you want close-to-vintage specs, specially neck feel, it is also the better choice. I'd also guess that it keeps its value better.

CP is a solid guitar too though. If you're used to a more modern neck, and if you want to play a lot of distortion sounds, it may well be the better choice.

[George]

I think the CP for the radius and bridge. Isn't the Mascis REALLY expensive as well?

[johnnyseven]

I had a Classic Player and didn't like it as much as any of the Japanese JM's i've had. Didn't like the pickups, too hot and fat sounding and didn't like the tune-o-matic bridge - strings were closer together at the bridge end than i'm used to. That said though, if you're new to JM's you probably won't take issue with what i've mentioned and you'll probably love it. I did like the bigger frets on the CP though, but I think the Mascis has jumbo frets anyway.

I'd buy the Mascis purely for the purple sparkle - my favourite colour but better.

[robroe]

flat fretboards feel like shit. my 2c's

[taylornutt]

I like 7.25" and 9.5" radius, though my AVRI Jag and my new Baja Custom have 7.25" and i love them more than my Squiers that have the 9.5" radius. CP Jazzmaster has all the nice modern updates, but the Mascis JM looks amazing with the purple sparkle (like a supersonic sparkle), metal pickguard (like the squier duo Sonic) and more vintage correct specs.

One big difference is the CP JM is alder and the Mascis JM is basswood. I love alder on my Jaguar and love the basswood on my Squier Duo Sonic. The basswood would give a warmer tone and make the normally heavy Jazzmaster lighter, but Basswood is a softer wood that dents easily. The alder is more articulate and full, can be heavy but worth the weight.

Ironically, both Jazzmasters have the same Adjusto-matic bridge, though the trem on the Mascis JM is in the vintage location while the CP JM is moved closer.

I think the Mascis JM will hold it's value more because it's an artist series guitar and it's discontinued.

[George]

9.5" isn't really flat at all. My Jag was 7.25" and it'd choke so I'm sort of adversed. Always felt fucking awesome to play though. I think I play my best on a 9.5" or even flatter to be honest. Just feels right to me.

[plaidbeer]

Have never had the opportunity to play a CP JM, but did play a used Mascis JM at a GC a few months ago. It was the most comfortable guitar I've ever played and sounded great. It inspired me to return my Tele and buy a Blacktop JM. I know the Blacktop isn't a traditional JM and all that, but it's the only one I could afford.

While we're on the subject of Jazzmasters--is there a signature tone or sound that people generally feel is the Jazzmaster sound? Sort of like Teles are known for being twangy, SGs for sounding dark, or Rics for being chimey/jangley. I've always been curious about what it's "supposed" to sound like ever since getting the Blacktop.

[aen]

Ive played em both, owned a CP. I prefer the CP. Looks and feel are better, didnt get to plug in the Mascis, but the CP sounds just as jazzmaster-y as you could want.

[Earth]

I don't like plastic/celluloid pickguards on jazzmasters, they just sound wrong without an ano PG. They have a plastic "quality" to them.
So I'd go with the mascis. However, I would never by one anyways. I like shorter scales.

[SKC Willie]

they just sound wrong without an ano PG. They have a plastic "quality" to them.

Surely you're joking.

[ekwatts]

Nah, he's right, I had to change the knobs on my old Telecaster back to knurled metal ones because my sound ended up a little plastic. The same thing happened with my guitar cables and amp. I used a tweed cable and my amp was covered in plastic repro-tolex, so my sound ended up sounding plasticy/tweedy/fake-tolexy, so I had the amp recovered with tinfoil, changed to a completely bare piece of wire blu-tac'ed into the sockets, and even had the plug socket for the amp redone in metal.

Sounds great now.

[SKC Willie]

I bet that's why I always thought Strats sounded a little too "plastic" for my taste.


Think about it! THREE PLASTIC KNOBS!

[ekwatts]

I bet that's why I always thought Strats sounded a little too "plastic" for my taste.


Think about it! THREE PLASTIC KNOBS!

And the plastic back plate, scratchplate and the plastic trem tip. I hear it gets a little better if you swap the switch tip for an amber one, though.

[SKC Willie]

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT!!!!!


WHAT WAS FENDER THINKING?!??!

[Fran]

Shockingly he has a point.
An acrylic body has different tonal qualities to a mahogany body without any string through, scratchplate or neck joint. You get some kind of sonic deflection from the surface especially if the distance between the strings and body is closer. Try fitting a Strat with an ally scratchplate, it will tonally change the guitar.

Why did Les Paul put a maple cap on Les Paul guitars?

[laterallateral]

Own a CP, played a Mascis.
The Mascis scores points for the neck and fretboard radius but loses out massively on the finish+anodized pickguard combo and price tag.

It's really just an overpriced CIJ and will always be tied in with the dude which is alright, if you're a die hard fan, a collector or 100% sure you'll never grow out of the aesthetics.

I like the CP because of the pickups and the price tag. If I'm not feeling the colour combo anymore, I'm not suddenly considering stripping off/covering a $400 paintjob.
CP wins.

[Earth]

they just sound wrong without an ano PG. They have a plastic "quality" to them.

Surely you're joking.

With the amount of routing in a JM (which is a shit load), then covered by plastic, it just sounds wrong to me. Seriously. When in person and I sit and play one it sounds wrong.

Knobs,LOL.

Seriously, look into it, its a well known fact ano PG's sound different than plastic ones (if the routing is sufficient, I cant see any difference occuring on a jaguar), mascis himself even agrees on this.

[laterallateral]

they just sound wrong without an ano PG. They have a plastic "quality" to them.

Surely you're joking.

With the amount of routing in a JM (which is a shit load), then covered by plastic, it just sounds wrong to me. Seriously. When in person and I sit and play one it sounds wrong.

Knobs,LOL.

Seriously, look into it, its a well known fact ano PG's sound different than plastic ones, mascis himself even agrees on this.

I would hope considering how fugly it looks.