ShortScale.org

so, this year i'm thinking of finally stepping my game up and buying a jazzmaster. and i'm kinda cheap so i'm thinking of a few different options:

1. Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Looks pretty, and for like.. $379 new i can't complain. Only things that get me are the satin neck finish (i like gloss), and the pickups. Probably my best option though considering what it is for the price. Could always change out the pickups and change the pickguard. (white/white? white/tort?)

2. Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster
Not too thrilled about that humbucker in the bridge (although it could be cool), or neck/tuners, (not to fond of the skunk stripe, and i like my slot headz), or the color options. Although they do come up used at good prices, and i'm sure i could probably change the pickup and the guard. (sunburst/tort, black/black, black/tort?)

3. Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster
Probably my most expensive option. Chose the CP Jaguar over this years ago, kinda regret it (even though i do love my jaguar, shame i couldn't have bought both). Not too thrilled about the pickups (although i do like p90's), or the price tag. But i always could swap out the pups or something down the line. Color options aren't bad, both come with tort, which is nice. Just the price.

4. CIJ/AVRI Jazzmaster
Yeah, this isn't happening probably. But the 7.5 radius, "proper" tailpiece placement, and all that stuff is pretty much what i want. Probably the closest to a vintage jazzmaster? All kinds of color options too and all that fun stuff. Probably would have to swap out the pups on a CIJ/MIJ though, right?

5. DIY
Another more expensive option, and probably time consuming/difficult to some extent. But this way i could have everything exactly the way i'd want it. (7.5 radius, trem placement/mustang bridge, color/pickguard/pups, etc etc) Probably wouldn't do a rhythm circuit as i dont use it on my Jaguar that much. Could probably use ebay for most of the parts to keep costs down? Definitely would buy a pre-done body/neck so i dont have to fuck around with finishing and stuff. That and it'd probably be more special to me since i maded it myself and everything.

So yeah, 2012 is the year of the Jazzmaster for me. What do you think shortscale?

The year of the Jazzmaster. I like the sound of that. I keep trying to get the original J Mascis jazzmaster but I may end up building one.

my vote is for blacktop. the necks are choice.

if you don't like the humbucker, put a GFS dream/mean 90 in it.

I reckon you'd get a secondhand CIJ/MIJ Jazzmaster for not much more than Squier Mascis if you kept your eyes peeled and were patient. You'd need to swap out the pickups eventually, but other than that, you'd have exactly the spec you want.

benecol wrote:I reckon you'd get a secondhand CIJ/MIJ Jazzmaster for not much more than Squier Mascis if you kept your eyes peeled and were patient. You'd need to swap out the pickups eventually, but other than that, you'd have exactly the spec you want.

This.

3rd-ed.

Personally I really like the Blacktop Jazzmaster pickup combo. Agree with Hotrod that the neck is choice.

I'm deciding betwen the Squier Mascis and the blacktop. I like the Blacktop setup but no rhythm circuit. I like the squier for it's cheapness and rhythm circuit but the HS combo is totally my favorite.

the lack of rhythm circuit is a selling point por moi.

CIJ/MIJ JM's are ace, I have 2. I used to have a CP and didn't really like it, didn't like the tune-o-matic bridge and the pickups. I haven't seen or played the Squier J Mascis or Blacktop though.

I plan to finally get a jazzmaster this year too. They've been my dream guitar for the past couple years, and I just haven't been able to justify spending money on one when I've always been playing bass in bands for the last 6 or 8 years. I haven't bought a guitar in a long time. I've decided that this year it's time, and I'm pretty sure of all the options available that I'm going to go for the Squier J Mascis. It's the cheapest, and truest jazzmaster out there. I don't like the humbucker or anything about the blacktop so my only other thing I would consider would be a super cheap used classic player jazzmaster, or a super cheap used CIJ jazzmaster, but you don't really find those too cheap really. I would love an AVRI but that's just way too much money for me.

Keep your eye on Guitar Center's used site. They often put up guitars and don't know what they are selling. I picked up an AVRI Jaguar in great condition for $700 that should have been priced higher.

I rarely see CIJ/MIJ Jazzmasters down here. Are they more rare to come by than CIJ Jaguars?

I am not a fan of the Blacktop JM. It was just okay to me. I would go Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster for price and features. If you like purple sparkles, you might come across the original J. Mascis Jazzmaster for a good price. I have seen them go for $500 - $900 used.

Another suggestion for swapping out the bridge pickup on the Blacktop would be a Filterton. It's what I replaced the stock humbucker with and it was a great upgrade. My only real gripe with that guitar was the non-locking trem.

http://morgantown.craigslist.org/msg/2755529373.html
Check it out, maybe they still have that?

No matter what, save up for the Jazzmaster of your dreams, one that plays right and also looks right to you. Otherwise, you'll just end up doing that vicious cycle of trying to flip it every time you have extra cash.

That's why I'll echo the whole Fender Japan crowd. Usually they're a pickup change (and a saddle change) from being perfect, and if you do a full 10 day auction, they have ridiculous resale value. My candy apple Jaguar w/ matching headstock was simply one of the sexiest guitars I've ever seen, and I got it at an excellent price, too, around $700 w/ a gig bag, Seymour Duncan pickups, mint green pickguard, and a Mustang bridge, which is pretty much exactly what I would have done to it. When I sold it because I realized Jaguars weren't for me after all, I made way more than I paid for.

I like the Blacktop.. Then mod the fuck out of it . Pickups , pots , onboard fuzz , etc . And make it your own .. Good luck and Godspeed ..

hotrodperlmutter wrote:

Paulk1 wrote:I hate the Blacktop I would modd the fuck out of it Blocks Binding etc And make it my own DEAL WITH IT

Rox wrote:

hotrodperlmutter wrote:

Paulk1 wrote:I hate the Blacktop I would modd the fuck out of it Blocks Binding etc And make it my own DEAL WITH IT

Don't know about everyone else but I am getting pretty annoyed at opening threads that Paulk1 isn't even involved with and having to sift through posts about how Paulk1 would think it needed blocks and binding, or something like that.

I just don't get it. Comes across as harassment and is pretty unnecessary. Before Paulk1 came along there were quite a few people who openly said they preferred guitars to have B&B necks and they didn't get their piss taken for saying so.