2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
- prospect
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2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
I haven't seen this posted yet so I'll share my findings here.
TL/DR - 2019 JMJM's have thicker necks, whiter bodies, yellower-more satin necks. Neck pocket and pickguard measurements ever so slightly different. 2019 pickguards are more yellow/less copper.
Background:
The J Mascis Squier Jazzmaster has been a favorite of many for its incredibly value. More than any other feature that gets it mentioned - is the neck. People that love the neck generally love it because its C shape, and the jumbo frets. Personally, I've bought several of these and currently have examples (of at least the neck) from 2015, 2017, 2018, and now 2019.
I recently used my Musician's Friend Backstage Pass points to buy another J Mascis Jazzmaster to part out for a project. When it arrived, I immediately noticed that the neck felt entirely different. Yes, all necks feel different even on the same model - but the general characteristic of the JMJM necks I have from 2015-2018 are generally the same (very thin and the jumbo frets feel obvious).
What felt different on the new 2019 JMJM Necks?
The neck feels fatter, chunkier, and wider than all of my earlier examples.
Maybe it's just the one you got or the setup?
That's what I was hoping for but it is not. I measured it and also went to my local GC where they have a 2019 in stock. The new ones are different. Also I took some rough, but fair measurements. See photos below. Additionally, I tried to swap the necks because the 2019 body is about a pound lighter - but the neck is so wide - it would not fit into the neck pocket.
What else is different?
2019 pickguard - more gold, less copper (yay!). Also measurement is ever so slightly different. I swapped pickguards and the screw holes did not align perfectly.
2019 body - finish is whiter, less sandy/gray
2019 neck finish - the new ones are siginificantly yellower and more satin
2019 nut - the older JMJM's had a grayish rounded nut. The new ones are starch white and rectangular
Fender/Squier's Response - I called the customer service line to ask if there were changes because the 2019 I got felt different and their response (verbatim) "We are under no obligation to advertise any changes to our catalog.". It was an odd response but according to my sales reps at MF, GC, and Sweetwater - Fender is appearantly known in this industry to be shitty to customers.
Photos
Note: I swapped the pickguards in these photos. The 2018 PG is on the 2019 and vice versa.
https://imgur.com/a/ZnVQ7j1
TL/DR - 2019 JMJM's have thicker necks, whiter bodies, yellower-more satin necks. Neck pocket and pickguard measurements ever so slightly different. 2019 pickguards are more yellow/less copper.
Background:
The J Mascis Squier Jazzmaster has been a favorite of many for its incredibly value. More than any other feature that gets it mentioned - is the neck. People that love the neck generally love it because its C shape, and the jumbo frets. Personally, I've bought several of these and currently have examples (of at least the neck) from 2015, 2017, 2018, and now 2019.
I recently used my Musician's Friend Backstage Pass points to buy another J Mascis Jazzmaster to part out for a project. When it arrived, I immediately noticed that the neck felt entirely different. Yes, all necks feel different even on the same model - but the general characteristic of the JMJM necks I have from 2015-2018 are generally the same (very thin and the jumbo frets feel obvious).
What felt different on the new 2019 JMJM Necks?
The neck feels fatter, chunkier, and wider than all of my earlier examples.
Maybe it's just the one you got or the setup?
That's what I was hoping for but it is not. I measured it and also went to my local GC where they have a 2019 in stock. The new ones are different. Also I took some rough, but fair measurements. See photos below. Additionally, I tried to swap the necks because the 2019 body is about a pound lighter - but the neck is so wide - it would not fit into the neck pocket.
What else is different?
2019 pickguard - more gold, less copper (yay!). Also measurement is ever so slightly different. I swapped pickguards and the screw holes did not align perfectly.
2019 body - finish is whiter, less sandy/gray
2019 neck finish - the new ones are siginificantly yellower and more satin
2019 nut - the older JMJM's had a grayish rounded nut. The new ones are starch white and rectangular
Fender/Squier's Response - I called the customer service line to ask if there were changes because the 2019 I got felt different and their response (verbatim) "We are under no obligation to advertise any changes to our catalog.". It was an odd response but according to my sales reps at MF, GC, and Sweetwater - Fender is appearantly known in this industry to be shitty to customers.
Photos
Note: I swapped the pickguards in these photos. The 2018 PG is on the 2019 and vice versa.
https://imgur.com/a/ZnVQ7j1
Last edited by prospect on Mon May 27, 2019 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
- JagWire
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Interesting post.
Anyone know what years are rosewood and what years are laurel?
Anyone know what years are rosewood and what years are laurel?
- prospect
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- JagWire
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
That does help. A Mascis JM will be my next purchase.
- alexpigment
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
I thought they switched to Laurel in 2018 around the same time that Fender MIM switched to Pau Ferro - maybe they did it in late 2017 though. At any rate, the 2019 neck looks like *rosewood* to me.
Also a quick look at Sweetwater (they have 4 models in stock with their pictures) doesn't match the looks of your 2019 at all. Have you checked your serial number to make sure the 2019 is not old stock?
Also a quick look at Sweetwater (they have 4 models in stock with their pictures) doesn't match the looks of your 2019 at all. Have you checked your serial number to make sure the 2019 is not old stock?
- dropthebeat
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Yeah, that 2019 fretboard looks lovely.
I dunno - I have one from minutes after they came out (2012? 2011?) and I'd describe the neck as specifically quite chunky. I've never taken measurements with calipers, but it's certainly bigger than the hundreds of "modern C" necks I've played, bigger than the AVRI 52 Tele I used to have, etc. I'm surprised to hear anyone describe these as having thin necks.
I dunno - I have one from minutes after they came out (2012? 2011?) and I'd describe the neck as specifically quite chunky. I've never taken measurements with calipers, but it's certainly bigger than the hundreds of "modern C" necks I've played, bigger than the AVRI 52 Tele I used to have, etc. I'm surprised to hear anyone describe these as having thin necks.
- prospect
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Yep. This is a CY19 serial number. The older ones I have are CGS serial numbers.alexpigment wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 10:39 amI thought they switched to Laurel in 2018 around the same time that Fender MIM switched to Pau Ferro - maybe they did it in late 2017 though. At any rate, the 2019 neck looks like *rosewood* to me.
Also a quick look at Sweetwater (they have 4 models in stock with their pictures) doesn't match the looks of your 2019 at all. Have you checked your serial number to make sure the 2019 is not old stock?
The ones currently on Sweetwater match my 2019 sans pickguard that I swapped.
- prospect
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Interesting. They feel like slim C’s to me. The 2019 feels like a deeper C/D shape. Then again I haven’t played hundreds of modern Cs just a few dozen.dropthebeat wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 10:47 amYeah, that 2019 fretboard looks lovely.
I dunno - I have one from minutes after they came out (2012? 2011?) and I'd describe the neck as specifically quite chunky. I've never taken measurements with calipers, but it's certainly bigger than the hundreds of "modern C" necks I've played, bigger than the AVRI 52 Tele I used to have, etc. I'm surprised to hear anyone describe these as having thin necks.
- alexpigment
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
As I mentioned earlier, that 2019 board looks like rosewood. I did some googling about CITES and found quite a few articles saying that rosewood may come back in 2019 to cheaper guitars. Apparently the big guitar companies have been lobbying to make musical instruments exempt from CITES. I didn't see that any actual change had been made yet, but who knows. If that is a 2019 J Mascis made from new stock parts - and I still have my doubts - then maybe this is a sign of that change already happening.
- prospect
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Whoops my last picture has incorrect labels. The top one is 2019 with 2018 pg. bottom is 2018 with 2019 pg.
- alexpigment
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
The fretboards look nothing alike though. Is there a trick of the camera somewhere that I'm missing?
- prospect
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Serial number is a 2019 serial number.alexpigment wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 10:59 amAs I mentioned earlier, that 2019 board looks like rosewood. I did some googling about CITES and found quite a few articles saying that rosewood may come back in 2019 to cheaper guitars. Apparently the big guitar companies have been lobbying to make musical instruments exempt from CITES. I didn't see that any actual change had been made yet, but who knows. If that is a 2019 J Mascis made from new stock parts - and I still have my doubts - then maybe this is a sign of that change already happening.
- prospect
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Huh? Are you implying that I suggested this example and the ones on Sweetwater have fretboards made from the same exact tree? I’m not sure what your concern is. Fretboards can vary in grain and in color - even when using the same species of wood.alexpigment wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 11:00 amThe fretboards look nothing alike though. Is there a trick of the camera somewhere that I'm missing?
- alexpigment
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
My concern (confusion/excitement?) is that you have a rosewood board on your 2019 J Mascis.
- prospect
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Re: 2019 J Mascis Jazzmaster Changes
Oh sorry. It's possible but I don't know for certain. All the specs online seem to indicate Laurel. The ones on Sweetwater have serial numbers similar to mine (2019). They do look overall darker to me, but I don't know if its rosewood or laurel. They sure do look a lot like the indian rosewood CIJ's to my eyes. But yeah, not as light or streaky as the laurel boards on my other JMJM's.alexpigment wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 11:05 amMy concern (confusion/excitement?) is that you have a rosewood board on your 2019 J Mascis.