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Squier J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:37 pm
by mastermorya
I know that there is a very, very long thread about the new Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster, and this topic shows up in a few posts, but it is kind of disjointed; that thread, 10 months old or whatever, is 76 pages ranging from "what is this business about" to The Hilarious Dwarfcraftian Hard Tail Deception of 2011 to here are some leaked pictures to hey I got one to where can we buy one. In my inaugural post here, I have the temerity to start a new thread on a related topic. How does the Squier Mascis compare to the CP?

I am inviting anybody with personal knowledge to do a blow by blow comparison of the Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster and the Fender Custom Player Jazzmaster. My reasons are selfish; I've got money down on a used CP Jazzmaster still on a 30-day hold. Sale price is $519, which seems kind of low. I was all hyped about it, because it plays wonderfully, much better than the last used CP I tried. I've never had a JM but have wanted one for about 15 years and don't really have the money for a real vintage one or a reissue. Now I'm reading about the Squire and am weighing the used Mexican CP against a new CIC Mascis.

For what it is worth, I played a CIJ Mascis today, on sale for a pretty high price of $1200 (I think it was actually new). I thought it was good, I think the satin neck was better than the CP's neck, the frets were a little better than the CP, but the pickups were too bright and percussive for my taste. I liked the slightly more mellow sound of the CP. What I'm missing is an impression of the Squier Mascis to compare to the CP, which is why I'm creating this thread. Thanks very much in advance for your help.

Re: Esquire J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:58 pm
by natthu
mastermorya wrote:....the Esquire J. Mascis Jazzmaster...
FYI "Esquire" is a model of Fender guitar, basically a Telecaster but usually without the neck pup. What I think you mean is Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster...
Squier being one of Fender's sub-brands.

Unfortunately I have not yet personally played the new Mascis model, but like yourself, I'm eager to hear how it compares....

Re: Squire J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:01 pm
by mastermorya
Jeez, I'm really an idiot. Thanks for the tip, I have edited the original post.

Re: Squire J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:06 pm
by natthu
You've still spelled "Squier" wrong.... but hey, these things happen ;)

I've just been perusing the Fender website, and on paper at least, the CP JM definitely looks better than the new Mascis. It's mainly little details, some I probably practically wouldn't notice myself, but I guess it all probably adds up to a better guitar in the CP... Still, it would be good to try them out side by side - maybe there's something about the Macis that will just feel right for you. I do have a CP Jag, and it's not bad, but I can't really compare it to higher end Squiers because I haven't really played any (they only stock the cheap Squiers here).

Unfortunately we don't have much of an in stock selection down here in our music stores. When I got my Thurston JM I had never seen one in the flesh before. I had to order it in and just hope that I would like it (fortunately I love it)... I doubt we'll be seeing any new Mascis JMs anytime soon, and I'm certainly not going to order one just to try it :(

Re: Squier J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 1:01 pm
by fradubio
I had a CP JM and sold it after I got my JMJM, not because I was unhappy with it or anything, but I'd always pick up the sparkly purple one. I recently got a SQJMJM and it reminds me a lot of the CP. I like the neck on the CP and this one has some heft to it like the CP. The pickups seem similar... heck the whole guitar seems quite similar except for the satin finish neck (very nice). It would be interesting to have them side by side to compare. I think I let go of the CP because, while it sounded nice, it wasn't distinct/unique enough to justify keeping. Certain guitars speak like orators... others sound really great, but when you're done you're not quite sure what they said....

Re: Squier J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:39 pm
by mtotallywired
I just wrote this in another thread about the very same topic:
mtotallywired wrote:There's no way the Squier Mascis is as good or better than the CP. Everything will be significantly cheaper in quality on the mascis. I know squier has significantly been getting better and better and better. but if you're choosing between the CP used and a squire mascis, unless you're gonna be doing some really really heavy modding, go with the used CP. It'll consistently hold a $500+ value. The neck's are fantastic, bursts are damn sexy, the torts I've seen rival even some of the AVRI stuff, the tremolo units are quality (complete with trem-loc!), and all of the components inside are CTS/switchcraft, even the tuners on all the ones i've played have held tune perfectly. The pickups are still decidedly jazzmasterish as they're in a jazzmaster afterall, but they have a warmer "growl" to them, since they share characteristics with a traditional p-90. Change the capacitor over to a Paper in Oil or even an orange drop and go with the traditional .03 value, and you'll get all that sparkle back! the only thing you'd really need to change (if you're a stickler) is the PVC wiring. It felt no less quality in make to me than an american standard strat or tele (which is $1000+). There isn't really a bad thing I can say about them except when they first came out there were people claiming QC issues, none of which I've ever experienced having owned one, and servicing many CP's for clients.

The Mascis on the other hand will undoubtedly be "cheaper" in all of these departments...so yes in essence, it's a modder's dream! But I'm sorry regardless of what you throw in there, squier will still be on the headstock, and it's resale despite all the mods you put into it, will be lower than what you paid for it new.

my vote - go for the CP.

Re: Squier J. Mascis vs. CP Jazzmaster

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:45 pm
by mastermorya
Well, that's interesting about modding the capacitors. I pretty much decided I am not going to get the used CP today, after I tried one out against a new AVRI. The AVRI smoked the CP, which sounded muddy and pedestrian in comparison to the AVRI. I'd rather wait and save money than spend over $500 on a cut-rate guitar. Now what I need is an opinion about the CP versus the J Mascis Squier informed by actual experience playing it rather than by speculation. =\