Squier J.Mascis Jazzmaster

After spending a year looking for a good, affordable offset, I've chosen the JMJM, mainly due to online reviews and videos singing its praises. I couldn't believe that it was actually as good as people said it was, specifically the comparisons made on MIM and even some american offsets. But it's honestly just as good (if not better) as some guitars with double the price point!
The tonal variations make it the most versatile guitar I've ever owned. It sounds good through my little Fender combo, as well as my Egnater Tweaker head, and it deals with pedals in the best way possible.

The playability also is just magic. It's the first time that I've picked up a guitar I've never played before, and felt as if it was mine for a couple of months already. Even though a lot of people complain about that "weird switches" on offsets, I found it very intuitive.

If I were to find a fault, it's probably the lack of treble bleed on the volume pot, as it gets dark really fast. But that's an easy fix.

All in all, it's a beautiful guitar, and I plan to keep it for years to come!

First I must note that the one shown in the pictures is an older version, made in a different factory (CGS serial) to the one they sent me (CYKL serial). I own both, the older one has much better build quality. As far as I know, they no longer make them in the CGS factory and so Thomann should change the pictures to match...

This one the neck pocket preparation and fitment was poor and the lacquer already cracked because of it. The body contours are not as smooth (less rounded = less sanding / smoothing done to body before paint), the neck lacquer is much thinner and has a very curry-like yellow tint vs the more amber tint of the older model. The necks feel very similar and both have good fretwork. The pickups sound about the same, but the pots are different (old one has Alpha, new one some korean brand). The paint is lighter colour, the scratchplate a deeper yellow. Pickup selector is louder (acoustically), to the point that I will swap it out (along with the output jack).

Still a great guitar, if you're willing to put in a little effort to set it up and swap a few cheap parts, but better to get an older one if you can find them (CGS serial number). Even better if you can find one with a rosewood board, although there's very little, if any, difference tonally. I decided to keep it despite the crack in the lacquer and generally poor build quality, because the neck feels great and the frets are well prepared, the fingerboard is dark and doesn't look "dry" like some laurel boards can, and the sound when plugged in is lovely. The rest I can live with and sort out as I go.

Really like the quality build of this guitar, only thing I have against it is the weight and somehow the length of the guitar (although the length just needs some getting used to). These pickups are loud/hot, but also very noise free. Factory setup was good, tremolo works like a charm. The guitar stays in tune very well. What I like most after the pickups is the neck, the neck fits great in hand, is broad enough for separation of the individual strings and the finish is just superb, really like this neck finish, it's not sticky, not glossy, feels natural. And the gold pick guard is a nice touch, for esthetics's I wouldn't change a single thing! I'm not even looking for a Fender JM anymore, as this one has everything I would select anyway. If I lost it, I would buy it again..

Excellent guitar for the money . Great sound , Jazz circuit , Jazzy and mellow . Lead circuit bright and chimey . Great variation of tone . Action good . Was worried about the bridge on Jazzmasters , this one has a tuneomatic type so the strings don?t bounce out of the saddles ! . Finish excellent , no flaws , neck superb . Stays in tune when using the tremolo .
Personally I changed the scratchplate to a mint green but I had started to get used to the stock one . I also lubed the saddles and nut so it really does stayin tune now . So far I can?t fault it . Maybe the nut could be upgraded sometime but it seems ok so it?s fine as it is for now . Feels like a much more expensive guitar .I love Telecasters but I?ve always liked the contour body of a strat . To me it?s a Tele/ Strat hybrid , almost ! No regrets . If I lost it I?d buy another straight away .

I've been dying to own a Jazzmaster again ever since I sold a genuine 61' Jazzmaster back in the 1980's; it was the most versatile guitar that I'd ever owned. Soooooooo, these days I could probably never get my hands on a similar quality line from Fender... but then I saw on some the Youtube guitar reviews the JMascis Squier get some glowing reviews and saw that it was performed comparatively well next to Fender versions. Wasn't entirely sure what to expect... how much modding or upgrading would be necessary ....but, I have to say, I've been enormously pleased by my Squier. I've had to fiddle a little dialing in neck adjustments but nothing too major. But the sound is full, the trebley bridge pickup still has a nice crunchyness to it and the neck pup is nice ...deep. Lots of versatility to the sound (which was exactly what I needed) Nice bone nut. I raised the string tree a tiny bit so that it might help keep tune. I will eventually change the tuners for locking tuners when I can afford it, but these ones work quite okay. I am having to get used to the thick feeling neck.....not entirely my cup of tea but not a deal breaker either. I might change the bridge on it for rollers but that's further down the line.... I do love the Tremolo bar though... it's better than the one on my Strat...nice floating and tight to the touch. All in all, a fun guitar to play and def one that I would happily gig with.

Arrived a day early and well packaged. Looked good, bit of a rattle on the E string but that can be tweaked.
Plugged in to my Orange amp and cab and immediately disappointed. Muddy, lacking any clarity or bite. Planned to send it back for a refund.
Then the day after I plugged it back in and started altering my pedal and amp settings that I'd been using for a Danelectro '58. Mr Impatient here suddenly felt very foolish. It plays brilliantly. My 14th guitar, and one of my favourites. The finish on the neck means your hands slide up and down the neck without and friction or catching. Electrics all good and responsive although the pick up switch is a bit 'snappy' but I leave it in the middle anyway. Works well with the tone turned down 20% and the difference in output with the volume around 7, to when it's on 10 is hugely significant. On full volume it really drives your amp.
Bargain. Superb quality. Love it, especially when I was looking to pay maybe £350 more for a Fender badged version. This is perfect. Thanks Guys!!!!!