Members plaidbeer Posted September 18, 2014 Members Share Posted September 18, 2014 Just sold my only guitar and I'm now looking at the VM Jazzmaster and the Mascis. I used to have a BT Jazzmaster a few years ago (with a Filtertron in the bridge) and have regretted selling it. I know they have a different sound, but my main concern is the fret sizes. None of the retailers have them in stock around here, so I'm asking you guys who have experience with them. I have short, stubby fingers and smaller hands so is the VMJM the better option in this instance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I have not tried the VM Jazzmaster - only the Jag. I have played the JMJM, and while it has a somewhat larger neck, it didn't feel at all uncomfortable to me, and like you, I have short stubby fingers and smaller hands. Like I said, I have not played a VM JM, so I don't know how they compare in that respect. As far as frets, the Mascis has medium jumbos, and the VM have the same basic frets, so I don't think there's much difference between them in that regard. I was pretty darned impressed with the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster to be honest with you. The VM Jag was nice, but not quite as refined as the JMJM was IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members plaidbeer Posted September 18, 2014 Author Members Share Posted September 18, 2014 Thanks for the insight. The Mascis, from what I've read has jumbo frets vs. the VM's medium jumbo. Is this not correct? The larger neck, from what I've been told might be better than the VM's thinner neck as I have carpal and it wouldn't require as much travel for gripping the neck. I was sort of leaning towards the JMJM just because I wouldn't have to fool with buying a new bridge and having it installed (I know nothing about doing work on guitars). I guess the only reservation I have left is that it supposedly doesn't sound like a traditional JM (I loved the stock neck pickup in the Blacktop JM), so I'd probably have to get a new set of pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Again, I can't speak to the pickups in the VMJM, but the ones in the Mascis are not "traditional" JM pickups; they're more similar to a P90 in some respects, and they definitely sound different than the vintage JM pickups. As far as the frets, Fender / Squier refers to both as having medium jumbo frets, and while I don't have them here to do side by side comparisons so I can confirm this, my recollection is that the frets were the same general size and shape on both guitars. Have you read my Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster review? If not, you might want to check it out - I covered things such as the frets and pickups in it... http://www.harmonycentral.com/expert-reviews/squier-j-mascis-jazzmaster And just in case you'd like to check it out for comparison's sake (it does cover some of the basic features that are common to both the VM JM and Jag) here's the link to my Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar review: http://www.harmonycentral.com/expert-reviews/squier-vintage-modified-jaguar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Well, I see now that Fender IS listing the frets as "jumbo" on the JMJM product page, but when I did my review, they called them medium jumbos, and that's what they looked and felt like to me... I'm not sure if they decided to change the nomenclature and not the frets, or if maybe they went to a larger fret wire since I did my review... or maybe it's just a marketing typo. Of course, it's possible I screwed it up, but that's why I have fact-checks done by the company when I do a review - so the details are (hopefully) accurate. I really do work hard to make sure my facts are straight, but I am certainly capable of screwing up on occasion... Either way, I can't confirm the size since the guitar went back to Fender ages ago - my apologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Preacher Posted September 18, 2014 Members Share Posted September 18, 2014 Cheers Phil, many folks have very good opinions expressed clearly, but submitting back to the company for fact-checking is just one of things that set your reviews apart as legitimately "pro" reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Preacher Posted September 18, 2014 Members Share Posted September 18, 2014 Oh, and as far at the JMJM frets go, I did find this thread at Offset guitars where a guy actually returned the JMJM for VMJM due to the jumbo frets on the JMJM. Might not help at all, but it seems to answer the fret question. http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=72383 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Thanks Preacher... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members plaidbeer Posted October 13, 2014 Author Members Share Posted October 13, 2014 I decided on the Mascis. It will arrive tomorrow or Wednesday. Less to upgrade from the start and if I decide to change out pickups later own, I can do that, but I remember liking the P90s of the Casino I used to have. Thanks, Phil and Preacher, for the insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Cool - please let me know what you think of it once you've had a chance to play it a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HP Hovercraft Posted October 16, 2014 Members Share Posted October 16, 2014 I decided on the Mascis. It will arrive tomorrow or Wednesday. Less to upgrade from the start and if I decide to change out pickups later own' date=' I can do that, but I remember liking the P90s of the Casino I used to have. Thanks, Phil and Preacher, for the insight. [/quote'] Did you get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members plaidbeer Posted October 16, 2014 Author Members Share Posted October 16, 2014 Yep, it came in Tuesday evening. Like Phil said, it doesn't seem like it has a huge neck/jumbo frets and I do have smaller hands coupled with severe carpal. Feels good to play and I like the stock pickups. There were a couple of marks on the pickguard but I've been told that's fairly common for anodized guards and the more I play it, the less I care. It sounds great and I like playing it. Haven't had it set up yet, and I don't even know if it needs it, but I bought some D'Addario Chrome flats to put on it later. After going through a Blacktop JM, Casino, Tele, Strat, Duo Sonic, and a Mustang, I think the JM just works for me. However, I still might get one of the new Squier VM 72 Thinline Teles in a couple of months to complement the Mascis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 Awesomesauce! I'm glad to hear it turned out to be a good guitar for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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