I only have two guitars. A Mexican Strat and the J Mascis. I haven’t touched the Strat since I got the JM. Such a quality sounding and playing guitar for the price.
100%. They are great instruments for their original price tag. The neck on mine is one of the best feeling necks on any guitar I own. It's a fun one - glad you're loving yours!
I liked your consistency in demoi'ng all the sound choices. Usually around eight to 12 bars is enough, before changing the pick up selector and you're spot on. Too many demo's tend to become a performance piece for the creator, so thanks for keepin' it real, and I've just subb'ed your channel.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and the sub! Sincerely appreciate it. Glad you’re jiving with my review model - been honing it and always glad to hear other folks’ feedback. Cheers!
That middle position with the classic JM pickups in the 40th anniversary is such a gorgeous sound and hard to beat, so for that reason I prefer that one.
I played that 40th Anniversary, thinking I'd put the money in to pay more. It was awful compared to the J Mascis. The sound was good, but everything else felt so odd. I think Fender realized that pros were playing a Squier at gigs. Especially when you have someone like Tame Impala doing it, a guitar maker will take notice. So they started shifting the marketing, without a doubt. I think the 40th Anniversary is the "replacement", but it just isn't as good. To me anyway!
You forgot to mention a huge difference between the two which is the trem placement. The 40th has a traditional placement, whereas the JMJM is closer to the bridge, creating a greater break angle. In theory it would affect sustain and the 40th would be a little more ‘plunky.’ Great tones all around and good quality video. Thanks for the comparison!
I got the 40th. Once I upgraded to a Staytrem Bridge, and Descendant vibrato, I have hardly played my other guitars in nearly a year. Not only did it improve the feel, but it improved the tone.
One of the better reviews that I have seen on YT and wrapt that you didn’t present a distortion filled presentation completely devoid of the true sonic abilities of the instruments. Been a player for years with many guitars and previously - many years ago - had both an original Jag and JM. Just really appreciated your presentation and subbed. Thank you from Australia
I love the look of the maple board and the desert sand together. The tones are great either way. JM sure has a unique sound. Love the playing samples and your style.
I preferred the clean sound of the 40th Anniversary. It's more of a classic, slightly scooped vintage sound. Clearer in the highs and less dirt. On cleans, the JMJM had more of a congested compressed mid-push, almost more Gibson like. But it wasn't as pleasant and had some breakup in the highs. But the JMJM comes into it's own with more drive. It pushes interacts with the amp really nicely. But overall, I think I'd go for the 40th VE too. I prefer the newer slightly buttery / warm sand coloured finish. The JMJM white is a bit of a stark colour, reminds me to much of stock basic new car finish. Easier to source a 40th VE than a JMJM now too.
that's all due to the P90 style pickups in the JMJM. I've put Seymour Antiquity 2's in mine, gorgeous cleans. the neck is what makes the JMJM the winner. its the most playable neck I've ever come across. its silk.
@@coldacre Yip, you are right, the neck is special, one of the best. Two of my not very expensive guitars have two of the best necks: Squier JMJM & Sire L7. I like the P90 style pickups, personally. But I'm a big fan of P90s, and have single coils I'm happy with for the single coil sound (Vintera Strat & Tele). Antiquity 2's sound great. I put Fender Pure Vintage '59s in my second Strat (Squier CV 50s Strat) and they sound really nice too.
I was totally blown away by the full, round, chiming clean sounds of the 40th Anniversary. The Mascis sounds thinner and dirtier, even in the clean section. Anyway, I also liked the "woody" crunch sounds of the 40th Anniversary better than those of the Mascis, which inspire a "plastic sound" feeling in me. Astonishing enough, as dark fingerboards are mostly seen as producing a warmer sound than the more trebly character of maple boards. The fact that the 40th Anniversary is a great guitar, is all over the net, and spreading! You did that great, thank you! Only through your "scientific" approach, compatibility is possible at all.
Man thanks for watching! This was such a fun and informative video for me to make and it's great that it's still proving helpful to many who are eyeing one of these guitars. Cheers!
I love your 40th anniversary! I own a JMJM as well and totally in love with it. I swapped out the pickups for Curtis Novak's and all I can say is WOW! The best sounding JM Ive ever heard in my life, no lie. The problem lies in the bridge... Also swapped out with a Wilkinson roller bridge which is better, but not 100%. So much fiddling around to get it to my preferred playability. I might just have to get a 40'th anniversay. Its a beauty and Im a sucker for maple necks! Yours sounds great and I found it to sound and ring nicer than the JMJM. Thanks for sharing!
I'm lucky I was able to grab one of the Staytrem bridges that drops straight in. they stopped making it years ago which is a shame, as theyre the perfect bridge for a JMJM.
I happen to have recently bought a 40th Anniversary myself, and I'm really happy with it. I think it's crazy value for money, and they're also getting hard to find brand new. Very well set up (other than the intonation, which I had to correct myself), very comfortable feeling and good sounding. Going to your comparison, I like the sounds of the 40th Anniversary when I hear them, but then when I hear the J. Mascis my ears seem to prefer that tone time after time.
I find it really hard to pick a favorite. They're unique enough one to the other - and the JMJM is so fun when you're really going for that kind of raunchy rock and roll thing.
As you say, it's down to personal preferences. In my perception the 40th Anniversary has a more percusive attack and the tone is more on the trebly side, whereas the J. Mascis sounds to me with more body. I seem to prefer the latter, but, let me say, you get absolutely beautiful tones from both; I specially like your airy clean tones. I assume the tune you play in the beginning is your own composition. You make both guitars sound like a dream.
I own the J Mascis, but the 40th anniversary sounds great. It actually sounds more like my Mascis because I swapped out my pickups for the vintage 65s. Great video, nice guitars.
@neonthunderbird yeah, I was actually contemplating putting the stock bridge back in, but leaving the neck 65 in. Then I could have the best pickup from both sets.
They are both awesome and can’t really go wrong with either. I had a few different classic player jazzmasters and I lived in older houses and the pickups were really noisy at idle. What I like about both of those guitars you reviewed is they both have wider nuts than the 42mm standard nut size on all the mim guitars I’ve owned, which for me is a huge sale point for me the 40th is a hair wider than the jm. I got the 40th but I’d be stoked on a mascis too they are both rad
Just got a J Mascis JM last week and I love it! Wish I could get my hands on the desert sand 40th anniversary JM too, but now they're out of production.
Andrew, would you ever consider doing a small series on how you go about writing/composing your skits? I absolutely love your playing style, the way the melodies stack and compliment each other, letting each one breathe without overcrowding, playing off one another. I love making post-rock stuff like that but find it can quickly get busy. Also, how you go about choosing the tones for each part so they layer and sit in distinct zones but still mesh well...a real skill you have!
Yes! It’s on my list - thanks for the prompt. My approach feels so impromptu that I need to collect my thoughts and methods a bit before shooting a video about it :)
I had an American 62 reissue jm in the past and will say that guitar played so nice and felt great. I wish I didn't sell it. However, I now own a jmjm and feel it has way more balls and sounds way better with effects. The ri I had was way more planky and it's tone would get lost with the the dynamic pedals I used. The mascis I now own shines through. The best way to describe the two is the reissue was designed to sound a certain way without too many effects being 1962 was pretty limited whereas the jmjm was designed by a guy who uses many effects and played loud. The 2 guitars are only comparable by the body design and that's it. They are both different animals.
I have both and despite them looking almost identical, they are completely different guitars in your hands. I definitely lean towards the JM by a longshot, but they are their own unique guitars. Note my 40th anniversary has the laurel neck with the square inlays. I bought it used and already it's got the standard bridge sinkage that is common to Jazz Masters; however my JM has not had any issues and has the adjustable bridge. In retrospect I would have only purchased the JM as it seems to be a much higher quality guitar, but again depending on your style of playing, one may suit you better than the other. I prefer the neck on the JM and it stays in tune better as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either, but it's the J Mascis for me.
@@AmbientEndeavors I have just ordered one from Thoman! £300 , was temped at the sfg one at £259 but your video swung it my brother. Have a blessed day.
Both are tremendous sounding guitars. I think it really comes down to your budget and which one you think looks cooler. I happen to really like the looks of the Squier 40th Anniversary with the maple fingerboard/neck. But the sound of the J. Mascis is really nice. I love those 60s tones you get out of them.
The Vintage is what I gravitated to as well. It was all the reasons you said which is hysterical. In fact, I got the Vintage in Sea Foam for $300. It was a no brainer
Nice vid. They might look alike but the reason they sound different is because they are. They have very different pickups in them. The J Mascis essentially has P90s (taller bobbin with Steel Poles and two bar magnets underneath). The Anniversary has actual Jazzmaster style Pickups (large flatter bobbin with magnetic poles). Not sure about the J Mascis but Fender did the right thing with the Squier Anniversary as far as set up. It has a tilted neck pocket so it works the way it should without a neck shim, essential if you want the trem/bridge to work the way it was designed to.
The 40th Anniversary winner...The Alnico magnets give it the edge over the P90s....They're warmer and more pleasant with crystal clear transients...IMO..cheers Frank "The Memphis Suns"
I agree; I favor the clarity of the pickups in the 40th. The P90s are cool for certain applications but a bit more muddy / hairy at times. Thanks for watching Frank!
I don't usually like maple fingerboards, but I like the Anniversary more. The satin finish on the body, the bridge and overall I prefer vintage frets too. You can always upgrade what you want without feeling guilty.
I got the 40th anni vintage bout two weeks ago. I LOVE IT! The satin finish and neck are wonderful. First Jm, now I'm wondering what a more expensive one is like.
Exactly the same thing, got my first JM 2 weeks ago and love it! It's the seafoam green vintage edition. Wondering what the more expensive jazzmasters would sound like, ha!
I have a J Mascis and a CV Jazzmaster (with a J Mascis neck). I love the look of the new 40th Anniversary. Question is, do I really need three Jazzmasters? :) My main criticism of the J Mascis are the pickups. They are very hot and will push your amp harder than a JM with "real" Jazzmaster pickups. If you are after a clean sound, it might not be the guitar for you. That said, I love the JMJM neck.
Tremendous comparison video. I have to echo a previous commenter... very good demonstration of the different sounds of each. And you briefly played the exact same measures for each guitar so we could get a clear contrast. It drives me crazy when they compare 2 guitars and don't play the same chords or melodies for each comparison. I don't think you can go wrong with either guitar. After watching your video I went to the GC website and found the 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster Vintage Edition on sale for $389.99. Unfortunately they're back ordered until November but now I'll have an early Xmas present for myself. Anyway, thanks for a great video and some extraordinary playing.
Appreciate the kind words and glad it was helpful! Hope you dig the 40th Anni - they’re fun guitars and I think you’re hard pressed to find a better player for $389!
The Mascis has such obvious differences from the 40th! Great shootout. The 40th sounded way too tinny to my ears, especially compared to the full-bodied presence in the J Mascis JM. It's unbelievable that Fender would stop making one of their best affordable guitar options of all time.
They are quite contrasting aren't they! I can understand the thin critique. I went into this video thinking I'd pick a favorite and move the other along, but they really all unique enough that I kinda feel like I'd miss the other if I did that. To me the Mascis gets muddy at times which I don't love, but it has this raw/harsh-ness also to it that I kind of like for certain applications. It is strange I agree - kind of seems like Squier/Fender "killed a darling" in discontinuing the JMJM. I'll say, the feel of the new 40th Anniversary is great though, and thankfully you're just a pickup swap away *if* you so desire a thicker tone. Thanks for watching and chiming in!
@@lollofunky J Mascis was told that they discontinued it because Squier is trying to move away from artist signatures in the Squier line. Not sure why but he says so in his latest rig rundown
@@AmbientEndeavors I wanted to compliment you on your tone! Thanks for presenting this guitar with excellent clean tones rather than grungey tones. I'm hoping to try the 40th out at my local shop soon. Your video showed me that it doesn't hit the front end of amps too hard despite the output of the pickups
Definitely Team 40th anniversary. I've always thought of the Mascis as the bar for modern offsets...but Fender/Squier really really knocked it out of the park for the 40th...The satin finish is super nice. I hope Fender keeps a satin finish JM in the lineup going forward.
Man I totally agree. I heard folks rave about the JMJM, finally got one and it really lived up to the hype. After watching your guys' video of the 40th Anniversary I got curious, and I have to say I'm leaning 40th too - although they're both great guitars. But man the desert sand...it's beautiful.
thanks for watching and for the kind words! ...that was just a little riff I made up. I try not to recycle cover tunes/riffs, although I'm sure I'm guilty of "writing" parts that are near-ripoffs without even knowing haha
I bought one from Sweetwater and the guitar was great with 1 exception. HUMMMM!! No shielding in the electronics cavities. I used the Aluminum furnace tape to shield it and checked continuity from 1 end to the other. Now, no hum and the guitar sounds fantastic and is silent when not being played.
I think there's a bit more sparkle to the 40th Anniversary pickups. I also really like the look of the maple fretboard -- there's a nice tint to it. I wish the gold edition came with a maple or rosewood fretboard. The Indian Laurel necks I've been getting have been looking pretty dire, which is disappointing because my Cyclone's IL neck looks almost indistinguishable from a rosewood neck, so they can look really nice, but mine so far have been pale and dry and chipped at the edges.
@@seraphim87 I'd definitely just swap out the neck. You can find some nice necks all over the place. Get a nice deep roasted maple neck or something, that'd be real nice on the J.Mascis.
I have a few guitars with laurel fretboards, and I am very happy with them. But I did have to condition the boards with lemon oil (using 0000-grade steel wool) and then a final coat of fretboard wax, to get them looking rich and feeling great.
Great video.I love your playing,especially on the clean section with the Hybrid picking.I’m in the market for one of these but I just wondered,was the build quality equal on both of these?
Thanks! Build quality is pretty comparable. The JMJM was surprisingly solid out of the box, neither had glaring issues to be honest. Minor complaints: both could use a setup to your preferred strings/action to really feel 100%, and the 40th had a mild amount of fret sprout on some edges. But I’ve played both out before setups and wasn’t bothered. Hope this helps - thanks for watching!
I'd say 40th Anniversary is brighter with more forward presence, while the J Mascis is darker (not dark) with better/deeper articulation, with a less fatiguing sustain. I own both (Lake Placid Blue/40th).
I’ve got the J Mascis Squier and swapped the pickups out for Lollars. The Mascis pickups run too hot if you’re looking for that classic Jazzmaster sound. It’s my 3rd guitar… also happy to discuss selling it if anyone is keen - with original + new pickups, of course.
Love your sound very great video. My best friend owned a jm when they first came out my friends made fun of him buying it you know that cheap guitar into a hi end Marshall deal oh boy we were wrong. That had to be the best guitar for the money back than. Years gone by I just bought the 40th vintage and I’m glad because it’s beautiful on those cleans you did. I really love jazzmasters my old strat just sits these days for the most part.
Great video comparison.... Thank you! I just ordered the 40th Anniversary gold/white Jazzmaster at GC for an amazing $350.99. The J Mascis JM was tempting but to get that anniversary instrument for THAT price was just too hard to resist. I am thinking on putting some Fender 65 pickups in it after I receive it.
Thanks, Andrew. Well, after the Squier I then ordered a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster in Mystic Surf Green. 🤩 I still have the Squier on order but I will wait until I get the Fender to decide between them. I did get a discount and great financing on the Fender during the Labor Day sales. I have never been an offset guitar guy before but I feel I may be ready at this point. In part, I have to blame Ryan at 60 Cycle Hum for getting me started into all this, hehe. Cheers.
Hi again. Well, I received the Am Pro 2 JM last month. It looked beautiful and was set-up perfectly... But, amazingly, I returned it. I didn't like the Panorama tremolo and I wasn't crazy about the pickups, which were not true JM pickups, as I discovered. In the end, I just wasn't ready to get new pickups and a trem unit for an already-expensive instrument. Sorry to see it go, though. The interesting part is that when I went to return the guitar, the store had a Squier Classic Vibe JM and I got it down to try. You know what? I actually enjoyed the overall experience of that one at least as much as the Fender. And so, for now I am waiting for my 40th anniversary Squier to come... next February, they say.
So, I owned a JMJM and proceeded to sell it for a variety of reasons. The satin neck wasn't for me, I had to replace the bridge (rattle) and trem system (unusable) but even these upgrades weren't enough. Ultimately the JMJM doesn't sound very good. It's a muddy guitar, there's no note clarity at all and there's not much you can do to fix that save for swapping out the pickups and pots. Really is best to avoid this guitar imo.
when i bought the jay mascis guitar it totaly converted me to jazzmaster i just love that guitar.Its not my most expensive guitar but bang for buck its pretty awsome. i just swapped the pick ups out for the jay mascis ones that fender brought out. This is gunna be the guitar in my collection im gunna modify so any tips would be great hope your doing great
nice! yeah a fun mod platform for sure. Folks like swapping the bridge for something a bit more traditional. depending on what your budget is, check out Mastery or Descendant for that and replacement vibrato; huge upgrade!
I prefer J Mascis, basically it's a fuller sound. I felt that the 40th anniversary is a little thinner sound. I haven't tested the 40th Anniversary, but I have a J Mascis and it's probably the best neck I've ever played.
The JMJM neck is SO comfortable - it wow'd me when I first got it. The 40th Anniversary has a different feel, more wore and less satin, but it's also a really comfy neck.
My understanding is the J.Mascis actually has P90 style pickups as opposed to the Jazzmaster's actual Jazzmaster style pickups, hence the difference in sound.
I think you’re right! There’s often a good bit of ambiguity in some of these lower end models as to *what* the pickups are. JMJM sure sounds more like P90s
I own the J Mascis since 2016 Rosewood model. Best guitar I've ever owned. Now that the 40th anniversary ones are coming down in price I might have to jump on this one. I am also hoping more offsets in the Squier range will turn up this year for the 2023 line. Matching headstock ones would be cool. Also the J mascis pick ups are wound hotter it seems which is nice. These sound tonally similar and different is certain modes. Cheers. Good video.
Thanks Chris! Yeah, I went into this feeling like I'd pick a clear favorite, but it's a tough choice if I'd have to keep just one. The JMJM is such a fantastic feeling and sounding guitar. Mine has the Indian Laural which I was initially bummed by but it's still great. Agreed - matching headstock Squiers would be killer to see happen. Cheers!
I own four electric guitars. A Squier made in korea Strat from 1992, a Epiphone Les Paul Studio from 2008, a Fender made in Mexico Tele from 2003 and my Squier 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition Jazzmaster. The Jazzmaster became my new main guitar, since I got it 3 weeks ago. The sound is so lovely through my Vox AC15C1 with treble on 1 o‘clock and bass on 11 o‘clock. Love the neck and the high quality sounding pickups! 😍 I also have a Squier 20th Anniversary acoustic guitar which I love over several Fender guitars. I only paid £30 in an Antiques shop in England. I have to say, that I would choose Squier over Fender when it comes to the quality for the money you pay.
Huge difference in sound. Not sure if the pickups are the same. But the maple vs rosewood fingerboard may account for a good portion of it. I tend to like the clarity of the 40th anniversary. The Mascis seems a bit more striking and a tad harsh. I would want something almost in between.
The pickups are different , the 40th definitely has a more vintage, slightly scooped feel and the JMJM like you say has that harsh edge and more midrange. Something in between would be intriguing, it's still a close call for me as sometimes I kind of want that ragged texture the JMJM brings. Thanks for watching!
40th anniv has Jazzmaster pickups whils Mascis has P90s. You could try some aftermarket Jazzmaster pickups that go for high output for an inbetween sound I think, maybe the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound?
Maple is brighter. Lots of reverb. Is there more to say? I'm guessing the overall verdict is that they're different in small ways and the newer pickups sound more refined as they usually do. Am I right or ignorant ?
both sound great in their different ways...I have a JMJM, and I've toyed with idea of putting a Lollar in the neck position and leaving the bridge alone. I mostly use the neck position, and I really like the Mascis, but I do miss a bit of that throaty thing and the top end shimmer. I'm just concerned if that combo would be unbalanced due to output differences. And then I wonder if I'd miss the meat of the original pickup.... great video.... I didn't know they'd discontinued the JMJM...heard rumors of that through the years and then it didn't happen, but I guess it finally did... glad I got one last year...
I might be coming into a bit of money soon and have been debating which of these I want. I actually though the tonal quality of the Mascis was better in all but the last position in the video. It seemed both brighter and fuller to me. I did notice it has considerably more buzz however. I'm wondering if that might be a ground issue somewhere in that specific guitar, or if that's something typical for those pick ups or another component in that model. It wouldn't bug me much while playing, but for recording purposes, that could be bothersome.
The 40th has a chunkier neck? But the J Mascis has a wider neck, right? I only played the Mascis and i remember thinking, this is a chunky neck, compared to my modern C fender necks... i'm deciding of buying one of these
I’m buying the J Mascis or 40th Anniversary and love both of the tones and guitars (and tend to lean towards the 40th for appearance) but I have one question, which guitars are better for different genres of music?
What genres do you play? The 40th Anniversary is a more vintage leaning sound / JM more for rock or indie/alternative stylings I’d say, with its beefier pickups.
@AmbientEndeavors thanks so much! based on your comparison I just bought the 40th, looking forward to receive it and I'm considering which gauge would be the best, I will see...
Hard choice! I have wanted a Mascis, but I LOVE the 50’s scheme on the 40th Anniversary. I can hear the tonal differences. I will probably grab the 40th Anniversary.
Both are super cool but I prefer the rosewood and basswood of the j. Mascis. I never played the newer ones. Plus I’m just a J. Mascis fan that regrets not getting one lol
hey! I record and release my own music in this similar style - you can hear it on Spotify or any of the streaming platforms under Ambient Endeavors. Also check out bands like Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, or Hammock for some of my favorite inspirations.
They're reported to have an angled neck pocket that should negate the need for a shim. Per Mike Adams' video, it measures to a full 1degree in the pocket. th-cam.com/video/f3Kn31XFBNo/w-d-xo.html
Shim them neck with a stewmac angled shim (could also just shim the side of the neck closest to the body to create an angle but this has a possibility of warping the neck & causing the very last fret to raise so beware, this happened on my bass VI) then raise the bridge with the two post screws on the side, (putting locktite on these post screws is not a bad idea in the slightest) this will allow the bridge to rock back & forth, from there set intonation & action like normal on the saddles You’ll likely need to redo the setup several times as the tremolo knocks the strings out of tune & retune the strings as the setup changes, however after a couple times of doing it you’ll notice that the tremolo doesn’t knock the strings out of tune due to the rocking bridge, & that the strings stay on the saddle due to the increase break angle Final tip, use big ass strings, higher tension means more security against the bridge, making it rock more consistently & less like to have the strings pop off
I know this is going back a bit, and sorry if you've answered this, but how do the 2 necks compare on these? Any noticeable difference in thickness to them? I prefer the thicker or v shaped models myself. (think Baja tele style)
Both felt comfy to me, although I don't think either are technically "V". The JMJM seemed a bit more substantial, while the 40th Anniversary maybe a slight bit less beefy. You obv. get the different playing experience maple vs rosewood / laurel fretboard. Hope this helps!
Fender is BIG time wrong on the neck width. The 40th is 1.65" which is very wimpy and quite a disappointment especially when they list it as bigger than the J Mascus. Other than the neck the 40th is a pretty nice guitar. My personal opinion is the J Mascus is a nicer guitar. The neck is much more comfortable also.
@@AmbientEndeavors not sure really. I love the neck and rosewood fretboard with dots on the Mascis but the anniversary body, hardware and electronics is more to my preference. The Jazzzmaster line has way too many packages and options and different vibes. Don’t like the Mascis tune o magic bridge. Also don’t know why the anniversary one has a maple fretboard. Not sure which one would be better. If I had to choose I would go with Mascis and swap the bridge and MAYBE the pickups.
On YT it seems to me that the pickups of the Vintage are more trebley and have less output. What about vibratos? Is there one that is more stable than the other as to tuning? In that regard, is Squier comparable to Fender JM vibratos? Thanks!
both pretty similar on the vibrato front, although the 40th anni feels a touch more smooth. I was also alerted to the fact that the JMJMs vibrato is a bit closer in to the bridge than a traditional JM (which the 40th anni is) so that affects the break angle of strings and resonance a bit.
I think the 40th anniversary squire sold me on wanting one. I have the J. Mascis and love it but I like the maple fretboard look a lot and the desert sand color is very nice.
it is cool that they chose maple boards for these 40th anniversary models. something different, you don't see those on offsets much. agreed, the matte desert sand is nice, especially against the gold pick guard. thanks for watching!
I love the J Mascis (and the now-discontinued fender classic player, which is very similar) because it's a jazzmaster with the mods already done for you. Everyone wants a vintage-correct JM until they actually play one and then they're buying different pickups, different bridge, etc.
I played the vintage one a while back. It's a great guitar for the money! It held up really well against the American pro ii too which surprised me. Lovely review man!
Cool comment for me, as I own an American Pro II myself. Don´t use it much lately but still love JMs. Thinking on selling the american and buying the Squier, thus saving some bucks... Would it be a good call in your opinion?
@@videophotozama5666 Depends. The parts are obviously better quality but if you don't play it as much you might as well sell it and grab the cheaper one if you want to keep a Jazzmaster in your arsenal 🙂
@Neon Thunderbird They are on backorder but you could have had your spot in line. Unfortunately I wasnt able to get one through Sweetwater as I am from Canada and they have territory contracts with Fender. They wont ship Fender to Canada. I got it somewhere else for $419.99 no wait. Luckily they had 1 in stock. They are fantastic! 👌
Masterful playing and I liked this shootout because there were some obvious differences. The 40th being a bit on the sparkly and clear side and the Mascis, albeit muddy in the bridge, more expressive and artful in my opinion. I’d go with the Mascis.
Thanks for weighing in - yeah, they were definitely contrasting to the point where I'd have a hard time parting with either. I tend toward the sparkly/clean one BUT, you're right - there's an aggression and expression from the Mascis that is really inspiring for certain contexts too.
Squier Jazzmaster 40th Anniversary vs J Mascis:
- Clean 1:
- bridge - 6:35 vs 7:36
- bridge/neck - 6:55 vs 7:56
- neck - 7:15 vs 8:16
- Clean 2:
- bridge - 8:37 vs 9:27
- bridge/neck - 8:53 vs 9:42
- neck - 9:09 vs 9:57
- Dirty:
- bridge - 10:19 vs 11:47
- bridge/neck - 10:46 vs 12:14
- neck - 11:13 vs 12:42
Thank you!! So helpful.
This is how the video should be set up. It’s the best way to actually compare them
the J Mascis seems fuller and more chimes
but very light difference
I only have two guitars. A Mexican Strat and the J Mascis. I haven’t touched the Strat since I got the JM. Such a quality sounding and playing guitar for the price.
100%. They are great instruments for their original price tag. The neck on mine is one of the best feeling necks on any guitar I own. It's a fun one - glad you're loving yours!
Is it still true of the newer version of the J Mascis? I saw a video that claimed lower quality parts.
To be fair, most people who start off with a strat end up never touching it after getting any other model 😂
@@Fastskullnot true at all
I liked your consistency in demoi'ng all the sound choices. Usually around eight to 12 bars is enough, before changing the pick up selector and you're spot on. Too many demo's tend to become a performance piece for the creator, so thanks for keepin' it real, and I've just subb'ed your channel.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and the sub! Sincerely appreciate it. Glad you’re jiving with my review model - been honing it and always glad to hear other folks’ feedback. Cheers!
That middle position with the classic JM pickups in the 40th anniversary is such a gorgeous sound and hard to beat, so for that reason I prefer that one.
I played that 40th Anniversary, thinking I'd put the money in to pay more. It was awful compared to the J Mascis. The sound was good, but everything else felt so odd. I think Fender realized that pros were playing a Squier at gigs. Especially when you have someone like Tame Impala doing it, a guitar maker will take notice. So they started shifting the marketing, without a doubt. I think the 40th Anniversary is the "replacement", but it just isn't as good. To me anyway!
I owned both but sold off the 40th and kept the mascis as it feels and sounds better to my ears.
@@craighambo I have both. One for more traditional, vintage sounds and the mascis for rocking out.
I also loves that tone, is the main thing of a JM IMO
But I hated the rattling, tou can even hear it here.
This is the EXACT comparison video I needed. Thank you, and great playing!
Glad it was helpful!
You forgot to mention a huge difference between the two which is the trem placement. The 40th has a traditional placement, whereas the JMJM is closer to the bridge, creating a greater break angle. In theory it would affect sustain and the 40th would be a little more ‘plunky.’
Great tones all around and good quality video. Thanks for the comparison!
Thanks for watching and mentioning that! Appreciate you.
I had a classic player with the same arrangement. The steeper break angle also changes the feel of it. It resists bending more.
I got the 40th. Once I upgraded to a Staytrem Bridge, and Descendant vibrato, I have hardly played my other guitars in nearly a year. Not only did it improve the feel, but it improved the tone.
I believe it! That descendant is so buttery smooth, I love it!
One of the better reviews that I have seen on YT and wrapt that you didn’t present a distortion filled presentation completely devoid of the true sonic abilities of the instruments. Been a player for years with many guitars and previously - many years ago - had both an original Jag and JM. Just really appreciated your presentation and subbed. Thank you from Australia
thanks for the sub and for the kind words! glad you dug the video :D
Just got my 40th anniversary thanks to this video.
Hey thanks for watching! Enjoy your new guitar !
I love the look of the maple board and the desert sand together. The tones are great either way. JM sure has a unique sound. Love the playing samples and your style.
thanks man , appreciate that! thanks for watching
I preferred the clean sound of the 40th Anniversary. It's more of a classic, slightly scooped vintage sound. Clearer in the highs and less dirt. On cleans, the JMJM had more of a congested compressed mid-push, almost more Gibson like. But it wasn't as pleasant and had some breakup in the highs. But the JMJM comes into it's own with more drive. It pushes interacts with the amp really nicely. But overall, I think I'd go for the 40th VE too. I prefer the newer slightly buttery / warm sand coloured finish. The JMJM white is a bit of a stark colour, reminds me to much of stock basic new car finish. Easier to source a 40th VE than a JMJM now too.
that's all due to the P90 style pickups in the JMJM. I've put Seymour Antiquity 2's in mine, gorgeous cleans. the neck is what makes the JMJM the winner. its the most playable neck I've ever come across. its silk.
@@coldacre Yip, you are right, the neck is special, one of the best. Two of my not very expensive guitars have two of the best necks: Squier JMJM & Sire L7. I like the P90 style pickups, personally. But I'm a big fan of P90s, and have single coils I'm happy with for the single coil sound (Vintera Strat & Tele). Antiquity 2's sound great. I put Fender Pure Vintage '59s in my second Strat (Squier CV 50s Strat) and they sound really nice too.
I was totally blown away by the full, round, chiming clean sounds of the 40th Anniversary. The Mascis sounds thinner and dirtier, even in the clean section. Anyway, I also liked the "woody" crunch sounds of the 40th Anniversary better than those of the Mascis, which inspire a "plastic sound" feeling in me. Astonishing enough, as dark fingerboards are mostly seen as producing a warmer sound than the more trebly character of maple boards.
The fact that the 40th Anniversary is a great guitar, is all over the net, and spreading!
You did that great, thank you! Only through your "scientific" approach, compatibility is possible at all.
Man thanks for watching! This was such a fun and informative video for me to make and it's great that it's still proving helpful to many who are eyeing one of these guitars. Cheers!
Thanks very much for this, great demo, I’m sold on the 40th vintage after this. Just subscribed 👍
Really liked the clarity of the 40th over the Mascis.
Agreed, it does deliver more of that articulation than the raw/beefy JM p90s
I love your 40th anniversary! I own a JMJM as well and totally in love with it. I swapped out the pickups for Curtis Novak's and all I can say is WOW! The best sounding JM Ive ever heard in my life, no lie. The problem lies in the bridge... Also swapped out with a Wilkinson roller bridge which is better, but not 100%. So much fiddling around to get it to my preferred playability. I might just have to get a 40'th anniversay. Its a beauty and Im a sucker for maple necks! Yours sounds great and I found it to sound and ring nicer than the JMJM. Thanks for sharing!
I'm lucky I was able to grab one of the Staytrem bridges that drops straight in. they stopped making it years ago which is a shame, as theyre the perfect bridge for a JMJM.
I happen to have recently bought a 40th Anniversary myself, and I'm really happy with it. I think it's crazy value for money, and they're also getting hard to find brand new. Very well set up (other than the intonation, which I had to correct myself), very comfortable feeling and good sounding.
Going to your comparison, I like the sounds of the 40th Anniversary when I hear them, but then when I hear the J. Mascis my ears seem to prefer that tone time after time.
I find it really hard to pick a favorite. They're unique enough one to the other - and the JMJM is so fun when you're really going for that kind of raunchy rock and roll thing.
As you say, it's down to personal preferences. In my perception the 40th Anniversary has a more percusive attack and the tone is more on the trebly side, whereas the J. Mascis sounds to me with more body. I seem to prefer the latter, but, let me say, you get absolutely beautiful tones from both; I specially like your airy clean tones. I assume the tune you play in the beginning is your own composition. You make both guitars sound like a dream.
I bought both. They are totally different sounds, but both of them are totally rad. I got the seafoam green one though, it's a surf machine.
very cool! yeah different enough to warrant both - and fun that they're quite accessible.
I own the J Mascis, but the 40th anniversary sounds great. It actually sounds more like my Mascis because I swapped out my pickups for the vintage 65s. Great video, nice guitars.
@neonthunderbird yeah, I was actually contemplating putting the stock bridge back in, but leaving the neck 65 in. Then I could have the best pickup from both sets.
i bought the 40th anniversary is so amazing i love it so much it’s the first jazzmaster i’ve owned and i’m in love i can’t stop playing it
so cool to hear - glad you found one you love! It's a really solid guitar and very economical :)
Just picked up a perfect used 40th today. It’s a beautiful guitar with a great neck. Can’t wait to play it more.
They are both awesome and can’t really go wrong with either. I had a few different classic player jazzmasters and I lived in older houses and the pickups were really noisy at idle. What I like about both of those guitars you reviewed is they both have wider nuts than the 42mm standard nut size on all the mim guitars I’ve owned, which for me is a huge sale point for me the 40th is a hair wider than the jm. I got the 40th but I’d be stoked on a mascis too they are both rad
Just got a J Mascis JM last week and I love it! Wish I could get my hands on the desert sand 40th anniversary JM too, but now they're out of production.
yeah they're both cool guitars and great for the price!
Andrew, would you ever consider doing a small series on how you go about writing/composing your skits? I absolutely love your playing style, the way the melodies stack and compliment each other, letting each one breathe without overcrowding, playing off one another. I love making post-rock stuff like that but find it can quickly get busy. Also, how you go about choosing the tones for each part so they layer and sit in distinct zones but still mesh well...a real skill you have!
Yes! It’s on my list - thanks for the prompt. My approach feels so impromptu that I need to collect my thoughts and methods a bit before shooting a video about it :)
I had an American 62 reissue jm in the past and will say that guitar played so nice and felt great. I wish I didn't sell it. However, I now own a jmjm and feel it has way more balls and sounds way better with effects. The ri I had was way more planky and it's tone would get lost with the the dynamic pedals I used. The mascis I now own shines through. The best way to describe the two is the reissue was designed to sound a certain way without too many effects being 1962 was pretty limited whereas the jmjm was designed by a guy who uses many effects and played loud. The 2 guitars are only comparable by the body design and that's it. They are both different animals.
For sure, very different animals indeed!
I have both and despite them looking almost identical, they are completely different guitars in your hands. I definitely lean towards the JM by a longshot, but they are their own unique guitars. Note my 40th anniversary has the laurel neck with the square inlays. I bought it used and already it's got the standard bridge sinkage that is common to Jazz Masters; however my JM has not had any issues and has the adjustable bridge. In retrospect I would have only purchased the JM as it seems to be a much higher quality guitar, but again depending on your style of playing, one may suit you better than the other. I prefer the neck on the JM and it stays in tune better as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either, but it's the J Mascis for me.
Really lovely demo man. Thanks for the time and effort. Nice playing , really cool.
my pleasure man - glad you enjoy it! thanks for watching.
@@AmbientEndeavors I have just ordered one from Thoman! £300 , was temped at the sfg one at £259 but your video swung it my brother. Have a blessed day.
Both are tremendous sounding guitars. I think it really comes down to your budget and which one you think looks cooler. I happen to really like the looks of the Squier 40th Anniversary with the maple fingerboard/neck. But the sound of the J. Mascis is really nice. I love those 60s tones you get out of them.
The Vintage is what I gravitated to as well. It was all the reasons you said which is hysterical. In fact, I got the Vintage in Sea Foam for $300. It was a no brainer
Nice vid.
They might look alike but the reason they sound different is because they are. They have very different pickups in them.
The J Mascis essentially has P90s (taller bobbin with Steel Poles and two bar magnets underneath).
The Anniversary has actual Jazzmaster style Pickups (large flatter bobbin with magnetic poles).
Not sure about the J Mascis but Fender did the right thing with the Squier Anniversary as far as set up.
It has a tilted neck pocket so it works the way it should without a neck shim, essential if you want the trem/bridge to work the way it was designed to.
The mascis has a tilted neck pocket too. I asked puisheen about it via dm.
Very nice playing in the intro.
Thank you!
Both are great. Very nice review. Thank you!
Thanks for watching! It really is hard to pick a favorite here.
At min 12 , 13'', bridge pickup , that is my favorite . Has the raw in your face , yet poetic vibe . Cool riff by the way !
Actually mid position ...
Mm, thanks! Yeah I’m my opinion the middle position JM sound is magic. Totally agree about the raw yet poetic vibe
The 40th Anniversary winner...The Alnico magnets give it the edge over the P90s....They're warmer and more pleasant with crystal clear transients...IMO..cheers Frank "The Memphis Suns"
I agree; I favor the clarity of the pickups in the 40th. The P90s are cool for certain applications but a bit more muddy / hairy at times. Thanks for watching Frank!
Amen...Jazzmaster twang only with Alnico pickups..
I don't usually like maple fingerboards, but I like the Anniversary more. The satin finish on the body, the bridge and overall I prefer vintage frets too. You can always upgrade what you want without feeling guilty.
I got the 40th anni vintage bout two weeks ago. I LOVE IT! The satin finish and neck are wonderful. First Jm, now I'm wondering what a more expensive one is like.
Exactly the same thing, got my first JM 2 weeks ago and love it! It's the seafoam green vintage edition. Wondering what the more expensive jazzmasters would sound like, ha!
@@kzm4275 EXACTLY! How much better can it be?
@@jonislow don't know but would like to. Haven't touched my two Teles all this time at all
Don't expect too big steps from Squier to Fender. They don't sound and feel double the price. But make your own experience.
I have a J Mascis and a CV Jazzmaster (with a J Mascis neck). I love the look of the new 40th Anniversary. Question is, do I really need three Jazzmasters? :)
My main criticism of the J Mascis are the pickups. They are very hot and will push your amp harder than a JM with "real" Jazzmaster pickups. If you are after a clean sound, it might not be the guitar for you. That said, I love the JMJM neck.
My J mascis neck is Indian Laurel. Is yours Rosewood?
Tremendous comparison video. I have to echo a previous commenter... very good demonstration of the different sounds of each. And you briefly played the exact same measures for each guitar so we could get a clear contrast. It drives me crazy when they compare 2 guitars and don't play the same chords or melodies for each comparison. I don't think you can go wrong with either guitar. After watching your video I went to the GC website and found the 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster Vintage Edition on sale for $389.99. Unfortunately they're back ordered until November but now I'll have an early Xmas present for myself. Anyway, thanks for a great video and some extraordinary playing.
Appreciate the kind words and glad it was helpful! Hope you dig the 40th Anni - they’re fun guitars and I think you’re hard pressed to find a better player for $389!
The Mascis has such obvious differences from the 40th! Great shootout. The 40th sounded way too tinny to my ears, especially compared to the full-bodied presence in the J Mascis JM. It's unbelievable that Fender would stop making one of their best affordable guitar options of all time.
They are quite contrasting aren't they! I can understand the thin critique. I went into this video thinking I'd pick a favorite and move the other along, but they really all unique enough that I kinda feel like I'd miss the other if I did that. To me the Mascis gets muddy at times which I don't love, but it has this raw/harsh-ness also to it that I kind of like for certain applications. It is strange I agree - kind of seems like Squier/Fender "killed a darling" in discontinuing the JMJM. I'll say, the feel of the new 40th Anniversary is great though, and thankfully you're just a pickup swap away *if* you so desire a thicker tone. Thanks for watching and chiming in!
agree !! why Squier / Fender stop doing the JMJM !!??!! and also the gold J5 Telecaster !!
@@lollofunky J Mascis was told that they discontinued it because Squier is trying to move away from artist signatures in the Squier line. Not sure why but he says so in his latest rig rundown
Needs heavier strings
@@astheniaaa So Fender can put them out and charge more for them!
I think J Mascis bridge pickup in the 40th would be killer.
Could be cool. Honestly the more i play the 40th the more I like its bridge pup. There’s just so much to like about both of these.
@@AmbientEndeavors I wanted to compliment you on your tone! Thanks for presenting this guitar with excellent clean tones rather than grungey tones. I'm hoping to try the 40th out at my local shop soon. Your video showed me that it doesn't hit the front end of amps too hard despite the output of the pickups
Definitely Team 40th anniversary. I've always thought of the Mascis as the bar for modern offsets...but Fender/Squier really really knocked it out of the park for the 40th...The satin finish is super nice. I hope Fender keeps a satin finish JM in the lineup going forward.
Man I totally agree. I heard folks rave about the JMJM, finally got one and it really lived up to the hype. After watching your guys' video of the 40th Anniversary I got curious, and I have to say I'm leaning 40th too - although they're both great guitars. But man the desert sand...it's beautiful.
Amazing intro song.
Aw thanks man
Amazing review!! Thank you. What song are you playing during the "Dirty Sounds" section?
thanks for watching and for the kind words! ...that was just a little riff I made up. I try not to recycle cover tunes/riffs, although I'm sure I'm guilty of "writing" parts that are near-ripoffs without even knowing haha
I bought one from Sweetwater and the guitar was great with 1 exception. HUMMMM!! No shielding in the electronics cavities. I used the Aluminum furnace tape to shield it and checked continuity from 1 end to the other. Now, no hum and the guitar sounds fantastic and is silent when not being played.
Yeah my 40th Anni had a good amount of hum too, good to hear the shielding did the trick
I think there's a bit more sparkle to the 40th Anniversary pickups. I also really like the look of the maple fretboard -- there's a nice tint to it. I wish the gold edition came with a maple or rosewood fretboard. The Indian Laurel necks I've been getting have been looking pretty dire, which is disappointing because my Cyclone's IL neck looks almost indistinguishable from a rosewood neck, so they can look really nice, but mine so far have been pale and dry and chipped at the edges.
I just got the Squier JM JM with Indian Laurel and it has the same problem.. Now I'm thinking getting that 40th or a new JM neck
@@seraphim87 I'd definitely just swap out the neck. You can find some nice necks all over the place. Get a nice deep roasted maple neck or something, that'd be real nice on the J.Mascis.
I have a few guitars with laurel fretboards, and I am very happy with them. But I did have to condition the boards with lemon oil (using 0000-grade steel wool) and then a final coat of fretboard wax, to get them looking rich and feeling great.
Great video.I love your playing,especially on the clean section with the Hybrid picking.I’m in the market for one of these but I just wondered,was the build quality equal on both of these?
Thanks! Build quality is pretty comparable. The JMJM was surprisingly solid out of the box, neither had glaring issues to be honest. Minor complaints: both could use a setup to your preferred strings/action to really feel 100%, and the 40th had a mild amount of fret sprout on some edges. But I’ve played both out before setups and wasn’t bothered.
Hope this helps - thanks for watching!
I'd say 40th Anniversary is brighter with more forward presence, while the J Mascis is darker (not dark) with better/deeper articulation, with a less fatiguing sustain. I own both (Lake Placid Blue/40th).
I’ve got the J Mascis Squier and swapped the pickups out for Lollars. The Mascis pickups run too hot if you’re looking for that classic Jazzmaster sound.
It’s my 3rd guitar… also happy to discuss selling it if anyone is keen - with original + new pickups, of course.
I’m interested!
I’m interested
Love your sound very great video. My best friend owned a jm when they first came out my friends made fun of him buying it you know that cheap guitar into a hi end Marshall deal oh boy we were wrong. That had to be the best guitar for the money back than. Years gone by I just bought the 40th vintage and I’m glad because it’s beautiful on those cleans you did. I really love jazzmasters my old strat just sits these days for the most part.
They’re both JMs. They both win! Fantastic playing. Love the tones.
Hey - you've got a point there! haha Thanks Sean!
Great video comparison.... Thank you! I just ordered the 40th Anniversary gold/white Jazzmaster at GC for an amazing $350.99. The J Mascis JM was tempting but to get that anniversary instrument for THAT price was just too hard to resist. I am thinking on putting some Fender 65 pickups in it after I receive it.
Love it! What a great guitar for that price! You'll have to report back if / when you swap pickups :D
Thanks, Andrew. Well, after the Squier I then ordered a Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster in Mystic Surf Green. 🤩 I still have the Squier on order but I will wait until I get the Fender to decide between them. I did get a discount and great financing on the Fender during the Labor Day sales. I have never been an offset guitar guy before but I feel I may be ready at this point. In part, I have to blame Ryan at 60 Cycle Hum for getting me started into all this, hehe. Cheers.
Hi again. Well, I received the Am Pro 2 JM last month. It looked beautiful and was set-up perfectly... But, amazingly, I returned it. I didn't like the Panorama tremolo and I wasn't crazy about the pickups, which were not true JM pickups, as I discovered. In the end, I just wasn't ready to get new pickups and a trem unit for an already-expensive instrument. Sorry to see it go, though. The interesting part is that when I went to return the guitar, the store had a Squier Classic Vibe JM and I got it down to try. You know what? I actually enjoyed the overall experience of that one at least as much as the Fender. And so, for now I am waiting for my 40th anniversary Squier to come... next February, they say.
So, I owned a JMJM and proceeded to sell it for a variety of reasons. The satin neck wasn't for me, I had to replace the bridge (rattle) and trem system (unusable) but even these upgrades weren't enough. Ultimately the JMJM doesn't sound very good. It's a muddy guitar, there's no note clarity at all and there's not much you can do to fix that save for swapping out the pickups and pots. Really is best to avoid this guitar imo.
when i bought the jay mascis guitar it totaly converted me to jazzmaster i just love that guitar.Its not my most expensive guitar but bang for buck its pretty awsome. i just swapped the pick ups out for the jay mascis ones that fender brought out. This is gunna be the guitar in my collection im gunna modify so any tips would be great hope your doing great
nice! yeah a fun mod platform for sure. Folks like swapping the bridge for something a bit more traditional. depending on what your budget is, check out Mastery or Descendant for that and replacement vibrato; huge upgrade!
@@AmbientEndeavors oh sweet thanks for the tips the bridge ill do next string change
40th Vintage on deep sale for the win--
I prefer J Mascis, basically it's a fuller sound. I felt that the 40th anniversary is a little thinner sound. I haven't tested the 40th Anniversary, but I have a J Mascis and it's probably the best neck I've ever played.
The JMJM neck is SO comfortable - it wow'd me when I first got it. The 40th Anniversary has a different feel, more wore and less satin, but it's also a really comfy neck.
Bro, JMJM is not a proper Jazzmaster, it has p90s and an adjustomatic bridge. The proper Jazzmaster is supposed to sound airy and thin
@@mehabox totally agree, isn’t a classic Jazzmaster config and sound, but I like how JM JM sounds, specifically for my play style
@@mehabox they aren’t true P90s but they are similar
@@EJleon96 theyre pretty close. Theyre built almost exactly like gibsons p90s but with ceramic magnets.
My understanding is the J.Mascis actually has P90 style pickups as opposed to the Jazzmaster's actual Jazzmaster style pickups, hence the difference in sound.
I think you’re right! There’s often a good bit of ambiguity in some of these lower end models as to *what* the pickups are. JMJM sure sounds more like P90s
@@AmbientEndeavors j mascis just uses p90s in jazzmaster casings
I love it
♥️
I own the J Mascis since 2016 Rosewood model. Best guitar I've ever owned. Now that the 40th anniversary ones are coming down in price I might have to jump on this one. I am also hoping more offsets in the Squier range will turn up this year for the 2023 line. Matching headstock ones would be cool. Also the J mascis pick ups are wound hotter it seems which is nice. These sound tonally similar and different is certain modes. Cheers. Good video.
Thanks Chris! Yeah, I went into this feeling like I'd pick a clear favorite, but it's a tough choice if I'd have to keep just one. The JMJM is such a fantastic feeling and sounding guitar. Mine has the Indian Laural which I was initially bummed by but it's still great. Agreed - matching headstock Squiers would be killer to see happen. Cheers!
I own four electric guitars. A Squier made in korea Strat from 1992, a Epiphone Les Paul Studio from 2008, a Fender made in Mexico Tele from 2003 and my Squier 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition Jazzmaster. The Jazzmaster became my new main guitar, since I got it 3 weeks ago. The sound is so lovely through my Vox AC15C1 with treble on 1 o‘clock and bass on 11 o‘clock. Love the neck and the high quality sounding pickups! 😍
I also have a Squier 20th Anniversary acoustic guitar which I love over several Fender guitars. I only paid £30 in an Antiques shop in England.
I have to say, that I would choose Squier over Fender when it comes to the quality for the money you pay.
Huge difference in sound. Not sure if the pickups are the same. But the maple vs rosewood fingerboard may account for a good portion of it. I tend to like the clarity of the 40th anniversary. The Mascis seems a bit more striking and a tad harsh. I would want something almost in between.
The pickups are different , the 40th definitely has a more vintage, slightly scooped feel and the JMJM like you say has that harsh edge and more midrange. Something in between would be intriguing, it's still a close call for me as sometimes I kind of want that ragged texture the JMJM brings. Thanks for watching!
40th anniv has Jazzmaster pickups whils Mascis has P90s. You could try some aftermarket Jazzmaster pickups that go for high output for an inbetween sound I think, maybe the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound?
Maple is brighter. Lots of reverb. Is there more to say? I'm guessing the overall verdict is that they're different in small ways and the newer pickups sound more refined as they usually do. Am I right or ignorant ?
both sound great in their different ways...I have a JMJM, and I've toyed with idea of putting a Lollar in the neck position and leaving the bridge alone. I mostly use the neck position, and I really like the Mascis, but I do miss a bit of that throaty thing and the top end shimmer. I'm just concerned if that combo would be unbalanced due to output differences. And then I wonder if I'd miss the meat of the original pickup.... great video.... I didn't know they'd discontinued the JMJM...heard rumors of that through the years and then it didn't happen, but I guess it finally did... glad I got one last year...
I might be coming into a bit of money soon and have been debating which of these I want. I actually though the tonal quality of the Mascis was better in all but the last position in the video. It seemed both brighter and fuller to me. I did notice it has considerably more buzz however. I'm wondering if that might be a ground issue somewhere in that specific guitar, or if that's something typical for those pick ups or another component in that model. It wouldn't bug me much while playing, but for recording purposes, that could be bothersome.
The 40th has a chunkier neck? But the J Mascis has a wider neck, right? I only played the Mascis and i remember thinking, this is a chunky neck, compared to my modern C fender necks... i'm deciding of buying one of these
the 40th has since moved on, but if my memory serves, the JMJM seemed a slightly more beefy neck than the 40th.
Did you change the strings? The 40th comes with 9-42 which made it sound tinny. The Mascis comes with 10-46. The 40th sounds great with 11’s
I need to! You’re right. Thinkin I’ll go .11s and see how they jive.
Amazing playing by the way!
Maple one sounds best but the rosewood one sounds classic
I’m buying the J Mascis or 40th Anniversary and love both of the tones and guitars (and tend to lean towards the 40th for appearance) but I have one question, which guitars are better for different genres of music?
What genres do you play? The 40th Anniversary is a more vintage leaning sound / JM more for rock or indie/alternative stylings I’d say, with its beefier pickups.
Thanks for Sharing
great comparison, which strings gauges were you using? thanks!
I believe they’re the strings the guitars shipped with. Iirc the JMJM has .10s and the 40th has .09s
@AmbientEndeavors thanks so much! based on your comparison I just bought the 40th, looking forward to receive it and I'm considering which gauge would be the best, I will see...
At the beginning of this video, what song are you playing?
Disappointing you ignored the Rhythm darker setting in your demo, it was one of the main reasons I bought a Jazzmaster.
disappointing for sure.
Hard choice! I have wanted a Mascis, but I LOVE the 50’s scheme on the 40th Anniversary. I can hear the tonal differences.
I will probably grab the 40th Anniversary.
Yeah both offer a little something different in a few areas. The 40th Anniversary definitely has a bit more "vintage" vibe.
Both are super cool but I prefer the rosewood and basswood of the j. Mascis. I never played the newer ones. Plus I’m just a J. Mascis fan that regrets not getting one lol
I'll sell you my j mascis if you want
Totally. Listening back to the clips it is a tougher call for me too actually 😅 the j mascis definitely has its own vibe.
@@tylergibson7652 that’s very tempting but I just bought a replacement tele neck. Just out of curiosity though how much?
40th anniversary for clean tones, j mascis for dirty tones and jazz.
What song is that first riff from?
All my intro tracks are original compositions :)
@@AmbientEndeavors Ow, it is really great! Hats off to you :)
question : Where or how an i find more music like the one you are playing?
hey! I record and release my own music in this similar style - you can hear it on Spotify or any of the streaming platforms under Ambient Endeavors. Also check out bands like Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, or Hammock for some of my favorite inspirations.
@@AmbientEndeavors amazing, I will check em out. Thanks!
Awesome vid. Do you create original music?
Thanks for watching! I sure do - a bunch of releases under Ambient Endeavors on all the streaming platforms
@@AmbientEndeavors nice. I will check it out. 🎸
Did you need to add a shim for either?
They're reported to have an angled neck pocket that should negate the need for a shim. Per Mike Adams' video, it measures to a full 1degree in the pocket. th-cam.com/video/f3Kn31XFBNo/w-d-xo.html
Is your J Mascis the indian laurel or Rosewood?
This one is Indian laurel
Sorry that I missed it in the video. Great work 😊
Can you do an ambient piece with the 40th anniversary? Id like to see and hear more of that baby 👌 Thanks!
there's an idea! I'll mix it in to an ambient sketch at some point :D
@@AmbientEndeavors Awesome! 😝
@@AmbientEndeavors Still waiting on that Chase Bliss Mood idea you have 😜
I picked up a Squier Jazzmaster a few months ago, do you have any tips on setting up the tremolo?
Shim them neck with a stewmac angled shim (could also just shim the side of the neck closest to the body to create an angle but this has a possibility of warping the neck & causing the very last fret to raise so beware, this happened on my bass VI) then raise the bridge with the two post screws on the side, (putting locktite on these post screws is not a bad idea in the slightest) this will allow the bridge to rock back & forth, from there set intonation & action like normal on the saddles
You’ll likely need to redo the setup several times as the tremolo knocks the strings out of tune & retune the strings as the setup changes, however after a couple times of doing it you’ll notice that the tremolo doesn’t knock the strings out of tune due to the rocking bridge, & that the strings stay on the saddle due to the increase break angle
Final tip, use big ass strings, higher tension means more security against the bridge, making it rock more consistently & less like to have the strings pop off
@@reneebear3641 Did you adjust the spring tension on the tremolo?
I wanted to see the difference in the cosmetics but you didn't show them well enough.
aw bummer. anything specifically you have questions about?
I know this is going back a bit, and sorry if you've answered this, but how do the 2 necks compare on these? Any noticeable difference in thickness to them? I prefer the thicker or v shaped models myself. (think Baja tele style)
Both felt comfy to me, although I don't think either are technically "V". The JMJM seemed a bit more substantial, while the 40th Anniversary maybe a slight bit less beefy. You obv. get the different playing experience maple vs rosewood / laurel fretboard. Hope this helps!
40th Anniversary sounds more like the original. J Mascis have more output and more mids.
Agreed; the Masks is its own thing and more "in your face"
Fender is BIG time wrong on the neck width. The 40th is 1.65" which is very wimpy and quite a disappointment especially when they list it as bigger than the J Mascus. Other than the neck the 40th is a pretty nice guitar. My personal opinion is the J Mascus is a nicer guitar. The neck is much more comfortable also.
Theyre remaking the J Mascis again apparently
Yes! Excited that it’s back!
Does the 40th anniversary have more tuning and/or intonation problems than the J Mascis?
I wouldn’t say there’s a dramatic variance between the two.
More country plz
In a past life I was a country guitarist.
The j mascis has p90s. The vintage has Jazzmaster pickups. That’s the sound difference. K mascis looks like Jazzmaster but are p90s.
which is your favorite?
@@AmbientEndeavors not sure really. I love the neck and rosewood fretboard with dots on the Mascis but the anniversary body, hardware and electronics is more to my preference. The Jazzzmaster line has way too many packages and options and different vibes. Don’t like the Mascis tune o magic bridge. Also don’t know why the anniversary one has a maple fretboard. Not sure which one would be better. If I had to choose I would go with Mascis and swap the bridge and MAYBE the pickups.
@@mikepj1025 What do you mean by body?
woau
👌🏼
Do you have any rough frets on yours? I have some side neck marks from sandpaper by the looks of it on mine.
not to my touch; the frets on this one are surprisingly good!
On YT it seems to me that the pickups of the Vintage are more trebley and have less output. What about vibratos? Is there one that is more stable than the other as to tuning? In that regard, is Squier comparable to Fender JM vibratos? Thanks!
both pretty similar on the vibrato front, although the 40th anni feels a touch more smooth. I was also alerted to the fact that the JMJMs vibrato is a bit closer in to the bridge than a traditional JM (which the 40th anni is) so that affects the break angle of strings and resonance a bit.
The squier one is just ugly with the mustard tinge to the body
they're both squier.
I think the 40th anniversary squire sold me on wanting one. I have the J. Mascis and love it but I like the maple fretboard look a lot and the desert sand color is very nice.
it is cool that they chose maple boards for these 40th anniversary models. something different, you don't see those on offsets much. agreed, the matte desert sand is nice, especially against the gold pick guard. thanks for watching!
I love the J Mascis (and the now-discontinued fender classic player, which is very similar) because it's a jazzmaster with the mods already done for you. Everyone wants a vintage-correct JM until they actually play one and then they're buying different pickups, different bridge, etc.
I played the vintage one a while back. It's a great guitar for the money! It held up really well against the American pro ii too which surprised me. Lovely review man!
Cool comment for me, as I own an American Pro II myself. Don´t use it much lately but still love JMs. Thinking on selling the american and buying the Squier, thus saving some bucks... Would it be a good call in your opinion?
@@videophotozama5666 Depends. The parts are obviously better quality but if you don't play it as much you might as well sell it and grab the cheaper one if you want to keep a Jazzmaster in your arsenal 🙂
@@alexradsby is the trem bar consistent in the Squier?
@@videophotozama5666 the one I played was. Can't really say for the rest of them but Squier definitely has delivered these past years
@@alexradsby Thaks mate, appreciate your answers :)
I love my Vintage edition AFTER I superglued the low E saddle to the bridge. It would move away from the A string saddle and would buzz badly.
oh yikes , ha. that's not good
Im pulling the trigger! Thanks! Sweetwater has them on sale right now for $359! $240 off! Cant beat that! 😮👌
I just ordered one also. It's such a great deal. I chose the Sea Foam Green, because when I saw it, I had a sudden urge to go "Surfing"! Lol
@@charlie-obrien You're going to love it! It plays like a dream and sounds like heaven! Im in love!
@Neon Thunderbird They are on backorder but you could have had your spot in line. Unfortunately I wasnt able to get one through Sweetwater as I am from Canada and they have territory contracts with Fender. They wont ship Fender to Canada. I got it somewhere else for $419.99 no wait. Luckily they had 1 in stock. They are fantastic! 👌
@Neon Thunderbird I love my J mascis as well! 👌
Masterful playing and I liked this shootout because there were some obvious differences. The 40th being a bit on the sparkly and clear side and the Mascis, albeit muddy in the bridge, more expressive and artful in my opinion. I’d go with the Mascis.
Thanks for weighing in - yeah, they were definitely contrasting to the point where I'd have a hard time parting with either. I tend toward the sparkly/clean one BUT, you're right - there's an aggression and expression from the Mascis that is really inspiring for certain contexts too.
totally agree. The Mascis all the way.
The JMJM kinda sounded like you ran the 40th through a tube screamer. More compressed mid push and overdriven. Cool video!
yeah that's a really good assessment. Definitely hear the mid-push vs a more scooped, clear sound in the 40th. Both are cool in their own way.
Squier 40th Anniversary sounds great. love it.
I'm a big fan as well - thanks for watching!