xbted
Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 05:00 PM
Hey everyone,
So the local guitar store has a J Macis Jazzmaster, yes the one with the sparkly purple finish, in stock. Right now they're holding on to it for me until tomorrow, so I figured I'd ask what you all think of that guitar? I tried it out, and I really like the sound of it and I think it plays great. It has a basswood body, instead of alder like the traditional jazzmasters, as well as a tune-o-matic bridge (I assume so it will be behave better with strings that aren't flat wound) That being said, at $840, it is quite a bit cheaper than the American Jazzmasters, but it is at the high end of my guitar budget.
My question is: has anybody else tried this guitar, and do you think it would perform reasonably well as a surf guitar? And in general, is this a great guitar for that kind of money or just a (not so) cheap imitation?
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ShaunNecro
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Posts: 524
Bay City (Michigan)
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 05:23 PM
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xbted
Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 05:36 PM
ShaunNecro
There has been some threads on this before.
http://www.surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3291
http://www.surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3821&highlight=mascis
Thanks, I saw those posts too. But I'm looking for something more along the lines of how suitable this guitar would be for playing surf. Plus, there's really only 1 review in there from someone who's actually played one, so I was hoping that as maybe some more people might have had the opportunity to pick one up since that review was written, that I may get a few more opinions before buying one. 
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 05:41 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 16:47:27
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 05:44 PM
ONLY GOLD SPARKLE IS ACCEPTABLE....... 
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19354
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 06:25 PM
Phil from the Cocktail Preachers (username: Tiki) recently posted a photo and short review of this guitar. He plays it in his Link Wray tribute band.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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xbted
Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 06:59 PM
DennistheMenace
ONLY GOLD SPARKLE IS ACCEPTABLE.......
but, but, but... it has a gold pick guard 
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 10:48 PM
Seriously...it's just a Japanese Jazzmaster with a different bridge. You can get a "normal" Japanese Jazzmaster for less, if you like those guitars.
Actually no you can't get a CIJ for less. The Mascis comes with AVRI pickups. I'm not a fan of the paint, the bridge, the fretboard radius... But if you are comfortable with those characteristics, it's actually quite a bargain at the $800 price range. I second the "If you like it, get it" sentiment.
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zak
Joined: Sep 24, 2007
Posts: 2728
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 11:15 PM
This post has been removed by the author.
Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 16:50:17
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11079
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Jan 22 2008 11:39 PM
Who's J Mascis?
jus kiddin'
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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WR
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
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Posted on Jan 23 2008 02:26 AM
zak
You said "I really like the sound of it and I think it plays great" - why do you need the opinions of total strangers on an internet message board to reinforce your decision? If you like it, buy it.
+1 .... we can discuss guitars all we want on line, but in the end, you pick one up and you either feel the love or you don't .... if this one gets you goin', than get it. doesnt matter if it has purple finish, or for all I care humbuckers a double neck and a grip-shaped cutout in the body... you know, I believe people play better on instruments they have the hots for too.
— Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."
https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Jan 23 2008 05:41 AM
zak
badash
Actually no you can't get a CIJ for less.
Sure ya can.
There's always a few of 'em on evilbay, look at the completed auctions and you'll see a pile of 'em in the $650-$750 range, in new condition.
Often under $600 if they have some miles on 'em.
USA-made pickups are definitely a plus in favor of the guitar in question, though.
Didn't know about the different fretboard radius, either.
I have to say I'd feel pretty goofy playing a guitar with some other dude's name on it...unless it says "Chet Atkins" haha.
....or "The Ventures" Model..... 
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
Last edited: Jan 24, 2008 09:10:18
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Jan 23 2008 09:12 AM
zak
badash
Actually no you can't get a CIJ for less.
Sure ya can.
I have to say I'd feel pretty goofy playing a guitar with some other dude's name on it...unless it says "Chet Atkins" haha.
I meant by the time you put new pickups in a japanese, it will not really be less. I still believe considering the pickups, the gold guard, the bridge which some people consider an upgrade (my stock AVRI works great), it is truly a bargain... If you can stand a pimped out guitar. Yeah the guitar sports a flatter modern radius AND jumbo frets. I play my jag and jazz so much when I go to my chandlers which are flatter, I have an adjustment period... So flat is whack in my book...
As to the Chet Atkins reference, I agree with that for sho'. I bought a Chet Atkins CD a couple of years ago, upgrading the vinyl collection... Well, not so much upgrading the quality of the medium, but making playing the music more convenient  Anyway, my wife looked at the cover and said "Ewwww! Why are you buying a country record!" 
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Jan 23 2008 09:28 AM
Hold on fellas. The pickups are definitely not AVRI pickups. I know the blurb for the guitar says vintage reissue pickups but that doesn't mean American Vintage Reissue. In fact the spec sheet says
"2 Special Design MIJ Single-Coil Jazzmaster Pickups (Neck & Bridge)"
Better than stock CIJ? Yeah. Better than AV, not likely.
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Jan 24 2008 09:02 AM
Hmmm... Kinda sneaky bordering on deceitful... Definitely changes the economics of the decision a little. Still, if they are faithful to the "Low, Fat, and Lovely" design of jazzer pickups instead of the "strat in the box" normal CIJ pickups, if could mean you don't NEED to upgrade. Could still be a better buy than CIJ, plus I'm assuming you get a Fender USA warranty.
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wilkat1
Joined: Dec 03, 2007
Posts: 107
southern Illinois
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Posted on Jan 24 2008 01:17 PM
"You march right back there and give that guitar back to its rightful owner, whoever this 'Les Paul' guy is."
— Swing! Twang! Shake! Twist!
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Jan 24 2008 01:48 PM
WR
zak
You said "I really like the sound of it and I think it plays great" - why do you need the opinions of total strangers on an internet message board to reinforce your decision? If you like it, buy it.
+1 .... we can discuss guitars all we want on line, but in the end, you pick one up and you either feel the love or you don't .... if this one gets you goin', than get it. doesnt matter if it has purple finish, or for all I care humbuckers a double neck and a grip-shaped cutout in the body... you know, I believe people play better on instruments they have the hots for too.
OMG!!! There's a SCARY THOUGHT............................................
a Doubleneck Jazzmaster w/Humbuckers!!!
Watch out Mr. Page!!!
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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xbted
Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Posts: 98
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Posted on Jan 24 2008 06:56 PM
I gave a lot of consideration to whether I wanted to buy this particular model of Jazzmaster or not and finally came to a conclusion. I had to agree with everyone who posted on here that one should buy the guitar that they like the best. My wife had noticed that on all of our other guitar purchases, most of them were spur of the moment, but in this case I've spent a lot of time pondering over it. All of the other times, I simply picked up a guitar and felt that it was the right one. This Jazzmaster sounded great, played awesome and was less expensive than the American ones, but for some reason, I just couldn't bring myself around to buy it. I went into the store again today to consider getting it, played it for a while and hung it up... for the last time.
On the next rack behind it was a sienna sunburst HSS American Standard Strat. This is the new model that they just came out with this month. I'd never noticed it before, well, because they got it yesterday. I picked it up, fell in love with it after a minute and after about half an hour ended up leaving with it. So now I have my first strat, which honestly, was never a guitar I considered getting. But after playing it, well, it was love.
So yeah, I guess if you have to ask other people if it's the right guitar, it might not be.
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