So this all started when Satellite Amps posted a picture on instagram saying this was the best guitar Fender had come out with in years. I had been hearing similar reviews from a lot of other people but the Satellite Amps post really got me thinking that this might be something to check out. I had just sold off a Danelectro and an ESP Strat so I figured I’d take the plunge. After watching a bunch of video demos on YouTube I thought it might be best if I try to play one in a store before forking out $400, but since there were none to be found locally, I ordered one online and waited eagerly for it to arrive.

When it finally arrived I immediately restrung it with Thomastik-Infeld Blues Sliders and started getting acquainted with the guitar. It is a bit of an odd beast, especially with the radiused fretboard combined with the flat tuneomatic bridge. The pickups are really hot for a Jazzmaster. This is the only guitar that can make my Ampeg Jet get some nice breakup. The Ampeg is a very clean sounding amp usually.

A few days in I noticed that the tone control didn’t work. That was a perfect excuse to pull it apart and see what was going on and what it was made of. All in all I’m pretty impressed. I think this is one of the best guitars you can buy new at a $399 street price. If you have double that I’d recommend a Gretsch Electromatic but for $400 you get a lot of guitar with the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster.

Did I mention that I’ve spent every free moment for the last week three weeks playing this guitar? It’s that good.  I have had no problems with the guitar staying in tune, even with heavy vibrato use. The more I play this guitar the more I like it.

I have a short video review on YouTube: http://youtu.be/ICY1uPFDocA