Fender Unveils Brand New J Mascis Signature Guitar

Fender J Mascis Telecaster
Fender's new J Mascis Telecaster (Image credit: FMIC)

When people think of J Mascis, they often imagine him with a Jazzmaster surrounded by a wall of Marshalls. Can’t think why…

J Mascis with Marshalls and jazzmaster

(Image credit: Future)

Indeed, Mascis has already been honoured with two signature Jazzmaster electric guitar models: the Fender J Mascis Jazzmaster, released in 2007...

Fender J Mascis Jazzmaster

Fender J Mascis Jazzmaster (Image credit: FMIC)

Followed by the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster in 2011.

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster (Image credit: FMIC)

But Mascis’ love for Fenders goes a lot further than the Jazzmaster. In fact, his original intention was to pick up a Stratocaster. Alas, “I couldn’t afford it,” he says. “I could get a Jaguar for $200 or a Jazzmaster for $300, so I got the Jazzmaster. Although I liked the look of the Jag better. [The Jazzmaster] had big Grover tuners on it and the neck felt like a baseball bat. It was worn down and I liked that.”

Eventually, however, Mascis was in a position to expand his guitar collection to include Stratocasters. “The first Strat I got was a Roland Ready Strat to play guitar synth with back in the 90s,” he continues. “Then I got a Rory [Gallagher] Strat. I’ve got a ’59 Strat. It’s got gold hardware and it’s been refinished black – well, almost black, it has a bit of a grey tinge to it. I saw a video of Stevie Ray Vaughan playing a Strat in the studio and it looked like the same guitar. Maybe it was Stevie Ray Vaughan’s!

J Mascis performs at the Led Zeppelin tribute concert at Carnegie Hall on March 7, 2018 in New York City.

J Mascis performing with a Tele at a Led Zeppelin tribute concert in New York, 2018 (Image credit: Noam Galai/Getty)

“The problem is, I find myself playing stuff that just sounds too much like a Strat. I like Teles and Jazzmasters better. I don’t always feel like myself when I play a Strat. It makes my fingers go a certain way. My ’59 Strat has got a tiny neck. Sometimes I like a bigger neck, but I don’t have a preference; it just depends on the guitar. I don’t know until I pick it up. It’s more about the whole guitar.”

Tele Vision

Mascis’ inimitable lead lines are normally recorded using a Fender – often his blue sparkle (re)finish 1958 Telecaster. “It’s my favourite guitar,” he points out. “I play most of the solos on my records with it. It was refinished when I got it, so I painted it blue sparkle. It had a ’56 pickup put in which has a really nice kind of P-90 quality. It’s a top-loader guitar. There are no holes in the back. I’m used to top-loaders. It’s a little easier to bend [strings]. A lot of Tele people pooh-pooh the top loader, but I don’t know why.”

Fender J Mascis Telecaster

The new Fender J Mascis Telecaster (Image credit: FMIC)

Based on the alt-rock icon’s “favorite guitar,” Fender will be releasing the J Mascis Telecaster next month. Priced at $1,349.99 this dazzling Tele features a Blue Sparkle finish, mirrored, chrome pickguard, custom J Mascis Telecaster pickups, top-loader bridge and Road Worn maple neck and hardware.

Fender J Mascis Telecaster

(Image credit: FMIC)
Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as GuitaristTotal Guitar, Guitar WorldGuitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.