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Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
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Playability
73
Sound
66
Build
52
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
70
Sound
68
Build
52
Value
73
Score
63
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs J Mascis Jazzmaster

Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH over J Mascis Jazzmaster

Release Year
2022 vs 2011
From a more recent year
Nut Material
Graphite vs Plastic
Self-Lubricating nut for good tuning stability
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.675'' (42.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
74 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster over Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH

Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.675'' (42.5mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs J Mascis Jazzmaster

Bridge Pickup
Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker vs Single-Coil Jazzmaster
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker vs Single-Coil Jazzmaster
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs J Mascis Jazzmaster

Fretboard Wood
Laurel
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH is probably the better product overall with its final score of 64 compared to the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's 63 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH wins when it comes to playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster is the better choice.

The Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2022 Contemporary series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2011 Artist series
  • J Mascis Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Vintage Style Floating Tremolo Tailpiece bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH has an HH configuration while the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has SS pickups.

Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Blues and similar genres.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH's pickups are Active while the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH's switch options
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 66
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 78
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 68

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH compares to the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH's are Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts while the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's are Vintage-Style

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Quality of materials 46
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Quality of materials 41
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Nut Width
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has the wider nut with 42.5mm (1.675'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.6mm (0.025'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH and Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH and the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH and Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs J Mascis Jazzmaster
General Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH J Mascis Jazzmaster
Brand: Fender Squier Fender Squier
Year: 2022 2011
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Contemporary Artist
Colors: Sunburst, Pink White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Basswood
Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Vintage Style Floating Tremolo Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Modern C
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Graphite Plastic
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42.5mm (1.675'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2