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Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
VS
Playability
70
Sound
68
Build
52
Value
73
Score
63
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Playability
75
Sound
74
Build
64
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster vs Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

Reasons to Get
Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster over Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.675'' (42.5mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
73 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar over Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster

Country of Manufacturing
Mexico vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.675'' (42.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster vs Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

Bridge Pickup
Single-Coil Jazzmaster vs DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Single-Coil Jazzmaster vs DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster vs Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 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 Kurt Cobain Jaguar is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's 63 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is the better choice.

The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster meets only 6. 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 J Mascis Jazzmaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 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 >

Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Overview

  • From Fender's 2011 Artist series
  • Kurt Cobain Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Vintage-Style Floating Tremolo Tailpiece and Tremolo Lock Button bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Cast/Sealed tuners
  • Weight between 8.65lbs (3.9kgs) and 9.05lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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.

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has an SS configuration while the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar has HH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, 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.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster. 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 Hard Rock and similar genres.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar.

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 J Mascis Jazzmaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's switch options
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar'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 J Mascis Jazzmaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 78
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 68
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 J Mascis Jazzmaster compares to the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster is built in China while the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar

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 J Mascis Jazzmaster has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

Winner: Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar.

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 J Mascis Jazzmaster's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's are Gotoh Cast/Sealed

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 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Quality of materials 41
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 64

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 J Mascis Jazzmaster Nut Width
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Nut Width
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Nut Width
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar 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 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.5mm (0.021'') 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 J Mascis Jazzmaster's Scale Length
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's Scale Length
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's Scale Length
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's 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.

The Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is only 24" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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 J Mascis Jazzmaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's neck profile
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Neck Profile
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's 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 J Mascis Jazzmaster and the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar 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 J Mascis Jazzmaster Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster and the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar have the same fretboard radius of 9.5". This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Frets Size
Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster's Frets Size
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar Frets Size
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's Frets Size

The Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster vs Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
General Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar
Brand: Fender Squier Fender
Year: 2011 2011
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Mexico
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: White Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Alder
Bridge: Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Vintage Style Floating Tremolo Tailpiece Adjusto-Matic Bridge with Vintage-Style Floating Tremolo Tailpiece and Tremolo Lock Button
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Gotoh Cast/Sealed
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 24"
Shape: Modern C Modern C
Frets: 21 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Plastic Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42.5mm (1.675'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Single-Coil Jazzmaster (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 2 3
Tone Controls: 2 2