J Mascis recorded most of his lead work on an original 1958 top-loader Telecaster, and this model is built around that guitar. The strings load through the top of the bridge rather than through the body, which lowers tension slightly and makes bends feel looser, and the three barrel saddles are brass.
The neck is J's own "C" shape with jumbo frets on a 9.5" radius maple board, finished in Road Worn nitro so it feels played in from day one, and the hardware is aged to match. Two J Mascis Custom '58 Tele single-coils run through a three-way blade, and the middle position combines them out of phase for a thinner, hollow sound that is quite different from a standard Tele.
It comes in Bottle Rocket Blue Flake with a mirrored chrome pickguard. For another top-loading Tele with a Road Worn neck and a rounder 7.25" board, look at the Jimmy Page Telecaster.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: Mexico
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: Gloss Polyester
Body Shape: Telecaster
Pickguard: 1-Ply Mirrored Chrome
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Construction: 4-Bolt
Neck Finish: Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: "C" Shape
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Maple
Position Inlays: Black Dot
Side Dots: Black
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Jumbo
Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: J Mascis Custom ’58 Tele Single-Coil
Neck Pickup: J Mascis Custom ’58 Tele Single-Coil
Pickup Configuration: SS
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups (Out of Phase), Position 3. Neck Pickup
HARDWARE
Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Topload Tele with Barrel Brass Saddles
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
Pickup Covers: Neck: Chrome; Bridge: Black
Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
Strap Buttons: Vintage-Style
Strings: Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges), PN 0730250406
CASE
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag