When you think of legendary Dinosaur Jr. shredder J Mascis, it's hard to picture anything other than a Jazzmaster in his hands and a Big Muff at his feet. This potent pairing of gear has been a staple of Dino live shows for nearly four decades. But, as J tells us with a laugh while sitting in front of his diverse sea of guitars, "There's hardly ever a Jazzmaster or a Big Muff on any studio recording."
This is only one of the amazing tidbits J Mascis shared when he graciously welcomed us into his Massachusetts home to check out his guitar collection. And what a collection J has, spanning everything from vintage hollowbodies to clean acoustics and, of course, excellent Fender darlings.
Some of the standouts that can be seen in the video above include a '60s Gibson ES-330 that J used to write the track "Not the Same" from Dinosaur Jr.'s 1993 record Where You Been. He also brought out the Les Paul Junior that he used to write the song "Out There" off of the aforementioned record.
J also showed us the refinished 1958 Fender Telecaster that his own Fender J Mascis Signature Telecaster, released last year, was based on. "It was refinished when I got it," J told us, "so I figured I could refinish it again." The Tele, which is still one of J's favorite guitars he owns, is now finished in a drum wrap-inspired sparkly blue and features a mirrored pickguard—both aspects that his Signature Telecaster replicate. Other highlights from J's collection include:
- The third Jazzmaster J ever got.
- A Rickenbacker bass in a rare blue finish with black hardware that a guitar Kevin Shields owned inspired J to buy.
- A 1965 Fender Precision Bass.
- A golden 1958 Jazzmaster. "I made it more gold."
- A beautiful Gretsch Chet Atkins.
- A 1972 Les Paul Deluxe that J bought for the new Dinosuar Jr. record, Sweep It Into Space, and used on the first track, "I Ain't."
- A 1970s Fender Stratocaster.
Be sure to check out the full video above to see so many more of the beautiful guitars in J Mascis's expansive collection. And click any of the products above to shop J Masics' signature gear.