I'm looking at a Cypress Mica JM Strat with InCase gig bag in good but not great shape. Only problem is that the seller got rid of the big dipper pickups and replaced them with Texas Specials. I don't mind this combination but the TX Specials seem to be a lot cheaper than big dippers (when you can even find a set), so I'm not sure if $825 is a decent value. Comments?

Cypress Mica wouldn't be my first choice for a Strat color but the JM parts are vintage-spec MIA so I suppose they could form the basis for a pretty respectable Parts-o-caster. Only you can decide whether it's worth the asking price though.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

for my money it isn't a JM strat without the BDs. I built a Partocaster with similar specs and I'm not running around calling it a JM strat.

+1

The pickups are indeed the hallmark of both the signature guitar and JM's tone.

I saw one of these guitars on the Phoenix (Chandler) C/L tonight -- same deal except the seller was asking $900.

Seems a bit rich frankly......

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I would say without the BDs its probably not worth 825.The BD pickups would probably set you out about 300.One thing to consider is JM used an SRV exclusively before he had his own Signature guitar.It would give you early Mayer tones I guess,but the TS have a totally different sound that the Big Dippers.

The case and neck alone are probably worth 750.00 or so...

big dippers show up on ebay here and there for 300-ish

I saw the auction though, and the guitar was pretty worn, depends on what you like but ymmv...