Fender Jazzmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar , c. 1963
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Item # 9123
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Fender Jazzmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar, c. 1963, made in Fullerton, California, white lacquer re- finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This solidly pre-CBS era Jazzmaster is a fine example of what we call "player grade vintage", meaning a genuine older instrument which had modification or restoration to a notable degree, but is still an excellent utility piece. The guitar is a 1962-3 Jazzmaster that was re-finished long ago but not altered otherwise and retains its vintage character. This fine-looking and sounding Jazzmaster would make an excellent stage guitar; with true vintage sound at the price of a modern "relic". Though it's hard to say if everything has been together from the beginning, this is a nice instrument with a bevy of excellent original Fender pre-CBS features.
The original body has what we call a "Car Shop" refinish; in the '60s, '70s, and even into the '80s there were not coteries of professional luthiers at the ready to correctly refinish worn Fenders. You either sent it back to the factory, which in the CBS era was not encouraged, or took it down to the local auto spray shop where they had a full palette of custom colors available.
This guitar has a nicely done "Olympic White" finish, without the clear lacquer overspray Fender usually would have used and with the telltale grey undercoat that is an instant identifier of this history. White or black were the most common choices; this is a better quality white lacquer color coat than many we have seen. Overall the finish is fairly clean with some checking and flaking in a few spots, showing some small areas of loss on the edges and by the neck pocket. Overall the body looks quite good; this was a pro-quality body finish if not up to restoration standards.
The neck and headstock were also refinished in natural; in this case, the edges are rounded down a bit from sanding, but it looks like some original lacquer remains under the newer overcoat. The headstock face has an excellent reproduction Fender Jazzmaster logo decal. The Kluson tuners are the correct original parts; other different tuners were on at some point. As evidence of this there are patched holes just visible on the back of the headstock and several small repaired grain cracks in the maple around the low E peg, and a few small filled chips around the grommets. The neck has some wear through this finish, which is not overly thick or "sticky" feeling.
The rosewood clay dot fingerboard has what looks like a very old refret with period style wire, taken down somewhat but still functional. There are some dinks into the first fret and light wear in the lower positions in general. The neck is not dated but is a correct "Slab Board" Jazzmaster piece from 1960-62.
The neckplate is an original Fender piece with 20,000 series L-number more typical of 1963-64. All the hardware is original Fender except the knobs, which are correct style repros. The pickguard is the original 1960-64 tortoise celluloid piece for a white or sunburst Jazzmaster, in great shape with no shrinkage cracks and with the correct shielding plate. The trem assembly and bridge are original, including even the usually replaced the trem arm. The bridge is intact and fully functional, not heavily rusted as many are.
The internal cloth wiring and black-bobbin pickups are all correct early 1960s Fender; only a few solder joints look disturbed, as would have been needed to disassemble it for the refinish. The original masking tape securing the wiring is brittle but intact and unaltered. The volume pot is dated the 50th week of 1959 and the tone pot has the code covered by solder. One of the small rhythm circuit pots dates to the 40th week of 1960. All of the original copper shielding plates are intact, and nothing was lost or damaged during the refinish...even the foam risers under the pickups are still intact and functional. The pickup covers are original and show some scuffing on the tops, and the switch tip is original as well.
While not a fully original guitar, this is an excellent stage or studio instrument. The pickups are great-sounding, and in its bone white livery this Jazzmaster looks snazzy as heck! It includes a modern Fender HSC. Very Good + Condition.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This solidly pre-CBS era Jazzmaster is a fine example of what we call "player grade vintage", meaning a genuine older instrument which had modification or restoration to a notable degree, but is still an excellent utility piece. The guitar is a 1962-3 Jazzmaster that was re-finished long ago but not altered otherwise and retains its vintage character. This fine-looking and sounding Jazzmaster would make an excellent stage guitar; with true vintage sound at the price of a modern "relic". Though it's hard to say if everything has been together from the beginning, this is a nice instrument with a bevy of excellent original Fender pre-CBS features.
The original body has what we call a "Car Shop" refinish; in the '60s, '70s, and even into the '80s there were not coteries of professional luthiers at the ready to correctly refinish worn Fenders. You either sent it back to the factory, which in the CBS era was not encouraged, or took it down to the local auto spray shop where they had a full palette of custom colors available.
This guitar has a nicely done "Olympic White" finish, without the clear lacquer overspray Fender usually would have used and with the telltale grey undercoat that is an instant identifier of this history. White or black were the most common choices; this is a better quality white lacquer color coat than many we have seen. Overall the finish is fairly clean with some checking and flaking in a few spots, showing some small areas of loss on the edges and by the neck pocket. Overall the body looks quite good; this was a pro-quality body finish if not up to restoration standards.
The neck and headstock were also refinished in natural; in this case, the edges are rounded down a bit from sanding, but it looks like some original lacquer remains under the newer overcoat. The headstock face has an excellent reproduction Fender Jazzmaster logo decal. The Kluson tuners are the correct original parts; other different tuners were on at some point. As evidence of this there are patched holes just visible on the back of the headstock and several small repaired grain cracks in the maple around the low E peg, and a few small filled chips around the grommets. The neck has some wear through this finish, which is not overly thick or "sticky" feeling.
The rosewood clay dot fingerboard has what looks like a very old refret with period style wire, taken down somewhat but still functional. There are some dinks into the first fret and light wear in the lower positions in general. The neck is not dated but is a correct "Slab Board" Jazzmaster piece from 1960-62.
The neckplate is an original Fender piece with 20,000 series L-number more typical of 1963-64. All the hardware is original Fender except the knobs, which are correct style repros. The pickguard is the original 1960-64 tortoise celluloid piece for a white or sunburst Jazzmaster, in great shape with no shrinkage cracks and with the correct shielding plate. The trem assembly and bridge are original, including even the usually replaced the trem arm. The bridge is intact and fully functional, not heavily rusted as many are.
The internal cloth wiring and black-bobbin pickups are all correct early 1960s Fender; only a few solder joints look disturbed, as would have been needed to disassemble it for the refinish. The original masking tape securing the wiring is brittle but intact and unaltered. The volume pot is dated the 50th week of 1959 and the tone pot has the code covered by solder. One of the small rhythm circuit pots dates to the 40th week of 1960. All of the original copper shielding plates are intact, and nothing was lost or damaged during the refinish...even the foam risers under the pickups are still intact and functional. The pickup covers are original and show some scuffing on the tops, and the switch tip is original as well.
While not a fully original guitar, this is an excellent stage or studio instrument. The pickups are great-sounding, and in its bone white livery this Jazzmaster looks snazzy as heck! It includes a modern Fender HSC. Very Good + Condition.