Fender Jazzmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 58205, Olympic White lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original white Tolex hard shell case.
This is a cool old Jazzmaster with some stories behind it, a "real relic" but still a great looking and sounding guitar. This is an example of an often-discussed but not that often actually seen Fender phenomenon, a Fullerton factory re-finish. This late 1960 Jazzmaster went back to Fender after some time in the field and for a refinish in Olympic White with a matching headstock. The body and neck heel carry the typical impressed markings Fender used to keep track of the parts while the job was in progress and the decal on the headstock dates to the 1965-66 period. There is no way to tell what color it was originally, but the guitar emerged resplendent in a new flashy paint job just in time for the later 1960s. Fortunately it avoided getting stripped and re-finished again in natural over the next decade as so many did and comes down to us in the 21st century still in its Custom Color state.
The guitar also has some scars from later adventures; the wiring loom for the "lead circuit" below the pickups has been completely replaced; the pickups themselves and the "rhythm circuit" wiring remain original. There is a repaired along-the-grain split on the headstock through the low tuners, something not often seen on a Fender; this is visible but solidly sealed up and not an ongoing issue. The uppermost tuner is a slightly later period double-line Kluson but not the original Safe-Ti-Slot piece; probably the original was damaged in the fall that cracked the headstock.
Despite this catalog of misfortunes this early slab-board Jazzmaster has survived as a cool player over the last 65 years. The neck is pencil-dated 10-60 on the heel; this was soon after Fender resumed this date marking. The lower pots have been changed but the small upper rhythm circuit pots are original coded from the 42nd week of 1960. Along with its slightly later Fender finish this guitar shows early 1960s pre-CBS features including the slimmer profile neck with an unbound slab rosewood fingerboard and "clay" dot inlay, while the pickguard is the then-new nitrocellulose tortoiseshell style which had replaced the anodized aluminum about a year earlier.
These early '60s Jazzmasters were the top of the Fender line at the time and are often very fine instruments, with a still-unique sound and heard seen with many period players in a variety of musical genres, and seemingly more popular than ever today. This striking Jazzmaster is a real veteran ready for its next 65 years of service, still in its battered original blonde Tolex hardshell case.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
As noted above this 1960 Jazzmaster received a factory refinish at Fullerton in Olympic White around 1965-6; the body and neck are correctly marked with color and job # as was Fender practice at the time. This finish has been well-worn since, curdled to an off white blonde color with checking, dings, dents and scratches overall, including armwear through to the undercoat on the upper face and a deep scrape mark adjacent to it. There is heavier wear to the lower body edge with larger chips and dings; the back has scratching and dings but less buckle wear than some. The back of the neck is beautifully worn mostly to the wood with that classic "Played in Fender" feel.
As noted there is a repaired crack thru the grain to the headstock, starting at the bottom low E tuner screw running to just above the D string tuner. This was repaired solidly if not perfectly neatly long ago with remarkably little finish disturbance to the painted headstock face. The high E tuner a period but incorrect (not Safe-T-Slot) double-line Kluson deluxe machine. The bridge base is later, although the saddles appear correct period; The vibrato unit and arm, knobs and pickguard remain original as does the neck plate with the original with the 1960 serial number.
Both pickups and covers appear matched original and never rewound. The bridge pickup was re-leaded, and all wiring below the pickups is later, a bit of a hodge-podge of components but wired correctly. This includes the 3-way switch, pots and jack. The upper "Rhythm Circuit" loom remains original; It passes signal but the controls are not fully functional; as so few players use this feature we have left it undisturbed for now but this could be addressed if desired.
The guitar was unsurprisingly refretted along the way with wire slightly taller than the original but not greatly oversize. Considering its checkered past this is still a cool first-generation Jazzmaster; great looking and a fine player with a the classic sound. While it has lived some stories over the last 65 years as a whole it has survived well with tons of vibe and its distinctive sound and character intact. It is still housed in a very well-worn original white Tolex HSC. Overall Very Good Condition.
