OffsetGuitars.com

https://reverb.com/item/23699657-1965-f ... red-w-case

First, does the finish look original? I am skeptical because the wear pattern looks like a fake relic.

Second, the pickups with flat pole pieces (in 1965) is very suspicious. Furthermore, one is a grey bottom and one is a black bottom.
According to the advert:

On the body, all of the electronics work as they should, with unusual flat pole pickups. While the neck pickup has a gray bobbin (the pole pieces are actually staggered "correctly" on the underside of the bobbin, as if the pickup was mounted upside down during original assembly), the bridge pickup has a black bobbin, an abnormality only seen when Fender was transitioning between bobbin materials and still uncommon even in this date range.

I don't buy this explanation, unless someone here can show me it is plausible.

The finish on that looks highly suspicious - that would be enough to put me off.

I don’t see any issue with the finish. The pick-up explanation didn’t inspire confidence. But, who knows, maybe that’s how the pickups came on a Fender “Jacuar.”

The library at OSG is a useful source of info.

It appears the PAT nos. on the headstock align with early 1965 production, neck without binding.
DES 186,826 PAT. 2,960,900 2,972,923 3,143,028 & PAT. PEND

So given the guitar in question has binding, it would be of concern but not an absolute red flag.


From the library:
FENDER JAGUAR DECAL PAT NO.

1962
DES 186,826 PAT 2,960,900 2,972,923 & PAT PEND

1965 – Early (neck without binding)
DES 186,826 PAT. 2,960,900 2,972,923 3,143,028 & PAT. PEND

Mid 1965 (for a short period of time) Decal runs over two lines the lines are centred
DES 186,826 PAT. 2,741,146 2,817,261 2,972.923 2,960,900
3,143,028 PAT. PEND

Late 1965 – Early 1966
PAT. 2,960,900 2,972.923 3,143,028 2,741,146 DES. 186,826 PAT. PEND

Mid 1966 – Very late 1967
DES. 186,826 PAT. 2,960,900 2,972,923 3,143,028 2,817,261 2,741,146 & PAT PEND

At this point the Entire decal changes with the “Fender” now being black with gold outline.
An “R” in a circle is placed above the “r” in Fender

Late 1967 / Early 1968 – Early 1970s Decal runs over two lines (and is centred)
PAT. 2,960,900 2,972,923 3,143,028 2,741,146
3,236,930 3,260,148 DES. 186,826