Page 1 of 9

Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:19 pm
by tonewoods
Hi all...

I'm in the midst of a potential trade with a friend for his '59 Jazzmaster in Burgundy Mist...
I thought I'd post some pics--along with a few questions--to make sure the guitar is everything it's supposed to be...

First of all, all the literature I've seen says that custom colors didn't appear on Jazzmasters until 1960, and yet this one has a neck date on it that says "3/59"...
Does this jive with reality??

OK, here's some pics:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

The little patches of Sonic Blue (?) paint on both the neck and neck pocket concerns me...
Weird...
The paint stick marks are there, but I guess that doesn't mean it can't be a refin...

OK, a few other shots...
The pickups are not original. However I have a set of '60 original pickups to bring this guitar back-to-whole...
(Or closer)...

Image

The decal:

Image

Image

Image

A few others:

Image

Image

Image

I've got a line on these parts as well:

Image


OK, would love to have any input on this puppy...
The guitar is really speaking to me, but I just want to run it past some folks to see what they think...

OK, thanks!!
Bruce

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:25 pm
by spiffy chap
I love the color!

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:26 pm
by Larry Mal
I can't help you with dating it or anything else, but it's good that you plan to bring her back to glory. Keep us posted as you go.

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:09 pm
by saandir
That's just the kind of guitar I love. The colour looks dead on in the picture but it is a refin. There would be no paint stick in that year and if you look at the picture with the neck plate visible see the sanding damage on the neck/body joint. Get the scratchplate off and post a photo of the cavities to see if it's an early 59 body.
For the right money I'd tap it.

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:14 pm
by nonemoreblack
They didn't start using the paint-stick method until 62-63 so the neck pocket should be completely painted. I'm gonna say that's a refin, but an awesome one at that.

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:23 pm
by mcjt
i've never seen a date code on the neck like that. the numbers were usually smaller and made with a wider (graphite) pencil.
But the neck is certainly prior to mid 62, and very likely a 59 as well. It looks good!
Regarding custom colours, in 1960 Fender released a custom colour CHART. But before that, a consumer could order a Fender guitar in whatever custom colour he wanted. At an up charge, of course.

and i agree that this body has been refinned.

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:33 pm
by blacktiger
I know there are no hard and fast rules with early Fenders, but early '59 neck on a body with a 13 hole tort guard feels a bit off to me. That's a Mustang bridge (obviously). Are the tuners single or double lines?

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:03 pm
by tonewoods
saandir wrote: Get the scratchplate off and post a photo of the cavities to see if it's an early 59 body.
I won't have a chance to see the guitar again for another 2-3 months or so....
But will do when I see it!
mcjt wrote: and i agree that this body has been refinned.
OK, that was my fear...
I still think it's cool...

So, my friend has had this guitar for over 25 years, in the condition we see it in...
Is there a chance it could be a factory refin?
I read somewhere that Fender stamped a number on the body when they did this. Might it be under the shim, or ??
mcjt wrote:i've never seen a date code on the neck like that. the numbers were usually smaller and made with a wider (graphite) pencil.
It almost looks like someone rubbed out the old date? You can see where it's darker behind the "new" date??
blacktiger wrote: Are the tuners single or double lines?
Here's a shot:

Image

Thanks all for your input....
I love this place...!
Bruce

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:58 pm
by bterry
Hey man, there are lots of things wrong with that JM in my opinion...

Neck date looks funny, non-original tuners, refinished, switch tip not original...Those pickup poles don't look right, either.

Cool looking, but many "issues" :)

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:17 pm
by tonewoods
bterry wrote:Those pickup poles don't look right, either.
Yeah--like I said--the pups aren't original....
But I have a set of 60's here ready to drop in...

The neck on this thing just feels so-ooo good... :-*
It's been played a lot...
Sure would love to know it's history....

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:31 pm
by ChrisFFTA
ok, just as a reference. a nice refin but otherwise all original ano guard 59 can be had for around $3250-4000 including orig case. for what you have i would reckon its value in a trade is ourely on body and neck, maybe guard... for say 2k. bringing it back to all original will set you back 1500+

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:44 pm
by mcjt
the neck date is fake.
a late 1959 jazz master would have a 13 hole pick guard.
looking under the hood would tell us more. (it could be an original 9 hole body with a 13h guard stuck on it!) And also if it has a Pat Pend tremolo.

And lastly: The serial number is in the 40 000. That's around late 1959.

blacktiger wrote:I know there are no hard and fast rules with early Fenders, but early '59 neck on a body with a 13 hole tort guard feels a bit off to me. That's a Mustang bridge (obviously). Are the tuners single or double lines?

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:04 pm
by tonewoods
mcjt wrote:And also if it has a Pat Pend tremolo.
Image

Thanks!!

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:38 am
by blacktiger
mcjt wrote:a late 1959 jazz master would have a 13 hole pick guard.
Yeah, as I said, all rules are off when it comes to Fender, but it was my impression that parts tended to be made closer together in the '50s than they were later on, so a 6 month difference between neck and body could be something to consider when assessing originality.

Re: Jazzmaster Experts--Questions About a '59....

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 1:14 pm
by bword
either way...looks like a saweet guitar!!!