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

[tonewoods]

either way...looks like a saweet guitar!!!

Now that I know it's a refin for sure (I had my suspicions), I'm gonna nudge the checking on a little bit to make it look like the vintage guitar it is...
Maybe take out those telltale swirls while I'm at it...
A finish that old should crack like a mofo...
It's been sitting in a case in California for 25 years, with no extremes in temperature whatsoever...

It's amazing how much the 'guard has shrunk, exposing the metal shielding...

[tonewoods]

OK, here's some more shots of this puppy....
Can anyone narrow down the year?
Looks like it's had quite a paint history--traces of Sonic (?) Blue, Red, and the Burgundy on top...

[mcjt]

Have we seen the pot codes? That would help more than these new photos.
Granted, you've got pvc covered wire in there, so people have had fun with soldering guns before with this jazzy.
(note: pvc wire only from SD Hot-Quarter Pounder Pickups?)
As i said before, the neck date is fake.
the slab neck is pre mid 62.
If there is no hole from the trem cavity to the main cavity, the body is pre mid 62. But i do see a wire.....
The Pat Pend trem and thimbles are before 1962.
The shielding for the rhythm circuit is the 'tub type'. That's before 62, i think.
if your pickguard shield is original, it is 61 or before.

Didn't anyone introduce you to Jim Shine's page? You would have had your answers months ago:

http://zeus.lunarpages.com/~jimshi2/jaz ... jazzma.htm

[mcjt]

it's not so much a vintage Jazzmaster as an refinned 59-62 Jazzmaster body + neck, with only the original shielding, pickguard and trem- and reissue everything after that.

[jbuckner]

Great guitar.

When I first saw the pics, I couldn't help but think this guitar has been Sonic Youth'ed. The top controls, and tone knob have been removed, there's strap locks added and a Mustang bridge has been added. Sure, these are all mods that a bunch of people do to their offsets, mostly because of Sonic Youth. Now, remember the OP said his friend has had this guitar in this condition under a bed in California untouched for 25 yrs. So my question is how many people were doing these mods to their offsets 25 yrs ago? I can only think of two.

So after looking at the guitar, and thinking it's been modded to Sonic Youth specs, I then went to their website and found this: http://goo.gl/a4DZM

Could this 59' be one of the missing/stolen guitars from the infamous 99' tour? Looks awfully close.

[Carbohydrates]

Great guitar.

When I first saw the pics, I couldn't help but think this guitar has been Sonic Youth'ed. The top controls, and tone knob have been removed, there's strap locks added and a Mustang bridge has been added. Sure, these are all mods that a bunch of people do to their offsets, mostly because of Sonic Youth. Now, remember the OP said his friend has had this guitar in this condition under a bed in California untouched for 25 yrs. So my question is how many people were doing these mods to their offsets 25 yrs ago? I can only think of two.

So after looking at the guitar, and thinking it's been modded to Sonic Youth specs, I then went to their website and found this: http://goo.gl/a4DZM

Could this 59' be one of the missing/stolen guitars from the infamous 99' tour? Looks awfully close.

Holy fuck, it is!

Used by Lee: 1997-1999

1997 -- CCGDGD (French Tickler)
1998 -- CCGDGD (French Tickler)
1999 -- CCGDGD (French Tickler)

NOTES:

A new Jazzmaster used solely for French Tickler, stolen in July 1999.
Burgundy mist finish
2 soapbars
Rosewood fretboard
Tortoise shell pickguard
1 toggle switch
1 knob (tone knob removed)
Switches removed
Trem bar
Serial # -- 44364
Listed as "BURGUNDY MIST" on '97 set lists.
Listed as "BUR" on '98 set lists.
Listed as "MISTY" on '99 set lists.

[jbuckner]

I can't see the rest of the neck pic to see what the SE number is?

[my bloody television]

Damn did OSG find another stolen SY guitar?!

[jbuckner]

I saw the SE number. Holy Shit! It matches the SE# listed on SY's page.

I think I found a stolen SY guitar.

[Carbohydrates]

I can't see the rest of the neck pic to see what the SE number is?

Click this. It is indeed 44364.

[Sinuata]

Holy shit!

Isn't this only the 3rd to be recovered (and first JM)?

[zakmaster]

Amazing.

jbuckner - that is impressive. From a random (but reasonable) thought about the mods to some good detective work, it clearly looks like you are right. Damn impressive.

[eggwheat]

I can't see the rest of the neck pic to see what the SE number is?

Click this. It is indeed 44364.

Wow...yeh you can see everything matches..the pattern of the tort etc..nice find!

[friendshipmaster]

Crazy!!!!

[Sauerkraut]

That's definitely the same guitar.

This is amazing!