1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
- Soiouz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
...so my friend sends me this Marketplace link yesterday morning for a super cheap 1961 Jazzmaster mutt.. I call up the seller, we agree for a meeting, and an hour later, this modified, but otherwise very cool 1961 Jazzmaster is sitting on the passenger side of my 1959 Pontiac on the way back home. A good start to a summer Wednesday!
So, once I am back home, I open it up and here's the rundown:
It's all there and all parts are original except the neck pickup, brass shielding plate in the rythm circuit cavity, and an extra useless jack!
All the rest is there: pots are dated 21st week 1961, neck plate is 1961, single line Kluson tuning keys work great, slab board neck feels fantastic and is super straight with original frets. Wiring was redone almost entirely and it is f*cked up: for example, what should be the tone pot in the rythm circuit is now a blender pot for the neck pickup, etc... I will rewire the whole thing as an original when replacing the neck pickup.
Obviously, the modification that most stands out is the "groovy" carvings the original owner made to it sometime in the 1970's. What started out as an original sunburst guitar became that "creation" in blue/purple burst. Body has two large carvings into the top and the guy had the excellent idea of carving out "Fender" in an otherwise perfect neck.
I know, I know, it looks kinda cool. I agree. BUT, I am pretty set on restoring it. The neck, that's a given: it will be back as original. As for the body, we'll see, but it's really annoying to play as is: the shape of the carving edge where the arm rests digs into the arm, and it's uncomfortable. Plus, it's a 1961 with a great slab board neck. It deserves a restoration, I think.
I am heading to my luthier this afternoon and we'll see what he says.
So, once I am back home, I open it up and here's the rundown:
It's all there and all parts are original except the neck pickup, brass shielding plate in the rythm circuit cavity, and an extra useless jack!
All the rest is there: pots are dated 21st week 1961, neck plate is 1961, single line Kluson tuning keys work great, slab board neck feels fantastic and is super straight with original frets. Wiring was redone almost entirely and it is f*cked up: for example, what should be the tone pot in the rythm circuit is now a blender pot for the neck pickup, etc... I will rewire the whole thing as an original when replacing the neck pickup.
Obviously, the modification that most stands out is the "groovy" carvings the original owner made to it sometime in the 1970's. What started out as an original sunburst guitar became that "creation" in blue/purple burst. Body has two large carvings into the top and the guy had the excellent idea of carving out "Fender" in an otherwise perfect neck.
I know, I know, it looks kinda cool. I agree. BUT, I am pretty set on restoring it. The neck, that's a given: it will be back as original. As for the body, we'll see, but it's really annoying to play as is: the shape of the carving edge where the arm rests digs into the arm, and it's uncomfortable. Plus, it's a 1961 with a great slab board neck. It deserves a restoration, I think.
I am heading to my luthier this afternoon and we'll see what he says.
- GilmourD
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Subbed for shenanigans!
- PorkyPrimeCut
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
I know the carve is pretty mesmerising but I can't stop looking at your car upholstery!!!
This restoration will be fascinating!
This restoration will be fascinating!
Last edited by PorkyPrimeCut on Thu Jul 27, 2023 2:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.
- LVC
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Rout* those carvings deeper, slap a top on, and enjoy your thinline
* Or, for historical accuracy, dig in with a blunt chisel
Create art, not content
- MayTheFuzzBeWithYou
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
- GilmourD
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
I can dig it!MayTheFuzzBeWithYou wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 9:42 amAnother vote for Thinline magic!
- Soiouz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Well, everybody has their take on it, but this is definitely going to be restored to original.
...turns out the best route to go (pun intended) is to retop that body entirely (and no, it will not be thinline).
I will keep the board posted on the progress.
Oh, and there's one less missing part: the rythm circuit brass shielding plate was there after all, just painted over!
...and we found this:
...turns out the best route to go (pun intended) is to retop that body entirely (and no, it will not be thinline).
I will keep the board posted on the progress.
Oh, and there's one less missing part: the rythm circuit brass shielding plate was there after all, just painted over!
...and we found this:
- JSett
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
A retop, that should work well actually. What are your plans with the voids then? Interested to know of what's considered a suitable way to fill those gaps
Silly Rabbit, don't you know scooped mids are for kids?
- Soiouz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
There won’t be any voids: body will be planed down flat where it is grooved, so the surface is flat and nice. new alder top layered over that afterwards, rerouting the new top as original, contoured, then repaint.
- antisymmetric
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
What a find! (Although I'd probably be quite happy putting almost any guitar into the passenger seat of a '59 Pontiac)
Watching the corners turn corners
- Pacafeliz
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Let's see what's under the neck pickup cover! I usually found old Gibson ones when such old mods were done. Good luck, this thing is amazing!
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.
- PorkyPrimeCut
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Cool! How deep is the carve?
You think you can't, you wish you could, I know you can, I wish you would. Slip inside this house as you pass by.
- Highnumbers
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Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
I absolutely know the draw to restoring back to factory specs (like my "Jazzo-Sonic" doubleneck JM restoration).
But that carved body is way cool, just gotta say.
Looking forward to watching the progress on this build! Are you going to document all the repair work?
But that carved body is way cool, just gotta say.
Looking forward to watching the progress on this build! Are you going to document all the repair work?
- Soiouz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
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- Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 11:31 am
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Pacafeliz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 18635
- Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 6:34 pm
- Location: Cococologne, Germany
Re: 1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Oh that's still very cool!
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.