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A specific iteration I lusted after for nearly 2 decades…

As is tradition, the guessing game commences now!

Tip: “it’s not old but it pretends it is!”

Fender road worn Tele?

A road worn Jazzmaster with a gold guard added?

Giddy: right and two wrongs
Postcards: two rights and a wrong

Blonde 59 jazzmaster RI

Two rights and a wrong again!

Vintera II Jazzmaster

2 rights and a wrong, but getting close.

Since we don't appear to be in too much of a guessing mood, I'll spill the beans myself. After waiting for my entire 19 years during "career" of playing guitar for a (somewhat) affordable 1966-1967 like Jazzmaster, I finally acquired my personal holy grail. A sunburst Jazzmaster with B&B, the big headstock with swirly bits around the logo and witchhats.



For years I've been seeing Fender (with increasing frustration) bodge the CBS-era Jazzmaster by releasing guitars with wrong sized blocks, no binding, small headstocks, a combination of those. Ironic, since the CBS-style was in production for more than half of the total duration of the original run (12 years vs 7 years). The wrong headstock on the AV66 was almost as if they did it on purpose. But at the same time news got out that Fender Japan released their iteration of that guitar under the "Traditional II" line, with correct headstock and for not too extreme of a price. Splurging money on guitars is not that easy in this economy! But they were initially a Japan-exclusive, and I kinda slept on the fact that a few came to Europe (and the States for that matter) as part of a limited edition. When I realised, they ofcourse were sold-out.

But now I knew there were guitars present in Europe, so it was bound (padumtss) to show up on the 2nd hand market, and I had to block (padumtss²) every other avid purchaser by swooping in swiftly if I noticed one. And last weekend one popped up for a non-inflated price half an hour walking from where I live, so a leisurely (albeit hasty) walk ensued and I picked up the guitar. It's basically new: stickers still on it, foil still on the guard, original microscopic strings on it.

But boy oh boy is this a good guitar. It has the looks, but it also has the feel. The neck is not thick, but still has enough "meat" to it to not feel flimsy or cramped. Everything I throw at this guitar in terms of chords & licks just works. As if my left hand was waiting for this neck for 19 years.

The sound is a bit bright and twangy due to the VMOD pickups, which do are a step-up from the standard MIJ strat-in-disguise pickups, but I still that this guitar will greatly benefit from a set of proper Jazzmaster pickups. Since this appears to be a forever-guitar, I might even go the custom route for that one.

And as is tradition for a MIJ Fender: fit 'n finish is absolutely flawless. It honestly pales the AV66 that I played in the store last month when it comes to attention to detail.

Nice score. That’s a great burst.

Nice one !