1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTURES)

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
Post Reply
User avatar
spyeman
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:19 am

1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTURES)

Post by spyeman » Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:28 pm

Hello,

I just bought an Olympic White 1962 Jazzmaster at auction. What a great fun guitar! The finish is literally perfect, very much Olympic White with no fading or discoloration or checking. In checking the neck, pots, etc. it's clear it's a 1962. The finish is so nice and perfect, I have to assume it's been stripped and refinished. There is no paint stick mark (the neck pocket is fully painted) and the nail holes in the body are still there, although it looks like some paint might have dripped in there a bit, but the holes are still open.

Is it possible that with the finish this nice, that it could be original? I would post pics, but trust me, it's pure Olympic White and in perfect condition, the pics aren't going to really show you anything except something that looks like it just came off the production line. Just based on intuition and common sense, could something this old be in this good condition? I say no, must be a refinish, but anyone have any other comments? Thanks.
Last edited by spyeman on Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
spacecadet
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4351
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:03 am
Location: Long Island, NY
Contact:

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refinished, or not???

Post by spacecadet » Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:30 pm

Pics of the neck pocket and under the pickguard are the only way to tell you definitively. No way to say by a description alone.

User avatar
FrankRay
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1543
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:54 am
Location: east london

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refinished, or not???

Post by FrankRay » Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:53 pm

The lack of fading could simply be no varnish overcoat; quite common with early white JMs, and the white itself wouldn't discolour. First half oi 62 wouldn't have used a paint stick, either, so no reason to doubt it there either if it's a slab board.
we need photos though, obviously. In general I'd say that if the finish is immaculate it's quite unlikely to be refinish. Fender had much higher QC than just about anyone else who might have repainted it.

User avatar
spyeman
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:19 am

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refinished, or not???

Post by spyeman » Sat Dec 19, 2015 9:40 am

Finally got some pics of neck pocket and interior. Nail holes are visible. Neck (May 62, slab and truss rod in rosewood), pots, etc. all confirm 62. If anyone can shed any thoughts on whether they think this is an original paint or refin, would really appreciate it.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

User avatar
Telliot
Mods
Mods
Posts: 12202
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:38 pm
Location: CA

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by Telliot » Sat Dec 19, 2015 11:03 am

It sure looks like a refin to me, especially given the lack of tan lines under the pickguard and trem plate. Also, normally there is a fair amount of checking that should be visible in the body; that looks very well 'preserved' in the pics.
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

User avatar
andrewaward
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 816
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:41 pm
Location: near Glasgow, UK

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by andrewaward » Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:17 pm

yeah refin

User avatar
Ursa Minor
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5892
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:26 am
Location: Chicago

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by Ursa Minor » Sat Dec 19, 2015 2:08 pm

I concur. Not a bad thing though. it looks like a nice job. Any pics of the whole guitar?
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

User avatar
zip73
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 809
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:10 pm
Location: Monterey County, CA

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by zip73 » Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:52 pm

refin

User avatar
spyeman
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:19 am

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by spyeman » Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:24 pm

Thanks for the feedback, its in such nice condition I figured it had to be a refin. What is anyone's guess at value? It's in great shape, only issue is some fret wear in the first few frets, but completely playable and no buzzing or fretting out.





(post edited by the mods)

User avatar
zakmaster
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1035
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 3:42 am

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by zakmaster » Tue Dec 22, 2015 10:18 pm

:fp:

User avatar
FrankRay
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1543
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:54 am
Location: east london

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by FrankRay » Wed Dec 23, 2015 3:02 am

Bearing in mind the nail holes are still clearly visible and the finish is immaculate, I'd say it could easily be original. Jazzmasters were originally aimed at the more *mature* player, after all. All it would take is a careful owner who didn't often play it.

User avatar
Tree's
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:04 pm

Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster - Refin or not??? (NOW WITH PICTU

Post by Tree's » Wed Dec 23, 2015 4:25 am

Finish is nicely done but not original, in contrast to the condition of all the other parts it's too nice.. Not the slightest discoloration or a nick, the pickup covers have seen a lot of nicotine, the pickup mounting screws and trem plate are rusted.
The definite giveaways are the lumpy cold looking solder on the ground wire in the tub and pickup shield from when they were removed, except for the rhythm circuit one, they left it in to not have to pry out the glazer point, and you can see paint overspray on that shield also.

Post Reply