1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Bringing your older offset back to life.
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Ursa Minor
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Ursa Minor » Sun Feb 21, 2016 5:52 pm

That's awesome! And BIG +1 on Dan's ethic. He's a standup dude.

Can't wait to see this all put together with vintage tort and all!
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Glimmer
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Glimmer » Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:59 am

Looks pretty dang nice for a beat-up guitar. ;D

Wish I had one.

(And I agree: that was very nice of Dan...)

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Rocktronaut » Wed Mar 16, 2016 3:08 pm

Great thread. Can't wait to see the result! Did you confront Chicago Fret Workds with the decal issue?

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Great Yawn » Fri Mar 18, 2016 4:12 am

That body looks mighty fine. Black JMs with tort pickguards, curious for the end result.

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by kracdown » Sun Mar 20, 2016 12:23 am

Rocktronaut wrote:Great thread. Can't wait to see the result! Did you confront Chicago Fret Workds with the decal issue?
Yes... They said they would "make it right" but never really did anything. I'm going to refret it but no chance they're doing it... My guitar tech in LA laughed at the job they did... I should've waited to have that part done with my normal guys in LA :fp: .

Anyway, the guitar is done but I wasn't able to take any pictures. Let's just say, I am totally surprised and totally blown away by the guitar. I'll post a review tomorrow, but for now a teaser, and the fact that it has the most complex acoustic tone of any electric I've ever owned, and it translates into the amplified sound too. My tech and I are both super surprised by how it came out. Here's a quick shot next to my '66.

Image

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foot
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by foot » Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:24 am

:-* :-* :-*

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Bothand Nether
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Bothand Nether » Sun Mar 20, 2016 8:48 am

Great Job, You've made it so it shall last another 1/2 century, at least.
That is a fantastic thing, imo.

Too bad about the fretwork, seems like an awful lot of luthiers "train" on the job.
I freaking hate that, I hope they break in nicely, though.

It's always a little wind in my sails to see something beautiful come out of a misused or neglected home.

No, I'm not jonesing for an oldie.
I swear it.
Honestly.
:?
"No short-haired, yellow-bellied Son of tricky dicky's Gonna mother hubbard soft soap me"
-The late Mr. L.

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Ursa Minor
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Ursa Minor » Mon Mar 21, 2016 6:48 am

So nice! Can't wait for the full post!

:-*
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

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parry
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by parry » Mon Mar 21, 2016 7:10 am

Oh, black guitars...
How I love thee!
Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity.

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by kracdown » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:02 am

Here are some better, but still iPhone pictures.

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With some other guitars of mine:
Image

The neck on this is pretty fat for a Jazzmaster, probably over .86 at the nut. It's really oval shaped and the board is amazing feeling. Original frets aren't so bad, I can probably get away with them for a while. It seems like the guitar was stripped and messed with many, many years ago and had been hanging on the wall ever since. The pickups sounds magical. It's a lot more full sounding than my '66. I love my '66, but that's a lot more twangy and spanky. This is woody and smooth. It's light weight, and super resonant. The original bridge with newer saddles actually does a good job, but I know I will throw on a Staytrem eventually. The finish is sort of weird feeling, but looks perfect for the rest of the guitar and should feel better and better with more play. I'm thrilled that despite the setbacks - the guitar looks and sounds great. I put a set of aged gotoh tuners on it. It sounds super sweet through my vintage Fender amps and also slays through my dirty amps.

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by mcjt » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:34 am

the decal story still pisses me off.....
ANYWAY
the guitar looks great.
i wonder if anyone has had luck putting a more vintage bend in trem arms? the arm that is in it now is a modern replacement? i have two modern ones and they look weird on my vintage guitars.

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Ursa Minor
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Ursa Minor » Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:46 am

mcjt wrote:vintage bend
I love a good vintage bend! :?


But seriously - great looking guitar! I can believe that neck. I played a '61 that had a really big neck like this once. The 1st fret profile was like 50's telecaster big.
Nice looking offset collection!
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by kracdown » Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:17 pm

mcjt wrote:the decal story still pisses me off.....
ANYWAY
the guitar looks great.
i wonder if anyone has had luck putting a more vintage bend in trem arms? the arm that is in it now is a modern replacement? i have two modern ones and they look weird on my vintage guitars.
Yeah... Really, really sucks. And I still need a pre-CBS trem arm... and maybe a case, but only at a great price.

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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Glimmer » Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:18 am

Wow, that came out beautiful! :?

If you don't mind my asking, who do you use in L.A. for guitar work?

And re the neck: I've got a ’64 Tele that's about .835 at the nut (and about .970 at the 12th fret) – feels so fine...

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Ursa Minor
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Re: 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Restoration

Post by Ursa Minor » Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:22 am

Glimmer wrote:Wow, that came out beautiful!

If you don't mind my asking, who do you use in L.A. for guitar work?

And re the neck: I've got a ’64 Tele that's about .835 at the nut (and about .970 at the 12th fret) – feels so fine...
Same measurements as my '64 JM give or take a few 000s. Would love to see pics of your 64 tele! :?

Sorry to derail - back to the ogling!
The artist formerly known as kosmonautmayhem.

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