Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
- takeittothemall
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Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
It seems that conventional wisdom is that the only colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came from the Fender factory with tortoise guards were sunburst, olympic white, blonde, and maybe black.
I’ve found a couple exceptions. Below are two CAR JMs reportedly in their original finish and tortoise guards.
https://www.frettedamericana.com/produc ... zzmaster-5
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBk0mao5eIo
Does anyone know of any other examples or other colors of JM that came from the factory with tortoise guards?
Thanks.
I’ve found a couple exceptions. Below are two CAR JMs reportedly in their original finish and tortoise guards.
https://www.frettedamericana.com/produc ... zzmaster-5
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LBk0mao5eIo
Does anyone know of any other examples or other colors of JM that came from the factory with tortoise guards?
Thanks.
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- bterry
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Yes, it’s a misconception that all Fender custom color JMs shipped with white guards post gold guard era.
In fact, many had tort - I’ve personally seen LPB, Black, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, CAR (custom order paint jobs pre 1963) and Sherwood Green with tort. I’ve also seen Oly White and Sunburst JMs with white guards from that era - it is all possible and if you can think of a combo it probably happened
The one thing I have seen that is BS IMO is pics of a gold guard JM in mid 1962 - with a mix of early 1958 features and 1962 features - that’s a parts guitar
In fact, many had tort - I’ve personally seen LPB, Black, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, CAR (custom order paint jobs pre 1963) and Sherwood Green with tort. I’ve also seen Oly White and Sunburst JMs with white guards from that era - it is all possible and if you can think of a combo it probably happened
The one thing I have seen that is BS IMO is pics of a gold guard JM in mid 1962 - with a mix of early 1958 features and 1962 features - that’s a parts guitar
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Here's a third CAR+tort JM that I suspect came out of the factory looking the same as it does now, just shinier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF4wbyrNyY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF4wbyrNyY
- takeittothemall
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
I'm just excited that Yo La Tengo made their way onto this thread. (My son is named Ira--definitely not not after Ira Kaplan.)Sauerkraut wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:41 amHere's a third CAR+tort JM that I suspect came out of the factory looking the same as it does now, just shinier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF4wbyrNyY
Given how much Ira has modded his amps and that he has a stripped 63 Strat, it seems very possible that his JM is a refin. Do you have a reason to think otherwise?
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- marqueemoon
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
The sound on that YLT video is pretty great. I wish the song was a little more interesting though.
Ira’s controlled abandon with his vintage guitars always makes me chuckle.
Ira’s controlled abandon with his vintage guitars always makes me chuckle.
- takeittothemall
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Thanks, bterry! I really want the color that I refinish my new 59 to be era-correct with the tort guard. I had myself convinced that my only options were thus sunburst (which I wasn't going to do given that I already have a keeper 65 JM in sunburst) and olympic white (since its alder and not ash and therefore wouldn't be blonde). But now I have so many more options to consider. Still probably down to olympic white, shoreline gold, yellowed lake placid blue, and maybe a green.bterry wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:28 amYes, it’s a misconception that all Fender custom color JMs shipped with white guards post gold guard era.
In fact, many had tort - I’ve personally seen LPB, Black, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, CAR (custom order paint jobs pre 1963) and Sherwood Green with tort. I’ve also seen Oly White and Sunburst JMs with white guards from that era - it is all possible and if you can think of a combo it probably happened
The one thing I have seen that is BS IMO is pics of a gold guard JM in mid 1962 - with a mix of early 1958 features and 1962 features - that’s a parts guitar
great OSG deals with: ncarey13, skip.
great TGP deals with: drjoel, 12strings, Tim P, angrybandnerd, echobaseone, guitarpkr67, jcampbell331
great TGP deals with: drjoel, 12strings, Tim P, angrybandnerd, echobaseone, guitarpkr67, jcampbell331
- Maggieo
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
And hey, how about that Champagne sparkle tom and kick drum?
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I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.
- bterry
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
^^ speaking of which, there is even a blue ‘surf’ sparkle burst gold guard that exists!!
Sky is the limit
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- zhivago
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Bterry is 100% spot on (as usual) on this description of all the possible permutations.takeittothemall wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 1:08 pmThanks, bterry! I really want the color that I refinish my new 59 to be era-correct with the tort guard. I had myself convinced that my only options were thus sunburst (which I wasn't going to do given that I already have a keeper 65 JM in sunburst) and olympic white (since its alder and not ash and therefore wouldn't be blonde). But now I have so many more options to consider. Still probably down to olympic white, shoreline gold, yellowed lake placid blue, and maybe a green.bterry wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:28 amYes, it’s a misconception that all Fender custom color JMs shipped with white guards post gold guard era.
In fact, many had tort - I’ve personally seen LPB, Black, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, CAR (custom order paint jobs pre 1963) and Sherwood Green with tort. I’ve also seen Oly White and Sunburst JMs with white guards from that era - it is all possible and if you can think of a combo it probably happened
The one thing I have seen that is BS IMO is pics of a gold guard JM in mid 1962 - with a mix of early 1958 features and 1962 features - that’s a parts guitar
I know takeittothemall already has a Fiesta red guitar that he plans to keep but Fiesta with tort is mighty nice! I would also consider Sherwood Green which is pretty amazing with the right tort. There is definitely a 59 in Sherwood (with a mint guard and non matching HS) that was at Songbirds in Chattanooga. Gold could be interesting too. These are good decision problems to have - good luck painting that Craig's list score!
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Interesting stuff, didn't know that. Thanks for the knowledge.bterry wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:28 amYes, it’s a misconception that all Fender custom color JMs shipped with white guards post gold guard era.
In fact, many had tort - I’ve personally seen LPB, Black, Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, CAR (custom order paint jobs pre 1963) and Sherwood Green with tort. I’ve also seen Oly White and Sunburst JMs with white guards from that era - it is all possible and if you can think of a combo it probably happened
The one thing I have seen that is BS IMO is pics of a gold guard JM in mid 1962 - with a mix of early 1958 features and 1962 features - that’s a parts guitar
- offsets4life
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Seen a couple of Sonic Blue guitars with tort.
No idea if they were "stock" , or not.
I like the idea of that combo.
No idea if they were "stock" , or not.
I like the idea of that combo.
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Not really. I'd be very surprised if it was a refin, just from the looks of it, but my assumption that the tort guard came with it is based on thin air. He could've easily gotten it back when vintage guards didn't cost a fortune yet. I just couldn't resist posting that video.takeittothemall wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:50 amGiven how much Ira has modded his amps and that he has a stripped 63 Strat, it seems very possible that his JM is a refin. Do you have a reason to think otherwise?Sauerkraut wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:41 amHere's a third CAR+tort JM that I suspect came out of the factory looking the same as it does now, just shinier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYF4wbyrNyY
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
Kevin Shields' famous red JM, on the other hand, is definitely a refin:
- fuzzjunkie
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Re: Colors of vintage Jazzmasters that came stock with tortoise guards
I have a friend that owns a 1961 Sherwood Green JM with a tort guard and plain headstock.
photo credit Tommy Moore
I have seen a handful of JM and Jags in Fiesta Red with tort, but the rest were either Oly or Black.
photo credit Tommy Moore
I have seen a handful of JM and Jags in Fiesta Red with tort, but the rest were either Oly or Black.