Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

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BornToHula
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Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by BornToHula » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:48 am

Guys, I’ve finally pulled the trigger on a vintage Jaguar 65. Been lurking and wanting a 65 Jag for years. Now was the time and all the parts fell together.

The sunburst Jaguar is al original but the rosewood fretboard is (don't know how to describe it right) somehow leveled of shaved. Thinner that it should be. Probably because there where some bumps and worn spots. Its also has a refret done and nut job. It plays and sound excellent and everything work fine.

My question is. Does this ‘shaved’ fretboard has a huge impact how much the Jag is worth? If so than I am going to try to get a little refund or something.

What do you guys think? What your opinion on this?

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by N0_Camping4U » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:44 pm

Shaved fretboard, definitely. Esp if it was shaved to minimize dents/divots and you paid for something that was sold on a 'normal' fretboard.

Frets, eh... To me, if the frets are low, what can ya do, it has to be done. And eventually all vintages will. I think a fretjob can be beneficial and is necessary. I wouldn't sweat that as long as the frets were the frets I liked/vintage accurate.
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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by marqueemoon » Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:57 pm

Planing the board is a pretty common practice when refretting. The issue, as you noted is those veneer boards are pretty thin to begin with.

A good refret typically doesn’t hurt value, so I guess my answer is “it depends”. If it’s a hack job that would need to be redone I’d pass.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by PJazzmaster » Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:00 pm

Also possible that the fretboard got reshaped to achieve a flatter radius, I've seen that on vintage fenders before.
You should check for that and maybe ask for a discount or return it - in case it got reshaped, depending whether you like it or not.
On the other hand, as others said, some luthiers would sand the fretboard when doing a refret

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by Ridgeback » Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:14 pm

My 64 Jag had been refretted with medium frets and I'm pretty sure the veneer fret board was at least refurbished, if not leveled a bit. Plays great. It is a refin with new tuners as well so any investment\collect-ability devaluation was already taken into account when I bought it. The best Jag I've owned.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by BornToHula » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:12 pm

PJazzmaster wrote:
Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:00 pm
Also possible that the fretboard got reshaped to achieve a flatter radius, I've seen that on vintage fenders before.
You should check for that and maybe ask for a discount or return it - in case it got reshaped, depending whether you like it or not.
On the other hand, as others said, some luthiers would sand the fretboard when doing a refret
same radius, same fret size. Its just that the fretboard looks thin unfortunately.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by Sonichris » Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:03 am

By 1965, the veneer fingerboards were very thin. 1/16” - 3/32 would be about right. How thin is it?

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by Ridgeback » Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:21 am

Sonichris wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:03 am
By 1965, the veneer fingerboards were very thin. 1/16” - 3/32 would be about right. How thin is it?
Maybe mine wasn't refurbished\leveled as much as I thought. I just assumed if it had been played enough to need new frets and tuners, that the board had some need of rehab as well. Pretty thin Brazillian board but within the specs you referenced above. Nov 64 neck date, so almost a 65. Thanks.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by BornToHula » Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:38 am

Sonichris wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 7:03 am
By 1965, the veneer fingerboards were very thin. 1/16” - 3/32 would be about right. How thin is it?
I will post a picture.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by BornToHula » Tue Oct 01, 2019 5:33 am

Photo doesn't work.

The ruler indicates 1,5 mm.. from the first fret on
Thats thin right?

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by Sonichris » Tue Oct 01, 2019 6:43 am

That’s sligtly thinner than 1/16”. Try measuring at the heal. The sides get rounded over, and can look thinner.


It might have gotten thinner during the re-fret I wouldn’t sweat it if it plays well.

To make photos work here, you need an outside host, like Imgur to put your picture on, then use their link to post here. There’s better instructions on the site here somewhere.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by BornToHula » Tue Oct 01, 2019 10:25 am

Sonichris wrote:
Tue Oct 01, 2019 6:43 am
That’s sligtly thinner than 1/16”. Try measuring at the heal. The sides get rounded over, and can look thinner.


It might have gotten thinner during the re-fret I wouldn’t sweat it if it plays well.

To make photos work here, you need an outside host, like Imgur to put your picture on, then use their link to post here. There’s better instructions on the site here somewhere.
At the heel its 2,5 mm. Its a fabulous player. My only concern is that i payed too much or is this an ‘normal’ age thing? Thank for your answers.

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Re: Jaguar 1965 fretboard question

Post by PJazzmaster » Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:52 pm

BornToHula wrote:
Tue Oct 01, 2019 5:33 am
Photo doesn't work.
Check: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=111931&p=1554303&hi ... e#p1554303

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