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Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:58 am
by Dancrows
Hi All,

First post here but was directed to here from The Gear Page, you guys seem to be the experts.
So I'm looking into getting a Vintage Jazzmaster and came upon the following specimen.

The owner states that it is fully original as far as hardware and electronics is concerned and that the guitar only had a refin.
However I can already see that one tuner has been replaced and that there have been holes drilled in the headstock previously.

Could any of you guys shine your light on this Jazzmaster and point out whether it is legit or not?

Thanks!

Here is a link to the pictures of the guitar:
https://imgur.com/a/aMKB9ds

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:15 am
by Axolotl
Looks like at some point it had done a 9-string conversion which was popular in Europe back in the day. In this case, 10 strings given the number of holes in the headstock. The nut also shows the extra slots. Looks like the headstock was well restored. Other than that looks legit in my book.

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 3:42 am
by BornToHula
Links doesn't work for me.

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 4:38 am
by FrankRay
It’s not a 63. It’s a slab board which means it was made before July (ish) 62. The pot seems to be 62 so that works out. The pick guard looks wrong but everything else looks good to me. Obviously a new decal and the trem arm looks too long maybe, but very desirable. I’d probably get it refinned properly myself. Or get a tort pick guard.

How much? It looks like around £2800 to me. Something like that. Although probably more to be honest.

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 4:40 am
by FrankRay
Pot seems to be December 61 actually. Also there’s a spare pick guard. Any idea what it is?

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:34 am
by Dancrows
Thanks for al the insights so far. You guys really are a knowledgeable bunch, amazing!
Not quite sure about the spare pick guard. I've been in contact further with the seller and he indeed thinks that the neck might be a 61 neck.
The current asking price is 3000 euros which seems fair then?

If I do end up buying it I will definitely have it refinished in something like LPB with matching headstock.

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 7:31 am
by FrankRay
Reasonable I think yeah. Sounds pretty cool project.

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 7:43 am
by ohm-men
Looks like this JM had a "Tieleman" mod done to it. This means they made it a half 12 string. Looks like yours had the D, G, B and high E doubled at one point it it's life.
This was a particular mod that was indeed famous in the 60's in Europe, made famous by the Tieleman brothers. An Indo-rock band from the Netherlands. Andy Tieleman did this mod to his Jazzmaster to get more high end. Their preformances were famous... Worth to check out on youtube ;)

JM looks legit. Looks like the white pickguard was painted over? I would not be surprised that there is an orignal tort beneath the layer of white paint, but who knows. Guard looks to have shrunken a bit as well (but hard to tell from the pics) Could as well be a shabby copied pickguard job...
the wiring looks original, hence why I thinkit might be a painted over original tort pickguard after all...
The nut still has the traces of the Tieleman mod.

If you can, play the guitar before buying it.

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 3:12 am
by jaapbossen
This is the one from Marktplaats right? Hope you will be able to buy it at a fair price! Keep us updated!

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:40 am
by Paul-T
LOok on the site and you'll see a few Tielman brothers-style conversions, including mine - originally blonde, then red, then white, and now blonde again.

my repairer insisted on removing the traces of the extra holes but I think they are kind of cool. That looks like a great project. Good luck!

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2020 11:47 am
by HNB
I was wondering if the pickguard is painted also. It looks shrunken by the upper control area like old tort can do and there is no layers showing. Makes me think it was painted white. Body a refin?

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:50 am
by mgeek
The extra strings mod is cool as, has anyone just gone with it?

Like with the Western Swing era mods, where they'd stick a mandolin on the bass horn of a guitar or something, the extra strings mod seems like such a cool reference to a particular scene/era that if I got one I'd just leave it like that

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 2:00 am
by Pacafeliz
mgeek wrote:
Sat Nov 14, 2020 1:50 am
The extra strings mod is cool as, has anyone just gone with it?

Like with the Western Swing era mods, where they'd stick a mandolin on the bass horn of a guitar or something, the extra strings mod seems like such a cool reference to a particular scene/era that if I got one I'd just leave it like that
Image
I used to own this modded Egmond guitar. It sounded pretty good with the +3 mod. But I hated the baseball neck too much, so I sold it.

The Jazzy in the OP looks good, and I'd bet that is the original pickguard that has been overpainted. Seen (and removed) that many a times, with always nice surprise in the end!

Re: Is this 63 Jazzmaster Legit?

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 3:19 am
by mgeek
Pacafeliz wrote:
Sun Nov 15, 2020 2:00 am


Image
I used to own this modded Egmond guitar. It sounded pretty good with the +3 mod. But I hated the baseball neck too much, so I sold it.

Very cool! Thanks for the pic. I love fat necks too! haha ;D