1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by CCOffset » Wed May 05, 2021 5:38 am

(Note: This guitar is not for sale and I no longer own it) Just thought that you guys would appreciate seeing this 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware as much as I did. I bought this guitar from its original owner in Pittsburgh, PA last week. According to the 1960 Fender Price List, a Jazzmaster with custom color finish and gold hardware would have been the most expensive electric spanish guitar that year at $420. I think it's possible that the guitar was ordered but didn't sell for a few years because the original owner thought he got it in the mid 1960s. He would have been only 11 years old in 1960, but 16 in 1965. He said his dad bought it for him as a birthday present. Amazing guitar!

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by marqueemoon » Wed May 05, 2021 7:23 am

Too cool. Must have sold for a small fortune.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by zhivago » Wed May 05, 2021 7:32 am

Very, very neat! :-*
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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by Beebe » Wed May 05, 2021 7:56 am

Interesting to see the worn gold hardware.
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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by Highnumbers » Wed May 05, 2021 10:38 am

Absolutely one of the coolest offsets I've ever seen.

Kudos on finding this one, and hope it found a good home.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by CCOffset » Thu May 06, 2021 4:03 am

Thank you! Yes, I thought it was one of the best combinations I've seen in a while as well. The wear on the gold hardware looks so cool. It's like the Fender equivalent of worn nickel hardware.

The early custom colors are amazing, but if I'm honest, I might even prefer a slab/matching headstock example from 1962. The way the rounded slab fretboard protrudes into the color matched headstock is a thing of beauty.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by Highnumbers » Thu May 06, 2021 5:29 pm

CCOffset wrote:
Thu May 06, 2021 4:03 am
Thank you! Yes, I thought it was one of the best combinations I've seen in a while as well. The wear on the gold hardware looks so cool. It's like the Fender equivalent of worn nickel hardware.

The early custom colors are amazing, but if I'm honest, I might even prefer a slab/matching headstock example from 1962. The way the rounded slab fretboard protrudes into the color matched headstock is a thing of beauty.
100% agree.

When we're getting into "unicorn" territory, it's hard to be choosy, but I'd take a matching headstock over a '60-61 every time.

In fact, my '62 Olympic White JM is a slab board matching headstock. It's a pretty small overlap of time where those two features were offered.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by bterry » Thu May 06, 2021 6:59 pm

You guys are nuts :)

Gotta say I much prefer the custom colors without a matching headstock, especially black as the headstock logo on the matching ones looks kinda goofy IMO.

Black is insanely rare before 1962, especially pre-1961 color chart publication. Once you get into 1962 it’s more common, even on a slab board. Production was way higher in 1962, gold hardware was more common (though still rare obviously) and an early 1960 JM would still have the same features as a mid-late 1959 model whereas an early ’62 would have the new spring, thimbles, bridge saddles, etc.

Of course, I would still take a black ‘62 but not if I had to choose between it and an early one ;)

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by CCOffset » Sat May 08, 2021 6:04 am

Ok, I'll have to amend my statement I suppose :). For Black, pre-matching headstock is the clear winner. But for lighter metallic colors, matching headstock and slab fretboard is tough to beat! This 1962 Fender Jazzmaster Lake Placid Blue Metallic, slab fretboard, custom order A neck width is a pretty good example (long since sold unfortunately). When I think back to guitars I wish I had not sold, this one is usually top of the list.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by bterry » Sat May 08, 2021 6:50 am

soooo clean, love it!

There’s something about the custom color only being on the body that just makes it pop more, to my eye. Personal preference, but I just love them with the natural headstock and they are so rare to find on Jazzmasters.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by WSquires » Sat May 08, 2021 4:14 pm

Such a cool guitar! I wonder how many Jazzmasters were ordered with gold hardware in the pre-CBS days. Must be a small number

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by CorporateDisguise » Sun May 09, 2021 1:54 am

Really cool! Never seen another like it, and probably never will. I didn’t realize you could order gold hardware on anything other than blond or red. Fantastic find!

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by windmill » Mon May 10, 2021 3:22 am

They are both good looking guitars.

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by Highnumbers » Mon May 10, 2021 10:57 am

bterry wrote:
Sat May 08, 2021 6:50 am
soooo clean, love it!

There’s something about the custom color only being on the body that just makes it pop more, to my eye. Personal preference, but I just love them with the natural headstock and they are so rare to find on Jazzmasters.
Funny, it's just perspective or preference but I feel the opposite and think the natural headstock is a visual distraction from the custom color when the headstock isn't matching. S

That said, they both look amazing, but if I had to pick between the two... match that headstock! ;D

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Re: 1960 Fender Jazzmaster Black with Gold Hardware

Post by bterry » Mon May 10, 2021 12:49 pm

NOOOOOOOOO

:)

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