Even the experts can be wrong...

[fullerplast]

... when it comes to Jazzmasters!

Here's an excerpt from the VGI website, long considered to be the authority on vintage guitars:

This pictures shows the two roll off mini-pots and switch from the bottom side of the pickguard. These roll off pots allow the player to "pre set" a tone, then turn the tone controls completely off or on with the toggle switch (one tone roll off pot for each pickup).

(This is from his "Inside a '58 Jazzmaster" article)

I'm not picking on the VGI guy, he truly  is a wealth of information, and his site has inspired so many Fenderholics. And I applaud him for even having a Jazzmaster article on his site (the pics are great). But he obviously did not play that Jazzmaster he did the article on. If so, he would have been hooked... the article would be correct, and the JM would no doubt be rated higher than an C- on his scale!

Just goes to show that the JM still has not completely "grown up" in the world of enthusiasts and collecting... which is both good and bad for us. Had he played the Jazzmaster... we would all be paying even more for them then we currently are! 

[zhivago]

I have always wondered why he didn't write much about the neck of that '59 

[JazzBlaster]

I am glad they have not "gown up" they have already grown out of my price range 

[flatfiver]

A lot of the info on the VGI site seems to be directly lifted from the George Gruhn vintage guitars book.  Maybe he was the guy that co-wrote it with Gruhn?

[fullerplast]

I've heard that before, but I've never looked at the Gruhn book. I think Jim Shine helped the VGI guy out too, alot of the pictures are Jim's anyway.

As expected, the VGI guy's focus is mainly on Strats and LPs.

[serial]

There are a lot of misinformed "experts" out there.  I can safely and confidently say that I know more about the history Hamer Guitars than anyone outside of the factory (including Tom Wheeler, who helped out on the Hamer DVD).  Most of what's been published about them is based on bad recollection or myth.  The same is true for the Fender stuff.  It takes a LOT of work to get information close to 100%.  Of course, there's little or no excuse for not picking up the guitar to see what it actually does!

[lalalandstudios]

A lot of the info on the VGI site seems to be directly lifted from the George Gruhn vintage guitars book.  Maybe he was the guy that co-wrote it with Gruhn?

Certainly George has gotten it "wrong" once or twice before too - a la the appraisal of the "original finish" 62 black Jazzmaster that he looked over that turned out to be a later factory refin - and is now correctly listed on his site (with changed wires) for a paltry $7.5K. But then again, nobody is perfect.

[Maggieo]

Linkage, please?

[fullerplast]

To which, Maggie?

[Maggieo]

The site that y'all are talking about, the VGN?

[fullerplast]

Oh, here ya go...

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

He does other brands too, go to the homepage for the others...

[Maggieo]

Thanks, Doug! You're a sweetie!

[fullerplast]

 

[Maggieo]

Man, he doesn't like the offsets, tho':

1962 Jaquar Pink Sparkle. With matching pink sparkle peghead, the owner claims this guitar is original. Since the peghead decal did look original, I would have to agree. The sparkles are much larger than the standard Fender metallic finishes. A very rare color (too bad it's not a Strat or Tele).

Sheesh!  Too bad you have bad taste, mister expert guy!

[i love sharin foo]

Sheesh!  Too bad you have bad taste, mister expert guy!

Offset racism is NOT cool  (or any other kind)

Justin