Background: I love vintage offsets. Not just because they're a great value in the vintage market, but the Jazzmaster and Jaguar just feel super comfortable in my arms. I also think they have the best trem systems and are my favorite sounding guitars after the tele.
I have a mint '66 Jazzmaster and a '63 Custom Blond Ash Jaguar. I played a '61 Lake Placid Blue through a '65 Deluxe Reverb the other night, and was blown away. I A/B'd it with my '66, and I figured the eras sounded different enough to justify owning both. That being said, I don't have the funds for a nice '61, sunburst or custom color. But I could afford a players grade slab board. So I found a nice early '62 with a stripped finish and grover tuners - but otherwise all original. The one bad thing is that it was signed by The Ventures 25 years ago on the body. The pick guard, the wiring, the nut, the trem, and neck finish all looks good.
The Plan: I'm going to have someone (anyone know of anyone? I'm fine shipping anywhere...) prep the body for a refin as well as sand the original headstock front facing finish off (not sure if the tuner holes had to be enlarged too, but I'm going to have to get that looked into also). I'm going to keep the rest of the neck finish.
Why would I loose the original Logo? Because this thing is going to be refinished, most likely by Danocaster, in a beautiful Lake Placid Blue. I will also probably do a nice 6105 refret once I have the funds.
I get that sanding off the signatures might be controversial, as well as refinishing the headstock finish, but with the guitar already in its current condition, I figure I'm doing the world a service. It should come later this week and I can't wait to start working on it!
Pictures from the add:
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