Fender Jazzmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959)
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Item # 10141
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Fender Jazzmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 33155, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
This is a lovely if somewhat played-in early Fender Jazzmaster, with a beautiful deep 3-color sunburst and the classic gold anodized pickguard that marks the first versions of the model. The neck is hand-dated 1/59 and the visible pot codes are to the 50th week of 1958. This marks it as a fairly early production example as full production of the Jazzmaster did not begin until October/November of 1958. The trademark anodized pickguard was replaced with the familiar tortoise celluloid piece by late summer 1959, so the window for these first generation examples is well under a year.
When this guitar was made the Jazzmaster was still a new concept as Fender's top of the line instrument. Novel features like the patented "offset" body, rhythm/lead circuit wiring, floating bridge and tremolo, and wider-coil pickups were all news to Fender users, even if they failed to entice dedicated Gibson players to change over to Leo's products. The "slab" rosewood fingerboard was also introduced with this model, although some months later it became ubiquitous across the entire Fender line. The Jazzmaster was a hit with Fender players anyway, even if jazz players used to hollowbody guitars remained mostly standoffish. It remained very popular into the mid 1960s but lost much of its appeal as playing styles changed later in the decade.
When this was their new prestige product, the Fullerton factory lavished a maximum of care and effort on Jazzmaster production. We find these first generation "offsets" to nearly always be exceptionally fine instruments. Over the last 25 years or so the Jazzmaster, once maligned, has risen to be one of the most widely played of all vintage designs, and this is a wonderful very early example. Used but never abused, this remains an exceptional-sounding and extremely attractive twang machine with a great feel and a lovely "ring" to it, even when not plugged in.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This Jazzmaster shows general wear overall but remains all original except for a well-done refret. The deep sunburst lacquer finish on the body has numerous dings, dents, and scrapes overall but the lacquer retains good color with not too much fade. A swath of belt-buckle scraping on the back is the heaviest wear. The neck finish has some typical wear with dings, dents and scrapes as well but not too much lacquer is rubbed off the back. The headstock has some chipping and flaking mostly at the tip from moisture exposure and a "classic" cigarette burn below the low E string tuner; the decal remains fully intact.
All hardware appears original inside and out; the internal components including the pickups, pots and wiring are original and correct, some of the masking tape securing the wires is gone and a couple of solder joints appear redone. The bridge and tailpiece show some wear, particularly a spot of heavy corrosion with some plating loss to the vibrato plate, for reasons lost to history. This does not cause any functional issues but is noticeable. The trem arm remains original, the snap-on bridge cover is gone.
The fingerboard has been refretted with wire slightly taller than the original, but not out of character for the guitar. It is an excellent done job and the instrument plays extremely well. This very fine "Genuine Relic" Jazzmaster has seen a decent amount of use but has survived with its original sound and character fully intact, housed in an early brown tolex HSC that is technically some months later than the guitar, but may well be what it was originally sold with. Very Good + Condition.
This is a lovely if somewhat played-in early Fender Jazzmaster, with a beautiful deep 3-color sunburst and the classic gold anodized pickguard that marks the first versions of the model. The neck is hand-dated 1/59 and the visible pot codes are to the 50th week of 1958. This marks it as a fairly early production example as full production of the Jazzmaster did not begin until October/November of 1958. The trademark anodized pickguard was replaced with the familiar tortoise celluloid piece by late summer 1959, so the window for these first generation examples is well under a year.
When this guitar was made the Jazzmaster was still a new concept as Fender's top of the line instrument. Novel features like the patented "offset" body, rhythm/lead circuit wiring, floating bridge and tremolo, and wider-coil pickups were all news to Fender users, even if they failed to entice dedicated Gibson players to change over to Leo's products. The "slab" rosewood fingerboard was also introduced with this model, although some months later it became ubiquitous across the entire Fender line. The Jazzmaster was a hit with Fender players anyway, even if jazz players used to hollowbody guitars remained mostly standoffish. It remained very popular into the mid 1960s but lost much of its appeal as playing styles changed later in the decade.
When this was their new prestige product, the Fullerton factory lavished a maximum of care and effort on Jazzmaster production. We find these first generation "offsets" to nearly always be exceptionally fine instruments. Over the last 25 years or so the Jazzmaster, once maligned, has risen to be one of the most widely played of all vintage designs, and this is a wonderful very early example. Used but never abused, this remains an exceptional-sounding and extremely attractive twang machine with a great feel and a lovely "ring" to it, even when not plugged in.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This Jazzmaster shows general wear overall but remains all original except for a well-done refret. The deep sunburst lacquer finish on the body has numerous dings, dents, and scrapes overall but the lacquer retains good color with not too much fade. A swath of belt-buckle scraping on the back is the heaviest wear. The neck finish has some typical wear with dings, dents and scrapes as well but not too much lacquer is rubbed off the back. The headstock has some chipping and flaking mostly at the tip from moisture exposure and a "classic" cigarette burn below the low E string tuner; the decal remains fully intact.
All hardware appears original inside and out; the internal components including the pickups, pots and wiring are original and correct, some of the masking tape securing the wires is gone and a couple of solder joints appear redone. The bridge and tailpiece show some wear, particularly a spot of heavy corrosion with some plating loss to the vibrato plate, for reasons lost to history. This does not cause any functional issues but is noticeable. The trem arm remains original, the snap-on bridge cover is gone.
The fingerboard has been refretted with wire slightly taller than the original, but not out of character for the guitar. It is an excellent done job and the instrument plays extremely well. This very fine "Genuine Relic" Jazzmaster has seen a decent amount of use but has survived with its original sound and character fully intact, housed in an early brown tolex HSC that is technically some months later than the guitar, but may well be what it was originally sold with. Very Good + Condition.