Fender Jazzmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1960)
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Fender Jazzmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 47491, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.
This lovely original Jazzmaster dates to 1960, a played-in but wonderful example loaded with a bevy of the classic pre-CBS Fender features. These include the thick slab unbound rosewood fingerboard with "clay" dot inlay, beautifully blended deep sunburst lacquer finish (faded to a two-tone look) on the body and gold "Spaghetti" logo headstock decal. The pickguard is the lighter tortoiseshell nitrocellulose nicknamed the "pepperoni" style which was a Fender trademark at the time. The standard Jazzmaster wide-coil pickups, rhythm circuit and floating trem/bridge are of course all present.
There is no date penciled on the neck heel, as is typical for early 1960. There is also no body date in the trem cavity, but the serial number is typical of Jazzmasters in the first half of 1960, so the guitar was likely assembled and sold that year. We snuck a look under the pickguard to verify the wiring is original, but due to ever increasing shrinkage of the celluloid no longer lift the guard off the guitar unless strictly necessary.
These turn-of-the-'60s Jazzmasters are usually exceptionally fine instruments, a relatively new design then sitting at the top of the Fender line. The two flat-coil pickups and floating tremolo system created a sound and feel unique then and now, and the fluid "liquid sculpture" body styling was widely imitated. While they never did catch on with the intended jazz artists this was a radically new and quite successful guitar at the time, seen with many period players across a variety of musical genres. The surf'n'twang players of the early 1960s took to them in droves, as did many R&B and even Country musicians.
After a long period in the shadows the Jazzmaster has been increasingly popular over the last few decades with new generations of performers re-discovering its particular charms. The infamous heavily played Jazzmaster that has been Nels Cline's longtime signature instrument has become a beacon for many players. This guitar remains original (except for an expert correct wire refret) and complete and sounds exactly as it should, with the bright but slightly rounder tone character specific to the Jazzmaster. This prime solidly Pre-CBS slab-board example was definitely someone's gigging guitar but nonetheless has survived in fine playing condition still resting in its original brown Tolex hardshell case.
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.).
Overall this is a largely clean and very original guitar, correctly refretted and showing some moderate typical wear overall. The lacquer is little checked but exhibits noticeable fading to the red pigment on the body (typical for 1959-60) giving it a more '50s two-tone look. There are scattered dings and dents in the body finish, mostly on the edges; the lower edge has heavy rub wear and the back a large spot buckle wear to the wood in the center. The neck finish is worn completely down to the wood as is common with well played old Fenders, offering the classic "played in" feel. The headstock has a dink on the ball and some darkened spots from tuner oil surface scrapes but the Fender decal is nicely intact.
The lovely tortoise celluloid pickguard shows comparatively little shrinkage (a common issue on early '60s Jazzmasters) and survives with no broken or cracked corners. All hardware is original and complete including the oft-missing trem arm and bridge cover. The metal parts are still mostly shiny with some light wear and minor corrosion, most notably to the bridge saddles.
The guitar has been neatly refretted with period correct small wire and the fingerboard trued. The slab rosewood board shows some minor divots in the lower positions. The nut is newer as well. The original factory shim is still in the neck pocket, with an extra piece added later.
The guitar is an excellent player and sounds truly great, deep and rich in the neck position with the classic Jazzmaster twang on top. This one saw some use and is not an under-the-bed time capsule guitar, but remains nicer than many that turn up now 65 years on. The original brown Tolex case is also completely solid with some wear; in the pocket is the original hangtag booklet, the original owner's strap, polish cloth, curly cord and a collection old string packets from the 1960s and '70s. Also included is the player's date book showing the engagements played in 1975! Overall Excellent - Condition.
This lovely original Jazzmaster dates to 1960, a played-in but wonderful example loaded with a bevy of the classic pre-CBS Fender features. These include the thick slab unbound rosewood fingerboard with "clay" dot inlay, beautifully blended deep sunburst lacquer finish (faded to a two-tone look) on the body and gold "Spaghetti" logo headstock decal. The pickguard is the lighter tortoiseshell nitrocellulose nicknamed the "pepperoni" style which was a Fender trademark at the time. The standard Jazzmaster wide-coil pickups, rhythm circuit and floating trem/bridge are of course all present.
There is no date penciled on the neck heel, as is typical for early 1960. There is also no body date in the trem cavity, but the serial number is typical of Jazzmasters in the first half of 1960, so the guitar was likely assembled and sold that year. We snuck a look under the pickguard to verify the wiring is original, but due to ever increasing shrinkage of the celluloid no longer lift the guard off the guitar unless strictly necessary.
These turn-of-the-'60s Jazzmasters are usually exceptionally fine instruments, a relatively new design then sitting at the top of the Fender line. The two flat-coil pickups and floating tremolo system created a sound and feel unique then and now, and the fluid "liquid sculpture" body styling was widely imitated. While they never did catch on with the intended jazz artists this was a radically new and quite successful guitar at the time, seen with many period players across a variety of musical genres. The surf'n'twang players of the early 1960s took to them in droves, as did many R&B and even Country musicians.
After a long period in the shadows the Jazzmaster has been increasingly popular over the last few decades with new generations of performers re-discovering its particular charms. The infamous heavily played Jazzmaster that has been Nels Cline's longtime signature instrument has become a beacon for many players. This guitar remains original (except for an expert correct wire refret) and complete and sounds exactly as it should, with the bright but slightly rounder tone character specific to the Jazzmaster. This prime solidly Pre-CBS slab-board example was definitely someone's gigging guitar but nonetheless has survived in fine playing condition still resting in its original brown Tolex hardshell case.
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.).
Overall this is a largely clean and very original guitar, correctly refretted and showing some moderate typical wear overall. The lacquer is little checked but exhibits noticeable fading to the red pigment on the body (typical for 1959-60) giving it a more '50s two-tone look. There are scattered dings and dents in the body finish, mostly on the edges; the lower edge has heavy rub wear and the back a large spot buckle wear to the wood in the center. The neck finish is worn completely down to the wood as is common with well played old Fenders, offering the classic "played in" feel. The headstock has a dink on the ball and some darkened spots from tuner oil surface scrapes but the Fender decal is nicely intact.
The lovely tortoise celluloid pickguard shows comparatively little shrinkage (a common issue on early '60s Jazzmasters) and survives with no broken or cracked corners. All hardware is original and complete including the oft-missing trem arm and bridge cover. The metal parts are still mostly shiny with some light wear and minor corrosion, most notably to the bridge saddles.
The guitar has been neatly refretted with period correct small wire and the fingerboard trued. The slab rosewood board shows some minor divots in the lower positions. The nut is newer as well. The original factory shim is still in the neck pocket, with an extra piece added later.
The guitar is an excellent player and sounds truly great, deep and rich in the neck position with the classic Jazzmaster twang on top. This one saw some use and is not an under-the-bed time capsule guitar, but remains nicer than many that turn up now 65 years on. The original brown Tolex case is also completely solid with some wear; in the pocket is the original hangtag booklet, the original owner's strap, polish cloth, curly cord and a collection old string packets from the 1960s and '70s. Also included is the player's date book showing the engagements played in 1975! Overall Excellent - Condition.