Fender Jazzmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959)
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Fender Jazzmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 39073, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original tweed hard shell case.
This is a well-loved and very played-in early Fender Jazzmaster, with a beautiful deep 3-color sunburst and the classic gold anodized pickguard that marks the earliest versions of the model. There are no pencil dates in the guitar; hand-dating the neck was temporarily stopped at Fender in early 1959 and not resumed until the next year. The latest pot code in this guitar is the 16th week of 1959, indicating it was assembled in the late spring/early summer of that year. The gold anodized pickguard was replaced on the Jazzmasters with the familiar tortoise celluloid piece by late summer of '59.
When this example was made the Jazzmaster was still a relatively new model, in production since fall 1958 as Fender's top of the line guitar. 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, although they mostly failed to entice dedicated Gibson players to change over to Leo's products. The "slab" rosewood fingerboard was also introduced on this model, and soon became ubiquitous across the entire Fender line.
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. The Jazzmaster was an instant hit, and remained very popular into the mid 1960s before losing much of its appeal as playing styles changed later in the decade. Over the last 25 years or so the offset Jazzmaster, once maligned, has risen to be one of the most widely played of all vintage designs, and this is a wonderful early example. Heavily used but never abused, this remains an exceptional-sounding and extremely attractive twang machine. This particular guitar has 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 venerable 65 year old Jazzmaster shows a lot of wear overall but remains all original except for an older refret. The deep sunburst finish on the body has numerous dings, dents, and scrapes but the lacquer retains good color with very little fade. The back has a decent sized belt buckle patch to the wood and some "curly cord wear" running up the spine. The neck finish has typical wear down to the wood on the back and many small dings and dents. The anodized pickguard has numerous small pick dinks but no large worn-away spots.
The rosewood fingerboard has been refretted with wire slightly larger than the original, but not out of character for the guitar. It is a well-done job and the instrument plays extremely well. This very fine "Genuine Relic" Jazzmaster has seen a lot of use, with the sort of honest wear that many folks try to artificially recreate today. This super Vibey Jazzmaster has survived with its original sound and character fully intact, still housed in a worn but still very solid original tweed HSC. Very Good + Condition.
This is a well-loved and very played-in early Fender Jazzmaster, with a beautiful deep 3-color sunburst and the classic gold anodized pickguard that marks the earliest versions of the model. There are no pencil dates in the guitar; hand-dating the neck was temporarily stopped at Fender in early 1959 and not resumed until the next year. The latest pot code in this guitar is the 16th week of 1959, indicating it was assembled in the late spring/early summer of that year. The gold anodized pickguard was replaced on the Jazzmasters with the familiar tortoise celluloid piece by late summer of '59.
When this example was made the Jazzmaster was still a relatively new model, in production since fall 1958 as Fender's top of the line guitar. 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, although they mostly failed to entice dedicated Gibson players to change over to Leo's products. The "slab" rosewood fingerboard was also introduced on this model, and soon became ubiquitous across the entire Fender line.
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. The Jazzmaster was an instant hit, and remained very popular into the mid 1960s before losing much of its appeal as playing styles changed later in the decade. Over the last 25 years or so the offset Jazzmaster, once maligned, has risen to be one of the most widely played of all vintage designs, and this is a wonderful early example. Heavily used but never abused, this remains an exceptional-sounding and extremely attractive twang machine. This particular guitar has 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 venerable 65 year old Jazzmaster shows a lot of wear overall but remains all original except for an older refret. The deep sunburst finish on the body has numerous dings, dents, and scrapes but the lacquer retains good color with very little fade. The back has a decent sized belt buckle patch to the wood and some "curly cord wear" running up the spine. The neck finish has typical wear down to the wood on the back and many small dings and dents. The anodized pickguard has numerous small pick dinks but no large worn-away spots.
The rosewood fingerboard has been refretted with wire slightly larger than the original, but not out of character for the guitar. It is a well-done job and the instrument plays extremely well. This very fine "Genuine Relic" Jazzmaster has seen a lot of use, with the sort of honest wear that many folks try to artificially recreate today. This super Vibey Jazzmaster has survived with its original sound and character fully intact, still housed in a worn but still very solid original tweed HSC. Very Good + Condition.