Fender Jazzmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1962)

Fender  Jazzmaster Solid Body Electric Guitar  (1962)
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Item # 9271
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Fender Jazzmaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1962), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 83196, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown tolex hard shell case.

This beautiful early slab-board Jazzmaster is loaded with a bevy of the classic early 1960s pre-CBS Fender features. These trademarks include a thick unbound rosewood fingerboard with "clay" dot inlay, beautifully blended dark 3-color sunburst lacquer finish on the body and gold "Spaghetti" logo headstock decal. The pickguard is the dark nitrocellulose tortoiseshell style which was a Fender trademark at the time. This one has an ink-stamped neck date of June 1962, so it was likely sold that summer at the apex of the high summer of "Camelot" as the Kennedy administration was termed.

These early '60s Jazzmasters are exceptionally fine instruments, then just below the newly-introduced Jaguar in the Fender line but with a still-unique sound. While they never did catch on with the jazz artists Leo intended them for, this was a radically new and quite successful guitar at the time, seen with many period players in a variety of musical genres. After a long period in the shadows the Jazzmaster has been increasingly popular over the last couple of decades with new generations of performers re-discovering its particular charms. This one has survived in splendid condition still in its original brown Tolex hardshell case, looking and sounding great and ready for its next 60 years of service.
 
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 very clean guitar, showing some fairly typical light wear. The lacquer still has a shiny look about it, not dulled down or heavily checked like many from this period. There are some dings and dents in the body finish; a couple on the top including a deeper "case lid ding" in the upper armwear spot, with some small areas of discreet finish touch up in this area as well. The back has some belt buckle wear and minor "strap burn" mostly centered under the neckplate. The celluloid pickguard shows comparatively little shrinkage, which is a common issue on these early Jazzmaster guards.

The neck has an unobtrusive clear overspray on the back, with some further minor wear through that. It was refretted with correct style wire some time ago...there is some subsequent fret wear but nothing that affects playability. All hardware is original and complete except the bridge cover is MIA, the original trem arm is still intact. The plating is quite clean and the bridge saddles have only very light corrosion, nothing is frozen up as is often the case.

The only internal alteration is the pots for the main lower tone and volume controls were replaced sometime in the 1990's at Voltage Guitars in Los Angeles; a copy of the receipt is still in the case. The case itself is original and fairly clean externally but has been professionally re-lined with newer plush, very well done but something we rarely see. This is a super nice Pre-CBS Jazzmaster, looking clean but with just enough mojo to give it character and sounding fantastic. Overall Excellent Condition.