Up for sale, a 1961 Fender Jazzmaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. A unique vintage example with a one-piece ash body, this Jazzmaster was re-necked at the Fender factory in 1963, as evidenced by the unique markings Fender made in this era with the tip of a soldering iron, present in the neck pocket. This Fender factory re-neck job was clearly done on a tight timeline with just the word "rush" marked in the pocket.
Complete with vintage electronics, an original nitrate tortoise pickguard, and a combination of a vintage vibrato unit and Mastery M1 bridge, there's plenty to love about this genuine Pre-CBS era Jazzmaster. The Blonde gloss nitro lacquer finish was recently applied by Riggio Custom Guitars with very restrained aging, highlighting the grain of the one-piece body.
This Jazzmaster is a sonic powerhouse, benefiting from the midrange complexity and authority of ash as a tonewood, yielding full-sounding natural acoustic sound that translates faithfully through the vintage black bobbin pickup pair. These coils have ample clarity and cut, with the original pickup windings extending all the way to the very edge of the bobbins. The bridge pickup is clear and detailed, with a sweet bounce on the plain strings, and engaging the pickups together yields a percussive spank. The neck pickup is woody and bold, and the Rhythm Circuit is very smooth and mellow, perfect for pairing with a sputtery fuzz. Weighing 8lbs 1oz, this Fender Jazzmaster has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Slender C, measuring .810” 1st fret, .985” 12th fret.
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, 7 1/4" radius
-Frets: Refret 6105 narrow/tall, flawless
-Scale Length: 25 1/2"
-Nut: 1 1/2", bone (upgraded)
-Tuners: Aged Kluson Deluxe (modern)
-Serialization: 62,000 range, stamped on neck plate (1961)
-Factory Markings: December, 1963 neck stamp, "Rush" in neck pocket
Body Specs:
-Wood: Ash, one-piece
-Pickups: Single coil x2, original windings, Bridge 7.95k ohms, Neck 7.8k
-Harness: Vintage, CTS pots date to '67
-Hardware: Mastery M1 bridge, vibrato unit w/ arm
-Plastics: Nitrate tortoise pickguard, pickup covers, knobs (vintage, non-original)
The electronics pair the vintage black bobbin pickups with a vintage wiring harness with Lead Circuit CTS pots which date to '67. Plastics include the original nitrate tortoise pickguard which retains its aluminum shielding plate. The body routes are untouched, with two original brass shielding tubs and modern shielding plates beneath the pickups. The pickguard exhibits very little shrinkage, sitting flat with one small split on the edge adjacent to the bridge pickup. The original pickup cover pair is present, and the knobs are an older, naturally aged pair. Hardware includes the Mastery M1 bridge, a go-to upgrade for any Fender Offset for increased stability, natural resonance and vibrato performance. The original vibrato unit is intact, complete with its arm, ideal for quick flutters and deeper, surfy dives.
The Blonde nitro lacquer finish was recently applied by Riggio Custom Guitars, surgically accurate in its tint and saturation. The transparent finish highlights the broad, dynamic grain of the one-piece ash body, with no wear beyond light, simulated aging, save for one tiny fleck of finish on the top edge of the neck pocket. There is a small, professionally repaired split on the top edge of the headstock and extending minimally along the tuners (not extending to the face). The neck profile and headstock have been oversprayed, with natural palm wear on the profile careve down to the bare maple behind frets 2-7.
A modern Fender "eyeglass" case is included.