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1962 Fender Jazzmaster Vintage Pre-CBS Offset Guitar Sunburst Slab Board w/ Case

$14,399.99

+ shipping

Out Of Stock
Up for sale, a 1962 Fender Jazzmaster in collector-grade condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, polish cloth and bridge cover. 100% original, this early example of the Jazzmaster model features a May, 1962 neck date and pots that date back to the 19th week of '61.

Extremely lively, resonant, and full-sounding acoustically at 8lbs 6oz, the tonewoods comprise an alder body, maple neck, and thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard. The black bobbin pickups are well-balanced and powerful, providing a warmth and nuance that's unique to the Jazzmaster pickup design, with original pickup windings that extend all the way to the very edge of the bobbins. The pickups meter at 8.1k ohms in the bridge position and 7.67k at the neck. The neck pickup has excellent clarity with a distinctive sweetness and woody cut, while the Rhythm Circuit is wooly and thick. In contrast, the bridge pickup has more midrange authority and chewy snap, with a percussive twang on the wound strings and more sparkle and bounce on the trebles.  Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, where we specialize in Offset Fender guitars, this Jazzmaster features 11-49 strings, low action and accurate intonation.

The maple neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut, with rolled fretboard edges and nicely rounded shoulders in every register. The profile quickly gains some chunk as you travel up the fretboard, filling out to a substantial shape from the 7th fret and beyond, measuring .815" deep at the 1st fret, .985" at the 12th. The thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard is a dark, tight-grained cut with a 7 1/4" radius, sporting clay dot inlay and retaining the stock slender fretwire. The frets have been dressed in the guitar’s lifetime, currently quite low but with enough meat for easy chording and speedy lead work. The frets show just a hint of wear on the crowns of frets 1-2, with light wear into the rosewood in this area as well. The guitar plays easily in every register up the straight neck with a responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The original measures 1.650" in width (just a hair wider than 1 5/8"). On the headstock, the original Kluson Deluxe single line tuning machines turn smoothly with extremely clean nickel plating. The notably un-ambered nitro lacquer on the headstock face retains the pristine original Jazzmaster waterslide decal. The neck heel has a bold May, 1962 date stamp, and the truss rod nut is flush with the heel, necessitating sparingly little adjustment in the last 60 years.

The electronics function flawlessly with untouched solder joints and Stackpole pots that date to the 19th week of '61. Both pickups have extremely clean black bobbins, original windings, and bright white pickup covers. A pair of equally bright white knobs and the deep red gloss nitrate tortoise pickguard round out the plastics, and the guard sits flat and shows sparingly little shrinkage. The hardware has gleaming chrome plating, and the vibrato tailpiece works exceptionally well in concert with the stock bridge, responding to the lightest touch for quick flutters, surfy warbles and deep dives, jumping back to the original pitch with ease and complete with the original arm.

The three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer gloss finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, dark and rich, with more black on the edges of the burst than many from ’61, particularly on the back of the instrument. There is some finish loss on the treble side lower bout body edge, with light buckle rash central to the back, some light cable worming (also on the back) and various dings and finish chips on the body as a whole, more concentrated on the perimeter. The profile's gloss nitro has been worn down to the smooth, bare maple, and the wear pattern is consistent with natural palm wear.

The original brown tolex hardshell case with orange plush interior is included. The case is well-kept with clean brown leather ends, a functional central latch, and original leather handle. The original Fender-branded polish cloth and chrome-plated bridge cover are also present.