1997 Fender Custom Shop 1960 Jazz Bass Cunetto Relic Sunburst w/ Case & COA
$4,599.99
$4,599.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1997 Fender Custom Shop 1960 Relic Jazz Bass in collector-grade, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, CoA, hangtags, and case candy. This Custom Shop Jazz Bass Relic was crafted during the (very brief) Cunetto era of the Fender Custom Shop, predating Fender’s introduction of the “Time Machine” series of aged vintage reissues.
The relationship between the Fender Custom Shop and the synthetic aging of instruments goes back to the very first days of the Custom Shop, when John Hill and Dan Smith hired British luthier Robbie Gladwell to “antique” Strat necks for Eric Clapton, who claimed he had no interest in playing a guitar that looked or felt brand new. The relicing process as we know it today, however, was pioneered by the combined efforts of Kansas City-based vintage guitar enthusiast Vince Cunetto and Custom Shop masterbuilders John Page and JW Black.
Cunetto, working independently of Fender, had developed a number of techniques to make a new guitar look almost identical to a genuine vintage example, from the DuPont-correct shade of nitro lacquer to the peghead decal. Black met Cunetto through a mutual friend, and the former was immediately impressed with the quality and specificity of the latter’s work. Instead of filing a copyright suit, the Custom Shop made an agreement with Cunetto: they would send body and neck blanks to his workshop, and Cunetto and his small team would carefully age each instrument to exacting standards. The first two Cunetto Relic instruments appeared at the NAMM show in Winter ‘95, fooling just about everyone who saw them that they were genuine vintage instruments. Once the truth was revealed, the orders started pouring in.
Fender’s relationship with Cunetto ended in ‘99, but the Relic instruments produced during that brief period are widely considered some of the most accurate ever made - due in part to the fact that Cunetto kept his secrets with him when Fender moved Relic production in-house. And while noted as a “1960” Jazz Bass on the COA, the feature set replicated on this instrument was first used by Fender circa 1962.
Produced in an era where Custom Shop instrument production was far more finite, the elevated quality of this instrument is evident in its feel, visual presentation and tonal range. Offering the sonic depth and detail of the best Jazz Basses, this instrument delivers burp, growl and low-end muscle via the pair of handwound black bobbin single coils. This Relic Jazz Bass weighs 9lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-105 roundwound strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Slender U, measuring .805” 1st fret, .930” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood slab, 7 ¼” vintage-spec radius
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 34”
-Nut: 1 1/2”, bone
-Headstock: Waterslide decal, Custom Shop Chevron (back)
-Tuners: Clover button, reverse-geared
-Serialization: R-prefix (neck plate)
-Factory Markings: Neck heel pencil dated 11-19-96, ‘97 date stamp on pocket, “RELIC” and builders’ stamps
Body Specs:
-Wood: Alder
-Pickups: Black bobbin single coil x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS 250k pots
-Hardware: Bridge with threaded saddles, control plate (aged), “ashtray” bridge and pickup covers (in case, never installed)
-Plastics: Four-ply tortoise pickguard, finger rest, pointer knobs
The gloss three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is pitch-perfect in its hue and saturation, and Cunetto’s Relic includes arm wear on top and a number of smaller marks on the body as a whole. This is a notably well-kept example: if there is any wear beyond the factory aging, it is indiscernible as such. The smooth nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless.
The original brown tolex hardshell case is included, along with the CoA (dated April ‘97 and signed by John Page), all hangtags, and case candy.
The relationship between the Fender Custom Shop and the synthetic aging of instruments goes back to the very first days of the Custom Shop, when John Hill and Dan Smith hired British luthier Robbie Gladwell to “antique” Strat necks for Eric Clapton, who claimed he had no interest in playing a guitar that looked or felt brand new. The relicing process as we know it today, however, was pioneered by the combined efforts of Kansas City-based vintage guitar enthusiast Vince Cunetto and Custom Shop masterbuilders John Page and JW Black.
Cunetto, working independently of Fender, had developed a number of techniques to make a new guitar look almost identical to a genuine vintage example, from the DuPont-correct shade of nitro lacquer to the peghead decal. Black met Cunetto through a mutual friend, and the former was immediately impressed with the quality and specificity of the latter’s work. Instead of filing a copyright suit, the Custom Shop made an agreement with Cunetto: they would send body and neck blanks to his workshop, and Cunetto and his small team would carefully age each instrument to exacting standards. The first two Cunetto Relic instruments appeared at the NAMM show in Winter ‘95, fooling just about everyone who saw them that they were genuine vintage instruments. Once the truth was revealed, the orders started pouring in.
Fender’s relationship with Cunetto ended in ‘99, but the Relic instruments produced during that brief period are widely considered some of the most accurate ever made - due in part to the fact that Cunetto kept his secrets with him when Fender moved Relic production in-house. And while noted as a “1960” Jazz Bass on the COA, the feature set replicated on this instrument was first used by Fender circa 1962.
Produced in an era where Custom Shop instrument production was far more finite, the elevated quality of this instrument is evident in its feel, visual presentation and tonal range. Offering the sonic depth and detail of the best Jazz Basses, this instrument delivers burp, growl and low-end muscle via the pair of handwound black bobbin single coils. This Relic Jazz Bass weighs 9lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-105 roundwound strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Slender U, measuring .805” 1st fret, .930” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood slab, 7 ¼” vintage-spec radius
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 34”
-Nut: 1 1/2”, bone
-Headstock: Waterslide decal, Custom Shop Chevron (back)
-Tuners: Clover button, reverse-geared
-Serialization: R-prefix (neck plate)
-Factory Markings: Neck heel pencil dated 11-19-96, ‘97 date stamp on pocket, “RELIC” and builders’ stamps
Body Specs:
-Wood: Alder
-Pickups: Black bobbin single coil x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS 250k pots
-Hardware: Bridge with threaded saddles, control plate (aged), “ashtray” bridge and pickup covers (in case, never installed)
-Plastics: Four-ply tortoise pickguard, finger rest, pointer knobs
The gloss three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is pitch-perfect in its hue and saturation, and Cunetto’s Relic includes arm wear on top and a number of smaller marks on the body as a whole. This is a notably well-kept example: if there is any wear beyond the factory aging, it is indiscernible as such. The smooth nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless.
The original brown tolex hardshell case is included, along with the CoA (dated April ‘97 and signed by John Page), all hangtags, and case candy.
