We never tire of getting the rare opportunity to steward a one-owner vintage instrument back out into the world.
This 1963 Fender Jazzmaster is a gleaming reminder of how special these pieces can be. Purchased new at EU Wurlitzer in Boston, MA by its original owner, this pre-CBS offset has the perfect balance of player mojo and authenticity. By the owner's account, it's remained in his possession since he purchased it, and never passed through the hands of a guitar tech or repair shop. It has seen its share of use by way of various club gigs in and around the Boston area for decades, and certainly shows it!
While there's no denying the amount of play and finish wear on this guitar, it remains wonderfully intact. We were the first people to turn screws on it! All of the electronics are original to the guitar, with a great, strong pair of black bobbin pickups. All of the hardware - with the exception of the High E string tuner - is original.
The original tuner had corroded and a part of the tuning post broke off. It's functional, but a little risky for use outside of the home or in a studio setting. It will be included in the sale for posterity. The bridge, saddles, tailpiece, and tremolo arm are all original, as is the rare and often missing bridge cover.
The original Sunburst finish is typical of this era for Fender - three-tone Sunburst with more of the reddish hue in the burst. It remains relatively unfaded and quite vibrant considering its play wear. The maple neck features a Brazilian Rosewood laminate fingerboard that has darkened to a nice deep chocolate brown. The original frets are mostly clean with light to moderate wear. The first few frets show the most wear, but we've cleaned them up to optimize playability with the original wire. And if you've ever wondered what a truly road-worn neck looks and feels like, this is it. The owner played this guitar, and we love the uniqueness of the wear!
You can imagine a guitar that's been lovingly played and broken in for decades has got some tone in it, and we're here to tell you that it does. The pickups have nice strong output, which results in a big bold low end with some snappy and clear treble. Clean tones are bright and powerful, which results in great articulation and note definition when gained up. It's unquestionably one of the more versatile Jazzmasters we've heard.
This isn't just another vintage Jazzmaster, folks. It's got the history, provenance, and tone - a total package pre-CBS Fender offset!
Condition: Very Good+. Moderate play wear throughout, with some finish chipping along lower body edges as well as some lacquer flaking on the headstock adjacent to the decal. Pickguard shows minimal warping/shrinkage.
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