I've had the luck (or is it unhealthy obsession?) of getting a few vintage Fenders over the last years. At the moment I have 3 refin Jazzmasters: 59, 65, 66 and an all original 66 mustang. All of them are amazing instruments and while I like them and play them all, I find myself gravitating towards the 1966 Jazzmaster in Lake Placid Blue refin. Not only my #1 offset, but my #1 guitar.
I've got it on ebay at a very decent price on 2014 and it come to me with a homemade pickguard, Schaller tuners, the neck refinished and headstock sanded off. Also, the first two inlays are replacements. Slow but sure I gave her a refret, a matching headstock, a beautiful aged mint guard from portlandmusic, plus staytrem bridge and trem.
The refin color is a metallic LPB that I found outstanding from the auction pics to this day. (neck pocket shows it was originally sunburst) It's gorgeous in my book. Underneath it, there is a daphnish light blue that shows more with each ding and flaking. For sure not as nice looking as an original, aging Fender finish but I don't complain.
If looks weren't enough, playability and sound are insane. The neck is thin and fast. The nut width is also on the narrow side, to the point that for a long time I thought it was a "A" width neck (Neck stamp was long gone. Further research and comparisons confirmed that is most likely a slightly narrower "B"). Unplugged, it has a huge volume and resonance. Plug it in, and the original pickups translate this into a balanced, crystalline jangly 3D sound. I record guitars pretty much daily and this one is usually my first pick. As soon as I strap it on, I feel it fits me like a glove. But enough of my babbling, here are them pics!
Before:
After:
With her sisters:
