1966 Custom color JM with no matching headstock

[slimdave]

Hi.

There's a 1966 Olympic White Jazzmaster for sale in my country. All the 66 OW Jazzmaster I have seen have a matching OW headstock.This one does not have the matching headstock. Do you think it might be a refin? Or just an anomaly?

Thanks in advance.

[eggwheat]

In '66 it would be more likely to be refinish.

[Embenny]

In '66 it would be more likely to be refinish.

Agreed. Pre-CBS, it was less common but there were a fair number made that way, including documented official photos and advertising. Post-CBS, I haven't personally seen any evidence of this practice. Not to say it's impossible, but it's not a known practice like it was pre-CBS.

[FrankRay]

Other possibilities including factory refin where only the body was sent; the neck replaced; one of the later 60s guitars without matching headstocks mis-dated.
Still, probably a refin. It's just that white is the easiest refin for guitars with tort pickguards.
Need pics!

[slimdave]

Here's the ebay link:

http://www.ebay.es/itm/1966-Original-Vi ... OSw~oFXLL4~" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Pacafeliz]

I owned an original 1973 JM that was white (or blonde) with no matching headstock...

[MattK]

There's an outside chance it's blonde, for which the plain headstock is correct. If the body wood is ash it's not a refin.

[eggwheat]

I'd put a very large wager on that being a refinish. Thats solid white and also not a mark on it..when you compare the body to the rest of the guitar..neck plate etc..it doesn't compute. Also the cracks in paint suggest a nice thick refinish it is too.

[zip73]

I'd put a very large wager on that being a refinish. Thats solid white and also not a mark on it..when you compare the body to the rest of the guitar..neck plate etc..it doesn't compute. Also the cracks in paint suggest a nice thick refinish it is too.

Yep. Legit OW '66 w/matching headstock & commensurate wear on neck and body:

[slimdave]

Guys, thanks for the replies. You're right, that finish seems too thick and unmolested for being original. The neck has wear, the body does not.

[boss302bass]

With big dollar asking prices like that there's a very good reason there's no pics of the neck pocket or other cavities on the auction.

I'd be more inclined to go for this one:

http://www.ebay.es/itm/Fender-Jazzmaste ... 100623.m-1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's 400 cheaper and appears to be genuine! AND 1963...

[kapepper]

With big dollar asking prices like that there's a very good reason there's no pics of the neck pocket or other cavities on the auction.

I'd be more inclined to go for this one:

http://www.ebay.es/itm/Fender-Jazzmaste" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 100623.m-1

It's 400 cheaper and appears to be genuine! AND 1963...

Nice one, but this is refin, correct?

[boss302bass]

With big dollar asking prices like that there's a very good reason there's no pics of the neck pocket or other cavities on the auction.

I'd be more inclined to go for this one:

http://www.ebay.es/itm/Fender-Jazzmaste" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 100623.m-1

It's 400 cheaper and appears to be genuine! AND 1963...

Nice one, but this is refin, correct?

It appears to be sold, sadly. But it did look like an original finish.

[fendercollection]

Even if the finish is real it is not unlikely that the neck was switched years ago. That is not all that uncommon in the vintage guitar business back in the day. Take an the "best" '66 neck and the "best" '66 body and place them together.

[boss302bass]

Yo Slim Dave - that 63 Burgundy Mist JM has been relisted. It looks genuine. There is a lot of parallel line-checking in the paint...it really does look like it could be the original finish.