Woods used for 50´s, 60´s, 70´s strats, tele´s and jazzmasters

[lalalandstudios]

Gorgeous, isn't it?

It's not mine unfortunately, (although I do have a '59 Jazzmaster).

Yeaah, looks so cool, it is really obvious how the wood appears under the finish. So this is the legendary ash jazzmaster! I am wondering weather ash jazzmasters are heavier than the alder ones..it would be interesting to know.

It's arguably the most famous Jazzmaster on the forum.

Who's arguing?

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Yeaah, looks so cool, it is really obvious how the wood appears under the finish. So this is the legendary ash jazzmaster! I am wondering weather ash jazzmasters are heavier than the alder ones..it would be interesting to know.

It's arguably the most famous Jazzmaster on the forum.

Who's arguing?

Guitarman555, meet the owner.

[Axolotl]

FWIW, here are a few shots of my 59. A couple of luthiers and some knowledgeable people told me they thought the body is ash due to the grain pattern which is more figured than alder. It is also a heavier than my 65 and 66 Jazzmasters which are surely made of alder. It was originally a sunburst. I'm pretty convinced it's ash but I wouldn't mind if some of our own experts chiming in (I've been wanting to do a thread about this but I keep forgetting about it)

[Guitarman555]

FWIW, here are a few shots of my 59. A couple of luthiers and some knowledgeable people told me they thought the body is ash due to the grain pattern which is more figured than alder. It is also a heavier than my 65 and 66 Jazzmasters which are surely made of alder. It was originally a sunburst. I'm pretty convinced it's ash but I wouldn't mind if some of our own experts chiming in (I've been wanting to do a thread about this but I keep forgetting about it)

Wow, looks so cool within this red refinish! If I compare it with the previous picture of ash blond jazzy from 1959, I think you are right, it is ash! Please can you tell me exact weight? Many thanks!

[Axolotl]

^^^ By sheer luck I found my scale so I can oblige: My 59 weights 3.54 kgs / 7.8 lb

[Guitarman555]

^^^ By sheer luck I found my scale so I can oblige: My 59 weights 3.54 kgs / 7.8 lb

Hey, thanks, is your jazzy ash or alder body?

[Axolotl]

Well, as I told you above, I'm inclined to think it's ash

[Guitarman555]

Well, as I told you above, I'm inclined to think it's ash

Hey Axolot, I saw some jazzy´s from 1959, where weight was claimed 8,3 pounds, or so... What is heavier, ash or alder? No idea.. maybe this could be the key factor for guessing the woodtype?

[Axolotl]

As far as I know, ash it's heavier.

[Guitarman555]

As far as I know, ash it's heavier.

You assume that you have ash from the wooden lines under finish?

[Axolotl]

And by the fact that is heavier than my other, alder Jazzmasters. But as I said before, I don't really know for sure.

[Guitarman555]

And by the fact that is heavier than my other, alder Jazzmasters. But as I said before, I don't really know for sure.

Your other alder Jazzy´s are from sixties?

[Guitarman555]

And by the fact that is heavier than my other, alder Jazzmasters. But as I said before, I don't really know for sure.

Your other alder Jazzy´s are from sixties?

Do you know if in 1959 they made in ash only blond, or also sunburst jazzy´s?

[Jellyfishin'Musician]

That looks more like alder to me.
Its grain is no more pronounced than most other alder bodies, and very subdued, compared to most ash bodies.

It would probably more obvious, if some of the wood in the neck pocket has remained unfinished; ash has a much, much coarser grain - requiring significant grain filling to allow for a smooth finish. Alder is a lot easier to finish.

The ash that Fender used in the seventies and early-eighties, Northern ash, is usually significantly heavier than alder, but earlier Fenders used swamp ash, which could be extremely lightweight. If you've picked up many fifties blonde Telecasters, then you know that some are practically featherweights, so -in that era- weight is not a reliable indicator of the wood used.

[Jellyfishin'Musician]

Also, sunbursts were alder in 1959.

Beautiful Jazzmaster, by the way!