NGD - But I need some help from some Fender historians...

[kracdown]

Just bought was I was told was a '62 body mated to a '65 neck. When I opened the case, I noticed the amber switch tip and patent pending tremolo... Next I saw the serial number (which dates to '59) and a bridge that is identical to my gold guard. Yet - the body is clearly finished like a '65. It's got the burst color and neck pocket. But again - everything else seems '59. And to make matters worse, the tuners are single line Klusons with white tips (although that would have been easy to change). I'll pop off the shrinking guard and examine the electronics this weekend, but externally they look exactly like my '59. Anyone know why or if a '65 (neck date Jan 65) would have left the factory with '59 parts?

[Soiouz]

The 125 stamping on the neck is a marking usually associated with a factory refinish and rework. So what you have there is most certainly a 1959 Jazzmaster that went back to the factory in late 64 or early 65 for a refinish and a new neck. The tuners could have been changed at any point in the last 60 years.

[greens]

Score!

[46346]

yup. i love it!

[bterry]

Factory refin most likely.

Depending on the circumstances any number of parts could have/could have not been changed at Fender at the time of the refin. Sometimes they'd even just throw out the old bodies/necks, whatever, and give you a completely new this or that. It's random.

When you take the guard off there will probably be another engraved number to match the neck in some way. Did they swap the tuners to double-line Klusons or update any other parts?

[kracdown]

Factory refin most likely.

Depending on the circumstances any number of parts could have/could have not been changed at Fender at the time of the refin. Sometimes they'd even just throw out the old bodies/necks, whatever, and give you a completely new this or that. It's random.

When you take the guard off there will probably be another engraved number to match the neck in some way. Did they swap the tuners to double-line Klusons or update any other parts?

No updated parts other than the body finish and neck. The tuners are single line klusons, but they’re white so my guess is those were swapped by someone else. Everything else looks identical to my ‘59.