1961 Jazzmaster - Groovy!
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 6:00 am
...so my friend sends me this Marketplace link yesterday morning for a super cheap 1961 Jazzmaster mutt.. I call up the seller, we agree for a meeting, and an hour later, this modified, but otherwise very cool 1961 Jazzmaster is sitting on the passenger side of my 1959 Pontiac on the way back home. A good start to a summer Wednesday!
So, once I am back home, I open it up and here's the rundown:
It's all there and all parts are original except the neck pickup, brass shielding plate in the rythm circuit cavity, and an extra useless jack!
All the rest is there: pots are dated 21st week 1961, neck plate is 1961, single line Kluson tuning keys work great, slab board neck feels fantastic and is super straight with original frets. Wiring was redone almost entirely and it is f*cked up: for example, what should be the tone pot in the rythm circuit is now a blender pot for the neck pickup, etc... I will rewire the whole thing as an original when replacing the neck pickup.
Obviously, the modification that most stands out is the "groovy" carvings the original owner made to it sometime in the 1970's. What started out as an original sunburst guitar became that "creation" in blue/purple burst. Body has two large carvings into the top and the guy had the excellent idea of carving out "Fender" in an otherwise perfect neck.
I know, I know, it looks kinda cool. I agree. BUT, I am pretty set on restoring it. The neck, that's a given: it will be back as original. As for the body, we'll see, but it's really annoying to play as is: the shape of the carving edge where the arm rests digs into the arm, and it's uncomfortable. Plus, it's a 1961 with a great slab board neck. It deserves a restoration, I think.
I am heading to my luthier this afternoon and we'll see what he says.
So, once I am back home, I open it up and here's the rundown:
It's all there and all parts are original except the neck pickup, brass shielding plate in the rythm circuit cavity, and an extra useless jack!
All the rest is there: pots are dated 21st week 1961, neck plate is 1961, single line Kluson tuning keys work great, slab board neck feels fantastic and is super straight with original frets. Wiring was redone almost entirely and it is f*cked up: for example, what should be the tone pot in the rythm circuit is now a blender pot for the neck pickup, etc... I will rewire the whole thing as an original when replacing the neck pickup.
Obviously, the modification that most stands out is the "groovy" carvings the original owner made to it sometime in the 1970's. What started out as an original sunburst guitar became that "creation" in blue/purple burst. Body has two large carvings into the top and the guy had the excellent idea of carving out "Fender" in an otherwise perfect neck.
I know, I know, it looks kinda cool. I agree. BUT, I am pretty set on restoring it. The neck, that's a given: it will be back as original. As for the body, we'll see, but it's really annoying to play as is: the shape of the carving edge where the arm rests digs into the arm, and it's uncomfortable. Plus, it's a 1961 with a great slab board neck. It deserves a restoration, I think.
I am heading to my luthier this afternoon and we'll see what he says.
