Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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Parksie
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Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Parksie » Sun Apr 17, 2022 10:01 pm

I have decided to get my refinished in 1968 white 1961 Jazzmaster professionally refinished back to translucent Blonde.

A week or so ago I sanded back the refinished white and the primers to reveal the pencil date under the bridge pick up.

After seeing the original translucent Blonde colour I decided I would check to se if the original Blonde colour was still there.

Sadly, it had been stripped during the refinish and it appears that the only area that remains of the original Blonde is in the bridge pick up cavity.

However, after sanding back a small area on the back of the guitar I was able to see the amazing Ash grain and immediately decided I would get a professional to take it back to translucent Blonde.

A couple of photos of the Ash and the pencil date are below.

https://ibb.co/YD9dX44
https://ibb.co/g3XZv2w
https://ibb.co/D7YsHG1
https://ibb.co/jkmjhZy


When I got the guitar late last year I thought that I would keep it in the refinished white, however, I really think the guitar will look amazing in Blonde over Ash.

The refinish won't be happening until July but I'll post photos one I get it back!.

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Guitarman555
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Guitarman555 » Mon Apr 18, 2022 2:55 pm

Hi, I am surprised you have ash body. I thought all pre-cbs jazzys are alder. Or in the first 3 years it was ash?

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Parksie
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Parksie » Mon Apr 18, 2022 3:04 pm

Ash was only used on the translucent Blonde custom colour.

Telecasters were also made from Ash however at the Fender factory Ash Jazzmasters were specially made as all other guitars were made from Alder.

I did some numbers based on available info on a couple of forums and I would guess that in 1961 probably only 50 guitars would have been made Blonde over Ash.

The majority were Suburst and the minority Custom colours.

As Blonde over Ash was a special order it would have been made in pretty small numbers.

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Guitarman555
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Guitarman555 » Mon Apr 18, 2022 3:44 pm

Nice. How does ash jazzmaster sound in comparuson to alder?

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Guitarman555
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Guitarman555 » Mon Apr 18, 2022 3:47 pm

Parksie wrote:
Mon Apr 18, 2022 3:04 pm
Ash was only used on the translucent Blonde custom colour.

Telecasters were also made from Ash however at the Fender factory Ash Jazzmasters were specially made as all other guitars were made from Alder.

I did some numbers based on available info on a couple of forums and I would guess that in 1961 probably only 50 guitars would have been made Blonde over Ash.

The majority were Suburst and the minority Custom colours.

As Blonde over Ash was a special order it would have been made in pretty small numbers.
Btw you seem to be an expert. Could you please look at my todays thread and pics of Jag 63/64?

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Parksie
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Parksie » Mon Apr 18, 2022 4:12 pm

Thanks mate but the truth is I'm a long way from an expert!

I just have a very keen interest in Fender Vintage guitars.

I'm sure there are others here though that can help you out.

Cheers.

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Guitarman555
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Guitarman555 » Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:05 am

If somebody us more familiar to pre-cbs jags, I would appreciate help here in my thread:
viewtopic.php?t=122389#p1722299

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Marc
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Re: Back to Blonde.........Returning my 1961 Jazzmaster to original factory colour.

Post by Marc » Sat May 28, 2022 3:46 am

In the ‘90s I passed on a blonde/ash JM which from memory was a 63. I thought £750 was too much!!

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