Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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Marc
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Marc » Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:36 am

No photos but my much-missed '64 Jazzmaster wiring was the work of 'Esper' and a '63 I owned briefly (which came back with the most disappointing restoration I'd ever commissioned) was a "Mel".

I don't recall what was on the '65 JM or XIIs I owned? Perhaps they had stopped doing it by then and it was just a number stamped designating an assembly worker? I don't remember seeing anything.

Side note: A well-known repair guy here in Bristol recently mentioned that he had repaired vintage Jazzmasters that were buzzing or not working because the large shielding plate under the pickguard had been made out of two pieces of aluminum which had come apart and broken the ground. He reckoned that he had seen shields that had been made of surplus oil cans (still flat metal prior to being pressed but with the printing done for the oil). I find this hard to believe - has anyone seen one of these? I think it might just have been someone made up their own as a replacement and he only saw it once or the same guitar came back in some years later and things get blurred. The repair guy does great work but likes an urban myth or two... for example: he told me that someone is making brand new Vox AC30s from NOS parts out of a garage in Devon because the factory inventory was removed the day before the factory burnt down in the sixties :w00t: (that bit - the fire is true. I just smiled.

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Ursa Minor » Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:45 am

Its possible the shields we're made form recycled or unused overstock aluminum. I'd say its more likely that was a one-off diy.

I will say this - The shields I've seen have mostly had a company name printed on them. I forget the name at the moment - will have to go through photos to be sure exactly. I always just assumed that that was the aluminum manufacturer and left it at that.

Perhaps they also made oil cans? :ph34r: :unsure:
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Marc » Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:12 pm

kosmonautmayhem wrote:
Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:45 am
Its possible the shields we're made form recycled or unused overstock aluminum. I'd say its more likely that was a one-off diy.

I will say this - The shields I've seen have mostly had a company name printed on them. I forget the name at the moment - will have to go through photos to be sure exactly. I always just assumed that that was the aluminum manufacturer and left it at that.

Perhaps they also made oil cans? :ph34r: :unsure:
Yeah I know the red writing stamped on the shielding. The repair guy described it as literally being like STP or Castrol. I don't believe it because if you were gonna do it you would at least use something that would be one piece. He's a likeable guy but eccentric.

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Ursa Minor » Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:40 pm

I see. :ph34r:
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Cpe4spd » Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:01 pm

This is under Pickguard on a '65 Mustang. There is some type of conductive sprayed material with that greenish hue on here. And initials over it?
I'm suspecting there was a factory refinish on this from Blue to a Candy Apple Red.
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by VMM » Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:59 pm

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Here's the marking under the pickguard of my 1962 JM.

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Tzurby » Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:57 am

Here is a picture of the often seen "E" - on my 1959 JM pickguard. E = Esper, as far as I know.

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Though this is not a Fender offset guitar, how about this "Beck" marking on a 1954/1955 Strat (body date 12-54, neck date TG-1-55)?

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Who is "Beck"? What is strange is that the marking says "1-28-54" - this is a "4", isn't it - though it should be "... -55", referring to 28 January 1955.

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by thisisnickpaige » Fri Dec 06, 2019 2:33 am

Tzurby wrote:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:57 am

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Who is "Beck"? What is strange is that the marking says "1-28-54" - this is a "4", isn't it - though it should be "... -55", referring to 28 January 1955.
Well, tat’s that old turn of the year still writing the old year, right? Or you may have some prototypey goodness. ...but probably the prior. :D
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Soiouz » Fri Feb 07, 2020 7:41 am

It seems Mell made the pickups in my 1964 Jazzmaster!

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by hverlind » Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:16 pm

Cpe4spd wrote:
Tue Apr 09, 2019 12:01 pm
This is under Pickguard on a '65 Mustang. There is some type of conductive sprayed material with that greenish hue on here. And initials over it?
I'm suspecting there was a factory refinish on this from Blue to a Candy Apple Red.
Image
Same initials on the masking tape of my '64 Jazzmaster:
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Other examples:
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Dieca » Tue May 19, 2020 12:59 pm

The markings on my 71 Musicmaster Bass


L. Crawford in the neck pocket. Also no primer used on these models.
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Neck heel stamp.
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Possibly a 4 and some kind of QA stamp on the neck.
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An L and another L or a 4 on the pickguard
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Forrest » Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:39 am

I have the initials SR inside the tremolo cavity of my 1966 Jaguar.

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by coreytree » Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:28 pm

Jazzmaster body -I believe '73 per the neck plate. The original neck was not part of this when I got the guitar. Looks like the "E" is in the neck pocket. Could be a 3, but seems like there was someone making an "E" on other guitars.
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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Disasterbot » Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:04 am

Recently acquired a ‘59 ad a ‘62 Jazzmaster. The 62 has a couple of “R”‘s in pencil, one in the neck pocket. The 59 has been refinished but has “Mell” on the shielding:

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Last edited by Disasterbot on Mon Feb 14, 2022 10:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Under the Hood of Pre-CBS Offsets... (Vintage Markings)

Post by Tiny C » Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:48 am

Here are a couple from my refinished 1959. Just a big curvy line in the neck pocket, and a neck date that I understand shouldn't be there (b/c they weren't writing neck dates in late 1959).

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