OffsetGuitars.com

I am trying to find out something of the mysterious image in this JM I just bought. The seller noted that it looked like there was an image under the finish that looked like a dragon but was only visible at an angle. True enough there was something there but it looked like the image had been pressed into the guitar before it was finished and the depth of the impression is perhaps .05mm. I took some tracing paper and a graphite bar and got nothing! So I took the bar directly to the guitar and this popped out, it took a few rubbings, erasing around the border, etc. I wrote Fender and will post any response if people are interested. It's just graphite so one squirt of polish will melt it and I certainly don't want to clear coat over this rare bird and make it a re-fin. Anyhow if anybody has any ideas of how a Chinese Lion got on my guitar I would love to hear! Its a 2016 '65 AV JM, name in the neck pocket is "Javier".

Wow.

Hopefully Fender can confirm for you if the finish is original to the guitar. If so that’s wild.

No clue about that, but that is absolutely wild and badass. Keep us posted!

I think that's a figure in Chinese mythology that represents Wind and Tone? Kinda sucks that you got a Chinese clone Jazzmaster though.

Very cool, I wouldn't mind that at all, but hope it was priced accordingly.

Have any pics of the neck pocket or the pickup/control cavities?

Debaser wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:40 am

Very cool, I wouldn't mind that at all, but hope it was priced accordingly.

Have any pics of the neck pocket or the pickup/control cavities?

Price wise it was about street for a '65 AV, however it's the best playing AV I have ever held. I would put it up against a custom shop any day.
This pic of the neck pocket was taken prior to swapping the pickguard.

Wow! Cooooooo-oooooooule!

Worst case of buckle rash ever.

LVC wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 10:05 am

Worst case of buckle rash ever.

haha. Imagine you could pull of such a thing with your pelvic movements! ;-)
Great and very weird thing indeed! And happy for you that it's such a good playing and looking guitar!

LVC wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 10:05 am

Worst case of buckle rash ever.

Orrrr.... BEST BELT BUCKLE EVER!

jfromel wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:03 am

I certainly don't want to clear coat over this rare bird and make it a re-fin.

Sorry to be the fun police but I think it already is (a refin)?

Unless the colour balance is off, that's a very bright white. Also - matching headstock is non-original.


My guess is it was carved into the back, later levelled/filled with some kind of wood-filler prior to being refinished, and the fillter has since shrunk just enough to allow the design to be 'seen'.

andy_tchp wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:17 pm

jfromel wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:03 am

I certainly don't want to clear coat over this rare bird and make it a re-fin.

Sorry to be the fun police but I think it already is (a refin)?

Unless the colour balance is off, that's a very bright white. Also - matching headstock is non-original.


My guess is it was carved into the back, later levelled/filled with some kind of wood-filler prior to being refinished, and the fillter has since shrunk just enough to allow the design to be 'seen'.

Andy.

SignoftheDragon wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:22 pm

andy_tchp wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:17 pm

jfromel wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:03 am

I certainly don't want to clear coat over this rare bird and make it a re-fin.

Sorry to be the fun police but I think it already is (a refin)?

Unless the colour balance is off, that's a very bright white. Also - matching headstock is non-original.


My guess is it was carved into the back, later levelled/filled with some kind of wood-filler prior to being refinished, and the fillter has since shrunk just enough to allow the design to be 'seen'.

Andy.

Uh, I mean...yeah... it's definitely a super secret rare all-original prototype special 1/1 run direct from Fender's hidden custom shop.

The most plausible (and least fun) explanation.

andy_tchp wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 3:17 pm

jfromel wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:03 am

I certainly don't want to clear coat over this rare bird and make it a re-fin.

Sorry to be the fun police but I think it already is (a refin)?

Unless the colour balance is off, that's a very bright white. Also - matching headstock is non-original.


My guess is it was carved into the back, later levelled/filled with some kind of wood-filler prior to being refinished, and the fillter has since shrunk just enough to allow the design to be 'seen'.

Fun Police Alert. It's straight up Oly White thin skin nitro (if this is a re-fin the person who did it should consider doing Van Gogh forgeries). The matching HS is original, at least Fender, myself, the seller, the guitar neck and the interwebs think so, but we could all be wrong. I got an email from Fender earlier today based on the S/N... scroll to the bottom of the spec sheet - Oly White - matching HS... Perhaps I should reach out to Apple and let them know that the Fun Police informed me that the colour balance is off on my iPhone and it's making my guitar look like a re-fin? No wait, I used a filter in Photo-shop to increase the contrast so the image would have more POP! Take a look at the neck pocket, it does not look like a refin to me? There are some local Guru's (Jay Boone, Rick King, etc) I can show this to in person once I get my vaccine, but wanted to see if anyone on the gear geek forums (here, TGP, etc) might have some insight.

Below you will find the full specs for the serial number provided. You can respond to this email with a photo of the image on your guitar as well. All the best!

Model Name: American Vintage ‘65 Jazzmaster® (2016)
Model Number: 0112200805
Series: Pure Vintage Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Mid ‘60s “C” Shape,
(Fender® Flash Coat Lacquer Finish)
Fingerboard: Bound Round-Laminated Rosewood, 7.25” Radius (18.41 cm)
Frets: 21 Vintage Style Frets
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Single Line Fender® Deluxe Vintage Tuning Machines
Bridge: American Vintage Adjustable 6-Saddle Jazzmaster® Bridge with “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece with Lock Button
Pickguard: 4-Ply Brown Shell on: (800) 3-Color Sunburst; 3-Ply White/Black/White on: (878) Aztec Gold
Pickups: 2 New American Vintage ‘65 Jazzmaster® Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge)
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle (Lower Bout):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups
Position 3. Neck Pickup
2-Position Slide (Upper Bout):
Up: Rhythm Tone Circuit
Down: Lead Tone Circuit
Controls: “Lead” Circuit: Volume, Tone, (Knobs on Lower Part of Pickguard)
“Rhythm” Circuit: Volume, Tone, (Thumb Wheels on Upper Part of Pickguard)
Colors: (0112200800) 3-Color Sunburst,
(0112200805) Olympic White with Matching Painted Headstock, (Introduced 7/2013),
(Fender® Flash Coat Lacquer Finish)