Re: Say what???

[zhivago]

1950s Romero solidbody, very rare and historically important guitar. The story goes that Romero, a music store in New Iberia Louisiana, was selling Fender Amps in the late 1940s. When they got their first solidbody, Broadcasters and such, they decided that they too could make guitars. When the Fender rep came though to call on them they, he ask if he could bring one out for Leo Fender to look at. Leo like the body shape (not much else) and used the shape for his upcoming Jazzmaster model. This example is quite nice, but played, the finish is a cross between Copper and burgundy mist. Call for price.

http://www.kummersvintage.com/prod01.htm

[PorkyPrimeCut]

I guess emphasis should be put on "The story goes...." Interesting find though.

The scenario reminds me of the whole Xerox/Windows/Apple Mac situation. There're always someones ideas getting "ripped off" somewhere along the way.

[El Pr0n]

The Clash stole Rock The Casbah, didn't they? But we still love 'em... Anything goes, I guess 

[Soiouz]

I don't believe the story, really. The first patent drawings of the Jazzmaster did not have that same body shape, IIRC. The offset was there, but not as pronounced, especially in the lower horn area. I can't find a better image than in this auction... If someone has it in better resolution, please post it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Patent-Fender-Jazz- ... dZViewItem

It looks as though the body shape design was still a work in progress then which tends to indicate it really is not something Leo simply copied from someone else, IMO.....

[djetz]

It's easy enough to say that guitar pre-dates the Jazzmaster. I'd want to see some evidence first.

Two possible scenarios:

1. Leo copied this.

2. They copied Leo. Then someone made up a story claiming that Leo copied this.

Which is more likely? Unless there is evidence that this guitar was made before 1958, then it's just another urban myth in the making.

[1946dodge]

I like the shape and the body colour and the neck. The pickguard sucks and the pickups and bridge looks like they were made in Japan, when made in Japan was like made in China, only worse.

[Fall reverb]

Am I currently the only one who's somehow unable to see those pics and/or even get access to the website of Kummer's Vintage?

[sookwinder]

i can see the here in australia,  but then again i am standing on my head

[StevenO]

I can and I'm usually the guy who can't see whatever anybody else sees when there is one of those problems..

[Stratelejazzuar]

Heh, i suppose that leo got the idea to use a rosewood fretborad and enlarge a strat headstock shape from the romero, too... lol.

[fenderjapan]

Anyway Leo's Jazzmaster look much, much better No doubt!

[Donny]

seems unlikely with that big headstock

[callum]

hmm. it doesn't really matter if he did use it as a basis for the jazzmaster.

it's not an exact copy of the body shape, and anyway, you can find people's influences in music / art / literature / whatever if you look hard enough.

having said that, i think i remember reading a piece (probably on here) about some guy who covered his jag in paisley wallpaper, then went to get it refinsished by fender, and they nicked it off him, stealing the design.


creating the paisley finish is not something to brag about anyway.. 

[blacktiger]

If we're talking Broadcaster era, then I guess Leo also stole the headstock design to use on the Strat.  The story is complete bullshit.

[fullerplast]

There were so many variants of that guitar... Harmony, Kay, tru-tone, Custom Kraft, Sherwood, Alamo, Silvertone... even Dano.

Like the others, I would have to see proof that this one pre-dated the Jazzmaster.