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Post subject: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:48 pm
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Any history buffs know if Jazzmaster was produced in mahogany in 1963? I'm trying to restore a 'basket case' with '63 serial no. and date stamps that was given to me and the body appears to be mahogany. I thought all of their bodies were alder in that year and don't find any info to the contrary.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 4:06 am
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Jazzmasters from that vintage were made from alder.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:19 am
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Thanks to responders for your input. I think we've resolved the question. In 1973, the previous owner decided to refinish his JM. He stripped the original sunburst and applied a dark stain- probably mahogany, over which he applied a heavy coat of varnish of some kind. He never finished the project and the guitar languished in pieces in its case in attics and storage areas for 40 years (sad). We were reluctant to sand anything at this point, so even when some of the varnish was gently scraped away, the wood had a natural mahogany look that fooled us into thinking something other than alder- which we expected it to be. Upon further review, looking deeply into the crevices under the brass shielding and in the neck pocket, we were able to determine that it's alder after all. I'm NOT going to make the mistake of sanding deeply, so if it turns out that the stain has set so well into the grain of the wood, I may be forced to abandon my sunburst plans in favor of an original custom color paint. Thanks again for your responses to my inquiry.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 5:45 am
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Just to keep records straight, according to some usually reliable sources there were also ash Jazzmasters (blonde, sunburst finishes) in the early days of the model.
I have no personal sightings of this, but it would suit Fender's general policy on wood choices.

And @ceejayen: IMHO, it might be appropriate for the history of that individual JM to keep the mahogany look & just give it a new lacquer top. After all, she's had that party dress on for 40some years... :wink:
Keep us posted with pics.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:01 am
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@jmattis- Thanks for your reply. You've given me some food for thought re: leaving mahogany 'party dress' on. I think we'll need to evaluate the overall stain job my benefactor did 40 years ago, so when we get the old varnish removed, we'll have a look at that possibility. If we have a good piece, stained well with no blotches, runs, drips, or errors, that may well be a great option- my luthier is an expert with lacquers and clears, so his opinion will be a big factor in my decision. Good stuff here- Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 6:02 am
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jmattis wrote:
according to some usually reliable sources there were also ash Jazzmasters (blonde, sunburst finishes) in the early days of the model.


+1

Those early Jazzmasters also featured a 1-piece maple/neck/fretboard and a gold anodized pickguard.

The slab rosewood fretboard over a maple neck made its first debuts during the 2nd half of 1958 (if my memory serves) and the following year Fender adopted this feature on other models.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 7:18 am
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@CJN, I was just thinking that IMHO the most common "mistakes" in repairing anything vintage is (a) to try to make it look brand new and (b) to hide the history of it.
Since that got you thinking, my arrow hit the target. Good luck, looking forward to see the JM restored.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:26 am
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Elvis Costello plays a walnut-stained Jazzmaster since 1977. Your guitar looks close.

Image

Over the years Fender offered mahogany-bodied Jazzmasters in the form of special edition runs; the only mahogany Jazzmaster currently into production is the Jim Root signature model which is a snapshot of the Slipknot slinger's favorite stage axe.

Image


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 6:30 am
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There's also the made in China Modern Player Jazzmaster HH with a mahogany body.
Been GASing for the black version for some time (there's a nice bling to it, plus a big block maple fretboard), but haven't seen it in any stores nearby for testing.


Last edited by jmattis on Sun Dec 28, 2014 3:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:16 pm
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They did in fact use mahogany on occasion at Fender during this time frame. They also made Teles and Strats with Mahogany bodies, I would be surprised if they made ONLY Teles and Strats. You may very well have a quite rare guitar as there are very few documented Teles and Strats in Mahogany.

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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 3:45 pm
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Thought I would tag onto my original topic post to let you all know that my 63 JM just got dressed in a new 'original' sunburst finish after painstakingly lifting the ugly stain laid on in 1973 by an earlier owner. It looks great and I'm working on refitting with as many of the original parts as I can. I was disappointed to find that the original tortoise shell pickguard had shrunk over the years (it was removed and kept in a bag with the electronics and shield). The shrinkage was severe enough to prevent remounting- some screw holes were more than 3/8 inch short of lineup. Crap. Anyway as I progress I've run into an issue I'm hoping someone can help me with. Pickups. They were removed and not identified as 'bridge' or 'neck' position. Does it matter? If so, how can I tell the difference between the two? I think there are different output values in the two, but can find nothing on them except a color difference. I'd rather not make a mistake with this, so any info would be appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 3:06 am
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On the pickguard: celluloid shrinks, there's nothing you can do to prevent it. Sometimes (in addition to misaligned screw holes) the pickups don't go on straight...

On the pickups, if you get no better answer from the forum wizards:
The weaker output pickup goes to the neck, the stronger to the bridge.

Pics might help... :wink:


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 7:53 am
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I think I figured out how to post pics... There's a couple of 'Before' pics, and some 'After' refinish shots. Also a couple of front and back shots of the two pickups. Please try this and let me know if it doesn't work. http://s356.photobucket.com/user/ceejayen/library/


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:22 am
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Your pics show just fine. But to avoid the photobucket popups, let's put one here - this is the most important one on pickup identification.
Maybe someone knows if that "51?" stamp identifies the pickup's position.
And I must correct my previous post when we talk about Jazzmasters: the correct version is of course "The weaker output pickup goes to the rhytm, the stronger to the lead." :wink:

Image

Oh, here are instructions on pic posting: Nutter's Quick Start Guide

And should you need to replace the pups, I know a guy who makes fantastic, original sounding, handmade JM pickups.


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Post subject: Re: 1963 Jazzmaster in Mahogany?
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 12:10 pm
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I checked both pups for output impedance and it turns out that the pup stamped '51' doesn't read any output on my ohmmeter- the other one reads about 7.4k. I'm thinking I have an open winding? jmattis- I had considered putting some Lindy Fralins in if it was necessary- his shop is in my town not too far from me. If you want to PM me re: your pup maker contact- please do... and thanks very much for your helpful feedback.


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