(SOLD) Fender American Vintage '62 Jazzmaster Surf Green 2001
Fender American Vintage '62 Jazzmaster, surf green, made in USA 2001. It's easy being green! The American Vintage reissue (or AVRI for short) line launched in the 80s to critical and popular acclaim: finally, proper vintage style Fender guitars were back. The Jazzmaster examples from the line are a lot harder to come by than the Strats, Teles or Jags, so I was very pleased to score this one out of Japan. First up, the colour: my understanding is that surf green wasn't a standard finish on the model, so this was likely part of a limited run for Yamano, Fender's former Japan distributor. It's yellowed and mellowed over a couple of decades to a gorgeous summery hue, and the checking on the neck and headstock caps off a superb aesthetic. The neck is a slick and comfy vintage slim C, which is intuitive and easy to move around on and never makes you work too hard. The perfectly weighted offset body and slinky trem make for a super fun playing experience, it's just a good time all around. The pickups were replaced with Lollars, which sound beautifully clear and crisp. The 'true pancake' wind opens up the top end to be both sweet as well as chiming, while the mids are open and complex. There's a lot to love here, even the case is cool!
Model: Fender American Vintage '62 Jazzmaster
Made: Corona USA, neck date 11 Oct 2001 (serial V138794)
Finish: surf green, gloss nitro
Body: alder
Neck: maple with rosewood board, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius
Weight: 3.935kg
Mods: bridge replaced with Mustang style, locking tuners installed, strap pins replaced, pickups replaced
Pickup: Lollar Jazzmaster single coil x2 (details here)
Case: original deluxe Fender hard case inc. trem arm
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some minor marks on the end, as well as widespread fine checking lines. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and a lot of very fine checking lines on the back only. The back has a couple of small chips on the back edge near the rear strap pin, some dimples on the top horn, a couple of dents on the bottom horn and some widespread light scuffs around the body. The sides have a few light scuffs on both horns and the elbow area, as well as a few dents and small chips from the rear strap pin around to the knobs area. The front has a minor chip on the edge behind the tailpiece, as well as some light scuffs near the back edge, some possibly deliberate scuffs the elbow area, dimples near the knobs and some standard play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Frets . All electrics tested and working properly. Frets look freshly dressed and polished and are in pretty good shape, 8/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.