How old is my instrument?
For a first hint, check the Serial-Number against the lists provided by Fender: http://www.fender.co.uk/support/product_dating.php
Better estimations require some fiddling in the insides of the guitar, look for stamps on the neck-heel, numbers in the neck-pocket and stamps on the potentiometer-housings. Lists with references can be found all over the web. A very valuable source of information is Jim Shine’s collection of Fender-parts: http://www.guitarhq.com/fenddiff/
Fender’s factory specs – The Classic Player Jazzmaster Special
The Classic Player Jazzmaster Special
| Model Name | Classic Player Jazzmaster® Special |
|---|---|
| Model Number | 014-1600-(Color#) |
| Series | Classic Player Series |
| Colors | (300)* 3-Color Sunburst, *add $50.00, (306) Black, (Polyester Finish) |
| Body | Alder |
| Neck | Maple, “C” Shape, (Polyurethane Finish) |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241mm) |
| No. of Frets | 21 Medium Jumbo Frets |
| Pickups | 2 Special Design Hot Jazzmaster Single-Coil Pickups (Neck & Bridge) |
| Controls | “Lead” Circuit: Volume, Tone, “Rhythm” Circuit: Volume, Tone |
| Pickup Switching | 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups Position 3. Neck Pickup (Lead Circuit) 2-Position Slide: |
| Bridge | Fender® Adjusto-Matic™ Bridge with Vintage Style “Floating” Tremolo Tailpiece and Tremolo Lock Button |
| Machine Heads | Fender/Ping® Vintage Style Tuning Machines |
| Hardware | Chrome |
| Pickguard | 4-Ply Brown Shell |
| Scale Length | 25.5” (648 mm) |
| Width at Nut | 1.650” (42 mm) |
| Unique Features | New Pickups with Fatter Tone and More Output, Adjusto-Matic™ Bridge, Medium Jumbo Frets, New Neck Pocket Cut Provides Better Pitch, 9.5” Radius, Trem Plate Moved Closer to Bridge to Increase Break Angle and Sustain, Screw-In Tremolo Arm, White Plastic Knobs and Switches |
| Strings | Fender Standard Tension ST250R, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046), p/n 0730250206 |
| Accessories | Deluxe Gig Bag |
| Case | Deluxe Gig Bag |
| Introduced | 6/2008 |
| Notice | Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice |
Fender celebrates 50 years of Jazzmaster
Recently a special webpage has been launched and on the 12th September 2008 a special concert will be held in New York’s Knitting Factory, with Tom Verlaine, Nels Cline, Thurston Moore, J. Mascis and special guests!
Soundsamples bug
There seems to be a problem with the Soundsamples of vintage and reissue Jaguar and Jazzmasters Files. Under certain browser/system circumstances no sound will be played and only “buffering” is displayed in the flash-player. For those with these problems I have added the url to the sound-files below each player. Cudos to “Elm” and thanks for the report.
New Gallery added
I couldn’t resist and recently got me this beauty. I always lusted after a Candy Apple Red, matching headstock Jaguar – preferably a pre-CBS one, hahah. Well, close enough for Rock’n'Roll. :-)
Revised “Taming The Stringbuzz”
Upon the author’s request I updated the Taming The Stringbuzz article with his new insights :-)
New article on the String Buzz
Another solution to the annoying string/bridge buzz riddle, by Nate Barnes
