I only have one old Fender left, it stays cause I know I cannot do better. It's my 1958 Jazzmaster.
The story of this guitar? How did it come into my life?
I moved to Portland, Oregon from Baltimore in 1995. One of the first people I befriended there is my friend Ben who now owns Southside Guitars with his brother Sam. He was a college student and I was a Baltimore ex-pat starting a new life. We both liked the same music. The previous generation grew up on Stratocasters and Les Pauls, their heroes were Clapton and, well, Clapton. Okay, Jimmy Page too. Our heroes were Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello, J. Mascis, PJ harvey, Robert Smith, Tom Verlaine etc. The music that was anti-establishment before if became establishment like any other art form. The Jazzmaster symbolized this. I was for all intents and purposes, a bit of a failure. Few jazz players dug it (I've seen one and another who played a Bass VI with guitar strings!) but the surfers dug it. Lawrence Welks guitarist Buddy Merrill (badass!) enjoyed one for a time as well.
And in todays world:
Ok, I grew up on Jimi. Played a Stratocaster myself for years until about 1991 when I bought my first Jazzmaster, a 1964 Sunburst model for $750 in Catonsville, now owned by my friend Peter Holstrom. And I was a bit motivated by this intriguing photo:
That's the young Jimi rocking out with Little Richard on a '64 much like mine. Kinda had to have one. Part of my struggle was as a Jimi head I couldn't find my own voice on a Stratocaster. I knew I was a Fender boy but needed to break from that. I played some Jazzmasters back when they were $200 guitars and already liked them. They were weird and funky with an odd sound. There were things I didn't like though, they were a bit bright for me and that sad bridge always went out of adjustment.
But I also liked that is was an outsiders guitar. When I took to my first one someone actually chided me for playing 'that hipster faggot guitar'. I fucking loved that comment from a guitar bigot! I knew I was on a better path. Keep going..!
So back to Ben and Portland. Ben was as much of a fan of the Jazzmaster as I. He was buying and selling guitars out of the trunk of his old Dodge Dart. We bonded over guitars and cars fast. He spoke of this 1958 Jazzmaster in a pawn shop that he was trying to get the money together to buy. It was $900. I had about $57 to my name at this point, just started my job at Denny's Music, so the point was moot for me. And alas, someone else got it. Gone..... Oh well, it happens. And this was before the internet was such a thing. To find another first year Jazzmaster? Much more difficult than it is today with Reverb, EBay and GBase.
So fast forward about 6 years. This dour looking young man who was a regular customer comes into the shop I'm working at with an abused old Jazzmaster. It had humbuckers, Schaller tuners, a black plastic pickguard, tune-o-matic bridge and the finish on the body was stripped and lacquered in natural. He fit the Jazzmaster player type: a bit too serious, black dyed hair, black jeans, his hair drooped over his face. Goth, My Bloody Valentine shoe gaze goddess / god type. He never smiled, kinda grunted and was all of about 24 years old. He needed a setup.
I took the guitar apart and saw the body and neck date, 1958. So I called him and asked if he bought this for $900 out of a Pawnshop back in 1995. Yes indeed. I also told him "I have a set of proper pickups and a proper bridge if you want. He said go for it. After putting that together I took a shine to his guitar. I really liked the thing.
He was grateful that I made the thing nicer and smiled when he picked it up. I said to him "I really like your guitar, if you ever want to trade it for something else this is the place." He said "Thanks, I'll consider that."
In the following months he came around to buy strings and try pedals. His vibe was changing. His hair went from black to brown, down to up, the jeans went from black to blue, the cuffs from short to too long but neatly rolled up, his face from sour to smiles..... he was a good player.... he was also transforming into a rockabilly player. Portland has a big scene for that with the greasy hair, tattoos and big old cars. This guitar was to be mine. It was destiny.
So one day he walks in with the guitar and says "I want that Gretsch Tennesseean!" I said "SWAP!"
But still wasn't convinced and as a guitar store employee with no idea how to save money was still broke. I could trade but wasn't ready to give up my '64 Jazzmaster or my beloved $750 '69 Maple Cap Jimi Gilmour Strat:
Nope. Either may be a mistake. The worst part of being a human can be making a decision. So we put it up on the wall in it's ugly condition for $1800. This was about 2001.
We got calls on it. All questions were about the neck and the neck alone. I was paranoid about this. There was a guy in Portland named Cohn Rude that bought old Jazzmasters and shaved the necks down, put them and as many old parts on a Wood'n Body that he put dowel and nail holes on and would sell them as the real deal with "Parts changed". By my estimation he butchered over 100 old Jazzmasters this way. He did have a family to feed and I actually liked the cat, but didn't like what he did. And seeing as a Stratocaster was an iconic guitar loved by the older blues guys whereas the Jazzmaster was seen as a dog by the guys with money, it felt like a personal assault. Mr. Rude wasn't the only guy calling us, he wasn't the only guy doing this. I even asked one lady "Are you making a Strat?" to which she replied gleefully "Yes!" I hung up on her.
But I can't buy a guitar just to save it. This one was not in the best shape. So maybe it doesn't matter.
One day a client came in and wanted our Japan made Boss DS-1 pedal. He had cash and an original Gold Anodized Jazzmaster pickguard to trade for it. SWAP! I put the pickguard on and the whole thing came to life. I traded my '64 straight across for it.
We had a set of old DuoSonic tuners for it so I installed those. I know they aren't "correct" but I like the plastic buttons on my guitar. I think it looks cool.
I had the body re-finished by a great Luthier in Portland, the best. I won't say who cause he doesn't do re-finishing for anyone, he just did it for me cause we have a great relationship.
Much of the red has faded on the front. Red is an unstable dye. The sun takes it away.
The bridge saddles. Terrible. Use Mustang Saddles or buy a Staytrem or Mastery Bridge. That's the difference between a guitar you want to play and one that you are constantly frustrated by. My vote is for the Staytrem cause they look Jet Age, not Iphone Age.
http://staytrem.com/Jaguar-/-Jazzmaster-bridge-725
But I've also installed the Mastery and they do work fantastic. Good for those concerned about the future:
https://masterybridge.com/bridges/offset-bridge/
Me? A cat named Eric Patton in Portland was making these lovely saddles in Brass, titanium and bakelite. He gave me his brass prototypes:
He built some for Johnny Marr as well. They had a thing going developing parts and all, but they were too time consuming to produce. So it makes my guitar all the more personal to me.
So yes, my guitar is a bit of a parts caster. Like I said, Fender guitars are the Lego of the guitar world.
One other change I made. There is a 'plinkyness' to the way a Jazzmaster sounds. Too bright and unfocused for me. It has a tendency to get washed out on stage. Some old bands I was in preferred the sound of my Strat or Telecaster right away. I agreed. The Jazzmaster is difficult. The solution? I changed the pots from those 1 meg pots to 300K. That seems to be the sweet spot for me. Everything got warmer and less harsh. I know that's taboo to do to a vintage guitar, but try it and save the parts if you don't like it. I play and gig. I need my stuff to work for me. It's a tool at the end of the day, a beautiful tool but nonetheless nothing more than a tool.
More pics:
So that's my story. I always wonder who owned this guitar back when it was new? What hippy stripped the finish in the 70's? Did they like natural foods and play good jam band rock? Did the first buyer play jazz? Surf? Soul music (these are STELLAR guitars for soul, R&B)? How many owners? I only know me and the Bloody Valentine Kid. One day I'll be gone and the story will continue. Will someone appreciate is as it is or part it out for cash? Will vintage guitars be a thing at all in 20 years? Will this generation care? A collector would snub this beloved guitar. Will their be such a thing in the future?
Everything is temporary. That is a beautiful thing.
JB
The story of this guitar? How did it come into my life?
I moved to Portland, Oregon from Baltimore in 1995. One of the first people I befriended there is my friend Ben who now owns Southside Guitars with his brother Sam. He was a college student and I was a Baltimore ex-pat starting a new life. We both liked the same music. The previous generation grew up on Stratocasters and Les Pauls, their heroes were Clapton and, well, Clapton. Okay, Jimmy Page too. Our heroes were Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello, J. Mascis, PJ harvey, Robert Smith, Tom Verlaine etc. The music that was anti-establishment before if became establishment like any other art form. The Jazzmaster symbolized this. I was for all intents and purposes, a bit of a failure. Few jazz players dug it (I've seen one and another who played a Bass VI with guitar strings!) but the surfers dug it. Lawrence Welks guitarist Buddy Merrill (badass!) enjoyed one for a time as well.
And in todays world:
Ok, I grew up on Jimi. Played a Stratocaster myself for years until about 1991 when I bought my first Jazzmaster, a 1964 Sunburst model for $750 in Catonsville, now owned by my friend Peter Holstrom. And I was a bit motivated by this intriguing photo:
That's the young Jimi rocking out with Little Richard on a '64 much like mine. Kinda had to have one. Part of my struggle was as a Jimi head I couldn't find my own voice on a Stratocaster. I knew I was a Fender boy but needed to break from that. I played some Jazzmasters back when they were $200 guitars and already liked them. They were weird and funky with an odd sound. There were things I didn't like though, they were a bit bright for me and that sad bridge always went out of adjustment.
But I also liked that is was an outsiders guitar. When I took to my first one someone actually chided me for playing 'that hipster faggot guitar'. I fucking loved that comment from a guitar bigot! I knew I was on a better path. Keep going..!
So back to Ben and Portland. Ben was as much of a fan of the Jazzmaster as I. He was buying and selling guitars out of the trunk of his old Dodge Dart. We bonded over guitars and cars fast. He spoke of this 1958 Jazzmaster in a pawn shop that he was trying to get the money together to buy. It was $900. I had about $57 to my name at this point, just started my job at Denny's Music, so the point was moot for me. And alas, someone else got it. Gone..... Oh well, it happens. And this was before the internet was such a thing. To find another first year Jazzmaster? Much more difficult than it is today with Reverb, EBay and GBase.
So fast forward about 6 years. This dour looking young man who was a regular customer comes into the shop I'm working at with an abused old Jazzmaster. It had humbuckers, Schaller tuners, a black plastic pickguard, tune-o-matic bridge and the finish on the body was stripped and lacquered in natural. He fit the Jazzmaster player type: a bit too serious, black dyed hair, black jeans, his hair drooped over his face. Goth, My Bloody Valentine shoe gaze goddess / god type. He never smiled, kinda grunted and was all of about 24 years old. He needed a setup.
I took the guitar apart and saw the body and neck date, 1958. So I called him and asked if he bought this for $900 out of a Pawnshop back in 1995. Yes indeed. I also told him "I have a set of proper pickups and a proper bridge if you want. He said go for it. After putting that together I took a shine to his guitar. I really liked the thing.
He was grateful that I made the thing nicer and smiled when he picked it up. I said to him "I really like your guitar, if you ever want to trade it for something else this is the place." He said "Thanks, I'll consider that."
In the following months he came around to buy strings and try pedals. His vibe was changing. His hair went from black to brown, down to up, the jeans went from black to blue, the cuffs from short to too long but neatly rolled up, his face from sour to smiles..... he was a good player.... he was also transforming into a rockabilly player. Portland has a big scene for that with the greasy hair, tattoos and big old cars. This guitar was to be mine. It was destiny.
So one day he walks in with the guitar and says "I want that Gretsch Tennesseean!" I said "SWAP!"
But still wasn't convinced and as a guitar store employee with no idea how to save money was still broke. I could trade but wasn't ready to give up my '64 Jazzmaster or my beloved $750 '69 Maple Cap Jimi Gilmour Strat:
Nope. Either may be a mistake. The worst part of being a human can be making a decision. So we put it up on the wall in it's ugly condition for $1800. This was about 2001.
We got calls on it. All questions were about the neck and the neck alone. I was paranoid about this. There was a guy in Portland named Cohn Rude that bought old Jazzmasters and shaved the necks down, put them and as many old parts on a Wood'n Body that he put dowel and nail holes on and would sell them as the real deal with "Parts changed". By my estimation he butchered over 100 old Jazzmasters this way. He did have a family to feed and I actually liked the cat, but didn't like what he did. And seeing as a Stratocaster was an iconic guitar loved by the older blues guys whereas the Jazzmaster was seen as a dog by the guys with money, it felt like a personal assault. Mr. Rude wasn't the only guy calling us, he wasn't the only guy doing this. I even asked one lady "Are you making a Strat?" to which she replied gleefully "Yes!" I hung up on her.
But I can't buy a guitar just to save it. This one was not in the best shape. So maybe it doesn't matter.
One day a client came in and wanted our Japan made Boss DS-1 pedal. He had cash and an original Gold Anodized Jazzmaster pickguard to trade for it. SWAP! I put the pickguard on and the whole thing came to life. I traded my '64 straight across for it.
We had a set of old DuoSonic tuners for it so I installed those. I know they aren't "correct" but I like the plastic buttons on my guitar. I think it looks cool.
I had the body re-finished by a great Luthier in Portland, the best. I won't say who cause he doesn't do re-finishing for anyone, he just did it for me cause we have a great relationship.
Much of the red has faded on the front. Red is an unstable dye. The sun takes it away.
The bridge saddles. Terrible. Use Mustang Saddles or buy a Staytrem or Mastery Bridge. That's the difference between a guitar you want to play and one that you are constantly frustrated by. My vote is for the Staytrem cause they look Jet Age, not Iphone Age.
http://staytrem.com/Jaguar-/-Jazzmaster-bridge-725
But I've also installed the Mastery and they do work fantastic. Good for those concerned about the future:
https://masterybridge.com/bridges/offset-bridge/
Me? A cat named Eric Patton in Portland was making these lovely saddles in Brass, titanium and bakelite. He gave me his brass prototypes:
He built some for Johnny Marr as well. They had a thing going developing parts and all, but they were too time consuming to produce. So it makes my guitar all the more personal to me.
So yes, my guitar is a bit of a parts caster. Like I said, Fender guitars are the Lego of the guitar world.
One other change I made. There is a 'plinkyness' to the way a Jazzmaster sounds. Too bright and unfocused for me. It has a tendency to get washed out on stage. Some old bands I was in preferred the sound of my Strat or Telecaster right away. I agreed. The Jazzmaster is difficult. The solution? I changed the pots from those 1 meg pots to 300K. That seems to be the sweet spot for me. Everything got warmer and less harsh. I know that's taboo to do to a vintage guitar, but try it and save the parts if you don't like it. I play and gig. I need my stuff to work for me. It's a tool at the end of the day, a beautiful tool but nonetheless nothing more than a tool.
More pics:
So that's my story. I always wonder who owned this guitar back when it was new? What hippy stripped the finish in the 70's? Did they like natural foods and play good jam band rock? Did the first buyer play jazz? Surf? Soul music (these are STELLAR guitars for soul, R&B)? How many owners? I only know me and the Bloody Valentine Kid. One day I'll be gone and the story will continue. Will someone appreciate is as it is or part it out for cash? Will vintage guitars be a thing at all in 20 years? Will this generation care? A collector would snub this beloved guitar. Will their be such a thing in the future?
Everything is temporary. That is a beautiful thing.
JB
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