Up for sale, a 1961 Fender Jazzmaster in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with a modern G&G hardshell case. Extremely lively, resonant, and full-sounding acoustically at 7lbs 12oz, the tonewoods comprise an alder body, a heavily figured flame maple neck, and thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard. The black bobbin pickups are well-balanced and powerful, providing a warmth and nuance that's unique to the Jazzmaster pickup design, with original pickup windings that extend all the way to the very edge of the bobbins. The pickups meter at 7.8k ohms in the bridge position and 8.25k at the neck. The neck pickup has excellent clarity with a distinctive sweetness and woody cut, while the Rhythm Circuit is wooly and thick. In contrast, the bridge pickup has more midrange authority and chewy snap, with a percussive twang on the wound strings and more sparkle and bounce on the trebles. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, where we specialize in Offset Fender guitars, this Jazzmaster features 11-49 strings, low action and accurate intonation.

The flame maple neck has a very slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut, with a gentle yet appreciable increase in shoulder and chunk in the upper registers, measuring .780" deep at the 1st fret, .970" at the 12th. The thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard is a dark, tight-grained cut with rolled edges and a 7 1/4" radius, sporting clay dot inlay and retaining the stock slender fretwire. The frets have been leveled and crowned, and while quite low, notes ring out cleanly in every register, showing very light wear (primarily beneath the plain strings) on the crowns of frets 1-8. The original measures 1.650" in width (just a hair wider than 1 5/8"). On the headstock, the original Kluson Deluxe single line tuning machines turn smoothly with light patina on the gear housings. The headstock face retains the pristine original Jazzmaster waterslide decal. The neck heel has a bold 7/61 grease pencil date, and the truss rod nut is flush with the heel, necessitating sparingly little adjustment in the last 60+ years.

The electronics function flawlessly with untouched solder joints and CTS pots in the Lead Circuit that date to the 26th week of '60 and the 2nd week of '61. Both pickups have clean black bobbins, original windings, and pickup covers that show only gentle aging. A pair of equally clean knobs and the deep red gloss nitrate tortoise pickguard round out the plastics, and the guard sits flat and shows only minor shrinkage. The 7/61 body date is present beneath the bridge pickup shielding plate. The hardware has bright chrome plating, and the vibrato tailpiece works exceptionally well in concert with the stock bridge, responding to the lightest touch for quick flutters, surfy warbles and deep dives, jumping back to the original pitch with ease.

The three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer gloss finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, and the central red ring is bold and unfaded. Cosmetic wear includes buckle rash across the back, and various scuffs, dings and finish chips, largely relegated to the back and body perimeter. There is also an area of wear in the clear coat in a rectangular area on the bass-side lower bout on top, likely from contact with a strap. Prominent flame figuring extends the length of the neck profile, with palm wear through the lacquer to the smooth bare wood on the profile length.

A modern Fender G&G Deluxe brown tolex hardshell case is included.