Just got a 61 Jazz from a friend

[Stephen]

Just got a 61 Jazz from a friend. Been refinished.

Pots have been replaced.
Not sure about the pick ups.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

 

[Lammchop93]

I don't want to burst any bubbles, but that is not a 61. Maybe the body is, but the electronics and neck definitely are not.

 

[elgranluis]

Congratulations , play it in good health.

The bass may or may not be a 61, but it’s probably still a 65 Or maybe an earlier body with swapped pickups. At this point (50 years later) we will never know.

 

[Stephen]

I don't want to burst any bubbles, but that is not a 61. Maybe the body is, but the electronics and neck definitely are not.

No worry about bursting bubbles, that's what my friend thought it was and I'm not attached to it being a particular year. Any gas on the year of the neck?

 

[oranje]

You have a good friend and Mary Lou is gorgeous as is. Play the Farq out of that bass!

 

[winston]

Phil & Mary Lou 4 Eva!
Cool bass!

 

[2cooltoolz]

I wish I had a friend.

Looks great to me. Love it, play it, keep it!

 

[Dynacord]

No worry about bursting bubbles, that's what my friend thought it was and I'm not attached to it being a particular year. Any gas on the year of the neck?

Looks like a combination of parts. Neck plate number is in the typical range for '61. Body likely up to mid '63, assuming the grounding strap is original. I don't see traces of mute holes (those stopped in early '63). Neck mid '62 at the earliest as it's not a slab board (looks refinished, with typical rounding to the edges from being sanded). It's possible the neck and body could both be mid '63 (I'd expect a different decal but also expect it's a replacement on there). No trace of a date on the butt of the neck? The date stamp often survive refins as it's in the raw wood under the original finish. Pickup looks like '65.

Cool bass!

 

[Topkat13]

Still I bet it smells good.

 

[Dynacord]

Also the tuning machines look like '64 or later.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

Rather than didactically discuss the bass part by part — how does it play and sound? That’s the most important!

 

[TomB]

Here’s my response to the an identical post in another thread:

“I’m not sure about the pickups either.

The serial number suggests it could be ‘61, whether or not it came from this bass, but it’s possible. The body was sanded a lot in the refin, which is not unusual. The controls are definitely not ‘61, which would have been stacked pots.

Are there no markings on the end of the neck? That would be unusual in that era IME, though it was true both earlier and then much later than ‘61. You should post a pic of it. It’s odd how the back of the neck is so clean compared to the rest. Refinned also, I guess.

It’s an interesting bass, it might have quite a history. But value? That’s a crap shoot. Play it!”

Edit: Good catch about the tuners.

 

[stevensivak]

Time to refinish it..... since it's already been done once, why not?

 

[Dynacord]

Here’s my response to the an identical post in another thread:

“I’m not sure about the pickups either.

The serial number suggests it could be ‘61, whether or not it came from this bass, but it’s possible. The body was sanded a lot in the refin, which is not unusual. The controls are definitely not ‘61, which would have been stacked pots.

Are there no markings on the end of the neck? That would be unusual in that era IME, though it was true both earlier and then much later than ‘61. You should post a pic of it. It’s odd how the back of the neck is so clean compared to the rest. Refinned also, I guess.

It’s an interesting bass, it might have quite a history. But value? That’s a crap shoot. Play it!”

Edit: Good catch about the tuners.

Switch to three knob was mid '61 so '61 could be either layout. Confusion seems to persist largely due to the first Fender reissues be called "62" and having the stack knob set up.

The control plate appears to be the correct '61-'64 type.

Agree that it's an open question if the serial number plate is original to the bass.

'61 would still have a dated body in the neck pickup cavity. Likely finished over but worth checking. Not impossible that it's a '63 with a bottom of the bin neckplate. Still, the pickup shown is later.

If I had it in hand, I'd be looking to see if paint sinkage shows traces of the mute holes and tugbar holes.

I would also expect at least traces of the date stamp on the butt of the neck. It was common to not have them late '59 - early '60 but this neck is not before mid '62 and it's very unusual to be missing then.

I like the finish. If it were me, I'd just match the headstock.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

What do you mean by “got”? Did you purchase it? Or did friend loan it to you?

How about a pic of the all important neck stamp?

 

[Gunga Din]

Time to refinish it..... since it's already been done once, why not?

Yep. Early '60s Sunburst. and a nitro scratchplate.

 

[96tbird]

Here’s my response to the an identical post in another thread:

“I’m not sure about the pickups either.

The serial number suggests it could be ‘61, whether or not it came from this bass, but it’s possible. The body was sanded a lot in the refin, which is not unusual. The controls are definitely not ‘61, which would have been stacked pots.

Are there no markings on the end of the neck? That would be unusual in that era IME, though it was true both earlier and then much later than ‘61. You should post a pic of it. It’s odd how the back of the neck is so clean compared to the rest. Refinned also, I guess.

It’s an interesting bass, it might have quite a history. But value? That’s a crap shoot. Play it!”

Edit: Good catch about the tuners.

My ‘61 has three pots. Neck date is 10/61, pots are mid ‘61. I’ve discussed this with the Fender heads around here and have been told original pots and neck date count.

It’s a transition to ‘62 built in ‘61. Look closely at the heel for a penciled date.

 

[Stephen]

What do you mean by “got”? Did you purchase it? Or did friend loan it to you?

How about a pic of the all important neck stamp?

One of my oldest friends, sadly he passed unexpectedly. He had a ton of gear so I am helping his wife move it on. so as I had coveted this instrument for a long time, and he had agreed as we jokingly said if he goes first I can have the bass, she passed it on to me

 

[Stephen]

Wow, I mistakenly assumed that the date stamp would be on the pocket of the neck so did not even look at the heel. Here's the shot.

 

[Stephen]

Really appreciate all of you for your comments and insight.