BATTLE OF THE OFF SETS
Though they share a vibrato system, rhythm circuit and offset-waist body shape, when you consider their pickups, scale lengths and controls, the Jazzmaster and Jaguar are arguably every bit as different as a Tele and a Strat.
As with Leo’s dynamic duo of the early-1950s, there was a four-year gap between the introduction of the Jazzmaster as Fender’s flagship model in 1958 and the Jaguar assuming the mantle in 1962. Both offsets are proof of Leo Fender’s growing confidence as an instrument designer, and provide insights into his company’s strategy at the end of its first decade. To see what this means for the player, we’re pitting a 1961 Jazzmaster and a 1966 Jaguar head to head.
WHITE LINES
Olympic White is an iconic Jazzmaster finish but there’s no certainty that our example looked like this when it left the factory in 1961. The finish is convincing enough to have deceived both the previous owner and the dealer it was sold to but the current custodians at ATB Guitars took a more careful look and found evidence of grey primer and brown wood stain in the neck cavity, confirming this as a respray.
It was evidently refinished by a professional, and was done so long ago that it
