1959 Fender Jazzmaster #38876
In late 1958 the Fender Jazzmaster was unveiled to the public. With a price tag of $329, the Jazzmaster's early ad copy read like that era's car commercials: "America's finest guitar... unequaled in performance and design features". One of the early design changes that took place during the Jazzmaster's production was the addition of a nitrate celluloid pickguard, replacing the previous gold anodized unit, featuring a crescent shaped notch at the neck pocket area allowing for easier truss rod access. Custom colors were also introduced, such as Fiesta Red, Blond, Metallic Gold, and San Marino Blue. These colors are rare and fetch a premium on today's vintage market. Fender finally ceased the original production run of the Jazzmaster in 1980. Credit: Tim Mullally & Dave Rogers, Dave's Guitar Shop, La Crosse, WI.