Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster Electric Guitar, with Rosewood Fingerboard and Case

No longer available at zZounds
Gorgeous white fretboard binding and a full complement of vintage-style electronics make this Jazzmaster one of the best in Fender's lineup.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Fender Vintage pickup switching Uniquely voiced; switchable rhythm and lead tones
Fender Flash Coat lacquer Thinner nitrocellulose finish extends natural tone
Bound round laminated fingerboard Historic applique of rosewood fretboard
Floating tremolo system Adds lock button for smooth, unique vibrato

The Fender American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster takes you back to the middle of that musically momentous decade, when the reverb-drenched surf had largely receded and the Jazzmaster began its steady decade-long ascent toward alternative indispensability for many subversive generations of iconoclastic guitarists. It had also acquired some elegant design features by 1965, such as a bound round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with larger pearl dot inlays, and distinctive white "witch hat" control knobs. Available in Three-color Sunburst and limited Aztec Gold finishes.

The American Vintage series welcomes this lineup of original-era model year guitars that bring Fender history and heritage to life. With key features and pivotal design elements spanning the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, the American Vintage series instruments delve deep into Fender's roots--expertly preserving an innovative U.S. guitar-making legacy and vividly demonstrating like never before that Fender not only knows where it's going, but also remembers where it came from.

The American Vintage Series has long presented some of Fender's best selling guitars (their early-'80s introduction, in fact, was one of the first signs that Fender was "back" as the CBS era ended). Today, Fender has boldly cleared the slate to make way for a fresh American Vintage series with fresh features, hotter specs, and the most meticulous level of vintage accuracy yet. Rather than just replacing the previous models with different ones, they've read more completely and comprehensively re-imagined the entire vintage-reissue concept--restoring original tooling dies, pickups, reformulating vintage colors and more--based on actual vintage guitars they tracked down to make sure they had it right. Fender did the work, and it shows, because there's pure tonal magic in each American Vintage instrument. read less

General:
- Model Name: American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster(R)
- Series: American Vintage

Body:
- Body: alder
- Body Shape: Jazzmaster(R)
- Body Finish: (0112200800, 0112200878), New Fender Flash Coat Lacquer

Neck:
- Neck Shape: Mid '60s "C" Shape
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: vintage style frets
- Fretboard Radius: 7.25" (18.41 cm)
- Fretboard: bound round-laminated rosewood
- Neck Material: maple
- Neck Finish: new Fender Flash Coat lacquer
- Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
- Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
- Truss Rods: vintage-style heel adjust

Electronics:
- Pickup Configuration: S/S
- Bridge Pickup: New American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster(R) (Bridge)
- Neck Pickup: New American Vintage '65 Jazzmaster(R) (Neck)
- Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup; 2-Position Slide: Up: Rhythm Tone Circuit, Down: Lead Tone Circuit
- Controls: Lead Circuit: Volume, Tone; "Rhythm" Circuit: Volume, Tone

Hardware:
- Hardware: chrome
- Bridge: vintage style floating tremolo with tremolo lock button
- String Nut: bone
- Tuning Machines: single line "Fender Deluxe" vintage style

Miscellaneous:
- Strings: Fender(R) USA 250R NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges)
- Unique Features: Bound round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with larger pearl dot inlays; white "witch hat" control knobs; all-new pickups wound to period-correct specs and sound, with classic dual-circuit wiring and controls; Vintage-style floating tremolo with lock button

Accessories:
- Case/Gig Bag: new deluxe vintage black case
- Pickguards: (800) 4-Ply brown shell
- (878) 3-Ply eggshell with vintage bevel
- Included Accessories: vintage '65 Jazz strap, cable, and cloth; flatwound string set, '60s Jazz information kit, bridge cover, vintage and modern owner's manuals, saddle height wrench
- Control Knobs: new white "Witch Hat"

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-488-1818

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (2 ratings)
Submitted January 27, 2016 by Mike E in Seattle, WA

"A Very Sweet Guitar"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
First: I bought mine through ZZounds as a "blemish". I took the chance on their 45 day guarantee, and I am happy I did. As far as "blemish" goes. Yes, there are a couple of very small marks in the finish that appear factory paint blemishes; you have to look really hard to see them and they are on the back; one really hard to see area on the front that is slightly less shiny that the rest - and that's it. Basically got it at a used price for a new guitar. This is a great reproduction of a 65 JM. I have the Olympic White model and it is beautiful. The binding, the finish and the vintage styled knobs and pick guard are all very attractive. This is not just a beauty queen, though. The neck is "full scale" and a robust C shape. A little chunkier than the vintage Strats and very comfortable to play. As someone who grew up playing bass, this guitar is the perfect mid point between bass and guitar. I put .011 gauge strings on it and it sounds and feels so good. The 7.25" radius board feels great. Barre chords and complex chords feel easier on this neck to me. The balance of this guitar is perfect; it is so comfortable to play when on a shoulder strap. The sound: amazing. The pickups are outstanding and offer everything from chimey bells to bitter bites; I love the rhythm circuit: it is dark and heavy and rich - perfect for laying down driving and droning rhythms. The lead circuit cuts and bites but also plays some of the most beautiful clean chime/bell tones. Out of the read more box.... well - I don't expect ANY guitar to be perfect right out of the box. This one took a LOT of set up and patience to get it all set up just right: the neck relief was too high, the bridge is finicky and the tremolo lock was WAY off. After messing with it and being patient enough, it all settled in really nice. Has to set relief, intonation, bridge and saddle height, and tremolo lock. It was a bit of work, but well worth the time. If anyone is not comfortable setting up their own guitar, just take it to a tech. Lastly, it is a finicky bridge. If you take the time to get all the parts set up right, it is less finicky. The tremolo lock is an awesome, under-appreciated feature. Biggest PROS: the sound, feel, looks Biggest CONS: the bridge. I will likely upgrade to a Mastery, but the stock one is working out so far Thank you , ZZounds. I am glad I took the chance.

Musical Background:
Bass player for 30+ yrs, Guitar for ~15 yrs. Play with bands, firends, family. Daily player

Musical Style:
Rock: heavy, alternative, punk, classic. Reggae, blues, surf
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No longer available at zZounds

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