This is a delayed NGD, but a very special one none the less.
Im the (very) proud (and humbled) new custodian of an extremely beautiful jazzmaster.
It apparently was purchased new in NZ and has lived a busy gigging life in the lower north island.
Grant was good enough to offer it to me and eventually I made it south to collect it. I knew immediately once I had it in my hands that it was indeed every bit as wonderful as he'd assured me.
Skip to the photos if you dont want to hear me waffle on, but i'd consider myself a died in the wool offset surf guitar fan boy and this is really a bucket list guitar for me.
Its wear is spot on. Its so rounded and soft in the hand. It has factory speckling from imperfect burst spray. The neck is a great balance of girth and comfort. Grant has of course executed a stirling refret. When i received it she was sporting a mastery bridge but included was a very old and well worn jaguar bridge which im sure the original owner would have switched out early on in its life. Everything about the patina is right from my point of view.
But, I think the place this JM really earns its points is in the pickups. My lord... the neck pickup is something else. It has a glorious woody timbre that I havent encountered in other JMs. Its percussive but not lacking in sustain and musicality. The bridge is a really nice solid mid rangey thing. It isnt shrill like newer JM bridge pickups. I think this is likely to way the magnets/wire give over time. The mid position is surfy goodness. lovely and scooped but still very present. The trem is as youd expect. Great feel from the heavy USA made 60s spring and plate.
I spent a lot of time with this guitar today. Its one of those instruments that is hard to put down.
Im very grateful to Grant for the opportunity to have this instrument. The story and life its lived in NZ means so much more than bringing in a wild card guitar from over seas sight unseen.
The question is...does it get some stage time and beach hop 2024?....
