Back in 1964 I talked my father into buying me a guitar. I found a Fender Jazzmaster I liked. I still have it, but it has not been out of it’s original case in years. It’s been so long since I’ve had a guitar in my hands that I couldn’t even remember a simple bar cord. I was pretty good back in the day.

The other day I was watching an episode of Pawn Stars when a guy brought in a Fender Jazzmaster that he has had since 1966. The dang thing looked brand new. It was appraised at $9k and I think the Pawn Shop ended up giving him $6.5k. My jaw dropped. I paused the show and went and got mine out. A kind of musty smell hit me when I opened the case and there was a white powder on the guitar. Mine is certainly not in anywhere near new condition. I remember loaning it to a guy that had a band back in the mid 1980's and when he gave it back to me he said it needed some work. My question is what is that white powder and can I get the smell out of the case?

As you can see by the photos below, it has more issues than the white powder, which I plan on removing with some Pledge.





The photos below show the white powder the best.





The rest of the photos can be seen here

The white powder is likely mildew/mold. Whatever you do, do not refinish the guitar. Take necessary measures to eliminate the mildew/mold (no clue how you would do this without damaging the wood/finish), but do not sand, scuff or otherwise alter the guitar. Especially don't do anything to the hardware other than wipe it down.

You might try giving Gruhn's a call and ask them for suggestions; they used to be pretty friendly. Great looking guitar. Brings Elvis Costello to mind.

That is a damn cool guitar. Very collectible. I would advise taking it to a Fender shop and have it looked over. I know the Fender Global Artist Relations Manager, and I could get a reference for you if you wish. That guitar deserves the best treatment. Very cool you have it. It will continue to appreciate.

https://www.fender.com/article...a-jazzmaster-history

DO NOT USE PLEDGE ON THAT GUITAR!

Now that I've hopefully got your attention, sorry for the all caps. This is kind of my wheelhouse.

Don't just take it to any "Fender shop." Don't do anything with it. Do not try to clean it. Take it directly to Thunder Road guitars in Portland. Ask for Will York, he'll probably offer to buy it off you as-is, and for a fair value. I used to work with him and he has a serious thing for Jazzmasters. If you want to get it appraised, then again, do no cleaning and let me know, I can get you in touch with someone reputable. Leave the cleaning up to a very good tech.

I say all of the above as my absolute best advice for maintaining and not damaging the value of the guitar. Even better than Thunder Road would be Emerald City Guitars up in Seattle. They deal very heavily in vintage guitar gear and their techs are probably some of the best in the region.

Too bad it isn't a Stratocaster. Not that a Strat is a better guitar, but more folk played them in the early days and they bring more money. I had a similar age Jaguar that I should have kept.

My brother, an accomplished blues guitar player, made a bunch of money selling vintage guitars before 2007. Things like $500,000 vintage Les Pauls and ES335.

I have a 1964 Les Paul Jr. with the original strap, hang tags and cardboard case. I've owned it for 15 years and never played it. I've never tried to sell it but I'd probably consider it in a few years when it approaches its 60th birthday.

In recent decades, the Jazzmaster has seen some growing popularity compared to before. Everyone and their dog has a Strat, and they made many millions more of them. It's a Pre-CBS guitar with (I'm assuming) all original parts, and OHSC and in sunburst. It's worth plenty of coin.

quote:

Originally posted by FishOn:
That is a damn cool guitar. Very collectible. I would advise taking it to a Fender shop and have it looked over. I know the Fender Global Artist Relations Manager, and I could get a reference for you if you wish. That guitar deserves the best treatment. Very cool you have it. It will continue to appreciate.

https://www.fender.com/article...a-jazzmaster-history

Thanks for the link. Looks like mine was made between 1954 to 1956. Already 8 to 10 years old when I bought it and I bought it 56 years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
DO NOT USE PLEDGE ON THAT GUITAR!

Now that I've hopefully got your attention, sorry for the all caps. This is kind of my wheelhouse.

Don't just take it to any "Fender shop." Don't do anything with it. Do not try to clean it. Take it directly to Thunder Road guitars in Portland. Ask for Will York, he'll probably offer to buy it off you as-is, and for a fair value. I used to work with him and he has a serious thing for Jazzmasters. If you want to get it appraised, then again, do no cleaning and let me know, I can get you in touch with someone reputable. Leave the cleaning up to a very good tech.

I say all of the above as my absolute best advice for maintaining and not damaging the value of the guitar. Even better than Thunder Road would be Emerald City Guitars up in Seattle. They deal very heavily in vintage guitar gear and their techs are probably some of the best in the region.

Why would Pledge hurt the guitar? Would a damp rag work for getting that white powder off?

By the way, the white powder on the frets comes off with a fingernail.

You couldn’t drag me to Portland. I’m in the SW corner of Oregon, 2 ½ hours from the nearest freeway and an hour and a half from the nearest Wallmart.

I’ve never really given much thought to selling it as it has sentimental value, but when I saw that one on Pawn Stars appraised for $9k and sell for $6.5k, it perked up my interest in selling... maybe. At least I’d like to clean it up without doing any damage and get the smell out of the case.

quote:

Originally posted by wingspar:
Why would Pledge hurt the guitar? Would a damp rag work for getting that white powder off?

Pledge is made for furniture, not vintage guitars with nitrocellulose lacquer finishes worth thousands of dollars. They make guitar polish if you really want to get after it, Dunlop 65 should be just fine, but read my advice below.

quote:

Originally posted by wingspar:
By the way, the white powder on the frets comes off with a fingernail.

Likely just oxidation. The stuff on the body, I'd leave be for now.

quote:

Originally posted by wingspar:
You couldn’t drag me to Portland. I’m in the SW corner of Oregon, 2 ½ hours from the nearest freeway and an hour and a half from the nearest Wallmart.

I’ve never really given much thought to selling it as it has sentimental value, but when I saw that one on Pawn Stars appraised for $9k and sell for $6.5k, it perked up my interest in selling... maybe. At least I’d like to clean it up without doing any damage and get the smell out of the case.

Contact George Gruhn here: https://guitars.com/appraisals

This man is the authority in the field. You can't do better. In the meantime, I would highly advise not doing anything at all to it until you hear back from George.

quote:

Originally posted by wingspar:
Thanks for the link. Looks like mine was made between 1954 to 1956. Already 8 to 10 years old when I bought it and I bought it 56 years ago.

Can't be, it was introduced in 1958. Try this:
https://www.fender.com/product...ration/serial-search

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
Contact George Gruhn here: https://guitars.com/appraisals

This man is the authority in the field. You can't do better. In the meantime, I would highly advise not doing anything at all to it until you hear back from George.

Thanks for that link. I'll let you know what he says.

quote:

Can't be, it was introduced in 1958. Try this:
https://www.fender.com/product...ration/serial-search

You are correct on the 1958 date. I dropped a number when I looked my serial number up. Tried again with my full serial number. It was made in 1963 so was practically new when I bought it.

Beautiful guitar.

I have a 1965 Jazzmaster myself. It is my favorite guitar. It's Candy Apple Red with a matching head stock. Unfortunately due to severe nerve damage in my left hand due to a bout (more of a death match) with the Swine Flu, I am no longer able to play.

quote:

Originally posted by wingspar:
Thanks for that link. I'll let you know what he says.

Happy to help, and I look forward to any further updates. There's a lot of folks like myself who get more than a little excited at these "closet finds."

And since I haven't actually said it yet, that's a damned cool guitar, sir, and good on your for keeping it original and hanging onto it all this time. That you're the original owner and know the history of it bumps the cool factor up quite a bit. I've handled a lot of gear from the 40's, 50's, and 60's, and often thought "if only this thing could talk, the tales it would tell."

quote:

Originally posted by lechiffre:
Beautiful guitar.

I have a 1965 Jazzmaster myself. It is my favorite guitar. It's Candy Apple Red with a matching head stock. Unfortunately due to severe nerve damage in my left hand due to a bout (more of a death match) with the Swine Flu, I am no longer able to play.

Sounds like a pretty guitar. Too bad you can’t play anymore. I just lost interest in playing and haven’t picked up a guitar in the last 25 years.

My eldest daughter lives in Medford and says this guy is one of the best and as old school as they get.

https://www.roguevalleymusic.com

I would try Virtuoso cleaner then Virtuoso polish on the finished parts.

As far as getting the smell out of the case goes, I'd just leave it sitting open in the sun for a day or two, optionally with a fan blowing on/into it. If that doesn't do it, maybe try one of those activated charcoal car deodorizers.

Probably desiccated finger grease or similar from the locations.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
DO NOT USE PLEDGE ON THAT GUITAR!

Listen to this advice. Please.

I have purchased fine wood furniture over the years, I have Stickley stuff now, and Pledge is awful for fine wood furniture, we have never had a can in the house. Pledge contains silicone, all it does is build up on top of the finish masking dullness and marks. And you do not want silicone mixed with the very old finish on your very expensive guitar.

I'll giva ya $TreeFiddy for it.

(a '63 Jazzmaster will be worth plenty. Too much, really. The pricing of those old ones is crazy.)

Listen to P220smudge.

Nice guitar...

I saw that episode too.