I'm thrilled to see WBHM 90.3’s story about this amazing discovery posted by Birmingham's own local NPR station. Thanks very much to Alli Patton for coming to the shop and capturing a great story and to Andrew Yeager for the boldness to run it on the radio and website. As the story says, this guitar did actually require a three year hunt to track it down and authenticate it. To this day, we've been unable to find any Fender guitar made in the original Fullerton, California factory in a pastel purple color. This 1960 Fender Jazzmaster in original Violet finish remains a true one off custom order.
The Only Pastel Purple Vintage Fender Known To Exist
The one image I received from the initial contact about this guitar showed a vintage guitar unlike any I'd ever seen before. In the 1950s and 1960s, Fender guitars were manufactured in a standard color, but a little footnote at the bottom of Fender price stated "Available in custom DuPont Duco finishes - 10% extra". Since Sunburst was the standard color for the Jazzmaster in 1960, this pastel purple Jazzmaster stuck out in my brain and captivated me.
But there's a very significant difference in a guitar with an original custom color finish and a guitar that was later repainted outside of the factory - a "refin" or refinished guitar. It was very common in the 60s and 70s to take a Fender guitar apart and refinish it to a different color. Many refins are currently available and easy to find, but rare factory applied custom colors are rare as hen's teeth. With only one picture to go off of, it was far more likely to be a refin, but my brain couldn't let go of a few details the convinced me this was real.
When I finally arrived in Milwaukee to check it out in person years later, my suspicions were confirmed: this was indeed a factory original one off custom color Jazzmaster. The masking tape under the pickguard had handwritten text in pencil "Violet JM #3712"; the note contained the custom order number used during the manufacturing process. The tan undercoat matched exactly the composition of other known custom colors from 1960. The nail holes were clear of paint indicating the were used in the application of this finish. It was a textbook example in every way except for the color.
Alli & WBHM expertly covered the "gasp" at the masking tape
It's true; I did actually gasp when the pickguard finally came off and the originality confirmed. I prepped the previous owners of the Jazzmaster for what I'd like to find when the pickguard came off: no paint stick in the neck pocket, clear nail holes, tan undercoat, undisturbed solder, and, if were lucky: masking tape with the color name and order number.
While I was already 95% certain it was original and real, I also know that sometimes my brain engages in wishful thinking. I've been let down many times during inspections that reveal a less than original guitar with many issues. The "gasp" was my subconscious mind telling me "See! We we're right!". I love that Alli decided to include this in the piece on WBHM.
Is It Really That Special? A Violet Fender Guitar From 1960?
People have been collecting old Fender guitars since the 1970s, but until now, none have ever been found in this color. By discovering this one in a closet in Milwaukee, we've added it to the knowledge base of vintage guitar collectors, enthusiasts, and players. I don't know for sure if this guitar was the inspiration, but shortly after I debuted the Violet 1960 Jazzmaster, CME came out with an exclusive line of Fender guitars in a pastel purple color it called "Lavender Haze" which bears a striking resemblance to this guitar.
Stories like this are the reason I appraise, buy, and sell old Fender guitars, especially original examples from the 1950s and 1960s. If you have a vintage Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass, or another pre-CBS Fender guitar that has been sitting in a closet, under a bed, or in the family for years, I’d be glad to help identify and evaluate it. You can learn more about how I buy and appraise vintage Fender guitars here. You can also read my original detailed post about the 1960 Violet Fender Jazzmaster here.
