The award winning ’62 Jazzmaster

The award winning ’62 Jazzmaster

In the summer of 2025, I had the exceptional opportunity to acquire a fully original 1962 Fender Jazzmaster in immaculate, museum-grade condition.

The moment I saw this guitar, I knew I had to have it. I see many vintage guitars come and go, but a pre-CBS Jazzmaster in this condition, complete with all original accessories and documented history, was something I had never encountered before.

 

The Background
The guitar was purchased on 28 June 1962 by Roy Welsh from Vic’s TV & Radio LTD in Powell River, Canada. Although I have been unable to find any information online about Mr Welsh, the guitar comes with a newspaper clipping about the band he played in: The New Metradons.

In 1962, a Fender Jazzmaster cost $349.50 in the United States. In Canada, this Jazzmaster was bought by Mr. Welsh for $470. Through John Shults of True Vintage Guitar, I found a Canadian price list from the summer of ’62 showing that a Jazzmaster, including cable, strap, and case, had a list price of $515.

The guitar also spent time in the collection of Terry Foster, Fender expert, collector, and co-author of my personal favourite book on Fender: Fender: The Golden Age, 1946–1970.

The Sound
What immediately struck me when I plugged it in was the long sustain and the way the pickups complement each other so well. The neck pickup has a very open, full, and warm tone, while the bridge pickup has almost the twang of a Fender Telecaster—without ever sounding thin.

My personal favourite Jazzmaster tone is the middle position, with both pickups engaged, especially when paired with an old Fender Princeton Reverb with plenty of reverb and tremolo.

The Award
Although I was well aware that this was a special instrument, I was pleasantly surprised on 20 September at the Vintage Guitar Show in Veenendaal when it was awarded Best Guitar of the Show.

As a teenager, I used to attend this show and marvel at all the beautiful ‘50s and ‘60s guitars. To now, years later, be on stage with my own ’62 Jazzmaster fills me with great pride.

 

Feel free to come by by!

Would you like to see and play the Jazzmaster? You are very welcome to visit by appointment in The Hague (NL). The guitar can also be shipped worldwide.

More information can be found here.

Back to blog