Creeper

I’ve never liked Tort on black basses before, something just didn’t seem right. However after a bit of bass in bass out upgrading downgrading nonsense, I ended up with a 1969 Tort pickguard. I strapped it to a bit of ply to stop it from shrinking as the only bass I had to put it on is a black USA Geddy Lee Jazz bass, and not liking Tort on black I never thought to give it a go. however! tonight I thought “sod it, let’s give it a go”, and all of a sudden I love Tort on black 😁

Good or bad, I can take it......

The neck code on my 72 Jazz is pretty much non existent, however the name “krausfeldt” is clearly stamped on it. I did a google search and found the below information on him which ties in nicely with my neck being from 72. I wondered whether there is a database anywhere of these old fender guitar makers and neck finishers, I’ve seen a few lists which have been started but nothing that I think has captured everything. “I am that Ken Krausfeldt, and I worked at Fender from 1964 to 1974. For the first several years I shaped and final-sanded guitar necks and some bodies. Because all work was inspected before finish or paint each shaper had to identify his work. In my case, and at different times, rubber name stamps or simply a number was used (for me, #8). And rarely, simple printing was used. Because we were paid "piece-work" rates for each completed item the fastest way of identification was the order of the day. During my tenure there, and after I returned from Viet-Nam ('67-'69) I supervised virtually every production line in the factory, except painting: Guitars, Amplifiers, Rogers Drums, and Fender-Rhodes Pianos. I wound up as supervisor of quality control. I left to join BIC-Venturi Stereo Speaker Company as Quality Control Manager.”

Now thats a great Idea 👍🏻

I’m playing at two festivals today so she’s go If tonhave a good run out 😁

And as good as spitfire are compared to all other modern tort, it’s still not a patch on the old stuff. is the tort pickguard an art form lost to time or can no one be bothered to put the effort in? If a guitar manufacturer was to start producing guitars with real quality tort like the 60s and 70s as it should be done it would certainly set them apart!!!

The wear is definitely different to the wear on nitro, the wear is less smooth and a little more chipped but certainly looks very good, this is what’s under the pickguard

I did a little research from seeing this to purchase in terms of the dates that Fender did the black binding and blocks (other than reissues!) which I understand to be only between 71-73, does anyone have any more info on this or own a black block and binding jazz from the 70s???

Only thing which comes close is spitfire, but for the cost of one of those yo may as well seek out a vintage one.

Soul sold but no virtuoso playing, and I have no soul left to sell.... frets are in very good condition and have just been dressed, and no signs of a refret that I can see, there is a bit of wear on the maple fretboard, but I quite like that too, the metal is all original as is the case 😁

She certainly is a beauty, I’m loving the black binding and blocks, unfortunately the daughters sportsday is just about to get in the way of my playing!! i suppose I should also include a photo or two of the back 😁

1972 all original Fender Jazz, with the original case, she’s aged beautifully with great looking wear and checking all over, she was Olympic white but is now a gorgeous buttermilk colour with the most beautiful piece of tort I’ve seen, I think my soul was a small price to pay.

Fraudster pretending to be Andy Baxter, they are getting even more devious, I have reported this to eBay. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F392079274865