1958 Fender Jazzmaster
The inaugural Jazzmaster — Fender's top-of-the-line model that became beloved by surf, indie, and alternative players rather than jazz musicians. Unique floating tremolo, rhythm/lead switching, and the warm, distinctive Jazzmaster pickup tone.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Alder (offset contour body — Fender's first offset design) |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood (slab) |
| Scale Length | 25.500" |
| Frets | 22 |
| Pickup Config | SS |
| Bridge | Floating tremolo (independent of bridge — Jazzmaster-unique design) |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe |
| Finish Options | Sunburst, Custom colors |
| Est. Production | 1,000 |
Pickups & Electronics
Two floating single-coil pickups (Jazzmaster-specific design — wider, shallower polepieces than Strat pickups). Rhythm/lead circuit switching. Floating tremolo system.
What Changed in 1958
First year of the Jazzmaster — intended as a high-end model above the Stratocaster. Floating tremolo, rhythm/lead circuit, and offset body were all innovations. Ironically, jazz musicians rejected it and it was embraced by surf and later alternative rock.
Notable Examples
Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, Elvis Costello, J Mascis — the Jazzmaster became the alternative rock guitar.
Collector's Notes
Slab rosewood board 1958 Jazzmasters are rare. The floating tremolo mechanism needs to be complete and functional — parts are increasingly hard to find. The rhythm circuit (upper bout controls) should be functional.
How to Authenticate a 1958 Fender Jazzmaster
The 1958 Jazzmaster is an early pre-CBS model — the first year of the Jazzmaster. Slab Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The unique Jazzmaster floating tremolo and rhythm/lead circuit switching. Two wide, flat Jazzmaster-specific single-coil pickups (wider and shallower than Strat pickups). Offset alder body with the distinctive Jazzmaster contour. Serial numbers on the neck plate (four or five digits, no letter prefix). For 1958, numbers should fall within documented Fender serial ranges. However, neck plates were not assigned sequentially to bodies, so neck date stamps (pencil or ink on the neck heel) and body cavity dates are more reliable. Look for a hand-written date on the butt end of the neck heel and in the neck pocket or under the pickguard on the body. The floating tremolo/tailpiece assembly must be complete — the tremolo arm, spring, and lock button are often missing. The rhythm/lead circuit switch (on the upper bout) should be functional. Two Jazzmaster pickups with the wide, flat design — verify they are not Strat or P-90 replacements. Kluson Deluxe tuners. Slab Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Pot codes corresponding to 1958. Gold anodized pickguard or tortoiseshell (depending on year). The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer. Nitro finishes check (develop fine cracks) and wear naturally over decades, showing wood underneath at contact points. The aging pattern should be consistent — even checking across the body, not localized. Refinished guitars often have a 'too perfect' look or inconsistent wear. Under UV/blacklight, original nitro fluoresces differently than modern polyester or polyurethane. Original custom color finishes are verified by examining the color in the pickup cavities and under the pickguard where it has been protected from light. The floating tremolo mechanism is complex and parts are scarce — verify completeness. Missing tremolo parts significantly reduce value. The rhythm circuit (upper bout controls with roller knobs) is often bypassed or modified — check for original wiring. Jazzmaster pickups are unique — Strat pickups or other substitutions are common modifications. Custom colors are extremely rare and valuable — verify under the pickguard. The 1958 Jazzmaster shares the core design with all pre-CBS Jazzmasters. As the first year, 1958 examples are the rarest pre-CBS Jazzmasters. The transition from anodized aluminum to tortoiseshell pickguard occurred around 1959-1960.