1968 Fender Jazzmaster

The 1968 Jazzmaster is a CBS-era model. F-stamped tuners. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Production was declining as the Jazzmaster lost market share to the Stratocaster and Telecaster. Despite lower market position, these are excellent instruments that would later be rediscovered by alternative rock musicians. Serial numbers on the neck plate with F prefix (six digits). For 1968, numbers should match documented CBS-era ranges. Neck date stamps (now often ink-stamped rather than penciled) on the heel remain important. Potentiometer date codes (typically CTS or Stackpole pots with EIA source codes and date stamps like '304-6' + last two digits of year + week number) help verify the production date. F-stamped tuners. Floating tremolo assembly — verify completeness. Rhythm/lead circuit. Two Jazzmaster pickups. Pot codes corresponding to 1968. Serial on neck plate. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Nitrocellulose finish likely. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer, though the transition to polyester was beginning at Fender. Nitro finishes check and wear naturally. Look for consistent aging — the finish should show wear at natural contact points (back of body, forearm area, behind the neck). Under UV/blacklight, original nitro fluoresces differently than poly finishes. Refinishes are detected by examining under the pickguard and in pickup cavities for color consistency. CBS-era Jazzmasters were often unloved and heavily modified. Many have had pickups, bridges, tuners, and wiring replaced. The floating tremolo parts are frequently missing. At lower price points, modifications may be acceptable for players, but verify if the guitar is sold as 'all original.' The alt-rock resurgence has increased demand and prices for these instruments. CBS-era Jazzmasters (1968) share similar specifications. Production declined through the 1970s. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard distinguishes pre-1970 from later models. The Jazzmaster was discontinued in 1980 before being revived.