Jazzmaster Turns 50

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Fender Jazzmaster:

Fender unveiled its Jazzmaster guitar in 1958, intending to score a one-two punch with an instrument that would be the company’s top-of-the line successor to the Stratocaster guitar and appeal to serious jazz guitarists, a class of musician that had eluded Fender’s widening reach. Although it succeeded on neither count, the distinctive Jazzmaster nonetheless surprised everybody by reaching widespread success in some unexpected arenas.

To celebrate the anniversary, Fender is throwing the Jazzmaster a party on September 12, 2008, at New York’s famous Knitting Factory nightclub. The party will feature a concert with Jazzmaster guitarists Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., Nels Cline of Wilco, and Tom Verlaine of Television.