Hellzero

You'll find a lot of information though Wayback Machine here: https://web.archive.org/web/20040606235231/http://n.mercadal.free.fr/html/english/start.htm

Benedetti have been using samarium cobalt magnets on sole higher end pickups, just like the ones made for Leduc. Vigier models like the ones pictured are derived from the standard series and were wound like a P-90 or a Jazzmaster pickup. There was quite a lot of information on the original website, but I think everything is gone now.

It's the crook from Cologne aka music-outlet-shop. Now after polluting eBay with all his garbage, he's trying to find fools on Reverb.

I just wanted to clarify my just above statement: If I wrote that, it's because I stated just before that the instruments in the 1962 catalogue(s) have been photographed before the printing, so probably the quarter before that assessing Leo Fender statement. And if I typed in capitals, it's because I used the codes of fora writing, meaning I was screaming this too many times repeated assertion that some people seem to ignore. So please before my lapidation, read exactly what I wrote and you'll understand that we are just debating about the exact same thing, but a little argument, which can become very important if it's linked to money. Furthermore, the first thing I look at with vintage instruments are always solders, and then the never showed clearly screws as Fender has been using different types over different periods. Old leaded tin solders are prone to oxidation, it's a fact not subject to discussion, which means a 60 years old or more solder can't be super shiny, but tarnished looking with the flux around it looking darkish brown and not brightly orangish. If it's super shiny, it's been redone. Some fakers even go to the next level soldering the wires for their assembly deep inside the cotton (cloth) wires as you can push them back a very long way. Also, the non light exposed parts of the instruments must look more vivid than the exposed ones, except if the clear coat has been removed. Furthermore, a lot of the instruments I see have a huge relic on them and are as shiny as a mirror: where has all the cigarettes tar gone, because if they are in such a used condition they must have been played in the blue fog bars and venues... So as @Burns-bass said, I'm only doing this to avoid people here being scammed by unscrupulous sellers. I'll end up with the very difficult to authenticate transitional period instruments: If you're not 100% sure of the authenticity of the instruments, go see elsewhere and let somebody else get screwed. And if you've never seen a twin stacked knobs 1962 Jazz Bass, it's because it had been replaced by the 3 knobs version. Now, if you still want that list of books, I can compile it for you. I can help, but not at the price I have to pay each time I'm doing it.

Won't come back here anymore, I have way better ways to waste my time. Trust whoever you want: I don't give a shīt anymore. Get screwed by unscrupulous sellers who pretend to know everything : It's your own money after all. Farewell forever, I'm really fed up by human beings!

So, if it's all about money and nothing else while completely refuting written historical evidences and the fact that with Fender's anything can be swapped to create a totally authentic original fake, that's enough for me. My grand grandmother used to say: "Help a villain, he'll shit in your hand!" She was right. Farewell!

I'VE OWNED LOADS OF VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THEM APART, FURTHERMORE AS STATED EARLIER I RAN MY OWN LUTHIERY AND REPAIR SHOP OVER CLOSE TO 2 DECADES AND HAD LOADS OF VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS TO FIX OR SIMPLY SET UP, AND I ALSO WROTE A MÉMOIRE ABOUT VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS THAT HAS BEEN PUT HERE SEVERAL TIMES. Maybe you should stop replying without having really read and understood what was written.

Maybe you should learn to read...

I'm also compiling a list of very useful books, trying to be the most exhaustive, to help those interested in authentication of vintage Fender's. But, of course, there will still be people denying the written evidences.

So according to the catalogues, the 3 knobs Jazz Bass was only available from 1962 on. Of course, the instruments have been photographed earlier, so Leo Fender own statement saying that the 3 knobs version was introduced in late 1961 early 1962 is absolutely right. Late meaning the last quarter of the year, anything before that can't be fully original and authentic: this is called recouping information. As I wrote earlier some people are rewriting history for their own purposes.

Here is the labelled 1962-63 official Fender catalogue where you also see the 3 knobs version of the Jazz Bass.

And a 1962, according to the guy speaking, Fender catalogue where you see the 3 knobs Jazz Bass (go to 2:30): I know the guy is turning the pages like a moron.