1996 Fender Order HJM-59/JM66-EX ALG, Lacquer Refinish, Non Catalog Ikebe, Gold Anodized Aluminum Pickguard, 1959 Jazzmaster, FujiGen

1996 Fender Japan HJM-59 (JM66-EX) non-catalog order 1959 Jazzmaster in 3-Tone Sunburst (3TS). Based on an Ikebe magazine ads from August–September 1996, along with the production sticker in the neck pocket, I‘m hypothesizing this was the HJM-59 offered, as described below.

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In 1996, as a launch event for The Ventures signature models, Ikebe hosted “The Garage Surf 96 Special”…a “mind-blowing surf event” with various shop order offsets—including a ’59 spec Jazzmaster (HJM-59) with aluminum pickguard (an Ikebukuro Store G&S Club Original instrument).

The factory neck pocket production sticker shows it was a run of 18 instruments, and the “EX” suffix—denotes it was a special/experimental run (not for export, as some assume). 

As it doesn’t have a serial number or MIJ/CIJ label, it was refinished in lacquer sometime in the past—possibly by Ikebe's own WSR mod shop (who were also responsible for modding the HJG-KC line and offered other various refinishing and post-purchase mods by customer request).

It predates the limited non-catalog JM66/ALG (also ’59 style) by about a decade (produced 2008–2014).

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Due to the lacquer refinish, there is no serial. Production sticker, HJM-59 Ikebe magazine ad, and aluminum pickguard specification denote it was produced between 1996–1997. Manufactured at the FujiGen factory.

All in all, it is a rare example of a FujiGen produced Jazzmaster with factory gold anodized aluminum pickguard. Very dark rosewood fretboard, and subtlety flamed neck.

100% fully functional.

Set up with D'Addario 10-46 strings, playing up and down the neck with proper intonation.

Includes 1990's Fender Japan bass gig bag. No vibrato arm.