I have just joined this forum and have found this thread very interesting as I have a jazzette of my own which as rare as they are in the US are almost totally unheard of here in Britain.
The knowledge on this forum is awe inspiring and I see there are some serious scholars of American drums here.
One thing interested me in particular and that was the question of available finishes and whether a jazzette could be considered a "true Jazzette" if it was not in the catologue specified finish of laquer.
As a Fender guitar has already been mentioned I think it is worth pointing out that in all the Fender catologues through the fifties and into the sixties Telecasters were offered in blonde finish and Strats in sunburst. No other colour option was offered.
Catologues are a great reference point but I think they are often taken too seriously, manufacturers, as well as offering custom orders would often test the market by sending out a finish to see how it sold, also certain dealers may ask for something exclusive to their store to entice the public.
Collectors often shoot themselves in the foot by passing up a good thing because they have no reference point for it in print or by imposing rules on their own passion for fear of the unusual.
I don't think it is too difficult to imagine a man walking into a drum store, seeing a jazzette for sale, loving it but telling the shop owner he doesn't like metal snare drums and the owner offering him a jazz festival snare instead, I imagine it happened all the time.
Anyway love the forum, interesting stuff.
Here is my little jazzette in factory gold sparkle, keystone badge
