Recent content by McHale

The Warmoth guitar is stuck in a holding pattern. All of the parts are gathered and mounted. All that needs to be done is finish wiring the pickguard. I can't do that until I finish the one I just refinished. On JM#2 I'm installing a Freeway Threeway switch. I need to know how that...

This 1 million percent. On the body above, I didn't bother with wood filler. I sanded it down, put on the primer coat and went to town on the chameleon paint. The dents I would have patched up are going to be back soon. It's just how it goes when you play live. I play guitar and keys (often...

Have a few coats on the body now. I'm not good at painting stuff but it will look decent once I get some clear and the hardware on there. As it'll be my main gigging guitar it's going to get banged up eventually anyway. Looking forward to getting this done so I can finish the Warmoth build...

So I got a few layers of paint on the headstock of JM#2 (this is the refinished Jazzmaster where I'll be testing some things before I complete my Warmoth build). I learned a VERY valuable lesson on JM#2. Wet sanding when there are pre-existing drilled holes leads to cracks in the wood and...

ooof. didn't realize. Tnx!

I do have one more pic as I dig through my phone. I don't have a middle pickup planned but figured I'd cut it in "just in case." All I had was the narrow copper tape so I used what I had. It's ugly but will work and nobody will see it when it's done.

Locking tuners and a locking nut perform two separate functions. The locking tuners allow me to restring a broken string in less than a minute. The locking part grabs the string so you don't need a bunch of winds and it cuts down on binding issues when making the strings do funky things...

It does. For my "live" JM, I'm using one of those TP-6 knockoffs. I've purchased a few different brands of them and finally found a high quality one. For the Warmoth build I'm using the Schaller stop tail with fine tuners. Sadly, when I decided to build this they were out of production and...

The only thing Jazzmaster about it will be the body shape and upper controls. According to a bandmate, it's completely ridiculous. A hardtail with locking nut and locking tuners makes him cringe. For me, it's all about the convenience of fast and easy string changes and tuning stability. I...

Here's a sneak peek. Bill Edwards 1 3/4" locking nut, ebony fretboard, custom waterslide. This will be a hardtail.

I called the next day and they did get them.  Ironically, he changed the order to reflect them while I was on the phone and got them slightly wrong.  :)  So I had to call back.  But I gotta say, when ever I've called support they have always been excellent.  The next guy fixed it right up, sent...

I just looked and another setting I changed didn't take (finish color).  I'll call in the morning and see if they can correct it.  If they miss my special instructions I'll have to send the body and pickguard back.  :( Thanks!

Just placed my first Warmoth order and had a few special instructions (that were definitely saved).  I verified they were there before I clicked "complete order."  After the order was placed I received my order confirmation but no special instructions were there.  I go to the web, click on my...

If using the typical Floyd nut, yes you definitely need the retaining bar.  However, there are 2 nuts you can use where you will not need a retaining bar:  1.  Kahler Locking Nut https://www.kahlerusa.com/locking-nuts-and-string-locks-6-string 2. Bill Edwards Locking Nut (Internal Adjusters)...

I'm in the same boat.  There are some things about the JM I love and some I don't.  I have a couple things to resolve before I place my Warmoth order but I'm excited to put it together and show the forum what makes it unique.  And like every other guitar I've ever built or modified, I'm sure...