1st Post, but not my first project

[smudger]

This will be my 5th Warmoth based project, previous attempts where as follows:

1. Jazzcaster (before they made them as a standard body you could custom order them which is what I did about 8 years ago. Marginally succesful with a swampash body, mitie might maple neck, Fender Tele bridge and duncan tele PUPs.

I can't find any pictures of this one

2. Thinline Tele (no f hole), swap ash body, fender neck this time and 2 x gibson pups from a LP studio. This was the one massive faliure as the pups did not work well with the guitar, I also tried a pearly gates (bridge) and that was not any better

3. I next built a chambered tele, with a swamp ash core and quilt maple top. again a fender neck was used with Bare Knuckle Country Boy tele pups. This worked really well but I didn't like the flashy maple top, not my thing.

4. So I went back to basics (inspired by the Fender Custom Shop 52 Thinline) I had a Swamp ash thinline body made, finished in butterscotch blonde and swapped the neck and electrics from the cambered Tele.

As you can probably guess I do swap and change about a bit.

Now project number five...

I already have the following:
original 1990's Jag-Stang neck inc tuners
Mustang control plate and bridge/vibrato
Seymour Duncan Custom Custom HB
Mustang neck single coil
500k push pull pot

My intention for number five is to build a Jag-Stang inspired at least visually by the Thurston Moore signature Jazzmaster.

So in addition to a transparent green finish I will also be getting a matt black pickguard.

Like Thurston I'll go with 1 pot for volume and use the extra hole in the control plate for a LP style toggle switch and therefore have no switches above the PUPs, as they've always got in my way on Jag-Stangs and Mustangs.

This all sounds like I have it all sorted out, but 2 things are bugging me.

- Do I get Warmoth to do the finishing for me or do I attempt it myself.

- Although I already have the mustang bridge and tail piece I'm not 100% committed. The alternative bridge that I think will work quite well is the bridge off a Fender Toronado (original version, pictured below). I would not attempt to fit the bridge myself as I don't have the necessary tools (drill press) to do this myself, so I would be getting a local luthier to do this for me.

Personally I am leaning towards the mustang bridge and a Warmoth finish.

Thanks in advance for any input anyone cares to put forward 8)

 

[Updown]

This will be my 5th Warmoth based project:

- Do I get Warmoth to do the finishing for me or do I attempt it myself.

Welcome .... 5 Warmoths  :icon_scratch:  where have you been all that time.  :icon_biggrin:

Suppose depends on what finish you are talking about doing yourself.
Warmoth do fantastic finishes  :icon_thumright: well worth the extra $$$
Or can give @Tonar (from this forum) a yell, he does TOP NOTCH finishes too.  :icon_thumright:

Why not try a RAW Warmoth neck with SS Frets, then you'd be super happy  :toothy10:

 

[smudger]

I've done a quick mock up of what a Toronado bridge would look like on a jagstang....

 

[Cagey]

Warmoth does excellent finishes for a very reasonable price, so if I were you I'd lean in that direction unless I wanted something they didn't offer.

As for the Mustang/Jaguar/Jazzmaster bridge/trem setup, I wouldn't take one of those on a bad bet. While they're not unattractive, they're a piss-poor design mechanically. Almost anything is better.

 

[Ace Flibble]

Oh lord, that Thinline. I've been thinking of doing a build identical to that for a couple of years now (also ripping off inspired by the Custom Shop model from a couple of years ago; I almost bought one of those, but the day I finally went to the store to get it they told me it had been sold just two days earlier. A year it sat there and then it sells right as I go for it!). I'm waiting on Warmoth to offer recessed ferrules and a squared-off jack section on Thinline bodies though.

 

[smudger]

Thanks Ace, it was my best effort through Warmoth and the best tele I've ever had. If I where to build another then I'd be looking at making 1 change I'd go for would be the PUPs: a SD Jerry Donahue for the bridge and a Phat Cat P90 in the neck. That would rock.

Back to the Jag Stang for now though. I'm still mulling over which bridge to use. I've been looking a vintage 60's/70's Musicmaster bridge, this a top loader so I was thinking that it would get more of an 'off set waist' sound as none of them, Jags, Jazzys, Mustangs etc, have through body stinging.  It's nicely reclic'd too  :glasses9:

Anyone out there got any experiences with this style bridge they care to share?

 

[JCizzle]

Sounds like a great project! I'm also new to the site, can't wait to see the finished axe.

 

[smudger]

Thanks Pal.

I have moved forward with this now. I've ordered my new body, there's not many options on the Jag-Stang model, so mine will be in Alder, not that unique but all Fender JS have a basswood body No bridge route so I can fit the toronado bridge I've ordered off of ebay. That is all. No finish as I will be having a go at a DIY Nitro Cellulose finish in sonic blue, with the idea in my head that if a mess it up I can always relic it  :icon_biggrin: