Baritone Jazzmaster

[Verne Bunsen]

I am actually worried that the pickguard might not work out. I'll have to wait until I get the pickups in, likely a couple of very long weeks.

Even with the "right" pickguard specs I had to do a good bit of work on the pickup routes in the body of my JM in order to get things to fit right.

 

[BigSteve22]

I am actually worried that the pickguard might not work out. I'll have to wait until I get the pickups in, likely a couple of very long weeks.

Even with the "right" pickguard specs I had to do a good bit of work on the pickup routes in the body of my JM in order to get things to fit right.

I'll second that. I used SD P-Rails, but I'm thinking that using any nonstandard pup would need a little finessing.

 

[rgand]

I am actually worried that the pickguard might not work out. I'll have to wait until I get the pickups in, likely a couple of very long weeks.

Even with the "right" pickguard specs I had to do a good bit of work on the pickup routes in the body of my JM in order to get things to fit right.

I'll second that. I used SD P-Rails, but I'm thinking that using any nonstandard pup would need a little finessing.

I also had to do a lot of customization on my JM pickguard. Fortunately, that's not difficult. It just takes a little time and care to get things right.

 

[new-killer-star]

Yeah I kind of figured I would have to do some customization for the pickups anyways. Fortunately I have a free week to myself coming up, so I should be able to get the quiet time needed to do a decent job with it.

 

[BigSteve22]

I also had to do a lot of customization on my JM pickguard. Fortunately, that's not difficult. It just takes a little time and care to get things right.

Roger that on the Time and Care. And a lot easier with the right tools.
"Have drill press, will travel!" (Although no too quickly, sucker's pretty damned heavy.....)  :laughing7:

 

[rgand]

I also had to do a lot of customization on my JM pickguard. Fortunately, that's not difficult. It just takes a little time and care to get things right.

Roger that on the Time and Care. And a lot easier with the right tools.
"Have drill press, will travel!" (Although no too quickly, sucker's pretty damned heavy.....)  :laughing7:

:icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

 

[new-killer-star]

My pickups from Righteous Sound are shipping today, Mastery bridge arrives tomorrow.

I have all the rest of the necessary bits, now I just need to wait patiently until Sunday... (which is hard)

 

[Tipperman]

My pickups from Righteous Sound are shipping today, Mastery bridge arrives tomorrow.

I have all the rest of the necessary bits, now I just need to wait patiently until Sunday... (which is hard)

Awesome! Anxiously awaiting the finished product. Are you able to record a sound demo of it once it's all ready to go?

 

[new-killer-star]

Yes I should be able to get a sound clip up if I finish soon enough.

 

[Tipperman]

Yes I should be able to get a sound clip up if I finish soon enough.

I'd love to hear what it sounds like if you're able to do that. It's gonna be one cool guitar.

 

[Logrinn]

Those Righteous pickups do come in a nice package. Nice combo. Should sound great.

 

[new-killer-star]

I had some time to start assembly today, here it is laid out on the kitchen counter my workbench.

I put the p90 in a no-holes Jazzmaster cover and carefully redrilled the holes so it fits super snug, but adjusts as a p90 should to the body. I will probably glue in some screws to the 'extra' screw holes. I will also probably get a white pickup cover.

I've also installed the mastery bridge & thimbles. I know folks gush about these all the time, but the build quality on the mastery is impeccable, it feels and looks so much better than the other JM bridge I have.

Next up is fine tuning of the pickguard and routing to accept the humbucker sized bridge pickup.

 

[Fat Pete]

Looking good so far...

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Man, that is sharp!

 

[BigSteve22]

That is such a great look! Sure hope you decide to use that pickguard, keep those photos coming.... :headbang:

 

[Tipperman]

I've also installed the mastery bridge & thimbles. I know folks gush about these all the time, but the build quality on the mastery is impeccable, it feels and looks so much better than the other JM bridge I have.

Welcome to the club. I'd change out the screws at the base of the vibrato for some flat ones. They have a tendency to cut the strings during use, at least in my experience. Mastery Vibrato is pretty slick if you want to grab one, I quite like it on my friends Jazzmaster. Can't justify the cost myself, but it sure does look nice.

Back to the bridge. You're gonna love that thing even more when you're done. It's a dream come true. The old bridge is a nightmare. This thing though... Rest your palm on it and you won't get your hand sliced open 37 times.

 

[rgand]

That is coming together beautifully. The pickguard is outstanding with that body.

 

[new-killer-star]

Some progress today, I finally finished all the routing and pickguard modifications and have attached the hardware to the pickguard. It was a little tricky to get the spacing just right on the rollers for the rhythm circuit, but they feel really solid and spin nice and smooth now.

Tomorrow I should be able to finish wiring things up. I was very tempted today to just hooking up one of the pickups directly and see how it sounds. I also realized I forgot to get knobs...

Here it is with most of the hardware bits installed.

Here's the wiring kit from Rothstein, everything came super neatly organized and easy to find.

 

[rgand]

Lookin' good. Is there a chrome or black cover you could put on the neck pickup?

 

[new-killer-star]

Is there a chrome or black cover you could put on the neck pickup?

No kidding, the cream is not great. I'd love to find blank chrome jazzmaster cover but I haven't been able to find one yet. I'll keep looking and get a black or white one if I can't.