Bright and Heavy: JM Body w/ Nomad Neck

[loquendo89]

While I wait for my body, neck, pick guard and a few other things from Warmoth, some of the parts for my first "build" came in recently so I thought I'd share them in case any one wants to chime in or give any tips etc.

From Warmoth:
Unfinished maple Jazzmaster body with zebrawood top
Unfinished maple Nomad neck with massacar ebony fretboard and SS frets - 14" radius

In the picture:

From Stewart MacDonald
Stewmac TOM-styled roller bridge (14" radius)
Golden Age JM trem bridge
Schaller Tuners
2 1" neck shims

From EMG
2 HX Single Coils for the bridge and middle position
3 way toggle

I don't have a plan yet on the finish, I've been looking through the DIY subforum here.

 

[OrcJuice]

I'm no expert by any means, but I'm working on my first guitar build as well. I decided to go with the finishing kits from Wudtone. So far, I'm quite happy. It takes the guess work out of what you need and they come with pretty detailed directions from their website.

Just my $.02.

 

[loquendo89]

I'm no expert by any means, but I'm working on my first guitar build as well. I decided to go with the finishing kits from Wudtone. So far, I'm quite happy. It takes the guess work out of what you need and they come with pretty detailed directions from their website.

Just my $.02.

Thank you! I should be getting the body and neck any time between now and later. I will check out wudtone! I’ve also looked into Stewmac as I’ve gotten a few parts from them.

 

[loquendo89]

I received the jazzmaster body and nomad neck in the mail today. I put my order in May 29th; it was in my hands just several hours before posting this. I already noticed some mess ups on my part regarding the pots I ordered from EMG when doing my mockup photo. No decision on finish yet. My expectations have been exceeded so far and it looks a lot better than I imagined in my head. Rock on friends! Jamming on my inspirational TONE playlist as I am writing this.

Here is a mockup...

 

[PhilHill]

Very Nice, good luck on the build.. :icon_thumright:

 

[rgand]

Looks good! Nice figuring on that body.

 

[loquendo89]

Looks good! Nice figuring on that body.

It really turned out really nice!

 

[loquendo89]

Most of my finishing supplies came in...I'll be planning a finishing schedule for the next few days/coming weeks.

Also, I will have to drill holes to accommodate the Tune-O-Matic style bridge - should I do this before or after I put the finish on?

 

[loquendo89]

I have finished the body and neck, twice; the second go around was much more successful! The body had a base coat of shellac (2 coats), aqua coat grain filler on the top (2-3 coats - still not perfect), another coat of shellac (2 coats) on top of the grain filler, followed by 6-8 coats of Minwax satin wipe on poly. The neck just had 6-8 coats of the poly.

When I opened the schaller m6s to install them on the headstock, I found that they were staggered AND had pins (on an angled headstock.) Instead of buying the jig from stewmac, I decided to take matters in my own inexperienced hands - creating indentations of the pins and drilling out the holes. I made my own "jig" with the zebrawood pen blanks I used to test my finishing process. Of course, I made a hash of it... I contacted a local luthier to see if he can fix my messups and put it together. I am not defeated but am learning an awful lot! I still am waiting for an envelope to send my incorrect volume pots back to EMG to exchange for the correct pots so I have time for the luthier to get back to me.

Oh - I now have two different bridges - a Roller TOM and the Warmoth modified mustang. Both would work with my neck radius (which is flatter.) Since a luthier is involved now, and I have both bridges in my possession....what should I go with?

 

[Rick]

I bet that came out great

 

[JaySwear2]

Seems like the roller TOM would allow the strings to move a little more easily, should give it better tuning stability. Right? Those roller Tune-O-Matics have little ball bearings on the saddles right? Just trying to picture it.

Lets see some pictures of the finished neck and body!

 

[loquendo89]

I bet that came out great

It did for a first timer! I strictly ordered the wood for the sound and not the looks, so the finish was purely functional.

Seems like the roller TOM would allow the strings to move a little more easily, should give it better tuning stability. Right? Those roller Tune-O-Matics have little ball bearings on the saddles right? Just trying to picture it.

My intent of the of the roller tom was tuning stability. Yes there are ball bearings. I will post some pictures tomorrow. I haven’t gotten around to calling the luthier but plan to tomorrow!

 

[loquendo89]

It's not dialed in yet, but has exceeded my expectations! This might be the coolest sounding guitar I've ever owned!

 

[rgand]

It looks mighty good. How cool that it exceeds your expectations.

 

[loquendo89]

Thank you! It doesn’t happen very often where I research the piss out of something and the outcome of the research is as grand as I’d hoped! It suits me and suits the sounds I am chasing! I’m one step closer to the tone goal - the life long pursuit!