Jazzmaster - what would you do?

[Stonker]

I've picked up a used Jazzmaster body.  Firstly is has an extra hole drilled in it for a switch so that leaves me with the option of using a pick up config with a coil tap switch or I guess I could fit a scratchplate if I didn't want the switch (I guess I could also fit a switch and not use it.

However, as it was quite cheap, I thought it would be an opportunity for a DIY finish.  I'm in the UK and am a bit split between trying a nitro finish or trying Wudtone.

The body is Alder, do you think the grain would show through a transparent finish or should I go solid?

 

[dmraco]

It all depends on the finish you are looking for.  If you do a solid color you can always fill the extra hole.  With a solid color you would never see it.

A scratch plate is a good option too if you do not want to use the hole and go for a transparent finish.  I was never a fan of "Fake" controls.

It looks like there is some heavy staining around the control knob and top of the body.  will that sand out?? 

To your question about the grain, it will show but it is nothing spectacular.  A nice burst would look good. 

here is a nice alder example

My deciding factor would be if you can get those stains out, but a scratch plate would cover that too.  Looking forward to your progress.

 

[Stonker]

I'm not a lover of black/red/yellow burst.  I might just try a translucent Wudtone finish. 

The whole body has previously been oiled so I think it will probably need a sand anyway.

 

[dmraco]

Burst can be any color.  I just did a white to purple.  I just posted that as an example of a transparent finish on alder

 

[Stonker]

Yes of course. I might keep it simple for a first attempt though.

 

[Stonker]

I'm thinking Candy Apple Red with Roasted Maple and a matching painted headstock and a black scratchplate.  Maybe with Chrome Phat Cats.

 

[s1player]

I can't tell, does it a have top on it? or is it one piece?

Was thinking if it had a top on it - that makes it easier to do a masked binding. If so, was going to suggest taking a stab at that. Slightly more difficult, but well within a DIY project. Plus, it looks cool.

 

[Cagey]

I'm thinking Candy Apple Red with Roasted Maple and a matching painted headstock and a black scratchplate.  Maybe with Chrome Phat Cats.

I have a strong urge to build something very much like that. I've got a highly figured roasted Maple neck here that would look great against some Candy Apple Red and there are a couple CAR Jazzmasters in the Showcase at the moment. About the only thing stopping me is they're already routed/drilled for a Jazzmaster vibrato and bridge, which I don't care for.

 

[s1player]

I'm thinking Candy Apple Red with Roasted Maple and a matching painted headstock and a black scratchplate.  Maybe with Chrome Phat Cats.

I have a strong urge to build something very much like that. I've got a highly figured roasted Maple neck here that would look great against some Candy Apple Red and there are a couple CAR Jazzmasters in the Showcase at the moment. About the only thing stopping me is they're already routed/drilled for a Jazzmaster vibrato and bridge, which I don't care for.

Hi Cagey - you might look in to it - but it's pretty easy now to convert a JM to hardtail. The guy at staytrem will machine thimble inserts that remove the "play" the JM bridge has in the thimbles (Personally, I'd buy one of their bridges also).

Plus, Faction Guitars makes a SS plate that replaces the trem plate, converting the guitar to a hardtail.

I did something similar to convert a USACG Bass VI to a hardtail. It worked perfectly and Staytrem and Faction guitars are great to work with.

 

[Stonker]

Has anybody tried the red dot markers on the neck or should I stick to black?

 

[BigSteve22]

s1player-

Have you been looking over my shoulder? Just last night I was looking at Staytrem bridges and was looking for an alternative to the hard tail conversion plate that Paul Rhoney made but discontinued.

Do you have any experience with the Faction Guitars plate? From the pictures, it doesn't seem to be same machining quality as the original.

 

[Stonker]

It's a Schaller 475

 

[BigSteve22]

Yeah, 10-4 on the Schaller 475. You recommended the Staytrem to Cagey, I just figured you might have owned or used one.

 

[Gemcutter]

I like the idea of the red dot markers, but I'd suggest that you check to see if the color/tone/shade clashes with the finish on the body. Reds can cover quite a range, so you would probably not be happy of your CAR body made the red dots appear more orange. I love the idea of making something unique, IMO the red shades would have to be very, very close.

 

[Stonker]

I've ordered a neck now.  I've opted for the dark red markers.  I thought the lighter ones would be a bad match for CAR.  I got this body quite cheap second hand so the whole thing is a bit of an experiment.  I'm going to try a matching headstock too.

 

[s1player]

s1player-

Have you been looking over my shoulder? Just last night I was looking at Staytrem bridges and was looking for an alternative to the hard tail conversion plate that Paul Rhoney made but discontinued.

Do you have any experience with the Faction Guitars plate? From the pictures, it doesn't seem to be same machining quality as the original.

All the plates on this guitar are Faction. One of the problems is - I believe - that some of his facebook photos are before the SS pieces are polished and countersunk - so they look rough. I like the final product, but I'll let you be the judge:

EDIT: BTW - that's a Staytrem bridge on there. John at Staytrem machined SS thimbles for the bridge posts so that they no longer rocked/moved. John/Staytrem puts out great stuff.

 

[BigSteve22]

Beautiful axe! The plates do look better on the guitar than on their web site. I'll give them another look.

As for the bridge, did you have any intonation problems? Perhaps what I should ask is, was their sufficient travel available on the saddles to intonate properly? On Staytrem's web site, the saddles look very thick, but they look different in your photos, like there's a LOT of room for adjustment. I really like their design, and intonation is my only concern.

 

[s1player]

Beautiful axe! The plates do look better on the guitar than on their web site. I'll give them another look.

As for the bridge, did you have any intonation problems? Perhaps what I should ask is, was their sufficient travel available on the saddles to intonate properly? On Staytrem's web site, the saddles look very thick, but they look different in your photos, like there's a LOT of room for adjustment. I really like their design, and intonation is my only concern.

Just realized, it may not be obvious, but the guitar I posted was a Bass VI. Not sure if you are looking to outfit a Jazzmaster or a Bass VI with a Staytrem bridge?

The staytrem Bass VI has tons of room - a full inch of intonation room. I run the heavier La Bella strings with the .096 low E and still have about a 1/4" of additional travel to intonate if needed. So, absolutely no problems with enough intonation travel on the Bass VI.

If you have questions on whether it would intonate - or perhaps a guitar (or string gauge) that's currently tough to intonate, I'd ask John if he has any solutions like smaller saddles or more slightly wider bridge to give a bit more intonation room. He was very open to my request for custom in the past. Can't hurt to ask.

 

[BigSteve22]

Yeah, I'll have to drop Staytrem a line. Thanks for your help.