Mahogany Jazzmaster

[agreatheight]

Starting a Warmoth Jazzmaster parts build and I'll be updating progress and uploading pics, I may even shoot some video and post to youtube. I have very little in the way of luthiery skills, so I expect a mistake or two, hehe. No matter what, I am expecting to have some fun!

Prospective Specs:

    * Warmoth Superwide neck (1 3/4" at nut), mahogany (I have sausage fingers)
    * Warmoth Jazzmaster body, mahogany
    * Rosewood Fretboard, no dot on face, only side dots
    * Duncan JB bridge pickup
    * No neck pick up for now, maybe a Fernandez Sustainer down the line
    * Schaller 475 bridge, chrome (need adjustable so I can dial in the spacing to work with the PU and the superwide spacing, and I have no need for a bar)
    * Sperzel locking tuners, chrome
    * GraphTech nut, black


I am going to stain the body forrest green (which should look interesting on the mahogany), and then tung oil the whole thing.

Going to order next week, anyone want to make any suggestions?

 

[dmraco]

sounds like a cool build.  I am really interested in the stain.  What type will you be using??

I may suggest the Dimarzio Evo neck if you a looking for a good PU....it really a versitile pup....

best of luck.

 

[agreatheight]

I am not sure (still researching it) but Minwax has a forest green stain so I might use that if nothing better presents itself.

 

[dmraco]

I have founf the waterbased stains are not all that great.  Test them out 1st if you can.

I have used the water based black before and was not real happy...this was on maple though.

 

[JaySwear]

however you end up staining that body i definitely can't wait to see it! should be a pretty damn cool build.

 

[agreatheight]

I am not *too* concerned with aesthetics on this one - the Jazzmaster has always felt like a lo-fi instrument (for whatever reason) so if it comes out a bit funky I think that could be OK. Staining the mahogany should be interesting, I have no real idea how much brown is going to come through. But half the guitar is pickguard anyways, lol. I am hoping to test on scraps first, though!

 

[tfarny]

I have used a little bit of both water and MEK based dyes and much preferred working with the MEK - better color, more even application, just easier to work with. Plus the high isn't bad (kidding, kidding...)

Mahogany tends to the red side, it may be really tough to get a nice green dye on mahogany - maybe that's why you never see green dyed mahogany actually. Red, amber, yellow, and brown tend to be used.
Check out this thread, see how the natural (that's just clear mahogany) wood is too red / brown to really take a true green color. http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=10291.0

 

[agreatheight]

Yeah, I know I won't get a 'true' green color staining over mahogany, but I am more interested in something unique and interesting, rather than pretty and perfect.

 

[dmraco]

Yeah, I know I won't get a 'true' green color staining over mahogany, but I am more interested in something unique and interesting, rather than pretty and perfect.

thats the spirit...Hell my 1st dye job was supposed to be blue...turned out a fantastic emerald green....

 

[rockskate4x]

Yeah, I know I won't get a 'true' green color staining over mahogany, but I am more interested in something unique and interesting, rather than pretty and perfect.

thats the spirit...Hell my 1st dye job was supposed to be blue...turned out a fantastic emerald green....

um...

 

[dmraco]

Yeah, I know I won't get a 'true' green color staining over mahogany, but I am more interested in something unique and interesting, rather than pretty and perfect.

thats the spirit...Hell my 1st dye job was supposed to be blue...turned out a fantastic emerald green....

um...

???

 

[Tralfaz]

All Mahogany JM sounds cool...I just did an Ash/Maple JM in natural(do a search for it)and really dig it..it was my first build...The best advise I can give is take your time!

 

[agreatheight]

Body, neck, bridge, stoptail, back plate, screws ordered. 4 - 5 weeks. Gonna research finish options to get ready, and clean a spot in my garage for the work.

 

[agreatheight]

Parts arrived last night, gonna take some pics in the next day or so with the idea of starting sanding / staining on Saturday.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Parts arrived last night, gonna take some pics in the next day or so with the idea of starting sanding / staining on Saturday.

Hell yeah!

 

[agreatheight]

OK, pics coming tonight.

Gonna get some supplies today so I can start sanding and get ready for staining. Somebody stop me if I have a stupid idea ahead.

Steps:
• Sand smooth
• Spray lightly with water and let completely dry (to raise the grain - mahogany)
• Re-sand baby butt smooth
• Stain (Minwax water based wood stain, Verdigris - like a forest green)
• Re-sand baby butt smooth
• Wipe on first coat of oil (Tung oil), let dry 24+ hours
• Re-sand baby butt smooth
• Second coat of oil, let dry 24+ hours
• Re-sand baby butt smooth
• Third coat of oil, let dry 24+ hours
• Re-sand baby butt smooth
• Assemble guitar

Sound good? Any ideas / comments?

 

[agreatheight]

Although, if it's not too expensive, I may use Minwax's Surface Conditioner as opposed to just H20 to raise the grain.