NGD! Mahogany parts Jazzmaster

[Jan Deal]

One of my friends has been downsizing his collection of guitars, so when he put this one up for sale, I made him an offer and got a really good deal.

It's a mahogany bodied Jazzmaster with a birdseye maple neck. He bought it off eBay years ago, so I don't know too much about it. It's finished in satin, which I am really happy with. The guitar is very resonant, it really sings unplugged! There is no neck plate, just recessed screws, which I think looks pretty cool.

The pickups are handwound. From the time I spent going over the guitar, they sound nice and full bodied, but I will be trying it out properly this weekend at band practice.

Other than swapping the bridge to a Mustang bridge and disconnecting the rhythm circuit, I only have plans to make some cosmetic changes really. Swap out the pickguard and the knobs, I'm thinking black. What do you guys think?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i1o8p87dfhm4z ... 3.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ujo43pp2tf1wn ... 4.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t3dl822wzctmk ... 5.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zpcpsq6xohyc1 ... 6.JPG?dl=0

(I feel like such a luddite, I couldn't get the photos to embed, apologies)

[Jan Deal]

So I got a very talented artist friend of mine (check out JetpackDinosaur on instagram) to laser etch a design onto this guitar's headstock. behold, the Catmaster!

Catmaster headstock by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

I then sent the guitar to my local shop for some modifications.
- Simplify the electronics to a 3 way switch and volume knob. The switch now goes left to right, rather than up and down.
- Switch the tuning pegs to slotted head vintage style.
- Graptech saddles.
- Black pickguard.

The pickups were apparently hand made by the original builder. I have very little info, other than the guy I bought the guitar from found it on eBay.

Mahogany Catmaster by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

Maghogany Catmaster body by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

mahogany Catmaster body 2 by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

Mahogany Catmaster Headstock by 1983slowdazzle, on Flickr

Really happy with how this has turned out. Unfortunately, I've not had a proper chance to try it out at band practice yet.

The one thing I need to tweak is the tremolo arm position. It is sitting quite high above the body and I'm not keen on that. Am I correct in thinking that you have to adjust the collet in the mechanism to allow it to rest lower?

[BlueSparkle]

Be careful shimming the trem arm socket. If you shim it too much, it restricts the movement of the plate. I had a similar issue.
I replaced mine with a staytrem and it's arm is way better than the fender one that was on the instrument. better retainer.

[Shadoweclipse13]

This is really classy all around, but holy fuck that etched headstock

[Jan Deal]

This is really classy all around, but holy fuck that etched headstock

The artist's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jetpackdinosaur/?hl=en

[Shadoweclipse13]

This is really classy all around, but holy fuck that etched headstock

The artist's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jetpackdinosaur/?hl=en

His designs are amazing!!! Thanks for the link! I always love supporting local/smaller artists.

[Scout]

I have a real soft spot for Birdseye, love the contrast with the mahogany.

[Jan Deal]

I have a real soft spot for Birdseye, love the contrast with the mahogany.

It looks really 70's to me, which I actually really like. I'd seen lots of Strats that were brown/walnut with black guards, so that's why I changed it. Maple fingerboards are my first preference, so that was another reason I picked up this guitar.

[Amon 7.L]

So I got a very talented artist friend of mine (check out JetpackDinosaur on instagram) to laser etch a design onto this guitar's headstock. behold, the Catmaster!

Now, this is wha I'd call a proper signature guitar.
Holy jumping cats, this is one of the craziest yet coolest things I've seen in a while for what concerns headstock branding... Whoa!!
Hats off to you and your indeed very talented friend, the designs in the link you've posted are drop dead gorgeous.
Long live the Maho-Cat-master!