The best route to the perfect new Jazzmaster...

[Ursoluno]

So.

I plan on having an ash body, white blonde Jazzmaster in my near future.

And yet, Fender of America doesn't make one.

I need your advice, people - Should I start with a AVRI Jazzmaster and replace the body and pickups?  Or rather, should I use a source like Warmoth or USACG to build the guitar from scratch?

The main thing I'm worried about is the quality of the AVRI neck.  The quality of the body/pickups doesn't matter at all, as I'll be replacing them.

Also, what might be more cost-effective?  I know I can get everything I need from Guitar Parts Resource Center, but it will definitely start to add up.

Thoughts?

Mods, I apologize if this belongs in the Mods/Restoration forum.  Please feel free to move this thread as you see fit.

[Aug]

I'm in the process of piecing together a Jazzmaster I purchased from Jay.  I've already copied the body, and am well on my way.  If you have the means to build your own, I'd say go that route...

[JazzBlaster]

I agree, build your own. you can choose all the parts yourself, and you may learn something in the process

[Naturality]

Yeah, and you can choose other parts to be custom, like quarter pounders or differents pots or something if you wanted

[jetset]

Build your own body, but maybe grab one of those parted-out CIJ necks from ebay that tend to go for like $150.  I've never had a problem with the quality of the japanese necks, and by the time you get one from Warmoth or USACG, shape the headstock, and finish it, you're out over $250 plus labor.  They've got the headstock and decal done right already too.
-J

[Ursoluno]

Thanks for all the responses thus far, folks.

Can anybody attest specifically to the quality of the AVRI Jazzmaster necks?  Especially when compared to the necks made by Warmoth?

Thanks!

[Mr M]

I've played 2 AVRI Jazzys and i thought the neck seemed like good quality, but i perfer the CIJ necks for some reaso.

I think it's that the CIJ seem to have more Gloss, which i really like

[mcjt]

i work in european hi-fi import, and a client of mine who did vintage guitars too (NY) gave me a very nice aftermarket strat neck.
it had beautiful tiger flame and a figured rosewood fretboard.
in my mind, i didn't think the world needed another strat. i had already built strats too....
i took 9 months of reading about JM's online.
after that, i bought a beautiful natural refinned 1960 JM body on ebay for $250.
then, i emptied my back acct buying every.single.part to build this guitar. Montreal. New York. Boston. I hunted for odds and ends everywhere while on business trips. i used original, ancient caps, RI parts, vintage parts, high grade silver solder, OFC solid core wiring out of $20,000 stereo amplifiers to replace the original cloth covered wire.... and my bride of frankstein took shape....

and then one day, hunting for a case in a 2nd hand guitar shop, i saw my first real JM, a beautiful fiesta AVRI ---

MY hobbled together honey ANNIHILATED the RI. the tone, the feel, the sound out of my funky old caps..... that 47 year old alder....

i wouldn't have done anything differently.

so, my 2 cents is to do it. it'll cost ya, but a- you'll learn a lot, b- you'll probably have a GREAT guitar! c- and you'll know and love her all the more.

[mcjt]

warmoth is great. Ask Ken nicely and he'll make you a CBS Pro neck with no side adjustor. you can reshape the headstock if you must. et voilà! or do 'total vintage' with smaller strat headstock. i have three warmoth bass necks, all awesome, three bodies, same thing. I even cross pollinate with mighty mite parts, and the neck joints are DEAD on.

they have an ash body for $170 in the showcase which i thought about getting for a blond.... go have a look....

http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guit ... enuItem2=0

musikraft makes a great replica too....

[luau]

I'm really growing to like my AVRI neck. It could maybe be a little thinner and/or have more shoulder (like my MIJ basically), but the rosewood is much more attractive than that on my MIJ. The fret work is really nice, it isn't sticky, the truss rod works, etc..

Sorry, I've never messed with a Warmoth neck so I can't compare them.

[Aug]

I hear that Warmoth necks are quite lovely.  And the craftsmanship is second to none.

[sonicblue64]

roll your own buddy.

[glimmertwin]

A few comments...

- I read where the most accurate body being made is actually the allparts bodies but they needed to be shaped a little on the backside tummy route.  At least that's what I gathered from a very knowledgeable JM afficionado. 

-Musikraft actually makes a JM neck with a real JM headstock - something few people offer. 

-the AVRI necks can be quite comfy but I would take a bit of mild grit steel wool to the back of the neck to soften it up a bit.  It's an old guitar tech trick and really does wonders to make necks feel broken in.  Make sure to tape of the pickups if you do - stray steel wool strands could cause shorts. 

[FireAarro]

A few comments...

- I read where the most accurate body being made is actually the allparts bodies but they needed to be shaped a little on the backside tummy route.  At least that's what I gathered from a very knowledgeable JM afficionado.

The bridge pickup route is a bit off too, you'll have to shape that a bit..

[chrisjedijane]

Thanks for all the responses thus far, folks.

Can anybody attest specifically to the quality of the AVRI Jazzmaster necks?  Especially when compared to the necks made by Warmoth?

Thanks!

The AVRI necks are really nice - I like mine a lot more compared to my friend's Japanese one, although it's still a good neck, mind. If i was making my own jazzmaster, I'd probably be equally happy with either.