Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster project - mod to awesome

[noisemechanic]

Latest pic.
I decided to go with the bridge version like I should have ordered in the first place. Ill be getting it tomorrow or Thursday and posting another review and maybe uploading a video on you tube.

this is absolutely awesome, sir.

[knpknpknp]

I know this is an offset forum, but I really can't stop looking at that lovely archtop to the side.

[QualityMusic]

I know this is an offset forum, but I really can't stop looking at that lovely archtop to the side.

Picked it up for 100 shipped and added the electrics my self, it sounds great unpluged not so great plugged in but very hard to mike. I should have added some sort of arch top pickup instead, there is no name on the head stock but I assume its a Harmony or Silvertone. Bridge too some would to lower the action as these do not have a truss rod, I did luck out as the neck is strait and has just the right amount of relief.

[QualityMusic]

Latest pic.
I decided to go with the bridge version like I should have ordered in the first place. Ill be getting it tomorrow or Thursday and posting another review and maybe uploading a video on you tube.

this is absolutely awesome, sir.

Thanks still waiting for a neck P-rail version. I also ordered a coil tap jazz neck pick from the Pickup Wiz. I am thinking of doing a Gilmor in laid switch if i like the two sounds. Anyway it only costs $75 shipped. Main coil is 8.3 and both will be 10.5 or so.

[QualityMusic]

Latest pic.
I decided to go with the bridge version like I should have ordered in the first place. Ill be getting it tomorrow or Thursday and posting another review and maybe uploading a video on you tube.

this is absolutely awesome, sir.

Thanks still waiting for a neck P-rail version. I also ordered a coil tap jazz neck pick from the Pickup Wiz. I am thinking of doing a Gilmor in laid switch if i like the two sounds. Anyway it only costs $75 shipped. Main coil is 8.3 and both will be 10.5 or so.

I meant bridge pickup. After playing tonight I thing im pretty happy with the neck version. Its a little bright but whats nice is I think it retains the Fender sound better than the hot bridge version would. I think the articulation is amazing, the humbucker mode is much better than the original pickup which is quacky and muddy. Now its bright but smooth and might be a little louder. I think your can always turn down treble but you cant add it. Unless I cant cancel my bridge pick order I am staying with this pickup.

Also the neck in the picture is what I am planning to go to after shooting the neck with amber and gloss coat.

[chase]

How do the different modes (rail/P90/series/parallel) blend with the JM pup in the neck? A P-Rail Blacktop is very appealing.

[QualityMusic]

How do the different modes (rail/P90/series/parallel) blend with the JM pup in the neck? A P-Rail Blacktop is very appealing.

All modes seam to work well and are distinctive. I don't think the middle position changes that much but has a little more twang when the rail position is selected. Neat thing is you can get quite a bit of volume and gain boost just by switching the p-rail modes. I was going to try the hot bridge but the neck normal version is working well. Lots of highs but still very balanced in the mid and lows. Volume is just about right combined with the stock neck pu. Personally i think the cream covers make the guitar look like a quality guitar. I also am waiting for a coil tapped jazz neck pickup that will add more sounds, but really the original neck is a great pickup, just hate the black cover which is easy to change.

[QualityMusic]

Here is a pic with the neck Ive been working on. I quess the head shape is closer to a 68 strat than a Jazz. It came out really nice but I think I messed up on the decal. Let me know if I should soak it off and put on the other one I got.

[QualityMusic]

I cant seam to post a pic now.

[QualityMusic]

[QualityMusic]

[QualityMusic]

AFTER:

BEFORE:

[cbandla]

How many wires did the original stock HB pickup have on it? I'm curious if one could wire its coils in parallel.

cbandla

[andrewdoeshair]

I plan to pick up one of these blacktops and convert it to a standard JM as soon as it's easy to find them used and cheap... This looks very good though; well done

[QualityMusic]

How many wires did the original stock HB pickup have on it? I'm curious if one could wire its coils in parallel.

cbandla

Just 2 wires