Dream Jazzmaster Build, or Yet Another Green Jazzmaster
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 8:50 am
This is a project to build my dream Jazzmaster. While in a general sense, it has been in development for twenty years, I have been developing the specific parameters over the last two years. And now it's time to begin.
I had already been gassing for a Jazzmaster for a few years when Fender brought out the initial run of AVRI. But when I saw the AVRI Sherwood Green Jazzmasters it was love at first sight. There was no possible way I could afford one at the time though. And by the time I could have afforded one, they were scarce. So, for almost twenty years I have been lusting after a Sherwood Green Jazzmaster. Now, if I could find one of those AVRI models, I could probably afford it. But, I now know that in order to really be my perfect Jazzmaster, I would need the specs to be a bit different. So, here is yet another Sherwood Green Jazzmaster build.
It will be fairly vintage in appearance and tone, with some modernized specs. Sort of my own "Vintage Modified" or "Classic Player" version of the Jazzmaster. Unlike my last two builds, I won't be doing any woodwork or finishing or 3d printing of custom designed parts.
Almost two years ago I received a good sized profit sharing bonus from my job and I decided to set it aside to fund my dream Jazzmaster. I decided that if this was truly going to be my perfect Jazzmaster, I should be thoughtful, deliberate, and patient in my decision making. So, I have been doing research and gradually fine tuning my specs over the last two years. I have secured a few of the pieces already, purchasing them as good opportunities presented themselves.
Specs
Body: I did a lot of research on builders of Jazzmaster bodies. Of course OSG was the best source of information. I want this to be under 4.5 lbs and alder. I don't buy into the whole thing about tonewood in electric guitars, but the guitar I had been wanting for twenty years was alder and anything else would be a compromise. I had narrowed it down to Guitarmill, Saylor, or USACG, with Guitarmill as my first choice. Over the last few months I became serious about getting the body and began to regularly check their sites. Guitarmill has been out of stock of lightweight alder for a few months. Saylor's bodies were averaging just over 4.5 lbs. USACG had their custom shop closed for a while and while it reopened recently, Jazzmasters haven't been re-added to their offerings yet. BestGuitarParts had a 4lb 5oz body on their website that I was eyeing for awhile. I wasn't sure about them though, while I like their necks, I hadn't seen any reviews on their Jazzmaster bodies. Saylor had just posted a 4lb 5oz body the other day and I was considering that. But a few nights ago I spotted the right body. Guitarmill posted a 4.25 lb alder body. It couldn't have been on the site more than a few hours when I saw it. I bought it immediately and it's on it's way here now.
Neck: I know that the neck is the most important part, so I had to be sure that I had the right specs for me. I have necks with all sorts of radii, thicknesses, nut widths, and frets, and I can play them all fine. It is difficult to isolate those variables from each other and get things "perfect". I've used some of my recent projects to test out different specs. For example, getting a neck as close as possible to a neck I already have, but with one thing changed, like frets or thickness. The most recent neck I purchased from BestGuitarParts seems to be the perfect neck for me, so I will be using those specs. Woods are roasted maple for the aged maple color and the raw satiny feel, and ebony for the hardness and feel and because it has the darkness of a vintage rosewood board. No blocks, no binding. Abalone inlays because I love the look of abalone. This isn't ordered yet.
Edit: found an example of a neck with roasted maple and macassar ebony on the Warmoth showcase - this isn't the neck I'm using.
Color: In my research, I had discovered that the color Fender used for the Sherwood Green AVRI, was not vintage accurate and the finishing shops use the vintage formulation of Sherwood green. But, I don't want the vintage accurate Sherwood green, I want the AVRI shade. Also, I don't care about nitro, so don't need a vintage finish. Based on the quality of the finish on my recent Coyote project, I decided to use GuitarPaintGuys again and settled on their Euro Green Metallic color. In fact, I chose them for the Coyote project in order to test them out for this project.
Pretty close match
Tuners: Kluson Revolution KTNC-3805CL
Maybe it's because I'm an interior designer, but it really bothers me that vintage style tuners are nickel, but tremolos and plates are chrome. Mixing metal finishes is like a mortal sin. Anyway, these are mostly vintage in appearance, with modern performance. Press-in bushings, slotted posts, oval buttons and vintage mounting, but with a 19:1 ratio, sealed mechanism, and a chrome finish.
String Tree: Gotoh barrel. I like these because they are very small, well made, and have no sharp edges. Essentially a more tasteful version of the Mastery tree.
Nut: Graptech Tusq
Tremolo: Stewmac Golden age with a Staytrem Collet. Already purchased and waiting. This was the best solution for a trem that doesn't say Fender or Mastery on it.
Bridge: Staytrem - already purchased and currently living on my Squier Jag. I know I said mixing metals was a mortal sin, but I don't believe in hell, so whatever. Function always trumps aesthetic decisions.
Pickguard: Parchment, possibly by Terrapin. Sorry OSG, I know you love tort and mint, but you're wrong. Tortoise only works on neutral colors and parchment is almost always better looking than mint.
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Antiquity II - purchased last year when Stratosphere had 15% off pickups for black Friday. Parchment covers.
Wiring: I may use a push/pull or an extra switch to get a series option, but other than that, vintage values.
Knobs: Witch hat
Name: TBD - may come up with a unique name, or may just call it Jazzmaster, not sure yet.
Even though I'm not doing any actual wood working or finishing, this will take a while to be completed. I'm thinking it will be done by next Spring. I've already waited twenty years, so a few extra months are fine with me.
Here's a mockup from the dressing room (slightly tweaked to darken colors).
That's it for know. I'll update as things happen.
I had already been gassing for a Jazzmaster for a few years when Fender brought out the initial run of AVRI. But when I saw the AVRI Sherwood Green Jazzmasters it was love at first sight. There was no possible way I could afford one at the time though. And by the time I could have afforded one, they were scarce. So, for almost twenty years I have been lusting after a Sherwood Green Jazzmaster. Now, if I could find one of those AVRI models, I could probably afford it. But, I now know that in order to really be my perfect Jazzmaster, I would need the specs to be a bit different. So, here is yet another Sherwood Green Jazzmaster build.
It will be fairly vintage in appearance and tone, with some modernized specs. Sort of my own "Vintage Modified" or "Classic Player" version of the Jazzmaster. Unlike my last two builds, I won't be doing any woodwork or finishing or 3d printing of custom designed parts.
Almost two years ago I received a good sized profit sharing bonus from my job and I decided to set it aside to fund my dream Jazzmaster. I decided that if this was truly going to be my perfect Jazzmaster, I should be thoughtful, deliberate, and patient in my decision making. So, I have been doing research and gradually fine tuning my specs over the last two years. I have secured a few of the pieces already, purchasing them as good opportunities presented themselves.
Specs
Body: I did a lot of research on builders of Jazzmaster bodies. Of course OSG was the best source of information. I want this to be under 4.5 lbs and alder. I don't buy into the whole thing about tonewood in electric guitars, but the guitar I had been wanting for twenty years was alder and anything else would be a compromise. I had narrowed it down to Guitarmill, Saylor, or USACG, with Guitarmill as my first choice. Over the last few months I became serious about getting the body and began to regularly check their sites. Guitarmill has been out of stock of lightweight alder for a few months. Saylor's bodies were averaging just over 4.5 lbs. USACG had their custom shop closed for a while and while it reopened recently, Jazzmasters haven't been re-added to their offerings yet. BestGuitarParts had a 4lb 5oz body on their website that I was eyeing for awhile. I wasn't sure about them though, while I like their necks, I hadn't seen any reviews on their Jazzmaster bodies. Saylor had just posted a 4lb 5oz body the other day and I was considering that. But a few nights ago I spotted the right body. Guitarmill posted a 4.25 lb alder body. It couldn't have been on the site more than a few hours when I saw it. I bought it immediately and it's on it's way here now.
Neck: I know that the neck is the most important part, so I had to be sure that I had the right specs for me. I have necks with all sorts of radii, thicknesses, nut widths, and frets, and I can play them all fine. It is difficult to isolate those variables from each other and get things "perfect". I've used some of my recent projects to test out different specs. For example, getting a neck as close as possible to a neck I already have, but with one thing changed, like frets or thickness. The most recent neck I purchased from BestGuitarParts seems to be the perfect neck for me, so I will be using those specs. Woods are roasted maple for the aged maple color and the raw satiny feel, and ebony for the hardness and feel and because it has the darkness of a vintage rosewood board. No blocks, no binding. Abalone inlays because I love the look of abalone. This isn't ordered yet.
Edit: found an example of a neck with roasted maple and macassar ebony on the Warmoth showcase - this isn't the neck I'm using.
Color: In my research, I had discovered that the color Fender used for the Sherwood Green AVRI, was not vintage accurate and the finishing shops use the vintage formulation of Sherwood green. But, I don't want the vintage accurate Sherwood green, I want the AVRI shade. Also, I don't care about nitro, so don't need a vintage finish. Based on the quality of the finish on my recent Coyote project, I decided to use GuitarPaintGuys again and settled on their Euro Green Metallic color. In fact, I chose them for the Coyote project in order to test them out for this project.
Pretty close match
Tuners: Kluson Revolution KTNC-3805CL
Maybe it's because I'm an interior designer, but it really bothers me that vintage style tuners are nickel, but tremolos and plates are chrome. Mixing metal finishes is like a mortal sin. Anyway, these are mostly vintage in appearance, with modern performance. Press-in bushings, slotted posts, oval buttons and vintage mounting, but with a 19:1 ratio, sealed mechanism, and a chrome finish.
String Tree: Gotoh barrel. I like these because they are very small, well made, and have no sharp edges. Essentially a more tasteful version of the Mastery tree.
Nut: Graptech Tusq
Tremolo: Stewmac Golden age with a Staytrem Collet. Already purchased and waiting. This was the best solution for a trem that doesn't say Fender or Mastery on it.
Bridge: Staytrem - already purchased and currently living on my Squier Jag. I know I said mixing metals was a mortal sin, but I don't believe in hell, so whatever. Function always trumps aesthetic decisions.
Pickguard: Parchment, possibly by Terrapin. Sorry OSG, I know you love tort and mint, but you're wrong. Tortoise only works on neutral colors and parchment is almost always better looking than mint.
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Antiquity II - purchased last year when Stratosphere had 15% off pickups for black Friday. Parchment covers.
Wiring: I may use a push/pull or an extra switch to get a series option, but other than that, vintage values.
Knobs: Witch hat
Name: TBD - may come up with a unique name, or may just call it Jazzmaster, not sure yet.
Even though I'm not doing any actual wood working or finishing, this will take a while to be completed. I'm thinking it will be done by next Spring. I've already waited twenty years, so a few extra months are fine with me.
Here's a mockup from the dressing room (slightly tweaked to darken colors).
That's it for know. I'll update as things happen.
I've got 7 great USA Strats but that Sherwood AVRI will haunt me forever. I do have a wonderful Inca Silver AVRI57 Strat which is kinda cool and pretty rare and my 50th Anni Jag in Burgundy Mist is a real looker too, but Sherwood is my favorite original custom color. 
