Jazzmaster of Theseus, or, I'm an idiot

[Arty Pop]

Hey, OSG! Longtime lurker, first (or maybe second; I drink a lot) time poster.

So, I recently decided I wanted a Jazzmaster. I really wanted an actual Fender Vintera, but to “save money” (ha!), I bought a Squier VMJM in Candy Apple Red.

Almost immediately I decided I didn't like the white pickguard that came with the Squier, though. So I bought a pearl-grey one. I also decided I wanted to upgrade the stock pickups with some Vintage 65s, so I bought those also.

After that, I started having the well-known buzzing/rattling problems from the bridge, so I replaced the stock bridge with a Mustang bridge (still 9.5" radius, tho) from eBay.

Then I figured, well, if I’m already replacing the pickguard and pickups, I might as well replace the other electronics, too. I got all the stuff I’d need to completely rewire the guitar with the Rothstein Super Mod—that’s the wiring scheme with dual volumes, G&L-style PTB tone stack, and a series/parallel switch.

I went ahead and got new knobs and rollers, too. I figured that way, after I was done modding my actual guitar, I’d still have the old stock pickguard with all the knobs and electronics left over. Then maybe I could sell that as a complete “loaded” pickguard and recover some of the money I spent on the pickups.

Then I found a great deal on a Fender neck*, so I got that, too. Also, I haven't done it yet, but I’m kind of planning on getting a "real Fender" tremolo, with the locking button.

I think you see what I mean about the Jazzmaster of Theseus. At this point, I'm so close to "replacing" (in theory, I haven't actually started the mod) so many parts on my guitar that there'll be nothing left of the original when I'm done. I'm just a body and a set of tuners away from having the parts to build an entire second guitar. (Also, as most of you will have noticed, with all the money I’ve spent on upgrades, I could have just bought the damned Vintera in the first place. Don't remind me.)

So, should I keep the Squier stock and try to build my dream guitar as a Partsmaster out of all the (fairly high-end) parts I now have? Or is there more to building a guitar than just bolting stuff together, and I’ll have better results upgrading the Squier? Or, finally, should I put all the "good" parts on the Squier and build a rough-and-ready, smash-it-if-you-need-to guitar out of what's left over?

*Which might be counterfeit; that's another thread!

[whitewatersky]

Choices choices choices. Sounds fun tho

[andy_tchp]

In the spirit of OSG-enablement, you might as well buy a replacement body from Stratosphere or similar and end up with 2 Jazzmasters

[Lost In Autumn]

Hey, OSG! Longtime lurker, first (or maybe second; I drink a lot) time poster.

So, I recently decided I wanted a Jazzmaster. I really wanted an actual Fender Vintera, but to “save money” (ha!), I bought a Squier VMJM in Candy Apple Red.

Almost immediately I decided I didn't like the white pickguard that came with the Squier, though. So I bought a pearl-grey one. I also decided I wanted to upgrade the stock pickups with some Vintage 65s, so I bought those also.

After that, I started having the well-known buzzing/rattling problems from the bridge, so I replaced the stock bridge with a Mustang bridge (still 9.5" radius, tho) from eBay.

Then I figured, well, if I’m already replacing the pickguard and pickups, I might as well replace the other electronics, too. I got all the stuff I’d need to completely rewire the guitar with the Rothstein Super Mod—that’s the wiring scheme with dual volumes, G&L-style PTB tone stack, and a series/parallel switch.

I went ahead and got new knobs and rollers, too. I figured that way, after I was done modding my actual guitar, I’d still have the old stock pickguard with all the knobs and electronics left over. Then maybe I could sell that as a complete “loaded” pickguard and recover some of the money I spent on the pickups.

Then I found a great deal on a Fender neck*, so I got that, too. Also, I haven't done it yet, but I’m kind of planning on getting a "real Fender" tremolo, with the locking button.

I think you see what I mean about the Jazzmaster of Theseus. At this point, I'm so close to "replacing" (in theory, I haven't actually started the mod) so many parts on my guitar that there'll be nothing left of the original when I'm done. I'm just a body and a set of tuners away from having the parts to build an entire second guitar. (Also, as most of you will have noticed, with all the money I’ve spent on upgrades, I could have just bought the damned Vintera in the first place. Don't remind me.)

So, should I keep the Squier stock and try to build my dream guitar as a Partsmaster out of all the (fairly high-end) parts I now have? Or is there more to building a guitar than just bolting stuff together, and I’ll have better results upgrading the Squier? Or, finally, should I put all the "good" parts on the Squier and build a rough-and-ready, smash-it-if-you-need-to guitar out of what's left over?

*Which might be counterfeit; that's another thread!

I've done exactly that. I modded a J Mascis Jazzmaster into a 12 string, used the spares to build another partsmaster, then modded that so I had enough parts for another. I then put the J Mascis back together (well, the neck, body and vibrato, at least...) and built the 3rd as a 12 string

[s_mcsleazy]

Replacing pretty much everything is the norm on here. I've got a few guitars with parts from 3+ guitars. Hell. My most recent project was a affinity jazzmaster which has tuners from my friend's old jagmaster, the neck from a tom delonge strat, a wide range clone I pulled out of my friend's jazzblaster, a wide range clone from another friend's Tele build, the bridge from a bullet Mustang and a new pickguard. At this point, all that's original is the body..... Even then it was refin'd

[bubba899]

It's almost like making sourdough. Each guitar begets another.

I think the thing that often get's overlooked in this equation is how much you can learn about guitar and guitar maintenance from pulling stuff apart and putting it back together. Also how satisfying it can be once you get the end result.

[kdanie]

There is no choice... buy a body & build a guitar. 2 is ALWAYS better than 1!

ken

[adamrobertt]

I have a 60th Anniversary Jazzmaster that has every single part replaced aside from the pots, body, and neck (although I DID have the headstock repainted and a new decal put on...)

[fenderjeff]

I know that...

I first bought a CIJ, which is still great, and I began to think about what could be my perfect JM and worked with a luthier (and friend).

His shop burned...

While waiting for his new workshop, and a new beginning for my guitar, I began to but/sell/exchange parts and ended with a proper and very roots partsmaster.

And my friend finally finished my guitar, so I've got 3 JM, and not enough time to play

[redchapterjubilee]

This is the way.

I don't own a single guitar that's stock. I've not gone to this extent yet but I too bought a Squier JM this year and will likely only keep the body and switch the rest out eventually.