Bloodmoon Jazzmaster aka MBV JM

[Unicorn Warrior]

I’m going on a journey to recreate this guitar owned by Kevin Shields of MBV.

Coming to this forum nearly 10 years ago (I lurked a while before I created an account) I’ve been turned onto the likes of MBV. While Robert Smith is my ultimate offset hero, Kevin Shields ranks up there. His Jazzmaster is especially unique and is one of my favorites that I’ve ever seen.
SIDE NOTE: it is likely that Shields doesn’t call his guitar by Bloodmoon. If he doesn’t, he missed a good chance. This Jazzmaster will be my “Bloodmoon” Jazzmaster.





I just ordered an Ultra light swamp ash body from Guitarmill as the first piece. Be prepared for a slow build process. Building as I go.The likelyhood of me actually doing any of the work is minimal. I’m thinking about going the route of MJT for the finish. If I do, I may do some light checking and just let it ding up on its own. If you notice, it appears there’s an LPB undercoat before the CAR was applied. I think this is what lends to the groovy “Candy Blood Red”.

Now for the neck, I haven’t decided what route to go. I want pure vintage spec with the aged clay dots. Would you guys suggest musikraft? Any other builder that can produce a neck like this that may not be on my radar?

Anyone have more details on this unique Kevin Shields JM? Or JMs of the era. Does this likely appear to be a factory refin over LPB to you? Or is it just an aftermarket refin?

[Unicorn Warrior]

Neck for the project has been ordered. I decided to go with one that Fender used on the Dave’s guitar Shop models purchased from stratosphere.

Covering up the fiesta red will be a shame.



I was on the fence about compromising for 9.5 radius as my favorite is actually 7.25. However, with this one having some very sexy clay dots and the neck actually being a Fender I chose to go this route. The ambiguity of trying to build a neck on Musikraft was overwhelming in addition the prices of the final product not being much different. And..I can justify having a Fender decal re-applied to this neck.

Any source for most accurate Headstock decals as seen on Kevin Shield’s Jazzmaster? See pic below

[adamrobertt]

Old Fret was the best source, but he's defunct now. The decals from Crox Guitars are decent... and if you search TGP there's a guy who sells ok looking ones from there too.

[Unicorn Warrior]

Old Fret was the best source, but he's defunct now. The decals from Crox Guitars are decent... and if you search TGP there's a guy who sells ok looking ones from there too.

Thank you. I did a quick look at Crox guitars. And the decal on this guitar according to him is from 64-65 as the Fender “F” has a notch in it. His shape looks ok, but I love the yellowness of the decal in the picture.

That got me wondering about this guitar in particular. The finish appears to be factory CAR refin over LPB. I’m wondering if this guitar could be earlier than 64 and then a 64-65 logo placed after the refin. I guess that would really depend on when they offered LPB as a finish.

[Shadoweclipse13]

That is a really fantastic color!! Neat project!!! Subscribe!!

[marqueemoon]

This was just listed. Really good example of this look.

https://reverb.com/item/37487683-1963-f ... demo-video

[adamrobertt]

This was just listed. Really good example of this look.

https://reverb.com/item/37487683-1963-f ... demo-video

Wow, that's gorgeous. I'm not even a huge fan of CAR but that thing is damn near perfect.

[Unicorn Warrior]

This was just listed. Really good example of this look.

https://reverb.com/item/37487683-1963-f ... demo-video

I saw this. This one appears to be in awesome condition. Very similar in color. The color of Shields’ is a bit different. I think it’s due to wear and the LPB underneath perhaps.

[marqueemoon]

This was just listed. Really good example of this look.

https://reverb.com/item/37487683-1963-f ... demo-video

I saw this. This one appears to be in awesome condition. Very similar in color. The color of Shields’ is a bit different. I think it’s due to wear and the LPB underneath perhaps.

Yeah. The blue underneath does something unique for sure.

CAR can be a lot brighter/more coppery depending on the undercoat/clearcoat/exposure to the sun.

[Veitchy]

This was just listed. Really good example of this look.

https://reverb.com/item/37487683-1963-f ... demo-video

Holy crap that looks fantastic. Never seen CAR look quite like that. Great look.

[Unicorn Warrior]

That is a really fantastic color!! Neat project!!! Subscribe!!

Thank you. Part of the reason I was drawn to the aesthetics of this guitar is because it is somehow nostalgic for me. It reminds me of fall in the 90s. Dark lip stick, velvet, grunge, goth. All of it blended into one. I didn’t know about gaze back then, I was a kid from the hills of Kentucky. But this guitar basically is somehow a symbol of everything that I knew to be alternative style and music back then.

Incidentally this guitar, like my last one, is being built around the arrival of a child. My first guitar project will go to my girl as it coincided with her birth. This one will go to the boy when tbey get interested in music (if they do). If not, oh well. I’m having fun putting guitars together

[rank]

I'm not even a huge fan of CAR but that thing is damn near perfect.

I agree on both points

[rank]

If you notice, it appears there’s an LPB undercoat before the CAR was applied. I think this is what lends to the groovy “Candy Blood Red”.

So what if the body was black underneath? Would that be an even darker red?

[HarlowTheFish]

If you notice, it appears there’s an LPB undercoat before the CAR was applied. I think this is what lends to the groovy “Candy Blood Red”.

So what if the body was black underneath? Would that be an even darker red?

Yes but more dark red than the LPB-undercoat burgundy vibes.

[mbene085]

Are you sure that the blue makes a difference? I thought the whole point of CAR was that it was translucent red shot over either a gold or silver metallic base coat (depending on the year). Metallic base coats don't change their colour based on what's underneath (wood, primer, or LPB).