Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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Teebz999
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Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:24 am

Been lurking here for a while. Lots of great information on offsets.

Here is my first offset build. Aiming for a traditional Jaguar in (unauthentic) Aztec Gold finish. Body is swamp ash from GuitarMill, and finished by MJT. Unloaded body is a good weight at 3lbs - 10oz. Already completed the copper tape shielding. One of the bridge thimbles was a bit loose - nothing a dab of wood glue couldn't fix.

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Gordon
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Gordon » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:17 pm

Hello, friend of neatly-shielded guitars. :ph34r:

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Graphic designer (comics stuff, Doctor Who, Star Wars...): https://www.instagram.com/monsieurgordon/ \o/

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Norrin Radd
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Norrin Radd » Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:33 pm

Great looking body! Looking forward to seeing the finished build. 8)

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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Fri Dec 25, 2020 6:21 am

Gordon wrote:
Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:17 pm
Hello, friend of neatly-shielded guitars. :ph34r:
I obsessively shield all my non-vintage guitars as it makes a huge difference and I have a lot of noise problems here. Here's my shielded Electric XII from the Alternate Reality series of last year. Swapped out the tortoise pickguard for a white.

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Previously had some kind of shielding paint in the cavities. This was not very successful at reducing hum.

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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Fri Dec 25, 2020 6:26 am

Neck - I have two vintage Mustang necks. Both from '65, July and October. Apart from the month, can you tell the difference between the two?

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fuzzjunkie
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by fuzzjunkie » Fri Dec 25, 2020 10:59 am

Teebz999 wrote:
Fri Dec 25, 2020 6:26 am
Neck - I have two vintage Mustang necks. Both from '65, July and October. Apart from the month, can you tell the difference between the two?

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Different string tree placement, and one is slab while the other is veneer.

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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by JVG » Fri Dec 25, 2020 2:59 pm

And the significantly different decal placement.

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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Fri Dec 25, 2020 3:55 pm

Yup, amazing the differences with just a few months apart. I'm surprised some slab rosewood necks came out of the factory as late as '65. Something must have been going on. A few more pictures.. October seems to have had the back sanded down and has paint speckles on the headstock. July has some honest play wear in the cowboy chord area. The rosewood 'board is much darker on July - I wonder if July is Brazilian and October Indian ? Who knows. They will both be great necks. The neck pocket on the Guitar Mill body is very tight. October is just a hair thinner so I will use that one for now.

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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by JVG » Fri Dec 25, 2020 4:04 pm

Teebz999 wrote:
Fri Dec 25, 2020 3:55 pm

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This picture really highlights the differences in geomentry. One aspect that stands out is the position of the B-string tuner hole in relation to the narrowest part of the headstock.

Interesting comparison.

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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Sat Dec 26, 2020 7:03 am

You're right JVG. I just check the string length from the nut to the B-string. They are both the same. It is the actual shape of the headstock that is different. The veneer neck has a smaller bulb than the slab neck.
JVG wrote:
Fri Dec 25, 2020 4:04 pm
Teebz999 wrote:
Fri Dec 25, 2020 3:55 pm

Image
This picture really highlights the differences in geomentry. One aspect that stands out is the position of the B-string tuner hole in relation to the narrowest part of the headstock.

Interesting comparison.

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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Sat Dec 26, 2020 3:21 pm

Needed to install some tuners. Had some ordered from Crazyparts only to realize the ferrules are too small. I am able to spin them around in the hole. The crazyparts Klusons do look nice with an aged patina. Not overdone. These are double-line Klusons to correctly match a '65 neck. After some research, I realized I needed the Fender ferrules. These were a perfect fit - I was able to push them in with my thumb. They look at bit shiny. Oh well.

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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Deed_Poll » Sat Dec 26, 2020 3:28 pm

Yes, the headstock shapes are very different!

Could July be the same as a Jaguar neck? Is that something Fender did - taking Jag and Mustang necks from a common pile? I'm not hugely familiar with the variance of Mustang headstock shapes. October looks to have a full-blown CBS-shaped headstock.

This is shaping up to be great! Personally, I would refret them, and take that opportunity just to re-radius the boards to knock them back very slightly. Though that might be controversial!

July is my favourite of the two necks in every way. But it takes all sorts!
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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:19 pm

July is my favourite too. Very honest playing wear, great vintage patina, and a very dark rosewood board. It really just doesn't fit well in the cavity so I'm putting October on it for now. May switch it out later. Agreed on the refret. I'll get the project finished and decide based on how it plays.

Deed_Poll wrote:
Sat Dec 26, 2020 3:28 pm
Yes, the headstock shapes are very different!

Could July be the same as a Jaguar neck? Is that something Fender did - taking Jag and Mustang necks from a common pile? I'm not hugely familiar with the variance of Mustang headstock shapes. October looks to have a full-blown CBS-shaped headstock.

This is shaping up to be great! Personally, I would refret them, and take that opportunity just to re-radius the boards to knock them back very slightly. Though that might be controversial!

July is my favourite of the two necks in every way. But it takes all sorts!

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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Sat Dec 26, 2020 4:33 pm

Tuners on!

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Teebz999
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Re: Newbie to the forum - and first offset build

Post by Teebz999 » Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:14 am

Let's talk electronics. Was contemplating wiring this myself - for all of two minutes - but decided to get a pre-wired harness. Went with Rothstein and did not regret my decision. Very clean wiring and great to deal with. Shipped a little faster than promised.

After I'd already installed a ground wire to the bridge post, I realized the Rothstein harness had one included (the thin black wire). Oh well, I'll ground the vibrato too.

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