I'm back baby! Jazzblaster Build - Finished Pg 4

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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d-rock
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I'm back baby! Jazzblaster Build - Finished Pg 4

Post by d-rock » Thu Feb 11, 2021 1:10 pm

Hi all. The last couple years I've been exclusively playing a Gibson 335 and an MJT Telecaster. Love them both but I really miss having a Jazzmaster. I usually don't go off the shelf at GC because I like bigger necks on my Fenders. So...onto a partsmaster.

I'm pretty sure I would like a Jazzblaster this time around to kind of fit sonically between the 335 and Tele...
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I always loved the look of Brandon from Superdrag's natural JM
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I saw this Saylor Guitars alder body pop up on Ebay and jumped on it. It's straight off the CNC, you can see the sharp edges. First I've got to get to some sanding...

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Last edited by d-rock on Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:40 am, edited 8 times in total.

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d-rock
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Re: I'm back baby! Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by d-rock » Thu Feb 11, 2021 1:33 pm

Got some time in sanding and just ordered a Warmoth neck. Their turnaround times are a little longer right now due to Covid so it's probably going to take a little time to finish. It's alright, I need the project to occupy my mind right now. :)

Saylor listed the body at 4lbs 4oz. I'm seriously considering routing out that bit of wood between the pickups to make a swimming pool route. Maybe I can get it closer to 4lbs.

That armrest area just looks so cool with the grain pattern.

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Last edited by d-rock on Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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andy
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Re: I'm back baby! Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by andy » Thu Feb 11, 2021 1:43 pm

The projected idea looks cool as hell! Good luck with it all.
Send me western swing vids

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Scout
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Re: I'm back baby! Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by Scout » Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:53 pm

Looks good! I saw the thinline jazzmaster from Saylor on ebay but someone got it, I'm
gonna grab one soon.

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d-rock
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Re: I'm back baby! Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by d-rock » Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:01 pm

I saw that thinline JM too and was thinking about it. Someone grabbed it before I figured if I wanted to go thinline or solid.

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Re: I'm back baby! Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by d-rock » Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:47 pm

I'd been thinking about the finish on this and really want it thin but durable. I've used Tru Oil before, but this time I'm going with simple Minwax Wipe On Poly in Satin. Mainly because I have half a can of it in the garage after a few previous furniture projects. The wood grain is gorgeous. Here's the first coat.

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by smjenkins » Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:36 pm

Looking great. Can't wait to see this one come together. What WRHBs are you going to put in it?

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d-rock
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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by d-rock » Sat Feb 13, 2021 5:09 pm

smjenkins wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:36 pm
Looking great. Can't wait to see this one come together. What WRHBs are you going to put in it?
Thanks. Pickups is where I'm kind of stuck. I'm not up to date on current offerings of WRHB. I used to own a Mexican Tele Deluxe but really didn't like the Fender RI pickups at all.

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by Vendetagainst » Sat Feb 13, 2021 5:16 pm

d-rock wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 5:09 pm
smjenkins wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 2:36 pm
Looking great. Can't wait to see this one come together. What WRHBs are you going to put in it?
Thanks. Pickups is where I'm kind of stuck. I'm not up to date on current offerings of WRHB. I used to own a Mexican Tele Deluxe but really didn't like the Fender RI pickups at all.
The modern Fender reissues seem pretty authentic and sound good too. They use CuNiFe magnets like the originals.
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts/pic ... 97001.html

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by countertext » Sat Feb 13, 2021 6:07 pm

Lollar and Novak WRHBs, both highly regarded, are about the same price as the Fenders.

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by HarlowTheFish » Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:09 pm

There's also Porter, and Mojo in the UK, both of which have a pretty good rep as far as being killer WRHBs -- not necessarily the most vintage accurate, but also really consistent and really great tones.

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by powerdroid » Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:14 am

Nice project! I know you're already started on the finish work, but may I suggest bigger roundover on the body, plus deeper belly cut and arm countour to help reduce some of the weight? Instead of the swimming pool route you've mentioned, and also to get more of the jazzmaster look and feel?

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by CROSS_guitars » Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:00 am

powerdroid wrote:
Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:14 am
Nice project! I know you're already started on the finish work, but may I suggest bigger roundover on the body, plus deeper belly cut and arm countour to help reduce some of the weight? Instead of the swimming pool route you've mentioned, and also to get more of the jazzmaster look and feel?
I agree.

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by d-rock » Wed Feb 17, 2021 5:36 am

powerdroid wrote:
Wed Feb 17, 2021 1:14 am
Nice project! I know you're already started on the finish work, but may I suggest bigger roundover on the body, plus deeper belly cut and arm countour to help reduce some of the weight? Instead of the swimming pool route you've mentioned, and also to get more of the jazzmaster look and feel?
Great idea. After I posted the pictures I actually sanded a little deeper and rounder before finishing. Maybe not as much as I could have though.
Last edited by d-rock on Tue Feb 23, 2021 8:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: I'm back baby! Natural Jazzmaster Partscaster Build

Post by d-rock » Fri Feb 19, 2021 7:57 am

I applied seven super thin coats of Wipe On Poly. I got right to the point in the finish where the wood was sealed and that satin sheen was starting. But I didn't get anywhere near the point of it feeling like a poly finish, if that makes sense. It feels like a satin finished neck in your hands.

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