VM becomes vintage 1963 Jazzmaster Classic (Pick Heavy)

[Spitfire7]

I really liked your advice Fuzzking. I think it looks way better and still has that candy like, wet like, shiny nitro look. I made the white spot slightly bigger too and added a few more dings. Cleaned it up a little more too.








Pickguard material started today. Here you can see the color. It won't be this bright red-ish orange. It will be much more dull and faded looking in the end.

[HNB]

A trick for the body (with all hardware on it) is to use a stain or shoe polish on the body. Rub it in to the scratches and stuff and wipe it off the high spots. It makes it look like there is dirt in the scratches and dings. You could likely use your shoe polish mix instead. I used stain on my Mustang.

IMG_7258 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

IMG_7257 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

[Sonicxyouth]

The relic is really awesome, but how hard did you try to get the covers off of the pickups? I am going to change my neck pickup in my JMJM and I didn't order an extra cover because I assumed I could reuse the original!

[Spitfire7]

The relic is really awesome, but how hard did you try to get the covers off of the pickups? I am going to change my neck pickup in my JMJM and I didn't order an extra cover because I assumed I could reuse the original!

I tried a lot. I used every tool I could think of and nothing. I think they are superglued on for the Squire VMs

Here is an updated picture of the tort becoming vintage tortoiseshell. Its a little more red-ish orange and that is what I wanted, but I now can't decided if I want this color or a definite more faded yellow-ish orange. I hope to be cutting this sheet tomorrow. That means that after buying the strings and doing setup, this guitar will be done. Unless I change my mind and want to make a more faded yellow-ish orange guard. You guys can help me decide.

[Mechanical Birds]

Looks good to me

[fuzzking]

Hmm... I think if the tort's a bit faded it will look authentic on the yellowed lacquer (looking good btw!)

[Spitfire7]

Material is done and ready to be cut. I think it turned out pretty cool. Not as faded orange as I initially was planning on, but I couldn't make up my mind between going red or orange, so I did an in between which I really like and I think turned out really well.




Next to the relic process. Will have more pics really soon.

[Spitfire7]

I am really excited to share this part. I really wanted to do something special and authentic with this guard. I gave it a nice medium to heavy relic to match the guitar.





I really wanted to make it authentic and take it to the next level. I know many old faded JM tort guards start to crack and break, so I always wanted to try this, but never wanted to test it on a customer's guard. Perfect opportunity to give it a shot.






Now to take it even another step further. I wanted to give the guard that authentic warped look. I used to do this for relic guards, but people weren't sure about this and were worried it wouldn't fit on their guitar from warping and shrinking . Fits like a charm... all for looks.







Now that we have a good looking authentic vintage 60s Spitfire Tortoiseshell pickguard, we can install it. Here it goes. The cherry on top.






The broken piece worked out great. The screw holds well and the jack really holds the pieces together quite nicely.





Ran into a big issue with the top rhythm circuit. I knew the bracket for the Squire VM was much smaller and I needed an AVRi one, but what I didn't account for was that the screw holes were too small on the AVRi as well as the holes for the pots. I don't know why it wouldn't fit. Possibly a metric and standard issue, I don't know. I had to enlarge these, but didn't have the right tool to thread the screw holes. So I had to get a nut small enough to hold the screw in place. Worked like a charm.





Bridge is looking good and that tort is nice and orange there. This is how it looks when the light hits it just right. Can't wait to see it under stage lights and/or in sunlight.





I told the guitar store clerk what I would be playing and he recommended these strings. Are they any good? We shall see. I wanted a classic 60s rhythm sound where I can also play some surfy stuff too and these are what he suggested. They feel nice, but maybe too bright? Will give them some time to muddy up.





As I was putting on the strings the neck was way too tilted and smashed against the strings. I put a shim in the neck since I am a jag guy, but apparently that's only for Jaguars and JM's don't need the shim ? Go figure. This is my first JM refin/build. This neck was quite nice right out of the box and by far one of the best playing Squire VM's I have seen or owned. Taking out the shim made it just right.






After setup, this things plays absolutely amazing. Now for the glamour shots.












Add another one to the Spitfire family






Before



After




So with a little bit of hard work and some brains , you really can make a dream come true. I have always wanted one of these and now I have one with personality, character, and history that I definitely can call my own, all for around $60 and some long hard labor of love. It definitely paid off. Now for my next project. Would anyone else like to see a custom bright yellow Fender Jaguar with a bright red vintage tortoiseshell pickguard? When does it ever end ?

[PixMix]

Amazing work Mark! Just amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[Zork]

2 beautiful Jags, 2 beautiful Jazzies, time to make 2 beautiful Stangs and 2 Bass VI! :-)

[Tibius Reynolds]

This looks amazing. The shoe polish is a good suggestion.

[biro]

that was an amazing and amusing project!
really well done... the final result feels very real
congrats

[HNB]

Just needs the yellowed/amber switch tip now.

[vandahm]

Would anyone else like to see a custom bright yellow Fender Jaguar with a bright red vintage tortoiseshell pickguard?

Yes?

[HNB]

Of by the way, your faded guard is a good match for the one you made me for my Fiesta Jaguar.

IMG_7137 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr