Pre CBS Jazzmaster Project (Sonic Blue) DONE

[PJazzmaster]

Or check out the following video of a Sonic Blue 1964 Jazzmaster (all original). That's where it's at
1964 Sonic Blue Jazzmaster

[PJazzmaster]

With Mike from M.B. Guitars in the UK I found the nicest person ever to deal with for a nitro refin.
He was patient enough to let me explain what I wanted to achieve and also understood what I did not want to achieve.

So we are now in early 2021. I shipped (or technically almost "exported") the body to Mike in the UK and he started to carefully sand the poly down. First progress pictures below. It's now very easy to spot all the original paint if the cavities (this is what Sunburst looks like in the cavities) - which we kept original
The 2nd picture clearly shows that it's a 2 piece body.

[PJazzmaster]

In the meantime someone locally sold a set of 2nd hand Monty's Jazzmaster '59 Pickups . Yes, please!
Such pickups usually do not pop up 2nd hand around here. This set got wound in 2021.

[DrippyReverbTremolo]

Cool. You definitely know what you want.

Most important question: matching headstock?

[PJazzmaster]

Cool. You definitely know what you want.

Most important question: matching headstock?

Good question. Not for this project because the journey started with a body only and I had no suitable neck until recently. Also, for most custom colors, I prefer the rawness of a non matching headstock - if that makes sense!?

[PJazzmaster]

1: Nitro painting started with a Desert Sand undercoat.
2: Then a pale shade of Sonic Blue
3: Finally a layer of (what I think) aged Clear Nitro on top.

[PJazzmaster]

Here with the masking tape removed (those darker spots - if you see them - are from the lens of the camera and not in the finish:

[PJazzmaster]

Welcome back home! Minty gloryness I chose not getting any aging done by Mike. The lacquer is very thin and already has plenty of real cracks and dents 4 years later.

[PJazzmaster]

I specifically asked Mike B. to also send me a small piece of paper, signed by him, writing down what he did etc. More on that later

[PJazzmaster]

I put that card into the original cavity

[PJazzmaster]

...and added the cleaned up brass shielding on top. So whoever is going to remove this in the future will find that secret message

[PJazzmaster]

Next chapter is all about the neck. I didn't have the funds to buy an overpriced pre-CBS neck (especially if my first choice would have been slapboard). Also such necks basically do not exist in Europe on the local 2nd hand market. Finding one on eBay or Reverb was too pricey and too risky for me (shipping, importing, paperwork, hoping the truss rod is working etc.). I am still hoping to find some molested and cheap vintage neck someday but I am not in a hurry.

So what happened since 2nd half of 2021 was that I carefully wired the guitar up with quality components and clothwire.
I tried out a few necks I came across or even borrowed 2 necks from friends. I soon realized that some newer Fender necks are quite heavy. The body is rather lightweight and those heavier necks would make the guitar a bit unbalanced. I once had a AV 65 (D&B) neck on the body which played good but the guitar was a bit neck heavy and somehow always screamed for some unbound neck, more vintage correct. Then there was a used Allparts neck which didn't have the right profile for me so I sold that one again.

Somehow I was still searching for some magical combination which I finally found in 2024.. More on that tomorrow...

[zhivago]

Love it! The card under the shielding tub is a great touch.

Mike's finish work is excellent...I will be sending another guitar to him in the coming month or so.

The job he did on my '57 Esquire was just incredible!

[PJazzmaster]

Love it! The card under the shielding tub is a great touch.

Mike's finish work is excellent...I will be sending another guitar to him in the coming month or so.

The job he did on my '57 Esquire was just incredible!

Thank you Y.! Please keep us updated on your other refin adventure

[zhivago]

Sure thing!!!!