Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster project - mod to awesome

[chrisrnps]

Secondly, tuners don't "slip", so don't go "upgrading" the tuners either if your guitar isn't staying in tune...

[chrisjedijane]

Tuners can slip, but 99% of the time it's due to poor stringing technique, or badly cut nuts...

[MartysPooh]

Ok, like chris said, tuners can slip, but odds are if your guit isn't staying in tune it isn't the first place you should look, nor is it the second or third. People tend to perceive the string jumping in pitch while tuning as slippage of the tuning machine and I'm just trying to clear up that that is infact the sound of the string binding in the nut.

Secondly, tuners don't "slip", so don't go "upgrading" the tuners either if your guitar isn't staying in tune...

[katmeho]

so far things have been going slow. A few updates. The lollars wont fit in the neck position, they are just a tiny bit too large. Im starting to thing that the neck position is going to be harder to swap than I thought. Have also verified that the guitar is shipping with 500K CTS pots. Guitar stays in tune, bridge and tuners seem to be holding up really well during rehearsals and such.

[katmeho]

So the pots on this guitar dont seem to be audio linear, rather just linear. Like an on/off switch on tone and Volume, while better, is still not great. Going to replace those. Interesting to see that the 3 way switch was not grounded, so I would get a pop every time I touched it. Theres also some funky wiring job done by fender on the bridge HB to the 3 way, they use a little lead, but then taped the hot cables to an extension which runs to the volume pot. Looks funky and will be done away with when I get to work.

I finalized my decision and ordered a Fralin PAF F spaced for the bridge and a Fralin P90 hum cancelling w/ JM cover for the neck. They are going to wind them up to match each other. Needed a little consulting on the next steps, thanks to Benjamin for the help. I did get a lot of photos of taking the thing apart. Anyone wanting to see all of them, let me know. Heres a few better ones.

[pocaloc]

From what I've read on this forum about the Blacktop Jazzmasters, the bridge is one of the most desirable things about the guitar. A lot of people were wondering if they were going to be available for purchase seperately. From what I read they are a good compromise between a standard Jazzmaster bridge and the usual mustang replacement.

[katmeho]

Agreed. It seems to be really nice in terms of addressing the string bounce issue and is solid from what I can tell...Im not looking to replace it any longer. I was when I didnt know if it was going to hold up to harder playing....but so far so good...

[-Anti-]

Agreed. It seems to be really nice in terms of addressing the string bounce issue and is solid from what I can tell...Im not looking to replace it any longer. I was when I didnt know if it was going to hold up to harder playing....but so far so good...

Yep - it's definitely a nice bridge. I play hard, and I occasionally pop strings out of a TOM bridge. I've yet to have an issue with this new JM bridge.

The adjustment screws can buzz a little if they're left loose, but that happens on any bridge, really.

It would be awesome if Fender started using these on the CP Jags and Jazzmasters.

[QualityMusic]

I replaced all the wiring, the switch with a Gibson offset, pots with 250k cts and no load for the tone. Not a huge difference but the ice pick highs are gone. Im replacing my bridge with a RI jazzmaster. I think whats bugging me is the chrome on the saddles. It seams to make a weird sound, I super glued the height screws so that's not an issue. Maybe I should have ordered the Warmonth adjustable mustang one. Well see. I may be selling the original bridge.

[QualityMusic]

I replaced the neck pickup cover and the except for the screws being tight it fit perfectly, cream looks so much better.

[QualityMusic]

[QualityMusic]

Its going to be hard for the p-rails to shine now after playing tonight, that humbucker sounds pretty good. But only with some dirt IMO.

[scotty66]

Is that P-Rail on the table going in the Jazzmaster ?

[chelsea]

i am a fan of a normal jazzmaster bridge

[scotty66]

i am a fan of a normal jazzmaster bridge

Same here. I put one on my BT Jazzmaster