Pre CBS Jazzmaster Project (Sonic Blue) DONE

[PJazzmaster]

Hello OSG, I do not post that much here anymore because I am far too busy with life and stuff but I just realized that I have never made a restoration thread for a long term project which I have started pretty much exactly 4 years ago.

It all started with a stripped body that I have acquired shortly after X-Mas in 2020. Advertised via a local craigslist equivalent.

--> A stripped pre-CBS Jazzmaster Body, described as '63 or '64 if I remember well. It was quite a great deal for this body because it came with the original bridge (not shown on the pic), original brass shielding and thimbles. I think I paid not much more than 500 EUR for it, actually really an awesome deal.

So let's start from here, obviously Sunburst before it got stripped. I am very happy that the neck pocket was 100% untouched and looked as it should be on a pre CBS Sunburst JM body (the upper control brass shielding is there as well, under black paint ):

[PJazzmaster]

First thing I did was to remove the original brass shielding for a good clean up. (BTW: why would someone paint the upper control brass shielding black???? ).

[PJazzmaster]

Not an easy job. Lot of brushing and polishing and soldering iron heat required but I am proud of how it turned out

[PJazzmaster]

The body had quite a thick layer of clear poly finish - pretty much battered already - it got played that way for sure - which was somehow cool but not my style. I knew I wanted a proper nitro refin - in a custom color

I started preparing the body for a refin. Another nice observation was that the factory paint was still intact in all the cavities

[PJazzmaster]

Next step was to decide on a color as well as finding someone who could do a refin.
It happened that I found someone in the UK via instagram who was willing to do a proper body restoration (stripping and nitro refin) for a reasonable price without a year long waiting list or so. (That guy got quite hyped recently so I am glad I did this before he reached his current level of success and visibility)

Problem was that Brexit had already happened resulting lot of nasty paperwork for EU to UK shipping for an restoration item rather than something I sold to someone in the UK

Body fully prepared. Thimbles extracted (very easy job with a screw and a proper sized dowel - no need to heat up with a soldering iron).
Off it went (yes, I also made clear to keep the "BI" marking between the 2 PU cavities - unusual but great that this marking was kept intact by the person who once sanded the body)

[zhivago]

So nice to see the step-by-step for this one!!!!

[Steadyriot.]

Great start to a cool project! Looking forward to seeing the progress.

[Pacafeliz]

Yaaay

[interceptör]

12/61?

[PJazzmaster]

12/61?

12/6_ for sure. I never found out what the 2nd letter behind the 6 is. It could also be 3 or 5. I think it‘s a 3 for 63. I doubt that it can be a 61 body because that would not have a paintstick marking in the neck pocket.

I should try to blacklight the trem cavity.
The body has no pencil marks under the pickup shieldings.

But at the end of the day it doesn’t matter (to me), it‘s a vintage body in any case

[DrippyReverbTremolo]

Cool project! Are you in NL by any chance? I think I remember seeing that body online (Marktplaats).

[PJazzmaster]

Cool project! Are you in NL by any chance? I think I remember seeing that body online (Marktplaats).

Thanks. No, not NL. For sure another body then

[PJazzmaster]

Next step was to decide on a color. Basically there were 2 options for me: Unfaded Lake Placid Blue or Faded Sonic Blue.

Regarding Lake Placid Blue: the issue (for me) is that I have never really seen any new Lake Placid Blue that comes close to the Vintage version of the same color. I have the feeling that most new nitro finishes have far too many and too big metal flakes mixed into the color. That's at least my observation. A really good pre CBS lake Placid Blue has something really magical going on and looks even a bit like Ocean Turquise rather than some cold blue metal flakey metallic blue paint.
Also I am not a big fan of the greened out Lake Placid which almost looks like Sherwood Green.
So basically was simply too afraid to be disappointed with the result if I had chosen Lake Placid Blue.

I knew that it will be really hard or maybe almost impossible getting rather warm and vibey vintage Lake Placid.

But no problem I moved to the other option.

[PJazzmaster]

Faded Sonic Blue. I fell in love with that color a very long time ago after I have seen a picture of a Sonic Blue Jazzmaster in one of those first Vintage Guitar Photo Books from the 90's. I wondered why it look so minty but I really liked that color.

So yes, I am speaking about Pale Blue Sonic Blue which is turning into some mint green over time without looking too much like Surf Green (yes, now it's getting very nerdy again). Surf Green looks more poisonous and acidic in comparison to Pale Sonic Blue which has turned minty.
Most new Sonic Blue finish are far too saturated and tend to be the Daphne Blue territory already. Not that this I a problem but I wanted to start off with a quite pale Sonic Blue like on Vintage Fenders.

Here is my reference Picture. Greened out Pale Sonic Blue on a pre CBS Jaguar with a mint guard



Compare this with Surf Green on the Fender pre CBS color chart and you will see that Surf Green is a different shade of green.



Also, I knew that I could easily get that color oversprayed in case I am not happy with the outcome.

[PJazzmaster]

Here are 2 more reference pictures for greened out Sonic Blue which I have saved moons ago: