Just got this to try to restore.
Just a quick body shot, it needs a lot of TLC!
The red paint is brushed on, GOK...I might get lucky and find an original finish underneath.
The neck and headstock are unmolested.
Guessing early 60's, I have not really gotten into it much at all yet.
Yes, the bridge pup is long gone.
I have the rusty bridge.
Looks like a worthy project. That needs a lot of TLC!
s'all goof.
Thanks.
It is a gift, to be able to work on it.
My pal wants it restored as a Christmas gift for his son.
He just wants an estimate for now, but I'll do this one mostly Gratis.
Somebody, I can't recall who, is making repro Jazzmaster PUs that are getting rave reviews. Supposedly much better than Fender's RI crop...
Curtis Novak has some interesting items for the Jazzmaster......
http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups_guitar.shtml
"When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."
I think maybe it was old Seymour Duncan.
Nice looking pups there, Roger
I wonder if a loaded pick guard might do the trick.
Any suggestions?
The Lindy Fralin JM Pickups are the shi+. I put them into a MIM Classic JM and they sound fantastic. What's the year on the neck date? Matching headstock?
VM
If aliens listened to our current top 40, they'd think that the entire planet was populated by sexually ambivalent robots with ethnic insecurity.
That's the ones - Lindy's, how could I forget!
Nice pool table!
Can the pickguard be cleaned up?
fralins or antiquities are what i would use.
i'm excited to see how this turns out, i love jazzmasters.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
Nice pool table?Originally Posted by hippiebob01
Nice pool table!
Can the pickguard be cleaned up?
Note the rails are lighter colored than the surface...it's also a work in process.
I'm more concerned that pickguard is warped...but not all the screws are in.
I ought to find out what the son wants for style...last I heard he was into cool Jazz tones.
It's still sort of a secret.
You might want to try the old "Put the pickguard between two layers of glass and leave it in the sun to try to flatten it" trick. I know a couple of guys who have done that and made the old pg usable. The real problm is that they shrink over time and the screw holes might not match up exactly.
VM
If aliens listened to our current top 40, they'd think that the entire planet was populated by sexually ambivalent robots with ethnic insecurity.
Talked to the owner today.
I gave him an initial estimate 3-to 500 dollars "to make it nice".
I don't think we are looking at a total restoration, since it was brush-painted at some point.
What I need now is a good source for a loaded pickguard, bridge, and tailpiece.
The intended recipient (his son), likes jazz, no real hot pups required, probably stock is fine. I am guessing these are like P-90's.
I am thinking that the brushed on red would pass with a smooth sanding and poly clearcoat. I told him that a strip and repaint would be another 200 bux easy, even if I did it.
So, not a total restoration, but "make it nice", passable, and worth keeping.
So, really need a good source for the parts, without getting crazy on mods. Just a restoration of the electronics and that trem tailpiece.
I really need to disassemble the neck to check the year, but for the most part it is a pre-'65 Jazzmaster.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Genuine-FEND...item45ee771ac9
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Genuine-FEND...item439a8ee865
There's a few. Not sure what you are looking at spending though.
Thanks, HB.
I don't think I'm too far off on the original estimate.
Would like a vintage brown tortiashell loaded guard...that is the part that really needs attention.
It is warped, and a loaded set would probably be the way to go.
I have not disassembled it, but I highly suspect those slide switches are ready for replacement as well as the rest.
I'm not sure if many people sell the pickups and guard together, as the pickups don't actually attach to the pickguard on the jazzmaster, or am I mistaken about that?
you're right on hippy bob. it's gonna be tough enough to find a prewired guard. most likely you'll need to source out the slider switches and make your own. jazzmasters aren't any where as popular as strats or teles.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
I'll look into that.
Thanks, all.
Angela Instruments stocks a good selection of replacement parts for the Jazzmaster, Kev......
http://angela.com/fenderjaguarjazzma...itarparts.aspx
Don't forget -- the JM uses a full set of brass shields in the control cavities and the pickup routs.
Good luck, HTH
"When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."
Thanks, Roger.
You order from them much?
Uh oh, the parts Nazi resides at 'Angelas' LOL.
Steve Melkisethian has treated me pretty righteously over the years. His prices may not always be the best but when you're desperate for a part you'll pay whatever it takes to make a guitar or an amp project right.
"When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."
Every couple of months, Kev.
"When injustice becomes law then rebellion becomes duty."
If you're still looking for a pre-wired pickguard then you might try here;
http://www.guitar-mod.com/rg_pw_5jazzmaster.html
also, if you're going to replace the bridge you might want to think about getting a mustang bridge and using that instead. that's an old jazzmaster player's trick. also, if you grind off the lip with no screws and flip it so the ground down side points towards the tail piece you'll get a better string break angle.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
I just read a piece in Fretboard Journal about Wilco, and their very miscellaneous stash of gear. Nels Kline seems real fond of this Mastery Bridge on his Jazzmaster.
Don't know what the cost is. But they aren't rusty.
Looks like a cool project.
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
I think I'm the only guy to have ever played Jazzmasters and Jaguars and not had any real dramas with the bridges... If the neck is shimmed properly they work fine (in my experience, and I've had three).
i've never had any real drama, i just like the mustange bridge better. there are no little height adjustment screws to loosen. that's only real problem i had with mine. with the mustang bridge it's a non issue. then again, you could always put a little dab of clear nail polish on the threads.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
Yeah, I've done that before. Never bothered me enough to spend big money one one of those Mastery Bridges!
I would have gone down the Mustang route but I like higher action on my high E string for slide and the real tight radius doesn't suit me. Weird, huh?
horses for courses amigo.
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
How did miss all of these responses?
Oh, I see now.
The Jazzmaster became hot today.
I will research the opportunities presented.
The owner's jaw dropped when I said it would have been worth over 5K had it not ever been repainted.
Well, in truth, it would have been close.
Just in case I didn't mention, from the features, it is certainly a '61. It was not painted under the neckplate, so Fiesta Red it was. And a painted headstock, custom color was rare in those times.
Looks like that is what I am going with.
I put all of the pickguard screws in to see if it would flatten out.
Actually, not bad at all-the old pickguard might be good to go.
Only place it "humps" is the thin section on top of the bridge pup. The tailpiece looks good after cleanup.
The bridge suffers from old hand-sweat.
Thinking about a bath of PB Blaster to see what it might do!
Thanks all for the links, I have work to do.
821.00 for the whole prewired assembly.
Yikes, I think I'll pass on this one.
159.00 for the vintage style.I just read a piece in Fretboard Journal about Wilco, and their very miscellaneous stash of gear. Nels Kline seems real fond of this Mastery Bridge on his Jazzmaster.
Don't know what the cost is. But they aren't rusty.
Looks like a cool project.
Worth a look-see.
Thanks!
I ought to get murdered for a quaduple post, but the owner says his son likes to "play jazz".
I reminded him that although the guitar is a great one for some, jazz is not really one of them.
He will end up with a great guitar, but not necessarily one his son would like to have.
And of course I warned him he will get raped if he tries to trade it up to a dealer.
I see a dot necked 335 for the boy, or something similar.
They do sound pretty good for jazz... Seriously. I was playing jazz on mine yesterday.
Sounded great through my 5E3 on the neck pickup. Very authentic, actually, Leo must have designed it with small tweeds in mind.
i didn't realise the pickguard assembly was so expensive! Avoid!
yeah, that guitar is worthless cygnus. send it to me and i'll just hang it on the wall...
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
Chuck is well, chuck.
It it were mine, it would indeed be off to a more worthy re-builder.
I must recut my teeth.
Been there, done that, a lifetime ago.
Thank you ziess...only time will tell.
I pictured this more as a down home dirty blues driver, or really nasty Nirvana type. Plugging into my own 5E3 or DR will tell the real story in the end.
I forgot to ask what Junior has for an amp.
I'm afraid it's a Line 6 or sumpin'.
:)
well, someone has to be the goof.
i did a google search and this place has a lot of parts, and the prices seem right. never done business with them though.
http://www.grguitars.com/parts_5jag%20jaz%20mustang.htm
"don't worry, i'm a professional!"
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