MJT Owners Thread

Hell All,

I did a search and couldn't find a thread for Mark and Matt Jenny's awesome work. Although both of these have been posted in other locations, here they are in appreciate of the fine work at MJT.

Beck Tribute Esquite. USACG Neck and Body finished by Mark. Callaham hardware, Lollar pickup.
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/IMG_2193.jpg
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/FinishedFront3.jpg
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/FinishedFront.jpg
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/FinishedBack.jpg

Daphne. USACG Neck and Body finished by Mark. Callaham hardware, Lollar Pickups.
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Daphne/237db95f.jpg
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Daphne/8f55f727.jpg
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Daphne/58f6c161.jpg
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Daphne/Daphnewithhersiblings.jpg

I am very excited to have another guitar arriving from Matt and Mark shortly. This is the first one that is not a USACG body and neck.

The Body of this one is a Wildwood and the Neck is an Allparts TMO-FAT. Total weight is 5 lbs 14 oz.

Don

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/MJT%20BSB%20T-Style/BSBTeleFront.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/MJT%20BSB%20T-Style/DSC06074.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/MJT%20BSB%20T-Style/Image3.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/MJT%20BSB%20T-Style/Image2.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/MJT%20BSB%20T-Style/Image5.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/MJT%20BSB%20T-Style/Image4.jpg

Here's mine. I diggit! Great work by the MJT team (their body, with a Fender 50's Classic Tele neck, Fralin stock bridge pickup, Callaham bridge/saddles/hardware throughout).

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/E3.jpg

Superbadj,

That color is awesome. The white Pickguard really fits the bill as well.

Don

http://storage.canalblog.com/30/20/274546/58771927.jpg
http://storage.canalblog.com/87/78/274546/58772288.jpg

Forgive the crappy cell phone pic. My MJT body is the one in the middle. The guitar stand is my 68 DR.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i311/kalajen/3teles.jpg

Here's my MJT Beck Esquire Tribute. Duncan Antiquity and NOS PIO caps in the wiring harness. Mark and Matt's work and customer service is fantastic! Great guys to work with.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFJrKa0YziM/TmtsVKRLMoI/AAAAAAAAAEY/kXFiYpGo_rk/s1600/MJT%2BEsquire.jpg

strat71, I am not usually a fan of Rosewood fretboads, but yours looks amazing.

straightface, Being left-handed must totally limit your options. A company like MJT has to be a godsend.

Eric W, I love it, but I am biased.

Got something on the way...

http://arakele.com/images/MJT/MJT1.JPG

http://arakele.com/images/MJT/MJT4.JPG

monkey in the middle

http://arakele.com/images/MJT/neck.jpg

straightface, Being left-handed must totally limit your options. A company like MJT has to be a godsend.

Certainly is a godsend. All three of the guitars in the pic are partscasters. The one on the left has a USACG body and a Rice Custom neck, The MJT has a Musikraft neck and the esquire is a USACG body with an MIJ Fender neck. All keepers.

arakele, Very, very nice. What are the specs?

The body was one of the prefinished bodies. It wasn't far off from what I wanted in my head and it was cheaper than getting it done to my preferences, so I saved a few bucks. The neck is an Allparts TMO-V (7.25, vintage frets, V back). The neck will be aged to match the body. It will have a white guard and be close to a mid 50's Esquire. I have an AVRI62 bridge pup that will go in it for the time being, but it will most likely end up with a Don Mare Green Onions.

Keep in mind I am not a huge fan of relics, I don't like getting nicks and scratches on my guitars. I figured if I got one already banged up... I won't care when I add more.

Keep in mind I am not a huge fan of relics, I don't like getting nicks and scratches on my guitars. I figured if I got one already banged up... I won't care when I add more.

Sounds like it is going to be a looker and a player. Don't forget to check out the Arlo And Eldred mods for the Esquire to get that "Cocked Wah" Sound.

I wasn't a big fan of relics before I started my Jeff Beck Esquire. I have seen the Fender Custom Shop relics, the relics from Nash, and other relics, but I had never seen a MJT. It turns out one of the reasons I wasn't a fan of the relics previously is that they aren't weren't well done. I have no idea how Mark does his finishes, but they are very believable and I really enjoy his work.

Plus, you are correct, you won't panic when it gets a ding or a scratch.

Finally have all the parts for this one, which will be my third. All mine have the all parts fat necks. Mjt is great!

Finally have all the parts for this one, which will be my third. All mine have the all parts fat necks. Mjt is great!

That's gorgeous. Double bound?

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

That's gorgeous. Double bound?

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Yup, here is my mjt bender...

Yup, here is my mjt bender...


Very nice, did you send it to Gene to install the bender?

Very nice, did you send it to Gene to install the bender?

Forrest Lee jr. It is quite an amazing guitar. I'm sending my black mjt out to him when I get the scratch. See a pattern in my guitars?

You have to love the bound custom look. Great guitars.

I'll throw my tele in this thread. MJT body, USACG rosewood neck, Rutters bridge, Klein pickups. Love this thing!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/FretFire/Telecaster/DSC01439.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/FretFire/Telecaster/DSC01442.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/FretFire/Telecaster/DSC01441.jpg

Fretfire,

She looks great. How do you like the Rutter's bridge?

Don

Fretfire,

She looks great. How do you like the Rutter's bridge?

Don

Loving it so far. The saddles are notched and have some compensation built in. I do some hybrid picking so the shorter lip on the treble side is great. It's pretty thick and doesn't have the "crimped" look in the corners. They recess the area where the pickup mounts on the back so that it's the typical thickness there, though.

How about that rosewood neck? Very cool. Heavy?

How about that rosewood neck? Very cool. Heavy?

Not at all, the whole guitar is under 7 pounds.

I decided on the Bare Knuckles "The Boss" pickups. They are on order.

While at the luthier, I played another guitar with the All Parts TMO-FAT neck. Whoa, it's a monster and I loved it. I can't wait for the build!

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Here's a video tour of my Beck Esquire

vCccKAdZYr8

I just need to put a new nut on it and a setup and she will be done!

SD Antiquity '55 (staggered poles), Eldred wiring, TMO-V.

JBennett provided the decal, named this one after my wife :wink:


http://arakele.com/images/esquire/FULLsm.JPG

http://arakele.com/images/esquire/HSsm.JPG

Naming them after your wife is smart. Makes it harder for them to complain about them ;)

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Callaham hardware and Fralin pups

Assembling number two now. Love MJT's work.

MJT Closet Clean contoured alder body:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/lgbclp/Custom%20Tele/IMG_20110611_142229.jpg

Paired with Warmoth vintage modern maple neck with pau ferro fretboard:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v686/lgbclp/Custom%20Tele/IMGP3554.jpg

I love this guitar. Feels, sounds and plays great. Right on 7 lbs. A definite dream guitar for me.

I'll throw my tele in this thread. MJT body, USACG rosewood neck, Rutters bridge, Klein pickups. Love this thing!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/FretFire/Telecaster/DSC01439.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/FretFire/Telecaster/DSC01442.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/FretFire/Telecaster/DSC01441.jpg

WANT!

Here's mine - body by Mark and Matt, nice fat neck by USACG, Suhr bridge pickup and Reilander neck pickup (sounds fantastic). This is my first tele and, although it's taking some adjustment, I don't think this will be my last.

http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s492/keithspale/IMG_0039.jpg
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s492/keithspale/IMG_0040.jpg

Baconator,

That pick guard looks fantastic on it. Great job. What kind of pickups did you put in it?


Don

Baja neck - my favourite profile.
One piece pine 3lb 7oz MJT blonde.
Mare Big Box & Duncan Donahue
Creme barrel knobs to match my Tone King Comet
Robben (front) and Landau (headstock rear) signatures :cool:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/404970_371839892831252_100000157338325_1721027_198 1764723_n.jpg

Baconator,

That pick guard looks fantastic on it. Great job. What kind of pickups did you put in it?


Don

Thanks!

Funny thing about that pickguard - a friend of mine offered it to me. It belonged to his dad who apparently is a really heavy smoker. I thought it was way too yellow for the guitar, but since it was all I had available to try out the new tele I slapped it on and ended up liking the look a lot.

The bridge pickup is a used Suhr I stumbled upon a few months back and the neck pickup is from fellow Canuck, Mike Reilander. The neck pickup sounds fantastic and it was really cheap too. Here's a link to the one I bought (http://reilandercustomguitar.com/Tele_texas_details.html) (although mine was ordered with a cover).

Here's my first (and it won't be my last!) as a work in progress. Body is a beautiful, un-yellowed butterscotch, with very light ageing. Hardwear by Rebel Relic/Callaham/RS Guitarworks, pickups are Bareknuckle Flat 50s.

The neck will be a Musikraft boat V, aged to match the body.

I can't recommend Mark and Matt at MJTELE highly enough - their customer service is exemplary and the quality of the bodies is unbelievable.

I finally got around to making a video of Daphne. The playing and audio quality aren't great, but it is a really cool guitar.

dR7aAfQMZm8

Let me know what you think,
Don

Excellent product, excellent service.

This guitar weighs right around 6.5 lbs.

The body is MJT. Everything else is '71 Fender.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/kyle_74/Bastard%20Tele/IMG_2967.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/kyle_74/Bastard%20Tele/IMG_2968.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/kyle_74/Bastard%20Tele/IMG_2963.jpg

So many amazing guitars. Matt and Mark are so easy to work with and their prices are so reasonable for their products.

I finally got around to making a video of Daphne. The playing and audio quality aren't great, but it is a really cool guitar.

dR7aAfQMZm8

Let me know what you think,
Don

Wow, she's beautiful! Nice playing too

Wow, she's beautiful! Nice playing too


Thanks you so much. I wish I could play better. Maybe it is time to take a break from building and start practicing. ;)

Thanks you so much. I wish I could play better. Maybe it is time to take a break from building and start practicing. ;)

I am similarly cursed

I am similarly cursed

If amassing MJT guitars is a curse.....Maybe I should keep the status quo!

After waiting a good solid 6 weeks.,.. Super stoked to finally got my MJT Tele body last night. Very very happy with the color and finish! Extremely close to what I had requested.. a vintage blonde with heavy yellowing and shading, closet clean no relic, hats-off to Mark & Matt! Plus.. Awesome customer service!!

BUT..... I was very shocked to find a small wood crack on the lower part of the neck pocket :shock: Before I submitted my order.. Matt advised me to sent my CIJ fender neck to make sure that it fits with their bodies, so I did and Matt confirmed it fits like a glove and that he doesn't need to do any adjustment to the pocket.

I'm pretty sure that wood crack (last pic below) must have been caused when they tried to put them together, cause I had them took a picture of the body and neck assembled before shipping it to me.

I really hate to say this, especially after reading so many great reviews about MJT.. I'm very dissapointed that they did not make any adjustment to accomodate the neck so it will fit nicely. It is very obvious that the body's pocket needed some minor adjustment to avoid any cracking. And as you can see on the picture, there are some checking as well, most probably due to the forced fitting of the neck.

I hate to return the body and wait another 6 weeks, but at the same time I definitely cannot accept a blemished body, especially when the crack is in a structural area like the neck pocket. Plus my original order was for a closet clean condition with no checking. I must say their finish is very thin and brittle.. cracks are already showing on the finish in the first 5 minutes of me just holding and looking at it.

Anyhow... I've emailed Matt yesterday to please advise on how we can resolve this matter. Still waiting on his response :/ Hopefully this will have a happy ending cause I can't wait to show her after she's all done and assembled :cool:

http://www.encomiummusic.com/mjt/MJT-tele1.JPG

http://www.encomiummusic.com/mjt/MJT-tele2.JPG

http://www.encomiummusic.com/mjt/MJT-tele3.JPG

http://www.encomiummusic.com/mjt/Crack.JPG

djamin,

Give Matt a call and let him know. I think they will do whatever it takes to make it right. They are good guys.

Don

I have no doubt Matt will resolve it completely, they're the best. Here's mine... I've had it for a few months, and still love, love, love it. Double-bound CAR, TMO-FAT neck, closet clean:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6859289209_de357fc1a2.jpg

It won't be my last. I see a LPB strat in my future whenever I get the cabbage.

I'll play...

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/519/medium/IMG_1303.JPG

The blackguard has MJT body/Lindy Fralin Allparts neck, the CAR has a MJT body/MJT finished Allparts neck. Mostly Fender hardware and pups.

Sadly, the Bassman RI is gone. Had to thin the herd.

BTW, I am sure they will rush you to the front of the line. Except for that issue, the body looks great.

Thanks for the comforting words!! I seriously feel much better now :)

@Don: I wish I could call him, just curious if you have his number?

@awfulguitarnois: Nice double bound, love the color!!

http://thestevieboy.tripod.com/goldiesun.jpg

MJT alder thinline body in firemist gold. Got a Musikraft neck and a Glendale bridge (which I won here in the annual drawing.) Pickups are Harmonic Design--S90 in the bridge and Super Chrome in the neck position.

Thanks for the comforting words!! I seriously feel much better now :)

@Don: I wish I could call him, just curious if you have his number?

@awfulguitarnois: Nice double bound, love the color!!

I don't guess they like using the phone. Matt is good about taking care of emails, but I don't think he checks them over the weekend. I have no doubt they'll make every effort to make things right.

Structural issues aside, remember that what they do are aged finishes. They're meant to have/get the relic look and feel. If you want a hard wearing, perfect finish, there's nothing wrong with a good poly finish.

djamin,

I have the number at work, however, they are almost always in the shop and you get vm. If you email him with a number, he will call you straight away. I have three guitars that have run through him and I have every confidence that he will take care of you.

When you are building guitars that come from different sources, there is always the possibility that something may go wrong or not fit right. One of my guitars (not an MJT), had a body cut in California, neck from USACG, hardware from the east coast and was finished in another state. We had to start over three times due to various assembly issues. Everybody was super nice and professional. The bottom line was that it was nobody's fault. The parts were being sources from so many places that there was bound to be an issue or two. We got them all ironed out and the guitar is fantastic and has a great story.

It's all Rock N Roll.

When Matt takes care of you (and I am confident he will), remember to follow up with a post here so everybody can see that they took care of the problem.

Talk to you soon,
Don

I knew that my CIJ fender neck has a slightly wider heel than the regular MIA fender neck. And I told Matt about my concern before putting in my order. That's why I sent him my CIJ neck, to check on the fitting or if there's any adjustment that needs to be done.

And I totally agree with everyone that their customer service is absolutely top notch, Matt has been very helpful and responsive the last 6 weeks.

I actually emailed him late Thursday night, I was hoping to get a respond yesterday.. But I'm sure I'll hear from him on Monday, I'll keep everyone posted for sure.

My new MJT Dakota Red baby!!

Callaham Hardware and Fralins.

I knew that my CIJ fender neck has a slightly wider heel than the regular MIA fender neck. And I told Matt about my concern before putting in my order. That's why I sent him my CIJ neck, to check on the fitting or if there's any adjustment that needs to be done.

And I totally agree with everyone that their customer service is absolutely top notch, Matt has been very helpful and responsive the last 6 weeks.

I actually emailed him late Thursday night, I was hoping to get a respond yesterday.. But I'm sure I'll hear from him on Monday, I'll keep everyone posted for sure.

I still haven't heard back from Matt, I found MJT's number, called and left him a vm this morning... still waiting.. :roll:

UPDATE:

Just got a reply from Matt, he's asked me to send back the body and he is going to give me a new body!! These guys are AMAZING!! I knew that they will resolve this matter. So now.. I just have to wait alittle longer.. Hopefully not too long :wink:

Hey djamin,

That is great news. They are great guys and work hard to make sure all of their customers are happy. I am sure they will rush yours through.

Don't forgot to post photos of the finished product!!

Don

Hey djamin,

That is great news. They are great guys and work hard to make sure all of their customers are happy. I am sure they will rush yours through.

Don't forgot to post photos of the finished product!!

Don

Absolutely!

Hey djamin,

That is great news. They are great guys and work hard to make sure all of their customers are happy. I am sure they will rush yours through.

Don't forgot to post photos of the finished product!!

Don

That is good news. Keep in mind that rushing it still equals about four weeks, probably.

Wow, some really nice guitars.. Am really impressed by the relics & the double bound bodies.. To bad Djamin used the thread to piss on these guys w/o giving them a chance. Stuff happens, it's called life.. give him a little credit for posting the update but IMO should have come with an apology..

Wow, some really nice guitars.. Am really impressed by the relics & the double bound bodies.. To bad Djamin used the thread to piss on these guys w/o giving them a chance. Stuff happens, it's called life.. give him a little credit for posting the update but IMO should have come with an apology..

I don't think that djamin pissed on MJT. He had concerns about his guitar and posted them. He is very passionate about his guitar. The group contributed their stories and experiences with MJT to help calm his concerns. He contacted them, they are taking care of the problem and are going to promptly fix the problem. He then posted the outcome.

I am just now waiting to see the photos when it is all done.

Don

I don't think that djamin pissed on MJT. He had concerns about his guitar and posted them. He is very passionate about his guitar. The group contributed their stories and experiences with MJT to help calm his concerns. He contacted them, they are taking care of the problem and are going to promptly fix the problem. He then posted the outcome.

I am just now waiting to see the photos when it is all done.

Don

Don.. I really appreciate your support and for clarifying the matter.

It was not my intention at all to piss MJT. As I have mentioned from my previous postings that I've had great customer service in the last 6 weeks working with Matt. He was extremely helpful and accommodating to my requests.

I was mainly concerned and looking for some advice from all the MJT owners here in the forum. Maybe I should have start a new thread but I figured I will end up owning an MJT body anyway, I wanted to show everyone the amazing work that they did (minus the crack pocket).

Yes, I agree.. stuff does happen, and I hope that my postings will provide even more assurance and confidence to all potential MJT customers that these guys are amazing and a joy to work with and will absolutely go above & beyond to ensure that you are happy with what you get.

PS: Can't wait to post new pics soon!

Peace out,
djamin

Hey guys, I have a MJT in the works myself. I have become a little obsessive reading through threads about MJT and their fine work.

I just wrapped up work with J Bennett for a headstock logo, and now I'm researching hardware. I'm certain that I want aged nickel, and will probably age it myself. Any suggestions welcome.

My tele started out as a Macawber inspired by, but has now moved more into a hotrodded early 50's Nocaster type. Meaning, I was going to go 6 saddle bridge (brass from Armadillo), but now decided to go vintage 3 barrel. It'll have a Duncan Antiquity neck and Jerry Donahue bridge. Color will be a lot like Djamin's - early nocaster blonde.
Also getting an AllParts Vee. Never had a 7.25 neck, or vintage fretts. This should be interesting.

I'm only about 3 wks in, and very excited. This process has been so much more satisfying than buying off the shelf. I hope the guitar exceeds expectations, because quite frankly I may become a collector here. Will post pix if/when they come.

Telepickens,

Sounds like a good start. It is so addicting. I look forward to the photos.

Don

It is important to know the customer service side of mjt. I had an allparts neck that arrived with a backbow that couldn't be fixed without serious luthier work. The luthier woukd have to have steam bent the neck with no guarantee of the result. They had me send it back- no questions asked. This was a month after receiving it (luthier assembly time). Matt and mark (though I've never spoken to mark) run a great company, and their customer service is excellent.
Impatiently waiting for my flamed musikraft boat to go this...

I think I'll be joining the club soon. The hard part will be deciding exactly what I want. I've never had a guitar custom made for me before, so it should be a lot of fun!

I think I'll be joining the club soon. The hard part will be deciding exactly what I want. I've never had a guitar custom made for me before, so it should be a lot of fun!

The hard part will be wondering, after 3 weeks, if you made the right choices!

Here is my Tele "Esquire" which MJT did my neck.
The neck is perfect, brilliant customer service, one of the best guitar companies i have had the pleasure of dealing with. :mrgreen:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/pro071.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/432316_310324592357129_100001387728002_837601_1316 101947_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/432030_310328395690082_100001387728002_837616_7752 96570_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/431036_310328695690052_100001387728002_837617_6459 26540_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/428050_310327282356860_100001387728002_837613_8210 17613_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/428626_310327572356831_100001387728002_837614_1323 433020_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/421880_310328039023451_100001387728002_837615_1638 471918_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/428150_310325022357086_100001387728002_837604_1017 773498_n.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/bobmk1/420903_310325849023670_100001387728002_837609_2107 137288_n.jpg

bobmk1 - That is fantastic. Tell us more about it!

Don

bobmk1 - That is fantastic. Tell us more about it!

Don

Thanks,

The body is from Amsterdam by a company called Rebel Relics. I found it on Ebay being sold by a french guitar spares company. 1 peice ash body with a aged butterscotch finish. I really liked the checking so i thought id give it a go. Its nice and light with some great wear. The PUP's are Bare Knuckle country boy's and they sound great. bakerlite scratch plate with a aged screw set, control plate and neck plate etc from a company called fake 58. Vintage cloth wiring with good quality pots and jack socket etc. The neck is a MJT item TMO-C beautifully aged exactly as i wanted it, even down to ciggy burn. the back of the neck still has a nice coat of clear on it so its lovely and smooth.

I now use this as my main giging guitar and people seem to really like it. Not many people in the uk doing the relic thing, but i love it.

I will get some pics of my seafoam green tele up when its done, again MJT are doing the neck for me as I type.

It was not my intention at all to piss MJT. As I have mentioned from my previous postings that I've had great customer service in the last 6 weeks working with Matt. He was extremely helpful and accommodating to my requests.


I need to check myself when I'm online in the middle of the night.. My comment was unnecessary and added nothing to the this thread.. Glad that MJT is taking care of you.

I need to check myself when I'm online in the middle of the night.. My comment was unnecessary and added nothing to the this thread.. Glad that MJT is taking care of you.

Haha, that was pretty cool of you to comment on your own post. No worries, man. It's all good.

As promised :) Got some pics of the new body from Matt today. I went alittle bit more amber and opaque, a much richer color than the original which is a trans pale yellow. I think this new color will be a better match with my MIJ maple neck. Super stoked, can't wait to get it!!

As promised :) Got some pics of the new body from Matt today. I went alittle bit more amber and opaque, a much richer color than the original which is a trans pale yellow. I think this new color will be a better match with my MIJ maple neck. Super stoked, can't wait to get it!!

That looks amazing. I love that Matt and Mark will work with us on the shades of colors. They are a pleasure to work with.

I look forward to seeing the final photos!

Don

She's finally finished. She feels fantastic. I am digging the Rutters bridge and the BK pick ups.

Don

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

She's finally finished. She feels fantastic. I am digging the Rutters bridge and the BK pick ups.

Don

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Looks awesome..

She's finally finished. She feels fantastic. I am digging the Rutters bridge and the BK pick ups.

Don

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

She looks great! I can't wait to get mine and actually start building :)

Btw where did you get your pickguard? It fits like a glove. I bought one from Warmoth and turns out it's too small (its proportion to the MJT body). Especially the bottom part of the cutaway.

She looks great! I can't wait to get mine and actually start building :)

Btw where did you get your pickguard? It fits like a glove. I bought one from Warmoth and turns out it's too small (its proportion to the MJT body). Especially the bottom part of the cutaway.

I got it from MJT, it was part of the kit. I am sure they would sell them seperately.

Don

I got it from MJT, it was part of the kit. I am sure they would sell them seperately.

Don

Good to know! Thanks Don!

Good to know! Thanks Don!

My pleasure. How's yours coming along?

I'm pretty excited...my MJTele should arrive within the next week
Mark & Matt have been great to deal with, and their guitars look so cool!

I went for an Aztec Gold alder body, Allparts rosewood bd 10" radius neck
and also got the aged hardware from them as well
Then I bought an early Fender reissue cellulose tort guard and a set of Lollar 52's
Oh yeah, I also bought a lightweight swamp ash strat body from Mark & Matt...couldn't resist

Here's some pics

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9894/goldtele.jpg

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/155/kgrhqzloe8evdmwtsbporut.jpg

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3549/kgrhqfose8vffrj3dbporyb.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8233/kgrhqzie8ymcbqq2bps8vky.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6602/teleearlyreissuefenderc.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7179/kgrhqvlue65pvjmqbpputfl.jpg

I'll post some more pics when I get it all up & happenin'...can't wait!

My pleasure. How's yours coming along?

Just got the tracking # this morning!! :) I sure hope it gets here by Friday, I cant wait to get this project finished... It has been a 4 months process :) I will post some pics once it's all done and built.

squatch - I love the gold! Looks fantastic.

djamin - That's so exciting! I look forward to seeing the photos!

Don

Yeah Doth, I wasn't thinking of a gold but when I saw this one it looked cool
I always liked the way the old Goldtop Gibbo's got the green tinge on the top
Don't think I'd want a closet Gold...
would be too neato lookin' for this ol' squatch heh

Just received my neck from MJT - I'm so happy with it, again, only lightly aged to match the light butterscotch body - this is a Musikraft boat v and quite a handful...

Hey Matthew, nice lookin' neck, you must be pleased!
I think I'll go for a MusiKraft like that when I get a Telemaster
My guitars arrived this week, I'm pretty stoked already
Here's a pre-assembly mock-up...gonna take my time
Complete MJT Tele with Lollar 52's and early reissue Fender cellulose guard
Lightweight swamp ash MJT strat body with Warmoth radius flame neck & Duncan lipsticks
Thanks again to Mark & Matt for an awesome job!

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2045/sam0889l.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1285/sam0902.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7163/sam0898x.jpg

That looks great - really like it with the tortoiseshell guard. It's great that Matt and Mark go to such great lengths to give you exactly what you're after. The greenish gold is just perfect.

Just finished putting together my La Cab using body, neck and hardware from MJT. I'm over the moon with how it's turned out. The only thing I might change would be the bridge but it should be fine for what I need. It's only a light relic finish so it's hard to get pics of the work.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa234/falzoony/P1000280.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa234/falzoony/P1000282.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa234/falzoony/P1000283.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa234/falzoony/P1000289.jpg

My latest guitar an MJT Telemaster. Fine guitar. He did body only-non reliced. Outstanding work.

Nice guitars guys, that La Cab must sound nice with the TVJones pickups..cool
I'm gettin' a Telemaster next, but with maple neck 'cos my Tele's a rosewood
I really love the blond on swamp ash or the butterscotch
I might also get a 3 pickup T'master with CC Lollars, I heard a great demo of them on a Tele

..this MJT Strat went thru feebay this week.

A Funky Green mojo machine. I should've got it. :cry:

Yeah Carzee, I had my eye on that one too...what a beauty!
I thought that one would look good with the Duncan lipsticks...a surf special
It's actually the exact same colour as my daughter's old Profile strat
Then again, I've got 3 strats...but it would be nice to have a set in your fave colours...heh

I woulda snaffled that one though if I'd had the dough

..yeah, well it comes down to time. I got a Mary Kaye Telemaster on the go here (just needs a setup) as well as a yellow Strat I'm painting... see my pix albums here

Nice one..I really love the blonde Telemasters...are you doing gold hardware?
I almost got gold hardware for the gold tele but decided against it
Matt said they could do relic'd gold hardware on request
I've just gotta decide what colour Telemaster I want
Sienna sunburst, Burgundy Mist on sunburst...that Sea Foam green would be cool
Decisions, decisions...heh

Hey Carzee, I checked out your Telemaster...very nice indeed
Just the right amount of relic'ing for my taste
I was also gonna use a strat neck on mine...but a flamey rosewood board one I've got
Did you order your Telemaster with the strat neck pocket or mod it?

My Guitar Mill TM has a Tele pocket. I put a Strat neck on (Musikraft Clapton profile) because its a fav, but I'm still shopping for a Tele neck for the TM, the intention is there. One day. The TM's got a hot 4 way sw, twisted tele neodenim neck pup etc and its my 'go to' distortion nirvana thrash thing -its light and fun. Strat pockets won't take a Tele neck, but Tele's will take a Strat/JM neck (with butt crack). That MK neck has threaded inserts - the ash body and neck resonate as good as it gets.

Nice setup on the Telemaster, Carzee
I figured I could put a strat neck on a Tele and hide the crack with a custom guard
I kept my gold tele standard wiring with the '52 Lollars, but I'll go the custom wiring on the Telemaster
I''m thinking of trying the Lollar CC's in the neck & middle
So you think the threaded inserts make a noticable difference? Maybe I'll try 'em

Nice setup on the Telemaster, Carzee
I figured I could put a strat neck on a Tele and hide the crack with a custom guard
I kept my gold tele standard wiring with the '52 Lollars, but I'll go the custom wiring on the Telemaster
I''m thinking of trying the Lollar CC's in the neck & middle
So you think the threaded inserts make a noticable difference? Maybe I'll try 'em

The fittings on that BB Tele/Esquire are brass, not gold. The brass bridge makes a really noticable difference, more than other mods, such as the threaded inserts. I can fit thin paper between the saddles without the paper crinkling/jamming - thats how precisely machined those saddles are.

BACK to MJT, for Christmas I may order a double bound ash thinline in black. I feel a need to try out a thinline... its on my 'to do' list.

I really love the Goldtop and the Cab. MJT does great work.

I am in LA visiting my buddy. He LOVES my Beck Esquire. I am not crazy about the look in his eye, it looks like he might abscond with it!

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/IMG_5217.jpg

Hey its Phil-X! I love that guy! I stay watching Fretted Americana videos!

It's Phil. We were at his home studio yesterday. If you look closely into the studio, you can see his baby blue Nash Esquire just beneath the neck of my Beck. He has some very cool guitars, for sure.

Wow that's awesome!! Wish I had a buddy like that.

Hello MikeMurray,

Phils is a great friend and a really nice guy that absolutely loves playing guitar. It drives me crazy that so many people are haters (even on this forum). He is insanely talented, so maybe they are just jealous.

Don

I'm a really big fan. It's really evident that he loves music, he's a human textbook of riffs. Actually just yesterday I had Air Hockey Champion stuck in my head.

Did he mention how it compares to some of the vintage instruments he's played?

Although Beck looks just like Beck's Esquire, it's quite a modern player. It has a compound radius neck that Phil loves, Callaham compensated saddles, the Eldred Mod and a killer Lollar pickup. It's not really a fair comparison to a vintage instrument. He has tried to by it from me several times.

He also absolutely loves his Nash. While he appreciates vintage equipment, one of his favorite guitars is his $500 LTD Viper.

I must say (like anything first-time) this has been quite a roller coaster ride :) but I'm absolutely happy with the outcome for sure. Spent this whole week putting together this Tele using the MJT body and MIJ Fender neck + hardwares, I'll be soldering the PU's today, I'm looking forward to hear how this baby sings! Which is probably the most important part of it all :) Matt has been very helpful, working with me on color and shade of a honey blonde, in the end it came out very close to what I'm looking for. Here are some pics, enjoy!

Djamin,

That is awesome! It looks well worth the wait. All great guitars have a cool story! It reminds me of my Daphne with the HB in the neck. What a great combo!

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Djamin,

That is awesome! It looks well worth the wait. All great guitars have a cool story! It reminds me of my Daphne with the HB in the neck. What a great combo!

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

Thanks Doth! Yeah it was totaly well worth the wait and work. Love the color of your Daphene! I'm excited to hear the neck Phat Cat which is what triggers this whole building your own Tele journey :)

Phil X! Please tell me you got a video of him playing that guitar! Love that guy. I'll try to get a video up of my la cab so you can all hear it.

Phil X! Please tell me you got a video of him playing that guitar! Love that guy. I'll try to get a video up of my la cab so you can all hear it.

I didn't get a video, we were goofing around outside of his studio. He was shredding on it, then stopped cold and said....."22 frets?! Yeooowwwww!"

That's awesome, I can just imagine him saying it!

Phil's ok. At first I was a bit put off but he has bucket loads of talent so it's fun to watch him play. Hey, he could just as easily be a snob about it.

I kept pics of a tobacco burst alder Strat body MJT had on ebay last year so when I have the $$$ I can send him the pics and tell him to do it again.

Phil's ok. At first I was a bit put off but he has bucket loads of talent so it's fun to watch him play. Hey, he could just as easily be a snob about it.

I kept pics of a tobacco burst alder Strat body MJT had on ebay last year so when I have the $$$ I can send him the pics and tell him to do it again.


He has a lot of talent really enjoys playing.

Good idea on keeping the photo, but I think half the fun is that Mark does each body a little differently. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with when you are ready.

Don

He has a lot of talent really enjoys playing.

Good idea on keeping the photo, but I think half the fun is that Mark does each body a little differently. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with when you are ready.

Don

I agree and it would be nice to win an auction and save some cash but most of his auction pieces are reliced too heavily for me. The one I liked had a bit of checking and just a few nicks.

I have a 3-ply white guard and pickup covers off a '88 Am Std I used to own that have the scratches I put there along with the discoloring that comes with time.

They aren't destroyed but will look out of place on a shiny guitar.

Hey '56Teleman,

I have had him specifically finish two guitars for me, Beck is heavily reliced to match the Original Beck, but Daphne is mildly reliced. I have also seen guitars that he has done with checking only. Its nice to really be able to pick what you want.

However, I bought a kit from them on an eBay auction. I had to wait a long time to get what I wanted; BSB, Thick Neck, Maple board, and super light. But it came along.

Keep us in the loop and post photos!

Don

Hey '56Teleman,

I have had him specifically finish two guitars for me, Beck is heavily reliced to match the Original Beck, but Daphne is mildly reliced. I have also seen guitars that he has done with checking only. Its nice to really be able to pick what you want.

However, I bought a kit from them on an eBay auction. I had to wait a long time to get what I wanted; BSB, Thick Neck, Maple board, and super light. But it came along.

Keep us in the loop and post photos!

Don

Yeah just order one of the custom sets. You get to choose how it looks. I went with the absolute minimum treatment and it came looking like a nice used body. They're really easy to work with.

Also, Mark and Matt are really fair with their freight charges
If you're buying from Australia you can get the whole kit landed for $63 postage
Even if you buy the top of the line kit (double bound ash Tele) it still comes in under a grand
with postage, so there's no customs duty
I went for the auction items myself last time, 2 bodies and a neck, Matt bundles the postage so it's a real good deal
Next time I might go for a custom kit and get a pleasant surprise!

They are fair about everything, in my opinion. If anybody I know wants a relic'd guitar, I always recommend Matt and Mark. Great guys, Fantastic products.

My featherweight, one piece T body in Blackguard finish should be here Monday.
Looking forward to getting my paws on it!

Please post some pics, Monkey Man.

Sure will.
Long day tomorrow though, probably won't get pics up till Tuesday.
Hey, wasn't that an 80's band?!? :cool:

Finished at last - love it!

Finished at last - love it!

Beautiful!

Congrats!

i'm looking forward to this:

Nice score Smdmf8! That was a great buy
Should have great sustain with the TRO-FAT neck as well!
Hope you enjoy

Still trying to decide on my Telemaster...I'm thinking transparent Orange now

I found photos of my Beck from when Mark was finishing it.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/BodyFront2.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/BodyFront1.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/BodyFront.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/BodyBack3.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/BodyBack2.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Beck%20Tribute/BodyBack.jpg

Make me want to design another!

Don

Looks cool Doth! Must be fairly light with the cutouts and humbucker rout
Love the grain on the darkened ash too!

Looks cool Doth! Must be fairly light with the cutouts and humbucker rout
Love the grain on the darkened ash too!

It's a very light guitar, but I never weighed it.

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

2009 MJT light aged Tele body, '51-69 style, blonde butterscotch finish
March 20 2009 Fender American Standard Deluxe Tele neck
Lollar Charlie Christian pickup set, signed 'Lollar 2009'
Fender Schaller tuners
Fender style 3-saddle bridge
Wilkenson compensated bridge saddles
Modified '69 Fender Thinline RI pick guard
Reverse control layout
CTS pots
70's Fender knobs
3-Way Tele wiring, Fender switch

The neck plate and control plate are not aged (yet).
The locking Schallers were also a playability call.

127572

127573

FenderLover,

That looks great! The CC pickup and PG combo are very unique.

Don

That's groovy, FenderLover
I want a 3 pickup CC set in a Telemaster after hearing the Tim Lerch demo
expensive pickups, but worth the dough I think

Thank you, thank you very much.

There's really nothing better than building exactly what you want!

A Telemaster with a Bigsby might be next on my list. I'd do the finish to match this one.

finaly it's done!
built by acy (acy's guitar lounge (http://www.acys-lounge.de/)) with "häussel te vintage" pickups.
sounds and looks terrific.
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1491/mjt1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/mjt1.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/9797/mjt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/mjt4.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The bright spot on headstock was an accident by overspraying the decal (my fault).
any suggestions what to do? keep it as it is or sand down an laquer head stock again?

Here is my LPB tele heavy realic
great finish, great weight (6.29 pounds) and great sounding too!


http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo81/nitefly82/DSC0022012.jpg

http://i364.photobucket.com/albums/oo81/nitefly82/DSC0021912.jpg

Hot off MJT's grill - swamp ash thinline body in blonde. I don't have a pickguard yet - I'm uncertain as to what color/material I'm going to go with.

The neck shown here (in my messy workshop), is what I have to use at this time - I may go another route eventually.

Any suggestions on pickguard color?

great grain gtrwrks! blond is my fav color for teles.

me personally would go with a 1-ply white(do they make 1-ply for thinlines?).
but black or tort would looks awesome too!

good luck with the build!

great grain gtrwrks! blond is my fav color for teles.

me personally would go with a 1-ply white(do they make 1-ply for thinlines?).
but black or tort would looks awesome too!

good luck with the build!

Thanks! I'll post photos after getting a pickguard and the guit up & running.

Hot off MJT's grill - swamp ash thinline body in blonde. I don't have a pickguard yet - I'm uncertain as to what color/material I'm going to go with.

The neck shown here (in my messy workshop), is what I have to use at this time - I may go another route eventually.

Any suggestions on pickguard color?

Tort would be cool on that one. Or bakelite!

I think I'm going to do a Faux-Fifties white-guard look initially.

http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn285/GenericFoster/428565_10150977720053211_236880528_n.jpg

I love my MJT. Here's a video of my friend doing a review of my MJT La Cab.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQZcigH8Oy0

What are you guys using for headstock decals? I don't see that mjt offers any options on their website.

What are you guys using for headstock decals? I don't see that mjt offers any options on their website.

I don't see the need for a decal really. I don't have one on either of my MJTs. Let that beautiful wood shine through. :-)

What are you guys using for headstock decals? I don't see that mjt offers any options on their website.

I made my own with decal paper and an ink jet printer.

Jbennett here on the forum makes really nice ones.

What are you guys using for headstock decals? I don't see that mjt offers any options on their website.

I don't see a need for a decal either. Although, on all my future builds with USACG necks, I am going to use their laser logo. I love their necks.

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

I just think the Headstock looks to bare without one.

I just think the Headstock looks to bare without one.

I would suggest having jbennett make one for you, his look great. Whatever you do, don't downgrade it with an ordinary "Fender" decal! ;)

Hey guys! Post more pics! I love MJT porn
jaun..I love the Lake Placid Blue....perfect relic'ing!

Does anyone know what Bridge hardware MJT uses on their Strat "kits"?

Hey Wileyone, if you email Matt at MJTele, he'll let you know real quick
I know they do the hardware aging themselves
I think the parts are Allparts nickel from Japan, but I could be wrong
I've only had Tele hardware from MJT and it looks authentic
I've seen MJT sell aged Gotoh tuners, but I don't know if that applies to the kits

Just got this in the mail today...fiesta red! I don't know what color pickguard to go with, parchment or mint green? Thoughts?

Thats cool leday! Nice score!
I just scored a 'yellowed' Fiesta Red from MJT, and I'm happy too!
It'll take a while to get to OZ, but I'll post more pics when it's here
I'm gonna put a cellulose tort guard on mine with lipstick pickups
Here's the MJT pic

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5879/kgrhqnnkfg4j3mbbqjwt8eg.jpg

I really dig the finish checking on this one...beautiful!

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/478/kgrhqno8fycc5hbqjwv3oc6.jpg

That's rad squatch! Sounds like a cool custom build too, those lipsticks will rock. Mines gonna be pretty stock- i'm thinking a set of Duncan SSL1's or something similar, maybe a callaham bridge too...But we'll see!

That's the kind of shade of red I was expecting but I love how vibrant it looks new. I'm Australian as well and mine took about a month to get here but I think it sat in customs for a while 😒

Thanks leday, yeah, I waited about a month last time for my MJT's, but that
gives you time to find pickups & bits heh
Some people don't like tort on Fiesta Red, but I do
I think the red tort with the Duncan lipsticks and chrome knobs will look pretty smik
Post some pics when you get yours happening, leday!

This is my 2nd MJT, extremely satisfied with how it came out; the color, shade and aging. And like always, Matt was super helpful attending my request. It's always been my dream to have a vintage white tele (extra heavy yellowing) with a dark amber vintage maple neck.

When I first started, honestly I was not really into relic guitars but this beauty totally changes everything :lol: For this one, I went with a light relic, specified the areas of wear and I'm absolutely happy with the result. Especially LOVE the light checkings on the body. Mad props to MJT!

The Body and Neck are Allparts, total weight close to 5 lbs.
Aged hardwares from MJT
1-ply 50's Fender parchment pickguard
PU Neck: Duncan Antiquity II 60's
PU Bridge: Zhangbucker Paul Bunyan

Well, enough with the cosmetics :wink: What matter the most, the sound... And it is incredible! Very resonant, never had a guitar that resonate like this... when unplugged you can totally hear it rings, this baby sings! Yes, I'm in love :shock: Truly a dream come true.

Here she is...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AfPOJFVJidc/UEvCA3-ouFI/AAAAAAAAAVw/Hdo8UiwQow0/s800/Tele_Yellow_1.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Nux4NRUMcvI/UEvCA54adVI/AAAAAAAAAV0/e8yBWq6kfpc/s800/Tele_Yellow_2.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yeZdAS0iPx0/UEvCBqFB0CI/AAAAAAAAAWI/DjQJz1jv-E0/s800/Tele_Yellow_3.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bDe1eTOAw1g/UEvCB-vX7dI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/G1u_bB7R6zY/s800/Tele_Yellow_4.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m3V_7Wk8YzQ/UEvCBywARSI/AAAAAAAAAWU/HFitgN4RFxo/s800/Tele_Yellow_5.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j4jHL-Ogjzc/UEvCCU1-ndI/AAAAAAAAAWc/VVYoFad2OB8/s800/Tele_Yellow_6.jpg

Assembled late 2011.

What colour is that? Shell pink? A beauty in any case.

This was my MJT with Bareknuckle Brown Sugar's. Some lucky Irishman has it now:
http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae43/cr91/mjtnew.jpg

This was my MJT with Bareknuckle Brown Sugar's. Some lucky Irishman has it now:


How did you like the Brown Sugars? I have The Boss set in this one and I love how they sound. Specifically the neck pickup.

Don

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

[QUOTE=Doth;4450393]How did you like the Brown Sugars? I have The Boss set in this one and I love how they sound. Specifically the neck pickup.

Don

They are very hot! Hot and plenty of bite and treble on the bridge pickup, neck pickup very nice almost Strat-like.. Very much the opposite of the Flat 50's i had in another Tele. The Flat 50's are very rounded and fat sounding.

They are very hot! Hot and plenty of bite and treble on the bridge pickup, neck pickup very nice almost Strat-like.. Very much the opposite of the Flat 50's i had in another Tele. The Flat 50's are very rounded and fat sounding.

I am so impressed with the tone and balance across the strings. Great pickups!

Don

Just got an update from Mark. She's coming along nicely :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y228/Scotty111/IMG_3770_zps1a588627.jpg

Hey everyone! New member and first time poster. I'm seriously considering ordering a MJT kit, putting Lollars in it, and having my local shop put it all together. djamin's yellowed finish is cool looking, I'm thinking something along those lines, or maybe white or sea foam green. Do you all think it's doable for someone with no experience putting a guitar together (like myself) to order the kit, pickups, and have a local shop do the assembly? Also, how much (if any) work at assembly is needed other than a regular setup (e.g. fret dressing, leveling)? I'm just trying to get an idea of what I might be getting myself into.

Apologies in advance if this is the wrong thread for these questions.

Hey everyone! New member and first time poster. I'm seriously considering ordering a MJT kit, putting Lollars in it, and having my local shop put it all together. djamin's yellowed finish is cool looking, I'm thinking something along those lines, or maybe white or sea foam green. Do you all think it's doable for someone with no experience putting a guitar together (like myself) to order the kit, pickups, and have a local shop do the assembly? Also, how much (if any) work at assembly is needed other than a regular setup (e.g. fret dressing, leveling)? I'm just trying to get an idea of what I might be getting myself into.

Hey there! Glad to hear you like the yellowed finish :) Be sure to send them pictures of the color you want and provide as much description as possible. I'd say it is doable but it does take some assembly experience to put it all together. You will need to do some minor sanding to the neck cavity and learned on how to install that parts, drilling the screw holes correctly, etc. Some experience in installing pickups, soldering is needed as well. I had to widen and deepen the bridge cavity, but that's mainly because of my overwound Zhangbucker PB.

Also, be sure you have the right tools for the job. Having the right tools, I would say is half of the battle, well at least for me cause I'm not much of a handyman and I did find myself going back & forth to home depot :) I had a friend assisted me on drilling the neck holes, since I don’t have a drill press.

The good news is there is no need for fret dressing or leveling on the neck. The Allparts neck was in a pretty good shape and ready to rock. However I'd recommend having a professional guitar tech install the nut and do a final set up on the guitar.

Honestly, assembling and putting it all together was a big pain :-D (remember I'm not much of a handyman) But I must say, truly at the end of the day, when it's all set and done I was very glad that I did the assembly myself (except for the nut). It is part of the journey, yes be prepared to spend a good amount of time and always measure twice before doing anything ;) but the story that comes with it… Priceless.

All the best!

Thanks for the advice djamin. I definitely dig the yellowed finish! Thanks for the info about the build, and it being a pain. I'm not a handyman either, and am more likely to actually have my local guitar shop do all of the assembly you did for me. It'll cost more, but I'm sure to screw it up otherwise. Thanks for all of your advice!

Yeah it takes a bit of know how, finesse, patience, and experience to do it right.

You can tackle it yourself if you do a lot of researching first. Accept the fact that it won't be done perfectly. Mine was my first attempt at installing string ferrules. I chipped a little paint installing them, but hey, it's an aged finish, so it just adds character! I've played it so much over the last year, it's collected a number of dings anyway.

If you're not too handy, you might be better off getting one of the kits they sell on Ebay. All those need is electronics.

I did my first Tele ferrules and worked out a good method
Just get a phillips head screwdriver that fits in the ferrule and push down
from above slowly with all your weight
I got no chips, and it worked real good with no hammering..heh

BTW Nice Tele djamin! nicest vintage white I've seen
Nice Honeyburst Wileyone! dig the ash grain, kewl!

Here's my latest MJT...Sienna Sunburst...gonna do a Dan Smith special


http://imageshack.us/a/img855/8595/t2ec16jhjh8e9qseug7obqz.jpg

Thanks for the tips Garrett. I emailed Matt at MJT and he's already quoted me for a full kit, which only then requires pickups (I'll order the Lollars) and electronics (which my local shop will supply when they assemble the whole thing). Sounds like that's the route to go, and though I won't have the story of assembling it myself, I do want it done right so I have a quality build at the end... I do like the idea of having everything done to my specs... that part sounds like a blast. Thanks for the info everyone.

Finally finished this bad boy- Fiesta red, Duncan SSL1's in the neck and middle with an SSL3 in the bridge. Callaham trem, mint green guard and parchment pickup covers/control knobs. The neck is from a Classic 60's mex strat

New member here, and new to MJT. This is the Tele kit w/Musikraft neck. LP59 back profile, 1.650 nut, 9.5in radius rosewood board with heavy rolled edges and 6150 frets. White Blonde swamp ash body, heavy wear, little yellowing, aged mint green pg, aged Bare Knuckle Brown Sugar pups, Martin Six String Customs wiring harness w/ .047 pio cap. Oh, and reverse headstock.

http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0390_zpsd8243dcd.jpg http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0391_zps5c9134aa.jpg http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0395_zps01b5324d.jpg


Ric

My #2 MJT Tele is a pre finished Surf Green alder body with an Allparts TRO-FAT Maple with Rosewood fingerboard, Chunky C shape, 21 medium frets, 9.5" radius, 1-5/8" nut width, Neck thickness 1.00" at first fret, 1.00" at twelfth fret. Actually going to do an Esquire with this one.

Pick up will be a Wolfetone Rabid Bitch with a "Cocked Wah" Esquire harness from Martin Six String Customs.

http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0403-Copy_zpsad47e2bf.jpg http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0401-Copy_zps28b2a139.jpg http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/DSCF0419_zpsf915ea3a.jpg


Ric

Been a watcher of Mark Jenny on ebay for a long long time and always admired his work. For some reason I was really drawn to the old road dawg look of this guitar. So I bid on it and got it. I have read many of the closed threads and know all the opinions folks have about these guitars. You either love them or you don't. To me it will always be just a novelty guitar in my collection. This will be my 4th tele. My other three are beautiful, well cared for no dings no scratches, that wouldn't look like this ever in my lifetime. It is in transit as I write this and I can't wait to get it. I think it looks killer. And I do realize that is way over the top for most people. Happy to be a member of the club.

http://imageshack.us/a/img824/4839/kgrhqfocfcrembg6bq022qf.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img198/7705/kgrhqnpsfcu84pyw8bq02yb.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img547/2962/kgrhqvlcfcf0utqmkbq02yg.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img837/7421/kgrhqfn0fcrvqf9gbq02yvq.jpg

Hey vortex
Looks good, what relic rating is that....? I don't imagine they beat em up more than this

What pickups are you dropping in?

Hey vortex
Looks good, what relic rating is that....? I don't imagine they beat em up more than this

What pickups are you dropping in?

I'm not familiar with ratings..... Could you explain how they are rated? Looks just about as beat up as one can get. I kept going back and looking at it waffling and then made a bid. I'm going to drop in Seymor Duncan Antiquitys and a pre-wired harness from the Hoagland Brothers.

I'm not sure how mjt does it but fender relics came in closet classic thru to road worn ratings of wear.
This looks like someone's been at it with a wrasp or its been dragged around a gravel parking lot.

I really like it tho and please keep us posted how it plays once you've put it together.
Mjts beck esquire gives me a jones...that's pretty beat up too

Vortex, you must have wanted that pretty badly. IIRC, that went for a hefty price. That's the "heavy wear" option. Looks good. Congrats and HNGD!!


Ric

Cool guitars guys! I like 'em all, from closet clean to heavy wear.
Sometimes you have to pay a hefty price if you've really got the horn goin' for a piece
It's worth it though, 'cos the MJT is already heaps better value than the others,
and more authentic to the originals IMO
I paid more than usual for this one 'cos the Jenny's aced it totally!

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6939/vwos2.jpg

I finished the Aztec Tele and it's amazingly good
4lb 5oz alder body, MJT Allparts 10" radius neck & Lollar 52 set
Really resonant with a tight neck joint, very impressed with the Lollars too!

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/640/sam1073i.jpg

Cool guitars guys! I like 'em all, from closet clean to heavy wear.
Sometimes you have to pay a hefty price if you've really got the horn goin' for a piece
It's worth it though, 'cos the MJT is already heaps better value than the others,
and more authentic to the originals IMO
I paid more than usual for this one 'cos the Jenny's aced it totally!

I finished the Aztec Tele and it's amazingly good
4lb 5oz alder body, MJT Allparts 10" radius neck & Lollar 52 set
Really resonant with a tight neck joint, very impressed with the Lollars too!



That tele is gorgeous, Squatch! I love it when the old gold tips go green. Total class. I can't get over how nice my strat build sounds. I dunno if it's the pickups I've used or the great body or a combination of the two...but the MJT stuff rocks!

I'm not sure how mjt does it but fender relics came in closet classic thru to road worn ratings of wear.
This looks like someone's been at it with a wrasp or its been dragged around a gravel parking lot.

I really like it tho and please keep us posted how it plays once you've put it together.
Mjts beck esquire gives me a jones...that's pretty beat up too
I waffled about that look.. As I said it is over the top for most... In the end though I got it for my own enjoyment, not to pull the wool on anyone. I hope to get it today.

Vortex, you must have wanted that pretty badly. IIRC, that went for a hefty price. That's the "heavy wear" option. Looks good. Congrats and HNGD!!


Ric

Yea I bid my top dollar and went with it. No one else wanted it for that price I guess so it is mine. I'm looking forward to adding it to the collection!

Cool guitars guys! I like 'em all, from closet clean to heavy wear.
Sometimes you have to pay a hefty price if you've really got the horn goin' for a piece
It's worth it though, 'cos the MJT is already heaps better value than the others,
and more authentic to the originals IMO
I paid more than usual for this one 'cos the Jenny's aced it totally!

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6939/vwos2.jpg

I finished the Aztec Tele and it's amazingly good
4lb 5oz alder body, MJT Allparts 10" radius neck & Lollar 52 set
Really resonant with a tight neck joint, very impressed with the Lollars too!

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/640/sam1073i.jpg
Very nice Tele !

My ever- changing tele collection has come to halt. I have three mjt's, and they are all awesome. The center one is chambered. It is a little more scooped in the midrange, and it is very aggressive. I've got a thinline on order, then I'm done!!!!

The red one I built for my daughter- she loves it!!!

My ever- changing tele collection has come to halt. I have three mjt's, and they are all awesome. The center one is chambered. It is a little more scooped in the midrange, and it is very aggressive. I've got a thinline on order, then I'm done!!!!

The red one I built for my daughter- she loves it!!!

Man, I really dig the silver one!

My three MJT Tele's.

My three MJT Tele's.

What pickups, pots and cap values you running in the humbucker? Nice family photo!

What pickups, pots and cap values you running in the humbucker? Nice family photo!

Hey Vortexan,

It's been a while since I built "Daphne". It's a Lollar Low Wind Imperial with a Lollar J-Street bridge. The Low Wind has 7.0k resistance, the J-Strett is 8.2K. To my best recollection, we used 500k CTS pots. I don't remember any values of the caps.

The first guitar I built was the Beck Tribute. When I built that, I spoke to Lollar and they recommended the J-Street, it is not on their website and I am not sure if it is available to the general public. When I started to build Daphne, I called them again and spoke about my idea, they recommended sticking with the J-Street and adding the Low Wind Imperial as a good combo. I have to agree with their recommendation.

Don

then I'm done!!!!

Ha. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.

Sent from my iPhone using TDPRI

This guitar features the MJT body (swamp ash body, swamp ash top) and a Fender Road Worn neck. I first got it together 6 months ago or so. While it looks fantastic (to me), I've not been overly happy with it until recently. In fact, I had the body for sale not too long back. But I kept tweaking on the set-up aspects, etc, and finally got it above the 95% mark as far as my ability to gig with it. I've only been playing at rehearsals and at home, but this past week I played an entire show with it and it felt/sounded/responded great. Still not 100% there; but I'm pretty darn happy with it.

I strongly dislike the pickguard... still working on the 'perfect' solution for me, visually. I really want a single ply, parchment colored 'guard.

I really love the quality of the finish work by Matt/Mark Jenny and will likely buy something else from them in the future.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/gtrwrks/024.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/gtrwrks/022.jpg

Previously posted in Twanger Central:

r2vfKJwTQUI

I just found MJT and I think I might go broke! I want a burgundy mist jaguar, a shell pink Cabronita, a double bound CAR, and lots more I can make up. The kits are quite affordable.

Question on the necks. I see they have kits and then kits with Musikcraft necks. Anyone care to speak to the difference in the necks and if it is worth it to get the MK neck? I recently read a thread where a guy said he bought a couple MK necks (not through MJT) and said both were pretzels within two years.

How many weeks does it take to get a finished kit guitar from them? My birthday is in late march and I would like to get a new guitar to go with my new Rude Mood amp that will be showing up in late February.

I did my first Tele ferrules and worked out a good method
Just get a phillips head screwdriver that fits in the ferrule and push down
from above slowly with all your weight
I got no chips, and it worked real good with no hammering..heh

BTW Nice Tele djamin! nicest vintage white I've seen
Nice Honeyburst Wileyone! dig the ash grain, kewl!

Here's my latest MJT...Sienna Sunburst...gonna do a Dan Smith special


http://imageshack.us/a/img855/8595/t2ec16jhjh8e9qseug7obqz.jpg

I've got a Dan Smith in that exact colour so I'll be interested to see the finshed article..

Got the Tele back on Thursday. Man this thing is sweet! The Rabid Bitch pup has a nice "bite" and snarl but not overly bright. Very articulate and with the switch in the "neck" position, the "cocked wah" is very subtle but cool.
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0455_zpsd5b67ed4.jpghttp://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee472/fairlanericky/MJTTeles/DSCF0458_zpscf67ef33.jpg


Ric

I'll jump in here.

These are my 2 MJT's. Love them. The esquire is my main guitar. Nash neck, Don Mare "El Black Crowe" pickup. It weighs in at a svelte 6lbs fully dressed.

The blue one has a Protocaster neck, Bare Knuckle Pile Driver pickups. It weights 6lbs 14ozs. They both have Tone Shaper electronics. Love the tone shaper!

I've also built a 3rd one that is not picured. I built for a friend of mine. It is a thinline with Custom Shop Nocasters. It only weighs 5lbs 14oz. I'll see if I can borrow it and get some picks.

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/tuneitfred/DSC_0601.jpg

I'll jump in here.

These are my 2 MJT's. Love them. The esquire is my main guitar. Nash neck, Don Mare "El Black Crowe" pickup. It weighs in at a svelte 6lbs fully dressed.

The blue one has a Protocaster neck, Bare Knuckle Pile Driver pickups. It weights 6lbs 14ozs. They both have Tone Shaper electronics. Love the tone shaper!

I've also built a 3rd one that is not picured. I built for a friend of mine. It is a thinline with Custom Shop Nocasters. It only weighs 5lbs 14oz. I'll see if I can borrow it and get some picks.

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww77/tuneitfred/DSC_0601.jpg

tuneitfred,

It looks like we got the exact same color MJT's.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz92/Doth72/Daphne/IMG_5218.jpg

It's a great color.

Don

It's a great color.

Don

It is a cool color. Don't know exactly what to call it. I've been told Daphne Blue and Taos Turquise. It has some really cool checking on it also.

It is a cool color. Don't know exactly what to call it. I've been told Daphne Blue and Taos Turquise. It has some really cool checking on it also.


When I was building this guitar, I was probably driving Matt and Mark nuts. I knew I wanted a shade of blue. I am colorblind so I am sure my description and what the samples they were sending were plagued with challenges.

They happened to send me this sample while I was hanging out with Phil and I instantly knew it was the one. After I finished the guitar, I had Phil sign it as he helped me pick the color.

I call the guitar Daphne, although the color isn't like any Daphne guitar I have ever seen. My buddy borrowed it to play a charity event that I put on. Here it is in action.
NEQfUR2l4Js

Don

Don

Yea it is a very cool color. Phil X is one of my favorites. I could watch his videos all day. Seems like a really authentic good guy who is crazy with the six strings.

Don

Yea it is a very cool color. Phil X is one of my favorites. I could watch his videos all day. Seems like a really authentic good guy who is crazy with the six strings.

He is a great guy and a good friend. I am very fortunate to know him. His videos are a blast, but sitting in a room with him and watching him play is mind blowing. He is a natural talent. He is also pretty amazing on a bouzouki, haha.

Don

I've got a Dan Smith in that exact colour so I'll be interested to see the finshed article..

Hey tcr18, yeah, I'll post a pic when it's finished, can't wait!
I was gonna put a Warmoth radius maple neck on it, but I've decided to
put an MJT 10 radius on for nitro consistency. I dig the MJT SMO-C necks

These are some great looking teles fellas. I look forward to getting my hands on one and building my first geetar.

gtrwrks I am really liking that thinline, great demo clip too.
That may have sealed the deal for me. Especially since I can't really afford a custom shop or most boutique builders. How are the necks? Or do most just get a Fender neck from somewhere else?

Mine only has a MJT neck with a monster relics body but the neck is absolutely stunning! My favourite neck Iv ever played!
This photo was taken before I put a fralin blues special in the neck.

hey there,

many beautiful teles here!

Ive just finished building a Tele from a MJT Body, Fender Neck and the usual hardware.
I really like the feel and sound of the nitro Body.

http://s9.postimage.org/f5239sgpr/Foto820.jpg

Here´s a video with the guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR92Ek2RJh8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR92Ek2RJh8

Just finished putting together my latest project. I really like the look of the Sonic Blue Fender Classic Player 60's Strat, so I decided to make a Tele version.

MJT Sonic Blue body
Musikraft Neck
Pickups, bridge and controls from a Fender 50's Road Worn tele.
Mint Green Fender 8-hole pick guard.

Here she is posing next to my buddy's Supro's. Special thanks to Mario at Guitar Mill for helping me drill some holes and put her together.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8403749162_bd66315ef1_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasdye/8403749162/)
tele (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasdye/8403749162/) by Jas Dye (http://www.flickr.com/people/jasdye/), on Flickr

How are everyone's finishes looking over time? After a year and a half of being my Number One, my MJT closet clean body has collected quite a few dents and chips. There are a few hairline cracks running parallel with the strings, too. I'm totally fine with it, of course. I wanted a guitar that would show some wear with use. I'm wondering if you guys with more relic style guitars are getting even more aged (if you've even noticed).

It is my only nitro guitar and is already chipped up more than any of my poly finished guitars. I wonder if it's because MJT finish the guitars to be aged, or do nitro finishes really just damage that easily? If that's the case, I can see why Fender switched to poly, lol.

Hey Garret,

I haven't noticed any significant changes in any of my MJT bodies or necks, however, I think one of the advantages of the aged finishes is that you don't worry about them. Plug them in, play them, enjoy them.

Don

These are some great looking teles fellas. I look forward to getting my hands on one and building my first geetar.

gtrwrks I am really liking that thinline, great demo clip too.
That may have sealed the deal for me. Especially since I can't really afford a custom shop or most boutique builders. How are the necks? Or do most just get a Fender neck from somewhere else?

Thanks RubyRae! MJT sells necks, but I used a Fender Road Worn 50's Tele neck that I had. It's a nice 'full' V shape and plays great.

Just ordered a 2-tone sunburst body, and maple neck. Gonna do a '55 Esquire replica inspired by the attached photos of real vintage Teles. The Esquire is a 1958, and the Telecaster (which Redd V. posted) is a 1955.

Parts:
-Super light swamp ash body (Matt is doing his best to get total weight at 6lbs)
-Allparts TMO-V neck
-Light-to-medium relic
-Pickup Wizard 43awg Alnico 3 Broadcaster pickup with raised D&G poles pieces.
-Pickup Wizard 50s Esquire wiring harness (all the best stuff)
-Rutters '53 Knobs
-Rutters straight comp saddles with aluminum E/A
-Fender Strap Buttons
-Fender Jack Cup
-Fender Control Plate
-Fender PAT PEND bridge plate
-Fender Single ply white 5 hole guard
-Daka-ware switch tip
-Early 50s style round string tree
-Bone nut
-Kluson single lines


Price break down is scary:
MJT: $730
Rutters: $100
Pickup Wiz: $115
Pitch Perfect Music: $ 80

Shipping included in prices, but still about twice as much as I've ever spent on a partscaster.
Really looking forward to this. I'll post pics in a NGD thread when it all comes together.

This is my first post here but hey, why not open up with a new project and some questions about it?

http://oi45.tinypic.com/2zp3uy1.jpg
http://oi49.tinypic.com/u8010.jpg
http://oi47.tinypic.com/s5xy8k.jpg
http://oi48.tinypic.com/n68g21.jpg

The first two pictures are MJT and the final are my (terrible) indoor images.

What would you say is the best way to drill for the pickguard/hardware/strap buttons? Also what would be the best order in which to drill for them so I can get it right and not have to redrill? :razz:

WOW Wallis that looks amazing, can't wait to see yours when it's done! Thats exactly what I'm planning on getting made but with yellowed binding, and a rosewood board! and a Standard Pickup config.

WOW Wallis that looks amazing, can't wait to see yours when it's done! Thats exactly what I'm planning on getting made but with yellowed binding, and a rosewood board! and a Standard Pickup config.

Yeah should be pretty nice. The hardware, pickup, and wiring harness are all here. It's all top quality stuff that's for sure! Just waiting for the body and neck. She'll get her own NGD thread when she's all done.

Here's my second MJT!

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/383592-mjt-esquire-build-story-step-step-details-pics-opinions.html

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0186_zpsda384b5e.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0197_zps4e7efb6f.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0192_zpscdf88ca1.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0191_zps7dc6cdcd.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0190_zps8cd824ff.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0189_zps6c2b53e4.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0199_zpsbe733551.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0200_zps5ba507a5.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0193_zpsbcc28cd4.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0194_zps9dbb1471.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0195_zps6bd9120c.jpg

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr297/superbadj/Black%20bound%20esquire/DSC_0188_zps201a0b2d.jpg[/QUOTE]

Wow. That is an awesome esquire. Is it made from alder or ash?
Is the neck also finished by mjt?

Oh Sorry. I overlooked your detailed thread…
This esquire is absolutly my Taste. Good to know that it does not has to be white undercoat. Especially on a black Finish !!

Post deleted

I received no love in my "partscasters" thread... maybe I can get some here. This is my mjt chambered. It has a newly installed Lollar Imperial Low wind that replaced the original Florence neck pickup. Sounds and looks sweet!!!

I received no love in my "partscasters" thread... maybe I can get some here. This is my mjt chambered. It has a newly installed Lollar Imperial Low wind that replaced the original Florence neck pickup. Sounds and looks sweet!!!

Like it - love the pale blonde with blackguard look - exactly what I was going for with mine.

... in the mail yesterday ...

A friend will send me some bardens to go into either this or into my 52 RI, so hopefully next week I'll playing that thing. It has a wider neck and stainless steel frets – can't wait to try.

Hi Folks,

I just sent Matt and Mark Jenny an email with everything I want with the guitar body/neck they are going to do for me. I am getting a light weight swamp ash body painted in copper with light yellowing, no checking, and closet clean. The neck I chose was the Allparts TMO-FAT neck. I was going to go with Musikraft but the TMO-FAT is exactly what I was looking to get from Musikraft so I decided to save some $$$ and go that way. Besides since I am going to make this an Copperhead Esquire saving the $$$ on the neck will allow me to purchase probably a Cavalier Lion pickup...Not sure as to which one just yet but I'm sure I will make up my mind soon enough.

I am also going to get the aged hardware from MJT. In addition I purchased a double long notch bridge with compensated brass saddles from The Bridge-Works and having it sent to MJT. They agreed to age the bridge plate and saddles with the other parts so that they all have the same aging effect.

Finally, I am getting a single ply black bakelite PG and MJT is going to lacquer that Esquire PG for me. No checking and closet clean.

As far as cases go I am probably going to go with either the Stagg Thermometer Tweed case available for around $90 or the Rondo thermometer brown tolex case for around $65. Undecided but either will be fine. Since I am living and working in South Korea I will have me old friend Bruce Nelson of Nelson Guitarwerks receive the items and put the Copperhead Esquire together and add the Buzz Feiten Tuning System to this guitar.

All in all I should be able to get a Closet Clean Copperhead Esquire with hardcase, shipping, and assembly with BFTS for around $1200-$1400. I am looking forward to getting this guitar and I think it will be one raunchy sounding twanger especially through the Fargen 49X54 tweed amp I will be playing it through. Mercy I may even start looking and sounding like my heroes: Pete Anderson, James Burton, Steve Cropper, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, Johnny Hiland, Roy Nichols, Luther Perkins, Buck Owens, Don Rich, and Brad Paisley. (I know I am missing quite a few but you get the picture).

So here in about 8 to 12 weeks I will have my Copperhead Esquire and it will be packing a sweet but not poisonous bite!!!!

Travis

hello there. i've been reading these posts for years but haven't ever posted myself until now. i've got an mjt esquire that i love, but i'm considering selling it just to grab something different. i've always wanted a jazzmaster, so this might my way to finance that goal.

the esquire is blond, soft v-shaped maple neck, with a lollar pickup. the body has medium aging, while the neck is lightly aged. moderate finish checking, very little yellowing.

if you're in southern california and you're interested, send me an email and we can discuss. thanks for reading.

Can anyone tell me if MJT finishes check naturally over time? Does anyone have any photo examples?

Can anyone tell me if MJT finishes check naturally over time? Does anyone have any photo examples?

Mine hasn't yet after more than a year and a half, but I expect it will. A few cracks that run parallel with the stings have formed.

Mine has a few small cracks. One in the neck pocket, one by the ferrules and another by the neck plate.

I wanted a Gretsch Orange stain nitro in the closet clean finish. TMO-C neck with the back worn down, Nocaster pups, RS modern wiring kit, bone nut and the rest is Fender vintage parts except for the electrosocket jack.

$900 and 6.5lbs. later this thing kills!

I LOVE that color!!!

Thanks....it isn't a normal color that MJT does but Matt said it would be no problem to do. He was right!

I just noticed that there are about 3 medium sized cracks starting at the input jack. This thing will be a relic in no time at all.

Just ordered my first MJT yesterday! I have been in contact with the guys there for a few days coming up with an idea on what I'm trying to do, but I just pulled the trigger yesterday.

It's going to be a blackguard tele with Lollar Firebird pickups in P90 routes using Gibson mini humbucker mounting rings. It will have a GE Smith style half bridge, with Rutters broadcaster steel saddles. I already worked with Lollar to get nickel covers for the Firebird pickups so they will age nicely as well.

In the mean time I am going to look for an old CA license plate that is yellow lettering on black background and cut out the CALIFORNIA area and try to make a control plate from it. I also have a guy making a Waterslide decal that says California Special.

I'm super excited but am not looking forward to the wait!

:twisted:Just ordered my first MJT yesterday! I have been in contact with the guys there for a few days coming up with an idea on what I'm trying to do, but I just pulled the trigger yesterday.

It's going to be a blackguard tele with Lollar Firebird pickups in P90 routes using Gibson mini humbucker mounting rings. It will have a GE Smith style half bridge, with Rutters broadcaster steel saddles. I already worked with Lollar to get nickel covers for the Firebird pickups so they will age nicely as well.

In the mean time I am going to look for an old CA license plate that is yellow lettering on black background and cut out the CALIFORNIA area and try to make a control plate from it. I also have a guy making a Waterslide decal that says California Special.

I'm super excited but am not looking forward to the wait!


I completely understand you mate!
I pulled the trigger on April, 1st, and I haven t had the courage to ask Matt about the leading time :shock:.
Your guitar seems a very cool project, goo dluck with it! :twisted:
Mine will be a replica of my broadcaster, so that I'll have it with (in a certain way...) while gigging. I m sure every ding will be exactly as on my old guitar, and I m sure I'll love it! :lol:

Kind of finished for like 2 weeks and it has seen the stage a couple of times already. I am eagerly waiting for the second barden to arrive from across the pond. I love the chunky musikraft neck - 1 11/16" and stainless steel medium jumbos - plays so well. There's a good chance that this will be my favourite guitar. It's lightweight and the barden sounds very balanced with no hum.

My MJT just cleared customs. Should be here next week. I had Matt source me a super light swamp ash body, so the wait was a little longer. It's been about 11 weeks, and I can not wait! The guitar might be south of 6lbs.

Kind of finished for like 2 weeks and it has seen the stage a couple of times already. I am eagerly waiting for the second barden to arrive from across the pond. I love the chunky musikraft neck - 1 11/16" and stainless steel medium jumbos - plays so well. There's a good chance that this will be my favourite guitar. It's lightweight and the barden sounds very balanced with no hum.

I really dig the nice, even finish on yours. Sweet.

She arrived today, here's a quick mock up. It's off to the tech tomorrow for a set up.

Colours photographed a little too yellow, and it's impossible to get the checking to show. In person it is definitely a two-tone sunburst, although in the photos, it appears more three-tone. When she's all done I'll take her outside for a photo shoot and get a more accurate representation. At that point she'll get her own NGD thread too.

http://i45.tinypic.com/a4vgwj.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/331dafn.jpg

Nice, Wallis!

I really dig the nice, even finish on yours. Sweet.

It also has a few dings. Funny I am between "I should have ordered it closet clean" and "it could use some more abuse".
Saturday between sets I told my organ-player about the process with Matt asking for every detail and doing it just the way I wanted it. He commented that it was a pity to destroy such a nice finish.
:lol:

Nice, Wallis!



It also has a few dings. Funny I am between "I should have ordered it closet clean" and "it could use some more abuse".
Saturday between sets I told my organ-player about the process with Matt asking for every detail and doing it just the way I wanted it. He commented that it was a pity to destroy such a nice finish.
:lol:

Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the finish. I'd heard mixed reviews on Mark's finish, but was not really worried considering I would be having him relic it anyway. Most of the old guitars that I've seen and owned, while dinged up, still maintained a lot of their shine. I'm not into the relics with satin finishes - they do not look real IMO. I requested that Mark buff mine to about 90% of factory shine. Getting to the point, my guitar arrived exactly how I'd requested: with a very nice shine. It's very thin and glassy. Really nicely done!

To me the best thing is how it feels. Even my 52RI feels so "plastic" compared to the partscaster.
For now I put a nocaster PU in the neck slot (scavenged from my MIM Esquire) so I can play it without missing something. Sounds good in that guitar. There is a drop in output when switching from the bridge, though. Still waiting eagerly for the second barden ...

That is a sweet looking Esquire! I like the burst a lot.

That is a sweet looking Esquire! I like the burst a lot.

Thanks brother. Stay tuned for updates. She'll be home tomorrow.

Mine has a few small cracks. One in the neck pocket, one by the ferrules and another by the neck plate.

I wanted a Gretsch Orange stain nitro in the closet clean finish. TMO-C neck with the back worn down, Nocaster pups, RS modern wiring kit, bone nut and the rest is Fender vintage parts except for the electrosocket jack.

$900 and 6.5lbs. later this thing kills!

Hey baiff, that's cool! I dig orange Teles

I've got an MJT that's Orange Translucent, maybe slightly darker than the Gretsch Orange

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1664/sam1107t.jpg http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/7623/sam1104.jpg

Thats a nice one! My next MJT is gonna be Shoreline Gold. I may even do a light relic to it.
Like this but with a maple neck...

Cool! I've seen some nice MJT Shorelines, you'll be happy
I've got a bunch of Aztec Golds, I dig the green oxidizing effect on them

Not sure what degree of yellowing I should do if any? Not worried about checking...my orange one has quite few hairline cracks started near the neck pocket, output jack and neck plate!

I've seen MJT Shorelines where the gold has faded out, almost like Pewter
They looked cool in the closeups, almost 3D

Got her back from my tech already. She sure is sweet! Build details and proper photos will be included in a "NGD" thread tomorrow or the next day.

http://i.imgur.com/exBPSGx.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hRvDEPU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/flLYUFy.jpg

Awesome!!! Congrats on the NGD.

Thats a nice one! My next MJT is gonna be Shoreline Gold. I may even do a light relic to it.
Like this but with a maple neck...

I love shoreline gold. I'd like to do one in Burgundy mist, too, for something a bit different.

I can't decide between black and fullerton or dakota red. ;-)

Dakota red is real nice...bound is even better. Has a very classy look to it.

Dakota red is real nice...bound is even better. Has a very classy look to it.

Agreed. Especially with mid 50s appointments.

Hey Wallis, excellent to finally see it done! I got pics of the body progress from the guys the a week or so ago, getting really excited! It's exactly what I was hoping for! Should hopefully be here in the next 4 weeks, in time for my move to Melbourne.

Can wait to see the neck and hardware soon

Hey Wallis, excellent to finally see it done! I got pics of the body progress from the guys the a week or so ago, getting really excited! It's exactly what I was hoping for! Should hopefully be here in the next 4 weeks, in time for my move to Melbourne.

Can wait to see the neck and hardware soon

That's gonna be awesome!!! The wait is brutal tho :lol:.....

I got a chance to take mine outside for some photos. Colors are all wrong, but oh well.

The 4th pic is the most accurate color representation. http://i49.tinypic.com/2zxz2tx.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/vmx9pg.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/2n68aiv.jpg


This picture is the most accurate color representation.
http://i47.tinypic.com/s5iihk.jpg


Color is completely wrong on the next two. It also looks sort of three tone sunburst, which is wrong as well. Anyway...
http://i50.tinypic.com/mvlru9.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2dkivpk.jpg

Those bursts look really good. Almost to where I may do one instead of a solid metallic color.