The Theory-caster: My future project

[Bearer]

So, I don't have any pictures yet, or really any kind of thing to make this post interesting, save for a theory. A mental picture if you will. I'm going to describe the project I've had in mind for a few months now to you all, and I'd very much appreciate some feedback.

I'm going to build a thinline jazzmaster.
Body: Black Walnut (3pc body; 2pc top) with f-hole
Neck: Maple, 21 frets. Probably either Warmoth or USACG
pickups:

• Neck: P90
• Middle: Strat single-coil
• Bridge: Humbucker

Electronics: Like a telecaster, the neck and bridge pickups would be wired to a three-way lever switch, and there would be two knobs. A master volume would be one, but the tone knob would be replaced with a blender that raises the volume of the middle pickup into the mix rather than subtract tone.
Bridge: Either a two point floating strat trem, or that three barrel styled trem I saw posted here a while ago.
Finish: As many coats of tru-oil as it takes. Also serious thought has been given to white binding

This idea has been fermenting in my head for far to long and I'm going to take a crack at it as soon as I can. However, to gather funds I'm going to have to sell some stuff (farewell blackout minihum parts-caster with 11 pickup configurations, you were so excellent )

[gitlvr]

I would love to see that guitar built!

[barkley]

Sound great, i'm digging the blend knob!

[tuuur]

Good idea, you should check out Oigun's Thintelemaster thread!

[MikeMurray]

I have been thinking of doing wiring like that for a while but i would still like to include a tone knob. Maybe my strat needs it...

[Bearer]

Well, I ordered all the templates from Stewmac I needed, specifically the pickup, tremolo, and neck pocket cavities. Otherwise I have everything sans wood to get things started.

I made a test body out of some Decking Cedar and Poplar I got from a home depot near my house. Test came out a lot better than expected actually, once templates come in the mail I think I'll finish it anyway. Pics up soon.

[Bearer]

Gahk, had to double post...

Got my master templates from stewmac. First thing I did was scan them into the computer and super imposed them on a Strat blueprint so I could figure out where to position them with the neck and bridge. Printed out this blueprint I whipped up, threw it on some 1/4" mdf, and routed out a nice working template.

Tomorrow, I'll make a few 3/4" work templates and after that I just need to get the black walnut for the final body. The test body is still sitting in the shop, I'll snap a few pics of it soon.

[Bearer]

Well, the practice body came out great! here's today's pictures:


Here it is after all the routing got done. Figured, why stop there? I think I'll finish it today as well...

here we are after sanding from 320 grit to 2000 grit and applying a few coats of tung-oil. One word: Shiny!

The body is made from cedar with a poplar top, wood purchased from home depot for about $15. As nice as this one turned out, I will not go to a home improvement place for wood, haha. I am more than happy with how this body turned out however, in fact I'll definitely be finishing it. All that's left is to drill a hole for the output jack, which I'll tackle tomorrow.

[Nicktarnow]

Looking good although i dont like F-hole

[gitlvr]

Originally Posted by Nicktarnow

Looking good although i dont like F-hole

I do. That's a nice take on the f-hole,imho, and good work on the body. I'd set it aside until you got the one you really want to build done, then I'd finish it as well, using used or cheaper parts, like Guitarfetish. The only reason I say that is you don't really know the moisture content or how stable that wood is because of where you bought it. But you might be surprised what poplar on cedar sounds like.

[Bearer]

Well, I knew the cedar would be wet before I got it. It was almost wet to the touch, so I decided to leave it up in my sweltering attic for a while before I used it. I did, and it got much drier. How much drier? Well, that I don't know, but so far it's been holding together pretty well. Little on the warpy side though.

[Phaze]

Yeah, I, too, think the F-hole is a little too funky. But I bet it will sound really cool! Can't wait for your report on the plugged-in sound. Or clips! Yeah, clips!

[udimet720]

Originally Posted by Bearer

Well, the practice body came out great! here's today's pictures:

Looking good.

What were the wood dimensions you started with? I like the poplar/cedar contrast. Very attractive.

[Bearer]

The cedar was a long 2X6 (more of a 1.5x6) and the poplar was a 1/4" And yeah, the contrast really caught me off guard! It wasn't untill after i put the first coat of oil on that I noticed it.

Well, I scrounged together a few parts from my other guitars and managed to string her up. No pickups in there yet, but acoustically this thing is LOUD! The tone is really big in the low end, but the highs are really smooth. I'll have to wait until I can get enough cash together for my final black walnut build to hear what the pickups sound like. I plan on getting a trifecta of lollers to put in there, and that unfortunately won't be so cheap x_x

[telechaser]

Cool build. I prefer the traditional F-hole but I'll still take that body anytime.

[tuuur]

Good job on that body! Though I'm in the more traditional camp, and my first reaction was: what's with that f-hole???