My JazzBastard Build

[alias23k]

Using a hodge podge of sx parts for this build or makeover or total overhaul or whatever. A sjm body, a douglas neck and stl hardware and pickups. I noticed that the sjm body may work out for this with some alterations of course. Here's a pic of a jazzmaster drawings from t.downs (thanks) with the inner lines being my template. Its a bit slimmer, which is what i wanted, always thought the jazzmaster had a big bottom so i toned it down some. I pretty much traced the sjm body over the drawing then did some freehand on the lower body. Whatcha think?



Then i used tracing paper to get a cut out that i sprayed adhered to a 3/4" plywood which will be my template. then i jigsawed it out.

[alias23k]

Here's a mock up of what i had in mind.




I doing this to prime my non-skills when i actually get into my scratch build which i will start after i finish this one. I guess pretty soon we'll see how my routing skills are.
For schlitz and giggles, here's my trusty shopsmith which i'll be doing most of the woodworking on. Let's hope the belt don't bust on me in the middle of the build .

[k-wad]

I bastardized a SJM myself (one of the 24" scale models) to make a pseudo-TeleMaster.

Stripped the body and refinished it with "Colonial Maple" wood stain.
Changed the bridge and P90 out for a tele bridge and pickup.
Also replaced the neck with a el'chepo, unfinished GFS Strat neck (changing the scale to 25.5").



I wish I would have reshaped the body too, but just didn't have the tools to do it.

Can't wait to see how your's turns out.

[alias23k]

Well, changed the design some, really wasn't happy with what i had. Also, instead of cutting down a sjm body decided to use some unknown wood i had on hand. I think its pine but seemed heavier so not sure really. Here's the re-sketched version and my new template. You can see the difference as opposed to the original. Using more of the jazzmaster design but still slimmed down some. I think it was Boris who first brought this to my attention, so thanks BB.

[alias23k]

Here's the wood i'm using...got it cut, the glue ends smoothed, glued and clamped. Hope the knots won't be a problem when i route. Couple of questions for y'uz guyz, will sap residue be a problem when finishing? and can the glued sides be TOO smooth before gluing?

[ponticat]

Originally Posted by alias23k

I think it was Boris who first brought this to my attention, so thanks BB.

Did Boris send you this link?


http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...ml#post2088163

[alias23k]

Originally Posted by ponticat

Did Boris send you this link?


http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home...ml#post2088163

No but i remember coming across it searching telemaster threads and i totally agree with him. thanks for finding it though, been searching for it but couldn't find it, probably cause of the hyphen.

[Tidepoolbay]

I see your a fan of The Coop.

[jefrs]

I'd leave just a little more meat on the heel behind the trem, this one is a bit shy where I radiused the edge and it left the trem with a tiny raised lip in one corner ...

[alias23k]

jefrs, not going with trem mine is getting esquired with a tele bridge, nice slab you got there though.

while i was thinking of bridge placement thought i might as well give the douglas neck a makeover. Orginally had the new Furian sx headstock and now this. Looking at the pic i see i need to sand a little more at the top.

[jefrs]

I was going by your drawing showing the rout for the whammy...

Those are some nice bodies you've done. My Frankenstein is some four pieces of iroko/teak, it's very solid. It's the resurrection of a Teisco(?) 'mustang' whose plywood body disintegrated, the body may look short but overall it's an inch longer than a tele. I use it as a test bed for odd controls, it currently has two tone controls and switchable caps.

[alias23k]

thanks for the comments jefrs, love teiscos, wish i never woulda sold mine. bought a tulip when i got back into playing electric a couple of years back from a 15 year hiatus.

Time to do the routes on my template. the bridge i'm using is an import so i can't use t.downs drawing for placement. the next few pics are of finding the 25.5" scale and centering the bridge plate to it and the template center line. after that i was able to use the drawing for the bridge route keeping in mind the pick up is also placed differently and then string ferrule holes. marked the existing neck screw holes, pretty gross but i cut a cigarette butt into four, inked the tips then pressed for placement.

[alias23k]

Decided to nix the switch so i cut down the control plate, good ol' dremel action. then i was able to mark the control plate on the template.

[alias23k]

Last step for the evening, cutting the routes on the template. made the neck pocket template with the first draft template. nice tight fit. hope this works out when i start routing.

[Douglas Ingram]

Love the logo on the neck!

Originally Posted by alias23k

[alias23k]

Spent a couple of hours sanding down my wood, now that i've done that its starting to look like oak. Tone wood...whatever, its my first build. Traces the template and cut it out on the bandsaw. Screwed down my template and started routing. I should've looked at that routing map (you know, the clockwise here and counter-clockwise there map) but was already in the mode so i got right to it. Regrets now, my last bit chunked off and also you can see some flaking or pot marks where i should've gone clockwise, also probably shoulda ended on a flat area. Oh well, i'll just make it the output jack.

[alias23k]

After i routed the cavities went ahead and started the string thru holes, neck screw holes and marked my bridge screw locations.

[alias23k]

Flipped the body over and routed the other side. Damn! another chunk in the same freakin' spot! Guess i didn't learn my lesson and this one was way to big to cover up with a output jack. Ended up turning the template some and routing a new curve. You'd never known i screwed up.

[alias23k]

Time for the neck and a little clean up. How's it look?

[alias23k]

[alias23k]

Just a few more pics. A little sanding needed in the neck pocket.

Some props for Ron Kirn, read his "Hmmmm, Guitar Build" thread and used many of his techniques.

[loog]

shaping up well

[alias23k]

Got the veneer. Its a figured walnut, wanted something with a nice grain pattern and some figuring, but nothing too flashy. Got it traced, fitted and glued then some fine trimming.

[alias23k]

Next to the route table for the binding, almost a perfect fit. My nice display of painter tape. Only needed some scraping on the top, didn't do the sides. Anybody know why you have to scrape the sides anyway.

[alias23k]

Some more scraping and trimming.

[alias23k]

A couple more pics after the scraping. Scraping's a b*tch! the main reason i didn't scrap the sides. Just plain laziness, but will probably do it the second build i do. In the end i did end up sanding the sides of the binding. It was a hair overhanging but i used some fine sandpaper to clean it up.

[alias23k]

Well here's the part i screwed up. Didn't use trans tint to dye the wood, used createx, which is an transparent waterbased airbrush paint. The first dark coat cane out perfect, sanded down to the grain, then put a second slather of createx. PERFECT! I mean it looked perfect, i could still see the figuring and everything. Well, i couldn't leave good enough alone so i put a third coat on and DANG. Could barely see the figuring, so i sanded down again to grain and was going to do the same process without the 3rd coat. What's this? As i was putting on the paint i saw splotches! I had almost sanded down to the glue. Whatever, i have two more pieces of the finish (and also some more binding for my next build) so i won't make the same mistake twice. Put another coat of createx on to cover up the splotches, still got grain but the faintest hint of figuring. And neither is really showing up in the pics but they are there. To me it still came out pretty good. Whatcha think?

[alias23k]

A couple of binding mistakes, only two i had. Not too shabby at my first attempt at binding. Guess my i'll have to readjust my clamps the next time i glue.







Next up is the sealer and finish coat.
Till then thanks for looking.
Peace.

[alias23k]

Originally Posted by loog

shaping up well

Thanks Loog. This is my first actual build (done some partscasters before) so any encouragement is appreciated. Its amazing the wealth of knowledge on this board, everything learned is from here, so thanks all. Though as you can tell i'm still winging somethings and many lessons learned.

[k-wad]

Wow,

This is your first one!! It's lookin' great!!

(Dang, it's threads like this that make me realize I have far few tools. That's it, I'm buyin' a router!)

[oigun]

Lookin' good!!!!

[alias23k]

Originally Posted by k-wad

Wow,

This is your first one!! It's lookin' great!!

(Dang, it's threads like this that make me realize I have far few tools. That's it, I'm buyin' a router!)

Yep, my first guitar build though have to admit i do have some (however little) carpentry background. Thanks for commenting. Even though i started posting on the 11th i've actually been thinking of the process for probably a month before i traced my first template. As for the tools i really only have 2 tools, an old Sears Lite hand router and an even older ShopSmith Mark V which my Pops gave me. It has about 15 attachments, here are some of the many faces of my ShopSmith.