Jazzblaster with a bigsby.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:15 pm

So, I've been bouncing a Jazzy based project idea in my head for some time. Some of the ideas were a Jazzy with 3 Tele bridge pickups, 3 P90's, etc. Whatever it was though, I wanted it with a Bigsby. I considered a blacktop jag, and turning it into a shortscale Jazzmaster with a bigsby, but then I peeked in the OSG classifieds, and found fullerplast's listing.

The idea is pretty straightforward. Ice Blue Jazzblaster, with a Bigsby, 4 way tele switch (both pickups in series), and no rhythm circuit.

Here's the idea. Sans knobs and switch

The VM neck, VM Jazzy special body, Schaller bridge, Bigsby B50, and shielding came courtesy of fullerplast. I'm also going to use the included pickguard as a partial template for the new guard.

The WRHB reissues came from fender-o-phile on OSG. I'm gonna do the fralin mod on them (pull out the six hidden polepieces), and run them with 500k pots.

(just the pickups - not the rest of the stuff)

And I got a set of Grover locking tuners, a generic neckplate and screws the local facebook musicians buy/sell/trade group. I traded a pickup for the lot

Anyway, the body is at my friend's place right now. He builds custom furniture, so he has a workshop (something that I don't have), and he's worked on guitars before. He's gonna sand the body down, fill in the strat jack route, and put some primer over the new piece of wood. Then, I'm gonna take it to a body shop next week for a refin. Since it's the wet season down here, it has to be poly, otherwise it will never dry. I'm thinking ice blue.

The neck goes to my tech this weekend for prep. The holes have to be widened for the new tuners (Grover locking), and then to do something about the finish on the back of the neck. Maybe sand it down a bit. I'm also gonna take the pickguard to him to hopefully get a new one cut for the WRHB's and the new switch.

I'm still undecided on the knobs, but I'm thinking black speed knobs, and black tele switch.

cur · Post by **cur** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:14 pm

I like that color, but yeah you need to kill the strat jack. Are those GFS pups? Why is the bigsby grounded? This should turn out nice.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 3:38 pm

I just had a vision pop up in my head.

3 Tele bridge PU's. I'll put the lil 59 in the middle, a hotter one in the bridge, and a more vintage one in the neck. With a strat 5 way jack connecting them all in the lower horn. Delete any remnants of a rhythm circuit.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:42 pm

No strat jacks.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 5:58 pm

My god I never thought I'd say this but that strat jack totally works with the bigsby and three picks ups.

cur · Post by **cur** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:04 pm

Dave, ban yourself!

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:18 pm

I actually didn't notice the strat jack at first. I think the Bigsby balances it visually and makes it less obtrusive. However, it leaves the control plate end of the pickguard looking a little naked where the jack is supposed to go. Not sure what to do about that, if anything. I like the looks of everything else about this project, though.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:32 pm

another big knob mixtape! 3 knobs are better than two.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:20 pm

Once I fill in the strat jack and get the body painted, I've gotten my ideas in order.

More and more, the tele bridge pickup idea appeals to me. Mostly because I've got two of them a home: a Rio Grande Dirty Harry and an SD lil' 59 at home. Then I'd need to get a custom RWRP tele bridge pickup to put in the middle... maybe a Rose Aphrodite.

Switching would be a 5 way strat switch on the lower horn, with a push pull to split the lil 59.

The plan B would be retaining the 3 HB layout, and put three GFS lipstick tube humbuckers.

iCEByTes · Post by **iCEByTes** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:21 pm

donÂ´t liked the drunk vomit color. bring me bad trips on past

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:29 pm

There's a waiting list with the local techs/luthiers for refinishes, so instead I called a body shop. They'll spray the body burgundy mist for $85, so I think it's a deal. It's poly, but since our wet season is starting, it's my only choice if I ever want it to dry.

After more thought though, I decided against the multiple tele pickups setup (mostly since I got an offer on both), so I'm going to keep the three HB setup. Don't know with what yet, although the 3 Dream 90's in the pic are tempting me.

jculpjr · Post by **jculpjr** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:54 pm

[youtube][/youtube]

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:01 pm

So...I guess I gotta put this sticker on it then

http://www.etsy.com/listing/128085853/p ... 3godVCIAzg

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:28 am

I'm ok with the Strat jack provided you mount it the right way around so that it actually makes sense having one.

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Thu May 02, 2013 2:32 am

updated the first post with the current direction of this one, now that i've got my ADD in check.

finboy · Post by **finboy** » Thu May 02, 2013 1:41 pm

Tele pickups is a great idea, I have a mustang that I am putting 2 gfs fat bodys into

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Fri May 03, 2013 1:25 pm

Small update!

I ordered these knobs:

If I don't like them when I start putting this together, then I will go with black speed knobs

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Tue May 07, 2013 4:22 am

Small update... I dropped off the neck and tuners with my tech today for getting it ready. Hopefully my friend finishes on the body this week.

Since my GAS budget's been shot to hell with the decision to restore my Univox Ripper (don't make gear decisions hung over), buy the Sekova bass, and a Vox PB10, I'm either going to pause this project until some clients pay up, or attempt to finish the body myself (eep!)