ShortScale.org

I'm looking for a jazzmaster template. I live in Canada. I'm wondering what my options are in getting a cheap, but well made template shipped to canada for a price that won't break the bank.

What sites have you guys used that you can recommend? It's okay if you don't know about their shipping policies, I'd love to just hear some stories...

Cur is recommending you make your own templates by downloading PDF's w/ Adobe. You go to Kinko's and have em print it out to "no scale"... $3. Slap it to some MDF and make it yourself. Or spend $45 - $80 for a template made outta $2 MDF shipped to your door.

If you use PDF, make your own pickguard... cause you'll have issues with aftermarket guards. Those PDF's are 99% accurate, but that 1% can be a bitch, so watch out. I prefer to make my own templates by buying a guitar body, tracing it with a bearing then sell the body quickly. This way I know what I'm getting. AdamInsane has a post on template making "second batch". I think I posted one to a few weeks ago... all in the "Project" forum.

Guess I read template as pattern. My bad.

my problem with straight-up making my own template is that the body will only be as accurate as the template and I don't have the tools necessary to pull off a quality template. I've made a jazzmaster body out of some pine before, but I couldnt trust the neck pocket on the template I made.

I'm moving to a new place where I can have a workshop again, so maybe I'll take another crack at it. Thanks for the help thus far!

Good on you for deciding to make your own guitar.

Honestly, I wanted to buy templates from Here but getting them in the UK is apparently near impossible and/or expensive, which is why I ended up making my own.

I certainly understand the neck pocket issue, it's one of the most important things when building a guitar. Not just from a functional point of view, but aesthetic because you'll see a gap a mile off.
For my first build I bought This template, Though I wasn't happy with the width (too narrow) or the curve at the bottom. The Telecaster side is pretty good though.

On a side note, I emailed them and ordered a Jaguar neck template with matching neck-pocket template both in MDF.
This spawned the neck pockets in all the templates I've made, and probably future templates too.

Have a look at their eBay shop anyway, I think RobRoe had a custom pickguard from them for an SG and was pretty happy with it.

Also from a tooling standpoint, you need the same tools for making the templates as you'll need for making the guitar.
If you buy templates, you will need to cut thicker 'working' templates. More practical in use and you wont destroy them big$$$ templates!

I wouldn't sress too much about accuracy of your own templates. Can you spot the difference between the body shapes of American Vs Japanese Fenders? I can't!
We're looking at milimetres here and there, totally un-noticable.

In short, buy a neck pocket template and make the rest.

AddamInsane wrote: Honestly, I wanted to buy templates from Here but getting them in the UK is apparently near impossible and/or expensive, which is why I ended up making my own.

80% of my templates have come from Paul. He's a VERY cool guy, and the templates I've bought from him have all lined up with vintage and AVRI parts... It is more expensive than making your own templates from scratch, but the peace of mind, knowing that these are laser cut with total precision, is worth it.

On the subject of the neck pocket, i found routing that out before your body gave th best results. The pocket on my Mosrite is immaculate, but the pocket on my Jag-Stang (my first build) is atrocious BUT functional. Its still a nice guitar, just there is a gap in the neck pocket.

I made a pocket jig out of scrap plywood, clamped it down then used a self guiding router cutter. As long as you get it square on to the body and set the correct depth you cant fail. Maybe do some trial runs on scrap timber and try your neck to see if it fits tightly.




The finished result

The only template I ever used I made by drawing. I also got this guy to make a mandocaster template, which was the only one at the time.

I've read bad things about em laser cut ones on offset... people just tossing em into the trash. Also hear the laser cuts don't transition from curve to curve right, but an easy fix yourself though.

I prefer tracing guitar bodies with a bottom bearing router bit. It's scary but I ain't fucked one up yet and it's 100% accurate template.