ShortScale.org

So I had that custom Jazzmaster I did to look like the Cobain Jaguar.


DSC03246 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

The person I traded her to wanted me to remake it in a more normal Jazzmaster style, so here she is now after rebuilding the cavities and some new parts. She has a Duncan designed pickup in the neck now and a GFS hot in the bridge. One meg volume and tone with an orange drop cap. Meat and potatos.


DSC04942 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


DSC04948 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


DSC04955 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


DSC04960 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Meh, I liked it better before, although it's still nice.

Where did you get the pickguard and chrome bits from? I assume they aren't jag parts as the different scale would put the bridge in the wrong place.

Definitely an improvement! Nice work! I really like the black on sunburst in favor of pizza tort.

NickD wrote:Meh, I liked it better before, although it's still nice.

Where did you get the pickguard and chrome bits from? I assume they aren't jag parts as the different scale would put the bridge in the wrong place.

The Cobain guard I had custom made by Tony at Pickguardian. I designed it from scratch. Jaguar guard wouldn't have fit the Jazzy right.

The rhythm plate was AVRI Jaguar. The toggle plate and volume plate was custom made by Paul Rhoney. The metal knobs I got from Stewmac.

Sparky wrote:Definitely an improvement! Nice work! I really like the black on sunburst in favor of pizza tort.

Thanks! I think it looks good either way. This way is much more simple and old fashion looking.

Looks similar to what I'd do with a Blacktop. Nice work as usual.

Wouldn't the Jaguar plates have worked with a cut-down Jazzmaster guard?

paul_ wrote:Looks similar to what I'd do with a Blacktop. Nice work as usual.

Wouldn't the Jaguar plates have worked with a cut-down Jazzmaster guard?

That is essentially what I did initially. I did a photocopy of a Jazzy guard and put the plates over and cut off what I didn't want. I sent that image to Tony to have the guard made.


DSC01902 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr


IMAG0632 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

I like the stealth bridge.

I still like it, but that's such a shame. You're initial build was absolutely awesome.

wwrrss wrote:I like the stealth bridge.

It is like a ninja! I thought about putting a chrome one on, but then it would look more like a classic player which it isn't.

DasBeef wrote:I still like it, but that's such a shame. You're initial build was absolutely awesome.

I figured whomever got this would want to change it. It is nice that I get to do the work so I could do it cleanly and such. It was very unique.

I can't see the pictures at work but the original was really damn cool. Why would someone buy it if they want a more normal jazzy. Why convert a totally unique instrument into something you can buy off the peg?

I would have jumped on it if I was in the US.

I think a less of a replica cobain-esq guitar would have been cooler, because it kinda irritates me the fact it isn't a Jag lol.

So I'm a fan of the face lift. Sunburst / Black and Binding is a great mix.

Looks great before and after

so... what are you gonna do with the extra bits?

Dave wrote:I can't see the pictures at work but the original was really damn cool. Why would someone buy it if they want a more normal jazzy. Why convert a totally unique instrument into something you can buy off the peg?

I would have jumped on it if I was in the US.

I liked how it was, but I get that it wouldn't be to everyones tastes. At the time when I got it, I wasn't really mixing well with short scales so it was my trial to see if I could make something like a jag but full scale. (Without doing a custom full scale body.)

othomas2 wrote:I think a less of a replica cobain-esq guitar would have been cooler, because it kinda irritates me the fact it isn't a Jag lol.

So I'm a fan of the face lift. Sunburst / Black and Binding is a great mix.

LOL It wasn't a Jag, but to be fair, Kurt's Jag didn't have much left that a normal Jag would have other than a short scale body and neck with the switches out, rollers covered, different volume plate and wiring, and a TOM.

Mike wrote:Looks great before and after

Thanks! I think it turned out well. I am glad to have had the chance to make it something new for someone based off of what they wanted it to be like.

mkt3000 wrote:so... what are you gonna do with the extra bits?

So far keeping the custom tort because it is pretty. Might just hang it up. It wouldn't work on a Jaguar. I could use it to build a Jazzy version again if I wanted to. For the plates and pickups, I have a Jaguar Special HH body that someone got sick of and is giving me. They tried to paint it and just didn't like how it was going. I was thinking of stripping it, pulling the stop tale out, filling the holes with dowels, and routing a normal trem in the body. Sources say it is an alder body, so I could make my own HH Jag and I have most of the pieces. This would have the same pickup and stuff, but I would maybe do some cool OTM or LPB body or something. Could be fun. Then I would just need a neck.

HNB wrote:

othomas2 wrote:I think a less of a replica cobain-esq guitar would have been cooler, because it kinda irritates me the fact it isn't a Jag lol.

So I'm a fan of the face lift. Sunburst / Black and Binding is a great mix.

LOL It wasn't a Jag, but to be fair, Kurt's Jag didn't have much left that a normal Jag would have other than a short scale body and neck with the switches out, rollers covered, different volume plate and wiring, and a TOM.

What I meant is if you're going to go the whole hog and replicate a specific guitar then it should be as close as possible. I know you intended it to be different as a Jazzmaster version of it, but that's what is annoying to me. It's not one nor the other.

If that's the case It should be your own then, and a departure from what looks likes a replica, & now you have... which is why I like where this has gone.

I liked it better before too :/ Still looks good, but all that time, work, and money What are you gonna do with the custom toggle plate? I may be interested

othomas2 wrote:What I meant is if you're going to go the whole hog and replicate a specific guitar then it should be as close as possible. I know you intended it to be different as a Jazzmaster version of it, but that's what is annoying to me. It's not one nor the other.

If that's the case It should be your own then, and a departure from what looks likes a replica, & now you have... which is why I like where this has gone.

I get what you mean. I wasn't trying to make a replica, more of a tribute. I might try to make my own cobain Jaguar at some point, but I kind of doubt it. After making it, it didn't really feel like my guitar which is why I tend to not keep my signature copies or tributes. I am hopeful this new incarnation might work out better since it will have some aspects of the Kurt jag, but not be a Kurt jag. The humbuckers in the Kurt jag and 1meg pots are a wonderful sound. I loved the sound of that Jazzy, but when I picked it up, it felt like I had to play Nirvana songs or something. LOL

The only sig like guitar I still have is my Blue BJ strat. That was named more for my son than Billie Joe, so I think that will help me not worry about it. Plus it is only like the Green Day guitar because of some looks. I didn't use the same electronics and stuff. I probably won't put stickers on it either because it looks nice the way it is.