I built a Hello Kitty Jazzmaster.
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 8:54 pm
Using the original pickguard from my first Hello Kitty Stratocaster (crudely DIY routed with a Dremel) and a Warmoth Jazzmaster swamp ash chambered rear routed body w/ Fender Lone Star Deluxe Stratocaster neck:
It's a fun guitar and sounds cool, used it in practice doing rhythm for a soul band which allowed to fine tune it further. But for that particular gig, the Mustang sounds so much funkier and looks more the part, too, so I went with a Mustang for the actual show. But I'm planning on gigging with my Hello Kitty Jazz in a couple of weeks when I'm playing lead, which is more what this guitar is made for. I'm using DiMarzio Area 58, Seymour Duncan Custom, Gibson 300k pots. Custom 5-way wiring configuration with a 24-pole switch (neck, neck + bridge parallel, neck + bridge series, bridge parallel, bridge series).
After wiring it, I found that the pickups were out of phase (as it often happens when you mix brands) so I flipped the two wires on the neck pickup. I really like the vibrato, it's a Wudtone Holy Grail plate with a Callaham block and GFS block steel saddles. I usually float my fulcrum bridges, but I felt like decking made more sense for this guitar, so it's decked.
Finish is Shell Pink from Warmoth. It's super thin like a PRS finish, so thin that I've already chipped it a bit, but that's fine, it'll build character quickly. Price was quite good because Warmoth was having a big sale on in-stock chambered bodies. It's my second time building with Warmoth, and the last time, it was a Mustang body, and I have to say, I like this body a lot better. All the work is top notch. Since it is such a custom build, I had to modify the body a bit, so I went in with a chisel and a Dremel to get the pickup positions just right.
Part of me wishes I made it a short scale, but I think I can live with the 25.5" scale on one guitar. The CBS Strat headstock is the best. My favorite Strat in the world has a maple fretboard with a CBS headstock (Fender Custom Shop Ken Stratocaster), and so did the original Hello Kitty Strat, so I'm glad I found the neck that has the right specs and also the right look for this guitar. Plus, it leaves room for the sticker.
It's a fun guitar and sounds cool, used it in practice doing rhythm for a soul band which allowed to fine tune it further. But for that particular gig, the Mustang sounds so much funkier and looks more the part, too, so I went with a Mustang for the actual show. But I'm planning on gigging with my Hello Kitty Jazz in a couple of weeks when I'm playing lead, which is more what this guitar is made for. I'm using DiMarzio Area 58, Seymour Duncan Custom, Gibson 300k pots. Custom 5-way wiring configuration with a 24-pole switch (neck, neck + bridge parallel, neck + bridge series, bridge parallel, bridge series).
After wiring it, I found that the pickups were out of phase (as it often happens when you mix brands) so I flipped the two wires on the neck pickup. I really like the vibrato, it's a Wudtone Holy Grail plate with a Callaham block and GFS block steel saddles. I usually float my fulcrum bridges, but I felt like decking made more sense for this guitar, so it's decked.
Finish is Shell Pink from Warmoth. It's super thin like a PRS finish, so thin that I've already chipped it a bit, but that's fine, it'll build character quickly. Price was quite good because Warmoth was having a big sale on in-stock chambered bodies. It's my second time building with Warmoth, and the last time, it was a Mustang body, and I have to say, I like this body a lot better. All the work is top notch. Since it is such a custom build, I had to modify the body a bit, so I went in with a chisel and a Dremel to get the pickup positions just right.
Part of me wishes I made it a short scale, but I think I can live with the 25.5" scale on one guitar. The CBS Strat headstock is the best. My favorite Strat in the world has a maple fretboard with a CBS headstock (Fender Custom Shop Ken Stratocaster), and so did the original Hello Kitty Strat, so I'm glad I found the neck that has the right specs and also the right look for this guitar. Plus, it leaves room for the sticker.
