Robert Smith Black Jazzmaster Project

HNB

I am working on putting together a black Jazzmaster from different parts I have.

I traded for this neck about a month ago. It is a WD neck with a nice big headstock. I added a decal.

DSC02260 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

The pickguard is a MIJ tortoise guard that came on my Olympic White Jazzmaster. Since I put a Mint guard on it, I thought I would use this on the project. The pickups are also the ones from the White Jazzmaster. I had swapped them for Antiquity II's. I got the black covers from some left over Blacktop Jazzmaster neck pickups. The other parts I installed today I had laying around. (Jack, knobs, and toggle from Blacktop Jazzmaster work, 1meg pots, and a on/on switch.)

DSC02320 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02319 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02317 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

They are going in a black MIJ Jazzmaster body that I should be getting Tuesday. It has a TOM bridge on it, but I will need to get a tremolo. I also need to get the roller bracket, pots, and wheels as well and some neck screws to finish this off. When I am done, it should look kind of like this.

Jazzmaster by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

HNB

One question I do have is my diagram shows the neck pickup leads pointing towards the rollers and the brige ones pointing towards the jack like pictured below. Is this correct? All the diagrams I found look like they are done that way.

DSC02318 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

I think the other ones I did I set up like below though. (Where both pickups are rotated the same direction.)

HNB

Some updated images and progress. Mostly waiting on parts. 😀

Here is how the black body came. The "routing" was done with a drill. Looked like a sponge really.

DSC02326 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Decided to route it as flat as I could and restore it by gluing wood blocks in to get it back up to the right height.

DSC02327 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Routed flat for glueing. (The holes were deeep.)

DSC02330 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Wood glued in.

DSC02332 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02333 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Added resin to the gaps.

DSC02340 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Painted the work and you can barely tell there was repair work done. 😀

DSC02344 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02345 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

New goal is to use a mint guard I have coming in and parchement knobs.

Jazzmaster2 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

All the parts are on their way here. Will do another update once I get it all together. 😀

HNB

Changed my mind again. Decided to go Robert Smith with this one. Parts came today so lots of work happened. Sadly a few parts did not come, so I wasn't able to finish it, but it is mostly done.

Drilled and dremeled the pickguard and routed the body for the Teisco pickup.

DSC02447 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02448 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Not perfect, but it will work. Got to work wiring while the paint dried.

DSC02454 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02453 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

Here is how it looks. BAM! (Just missing pickup screws and my bridge and thimbles.... The bridge is on backorder. )

DSC02464 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

HNB

Got pickup heights readjusted and strings on. Just need my brass buzz stop and it will be good to go. Not a 100% copy of Rober Smiths, but a pretty close version. 😀

DSC02474 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02479 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02484 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02486 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

HNB

Got the buzz stop on! It looks great. Here is a little audio sample of me playing a bit of Lullaby.

Some pictures. 😀

DSC02492 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02495 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02501 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

DSC02508 by Hentai No Baka, on Flickr

brandonwinmill

Jealous! damn that came out good! Another awesome job.

HNB

brandonwinmill said:
Jealous! damn that came out good! Another awesome job.

Thanks! It was a fun build. I kind of want to replace the bridge on it. I got a cheap one thinking it wouldn't be a big deal and kind of regret it. Next time I change the strings I guess. 😀

JMA689

Looks great!! I am not a big fan of this particular buzz stop, but other than that, this Jazzmaster looks classy!

HNB

JMA689 said:
Looks great!! I am not a big fan of this particular buzz stop, but other than that, this Jazzmaster looks classy!

Thanks! I don't really think Jazzy's need them, just added it because of the guitar I was doing a version of had one. It does make a difference. Eventually I need to upgrade the bridge or something. The cheap Jazzmaster style bridge really sucks.

JMA689

my bad, I never noticed Robert Smith's Jazz had one like that... 😀

chipbutty24

Well done I love it. Expert repair job.

HNB

chipbutty24 said:
Well done I love it. Expert repair job.

Thanks!