Kirn Jaguar

[Digdug78]

Hi all, just joined to share a build Ron kirn is doing for me. I own a few of his guitars and love them. This is my first jaguar.

I like the pickups and switching arrangement on the Marr Signatures and was able to find a loaded pickguard on reverb from the stratosphere. Lucky to find that since they don't sell the pups or parts separately.





So off that went to Ron and he made a new pickguard and switched the parchment pup covers to white. Here you can see one pickup cover switched. The bridge and vibrato are mastery.


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Next he started contouring and sanding the body.




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He applied Lacquer filler sanding primer.


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That was sanded almost completely off and the color was applied. This is real sonic blue acrylic Lacquer, the original vintage color.


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So then a few coats of clear nitro were applied.


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Once this dries, it will be sanded and a few more coats of nitro applied.

Will post updates later as the build progresses.

The neck is going to be flame maple with a macassar ebony board, SS frets and vintage tuners. It's being made now by Tommy's crew at usacg.

[Ursa Minor]

Subscribed!

[amv]

Holy shit, Ron Kirn does Jags now? I too shall be subscribe, with great haste and vigor.

[Embenny]

Holy shit, Ron Kirn does Jags now? I too shall be subscribe, with great haste and vigor.

Never seen him do a Jag before. This is gonna be a hell of a guitar.

[Digdug78]

Oh yeah, hes been building them for a long time, and owned his first one in 1963. The jag is one of his favorite looking guitars. IMHO hes the best Jag/jazzmaster builder. Hes into so many details, for instance he flush mounts the trem to the body.

Heres a jazzmaster he did a few months ago.

[timtam]

Hes into so many details, for instance he flush mounts the trem to the body.

Wow that looks great. Plus some extra Newtons of down force !

[Digdug78]

Heres a few more he sent me to cause my gas attack.

[jellodog]

Wow. My mouth is just hanging open here. That is pretty much the highest quality workmanship I've ever seen on an offset.

The inset vibrato unit is a genius move. I wish I'd been able to do that on my Jazzmaster.

Beautiful beautiful work.

[Jaguar018]

He does Jags but he told me he didn't really like 24" scales when he did my hybrid.

[Embenny]

Wow. My mouth is just hanging open here. That is pretty much the highest quality workmanship I've ever seen on an offset.

The inset vibrato unit is a genius move. I wish I'd been able to do that on my Jazzmaster.

Beautiful beautiful work.

Yeah, pretty much +1 on every single thing you said.

[jmurph]

Wow! I've always respected Mr. Kirn & his work, but seeing those pictures put things on a whole new level. I'm not going to lie, if I had the money, I would seriously consider getting one of his Jags or Jazzmasters over a Fender. The detail in his work is impeccable! He's a true craftsman.

[scottT]

I've long been an admirer too. His progress pics really go above and beyond. Much like his work, i guess. Lucky you!

[mcjt]

kin is one of the good guys.
That tummy cut is overdone, however.

[Digdug78]

Thanks they arent cheap but compared to what a cs or masterbuit cost...
Rons gonna let the nitro dry for a few weeks then a few more coats. I will try to post some pics of the neck when its done in a month or so.

I like the way he did the contours. No two were alike in the 60s so there really isnt a wrong way to do em.

[mcjt]

No, even if the work was hand-done or on machines, the contours were fairly consistent.
There were none that looked like this:

I like the way he did the contours. No two were alike in the 60s so there really isnt a wrong way to do em.