New project: Jazzblaster inspired by Neil Young's Old Black

[elektrovac]

The build bug have bitten again, and I have started my first parts guitar project in quite a while. It's also been a long time since I posted here regularly, except for the occasional bits and pieces about my pedals.

Anyway, this summer I once again had the pleasure of experiencing Neil Young playing live, and listening to the roar of his Old Black provided the inspiration for a new Jazzblaster project.

I have been looking at the Saylor guitar bodies and wanting to do a guitar with them for a long time, but lacked inpiration for a different pickup configuration, and wasn't really needing any more guitars.

So there we are. I am doing a Jazzmaster-ish guitar with the 'Old Black' pickup configuration along these lines:

Saylor Guitars semi-hollow Jazzmaster body routed for a Firebird pu at the bridge and a P90 in the neck position. No f-hole. Mahogany with a maple top (see picture below).
Musikraft 24.75" conversion neck in mahogany with rosewood board and large CBS headstock.
Fender US tremolo.
Warmoth modified Mustang bridge.
GFS P90 and Lindy Fralin Firebird pickups.
No rhythm circuit, but stacked Jazz Bass controls for volume and tone for each pickup, wired Gibson style.
3-ply parchment/aged white pickguard (probably gonna ordet it from Pickguardian).
1960s Mercedes-Benz 'Mittelblau' metallic finish with matching headstock. Gonna finish it myself with rattle can car paint (not nitro). Shot the grain filler today.

- My budget is tight, and my spare time is scarce, so this'll probably be a slow build.



Mittelblau:

[Shadoweclipse13]

Very cool project!! I've often wondered how good a Firebird in the bridge would mix with a P90 in the neck. Subscribed!

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Depending on your timeline & if you've still not bought the parts, I might be selling two Surf 90s (bridge & neck) in the not too distant future.

[rank]

I got to see Neil a few years ago with Bert Jansch opening. It was sad that no one really knew who Bert was. I am looking forward to this build.

[pacemaker]

I love the sound of this project - I'll be watching with interest. For what it's worth, years ago I had an early Dakota Red Mustang that had been "upgraded" with Gibson T=top humbuckers. I eventually installed concentric pots to get volume and tone for both pickups, and it was kinda badass.

[yunpac]

Awesome project! I thought about doing this exact thing a few months ago. Only with rattle can black with an unpolished aluminum Toneguard pickguard! Good luck!

[elektrovac]

I have done a bit of progress:

The Saylor Guitars body really do require a lot of work. So far I am through at my second shot of primer after two rounds of sanding. First the grain filler, then a first shot of primer. It's beginning to look really good now, but it will need another round of sanding and primer before the colour coat. Picture shows the guitar with first shot of primer only, so the real progress is a bit ahead of this.

I got second thoughts about the Mercedes-Benz Mittelblau Metallic colour, because I only own one can of it, and I have doubts if it is enough. I can't get it from my local supplier, so instead I am now planning on finishing it in Mercedes-Benz Manganbraun Metallic, which is a 70s/80s brown metallic. I might still change my mind, though. I really love both ideas.

I have got a lot of the hardware now, and I have the neck on order.

[s_mcsleazy]

man. mercs from that time had the nicest colours

[Shadoweclipse13]

man. mercs from that time had the nicest colours

Seriously. We need more brown guitars around here.

[s_mcsleazy]

man. mercs from that time had the nicest colours

Seriously. We need more brown guitars around here.

i really cant see the word brown without thinking of regular car reviews. but as a owner of a natural (dark brown) guitar, i agree

[Bothand Nether]

That Manganbraun Metallic with some tort pickup covers & orange copperwound magnets with tort seethough top p-90's from Sentell,
....Spitfire pickgaurd,and tort tuning buttons would be a very Jasper-ey Guitar, methinx....Or a rum and Coke on icey offset.
Looking forward to see this one bloom

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Maybe a dumb observation, but wouldn't black be a more appropriate choice of colour (on top of gold if you must)?

[elektrovac]

Maybe a dumb observation, but wouldn't black be a more appropriate choice of colour (on top of gold if you must)?

I want to create a tonal approximation of Old Black. Not a visual, obviously :-)

[TruckstopChuckie]

Good choice on the color, I must say. Excited to see this finished.

[HairyChapter]

I want to create a tonal approximation of Old Black. Not a visual, obviously :-)[/quote]

Cool project either way..Excited to see (and hear ) this guitar!