12 String Jazzmaster Partscaster

[Insomnicide]

If you have intonation issues from slight variations in scale length, you might be able to alleviate them with a Staytrem bass VI bridge.



I had issues with my jazzmaster not quite lining up when I built it, and the bass Vi bridge fits into the normal jazzmaster ferrules and has the same string spacing.

Hopefully it all works fine and you don't need it.

[sirspens]

It's been a little while, but I am back on this project after some long work weeks.

First thing, I did a test with the neck (just placing it in the neck pocket) and running some string to see how it aligns. You will see from the pictures below that the high string is just a bit closer to the edge than the lower side, but still within limits that I feel comfortable with.









This is the tool I have made and put in my kit so that I don't have to bother my girlfriend every time I want to pull a line...


So that is the neck issue. I don't think it is going to be much of an issue.

Then there is the pickguard. This is a pearloid pickguard I ordered from Stratospehere, unbranded. It fits almost perfectly. You will see from the pictures, that when I put the neck on and place the pickguard down, the screw holes align pretty well, but the bridge grommets do not align with the holes in the pickguard. When I take the neck off and align the bridge grommet holes, the screw holes don't quite as closely line up, but there is just a bit of an overhang at the back of the heel. Also, I think the biggest issue is the spot I have circled in red. The pickguard on the upper horn is perfectly aligned.









Here is my idea. I would appreciate if someone can tell me if I am crazy and not to do this, or maybe give me some pointers on how to do it if it isn't crazy, because I have never successfully modified a pickguard. I want to screw the pickguard down in the position it naturally fits in, then take a router with a bearing bit and use the body as the "template" for modifying the pickguard.

Is there a certain speed I should be shooting for with the router? Is slower better? Faster?

Thank you for all your help around here! I'm so close to having this project completed and playable!

[bacca51]

Looks great! I would just use a hand file. Eyeball where the guard needs to be filed, take the guard off the guitar, file it, check to see if its corrected. Just do a little at a time and you'll be fine.

[sirspens]

Looks great! I would just use a hand file. Eyeball where the guard needs to be filed, take the guard off the guitar, file it, check to see if its corrected. Just do a little at a time and you'll be fine.

Thanks. I did that and it worked perfectly.

I then moved on to getting the pickguard wired up, transfering from the stock pickguard to the pearloid one I am using. Everything went to perfectly, except... I had an issue I knew was an issue but forgot about so didn't buy the part...


The VMJM I am converting this 12 string from has a different length bracket than the standard Fender bracket. So, I had to order a bracket and now this project is back on the shelf to wait for another part.

Speaking of... anyone know where to get a Fender 12-string string guide in the US? I have been waiting for one to pop up on Reverb for months, but nothing.

[onichodaddy]

For string guides for Fender 12 strings, you could try Schroeder, who's a member here. I've gotten 8-holed string trees/guides for my Fender XII-type projects from him and some 4-holed ones that I've used for my Starcaster-type projects. They're great quality and he's very nice to deal with.

[Insomnicide]

If you have intonation issues from slight variations in scale length, you might be able to alleviate them with a Staytrem bass VI bridge.



I had issues with my jazzmaster not quite lining up when I built it, and the bass Vi bridge fits into the normal jazzmaster ferrules and has the same string spacing.

Hopefully it all works fine and you don't need it.

Just realized how silly this comment was, you need a 12 string bridge. Whoops.

Looking good! Hopefully you can find the rest of the parts soon without issue.

[sirspens]

Just realized how silly this comment was, you need a 12 string bridge. Whoops.

Looking good! Hopefully you can find the rest of the parts soon without issue.

Eh, I considered just replacing the saddles if needed. It would work.

And it is coming along well. I got the tuners put on the neck this evening. The bracket should be here tomorrow. Assuming my life doesn't go crazy, I could have this thing finished by the end of the week.

It will be GREAT to have a project finished.

[s_mcsleazy]

if you are running enough tension on the guitar, that bridge should work.

[bacca51]

if you are running enough tension on the guitar, that bridge should work.

Exactly, I always thought about turning my CP jazzmaster into a 12 string. Its really the only situation with a JM were you want that short break angle.

[sirspens]

if you are running enough tension on the guitar, that bridge should work.

Exactly, I always thought about turning my CP jazzmaster into a 12 string. Its really the only situation with a JM were you want that short break angle.

I considered starting with a CP because it is easy to find 12 string TOM bridges, or just file one down yourself. But I want to make it work with the classic bridge, if possible. If not, I'll try something else.

[bacca51]

if you are running enough tension on the guitar, that bridge should work.

Exactly, I always thought about turning my CP jazzmaster into a 12 string. Its really the only situation with a JM were you want that short break angle.

I considered starting with a CP because it is easy to find 12 string TOM bridges, or just file one down yourself. But I want to make it work with the classic bridge, if possible. If not, I'll try something else.

Forsure, the standard jm bridge and tremolo placement will work, you may just need to shim the neck to get enough tension and the high octaves might not intonate perfectly... but thats the fun of the twelve string, modulation!

[sirspens]

Exactly, I always thought about turning my CP jazzmaster into a 12 string. Its really the only situation with a JM were you want that short break angle.

I considered starting with a CP because it is easy to find 12 string TOM bridges, or just file one down yourself. But I want to make it work with the classic bridge, if possible. If not, I'll try something else.

Forsure, the standard jm bridge and tremolo placement will work, you may just need to shim the neck to get enough tension and the high octaves might not intonate perfectly... but thats the fun of the twelve string, modulation!

Exactly.

[sirspens]

Got the rhythm bracket in today and got it installed.

Turns out the holes for the pots are smaller on the Allparts bracket than the Squier pots


So I had to file them out


Got it all set up in the end


The final thing to do, obviously, is ground... You see that little nub there....


Here, let me zoom in:


That is the ground wire going to the bridge thimbles. I don't know how to remove them. I would rather just hook up to that wire, but there isn't much to hook up to there. I'm not sure how I am going to handle that.

What I do know, however, is that this thing is really close to being done (version 1), and it is going to look good.

[Logrinn]

You could drill a small hole next to the ground wire and screw in a screw that holds two ground lugs, similar to these:



One ground lug could be soldered to that small bit of cable sticking out (just by heating it up you'd probably have the insulation strip off enough for the solder to stick). Then you could leave that alone and never risk that it comes loose. Instead you would then proceed to use the second ground lug to connect all the necessery cables and everything is then held in place with the screw.

[sirspens]

You could drill a small hole next to the ground wire and screw in a screw that holds two ground lugs, similar to these....

I really like this. I'm going to have to think it through to make it work, but I really like it.

Thank you!