Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

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pondscum
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Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by pondscum » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:32 am

I recently got a FSR Jazzmaster HH with the opal white finish, pearloid white guard etc. I'm looking at upgrading it some. The first thing that has got to go is the fender blacktops that are in there. I'm looking at replacing them with Mcnelly Bliss Humbuckers. Will I have any issues with these fitting? I'd also like to replace the black pickup rings with white/parchment or maybe raw nickel. Any pitfalls I should be aware of. This is my first offset. Thanks!

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alkalineHemlock
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by alkalineHemlock » Tue May 01, 2018 9:29 am

You shouldn’t have any issues with the pickups nor the pickup mounting rings fitting. Just make sure you get the right angle on the mounting rings so that the higher one is at the bridge position and you should be good to go. Sounds like an awesome guitar in the making!

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pondscum
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by pondscum » Tue May 01, 2018 1:27 pm

Awesome thanks! Next order of business will likely be new pots. The taper on them gives them a very small range.

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green_mario
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by green_mario » Tue May 01, 2018 8:00 pm

Always thought these guitars looked cool and would be good modding platforms. Good luck!
Very glued and greasy reverb sound

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pondscum
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by pondscum » Wed May 02, 2018 3:08 am

Yeah I agree I was pleasantly surprised with how it played. I'm no Jazzmaster expert but the bridge seems fine but it does have the deeper grooved saddles. Only real flaw and this can be remedied is no swimming pool route.

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ZMB KLR
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by ZMB KLR » Sun May 06, 2018 4:05 pm

Last year I picked up an opal white as my second Jazzmaster. Plays great, however it's going to need work on the sound IMHO.

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pondscum
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by pondscum » Mon May 07, 2018 6:12 am

100% agree. The blacktop pups are not my cup of tea. Have you made any mods to yours? I'm also wonder if with a new pickguard I can install the new pickups without the ugly rings. I'm gonna open it up and look this evening.

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ZMB KLR
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by ZMB KLR » Mon May 07, 2018 6:43 pm

Bone stock still.

I was thinking nickel plated pickup covers and either mastery, or my own machined hardware. Witch hat knobs, and replace the 3way switch knob with something to tie in the theme.


BTW I heard very few of these were made. Any numbers out there?

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pondscum
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Re: Opal White Jazzmaster HH Pickup routes etc

Post by pondscum » Tue May 08, 2018 10:55 am

I have no clue the numbers. I’ll likely end up slowly upgrading this guy. I have the mcnelly pickups in hand so I’ll hopefully get those installed this week.

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