Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

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my main man
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Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by my main man » Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:41 am

Hi. Longtime lurker/tinkerer. Just started a new build that I thought some of you might be interested in. Basically I saw a picture of Elvis Costello's walnut stained Jazzmaster a couple months ago and realized I wanted something similar. I had seen that guitar a million times, but for some reason it just hit me that day. I started thinking of guitars I owned and then tried making a version that was visually similar to EC's JM but different enough and that also filled in some areas in my collection of sounds I don't have.

Specs
-Warmoth alder body
-Warmoth Jaguar neck (maple w/ pau ferro) with standard nut width - this will be arriving in 3 days
-AVRI trem
-Mastery Bridge
-Mojotone Johnny Winter Firebird pickups

So I went to the dressing room and put this together. (I had to photoshop the Firebird pickups) I made one with rings and one without. The pickguard I have is for a standard 2 SS Jaguar set-up. I'm going to have the rout the holes a bit so I'm going to have to use the pickup rings for a bit. In time, I may have Pickguardian make one for me if I dislike the rings. As is, I think it looks pretty cool.
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What better way to force yourself to start a project than by buying some of the cheapest pieces of your build?
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Ah hell I'm into it now so I ordered the body.
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Got really close to applying the stain directly onto the wood and then I talked with a dude I work with who told me I should look into Minwax Pre-Stain. It sounded kind of unnecessary but I'm really glad I used it. I did a test on a scrap piece of wood. I'll try to find it and take a pic but the stain went on way less blotchy on the area with the pre-stain. Here's a shot of the pre-stain drying out.
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Pic of my pupper looking on from the hill.
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One coat of Minwax dark walnut stain applied. I assumed I was going to do two coats but I like it like this.
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Last pic for now. So I have only done nitro finishes in the past. I read that nitro and Minwax stains don't really play nice together and I didn't want a mirror-finish on this guitar so I got some semi-gloss poly. Holy hell was this the easiest finish I've ever done. I did 2 coats (6 total passes) and let it dry overnight. Hit it with some 0000 steel wool and Maguiers car polish last night and it's exactly what I wanted it to look like. Mock up pic. Crappy lighting. I didn't finish up until late last night and had to take this near a lamp.
Image

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raphaël
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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by raphaël » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:00 am

Wooo I really like this, especially with the steel pickup rings!!!!
Really Nice !!!!

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by Maggieo » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:05 am

I am already in love with it! :-* :? :w00t: :? :-*
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I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by HNB » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:47 am

Lovely!!
Christopher
Lilith Guitars

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by gishuk » Mon Jun 04, 2018 10:14 am

Keep the pickup rings! It looks fantastic so far

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by bacca51 » Mon Jun 04, 2018 6:12 pm

Thats sick! I vote no pick up rings. More of a classic firebird look.

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by Gordon » Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:53 pm

bacca51 wrote:
Mon Jun 04, 2018 6:12 pm
Thats sick! I vote no pick up rings. More of a classic firebird look.
Which one is correct, which one is the typo? :whistle:
Graphic designer (comics stuff, Doctor Who, Star Wars...): https://www.instagram.com/monsieurgordon/ \o/

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by bacca51 » Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:43 pm

Gordon wrote:
Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:53 pm
bacca51 wrote:
Mon Jun 04, 2018 6:12 pm
Thats sick! I vote no pick up rings. More of a classic firebird look.
Which one is correct, which one is the typo? :whistle:
ah my b, I meant non-reverse firebird. those are the only firebirds I like, so I guess I'm biased to leaving out the distinction.

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Tue Jun 05, 2018 12:02 am

I'm in the "no rings" camp, but either way it's a badass project!!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by natthu » Tue Jun 05, 2018 2:10 am

I own a Costello JM, which I love, so I'm probably not without bias here...

That looks awesome! 8)
I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished product.

I have messed around quite a lot with Warmoth parts myself, and I think they make an excellent lot of products.
Excellent work on the stain too... it's a bit hard to really tell with photos, but it looks to be pretty close to what my Costello JM looks like.

(I vote no rings, but either way I think it will look great)

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my main man
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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by my main man » Tue Jun 05, 2018 11:23 am

I appreciate everyone's suggestions RE rings vs no rings. Seems like you all are split as much as I am. I've gone back and forth like 4 times already. The current pickguard I have was bought for cheap through a seller on eBay. I just messaged them to see if they were able to do a custom cut guard.

PS - If you're ever looking for a decent cheap pickguard, check this seller out: https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?LH_Avai ... tpos=55414

It's no Spitfire/Pickguardian/etc but the red tort guard I got through them looks way better than the red tort pickguard I got from Allparts. I can't speak to the fit since I'm only dealing with the Warmoth body with no pre-drilled holes.

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by Singlebladepickup » Tue Jun 05, 2018 11:52 am

my main man wrote:
Tue Jun 05, 2018 11:23 am
PS - If you're ever looking for a decent cheap pickguard, check this seller out: https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?LH_Avai ... tpos=55414
I can attest to the seller's necks as well. I have a "vintage dark" on my parts jazzmaster, and the satin nitro is super smooth and feels great. The color is nicer than the avri orange.



I'd say no rings, but either way it's going to look great. It already does.

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by ThePearDream » Tue Jun 05, 2018 5:31 pm

Another vote for no rings, there's enough chrome without them on there. I'm curious to see how this turns out. I've been thinking about putting firebirds in a Jag for a few years now.
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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by JVG » Wed Jun 06, 2018 2:02 am

Firebird pickups are great in Jags. Here's mine, which I still love, well after the honeymoon period. I went the less cluttered "no rings" option.

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... 9#p1441249

Cheers!
J

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Re: Costello-ish Bastard Jag Build

Post by my main man » Wed Jun 06, 2018 6:15 am

JVG wrote:
Wed Jun 06, 2018 2:02 am
Firebird pickups are great in Jags. Here's mine, which I still love, well after the honeymoon period. I went the less cluttered "no rings" option.

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... 9#p1441249

Cheers!
J
Love it! Where did you get your pickguard?

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