Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
- jodia54d
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Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
Hi guys,
Completely new to building guitars, and would like some basic advice.
Being a lefty, I'm thinking it might be easier to build a JM rather than get 1 from Ishibashi (only place I can find lefty JMs).
After tinkering around with the dressing room, here's the guitar thats in my head.
I spoke to a couple of luthiers in San Francisco, some recommended that I refrain from building (huh?), some insist on using their own woods, necks, etc.
Should I attempt to build 1 myself or get a luthier to assemble 1 for me?
I know nothing about finishing/painting wood, wiring, etc.
Advice?
Completely new to building guitars, and would like some basic advice.
Being a lefty, I'm thinking it might be easier to build a JM rather than get 1 from Ishibashi (only place I can find lefty JMs).
After tinkering around with the dressing room, here's the guitar thats in my head.
I spoke to a couple of luthiers in San Francisco, some recommended that I refrain from building (huh?), some insist on using their own woods, necks, etc.
Should I attempt to build 1 myself or get a luthier to assemble 1 for me?
I know nothing about finishing/painting wood, wiring, etc.
Advice?
- northern_dirt
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
dude that pic is backwards
'cleanest, best pleasure'
- Stratelejazzuar
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
if you can take that dressing room creation and show it to one or two luthiers in your area who say they can create it, go for it!
i don't know where you'd find a lefty trem unit for a jazzmaster, but i'm sure they're available ???
if you could sacrifice the neck binding, i'd say go with an ishibashi purchase, then have the body refinished and then work your way up from there, according to how happy you are with the pickups, etc...
and it just occured to me that if you don't mind where the trem arm sticks out of the tailpiece, you could get an right-hand american trem unit, which would be readily available. the only 'issue' would be that the arm comes out of the opposite side of the plate (i.e. top) - sort of liek a SRV-style jazzmaster trem installation... :D
i don't know where you'd find a lefty trem unit for a jazzmaster, but i'm sure they're available ???
if you could sacrifice the neck binding, i'd say go with an ishibashi purchase, then have the body refinished and then work your way up from there, according to how happy you are with the pickups, etc...
and it just occured to me that if you don't mind where the trem arm sticks out of the tailpiece, you could get an right-hand american trem unit, which would be readily available. the only 'issue' would be that the arm comes out of the opposite side of the plate (i.e. top) - sort of liek a SRV-style jazzmaster trem installation... :D
- Stereordinary
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
I think it all boils down to two things:
1. Your budget.
Getting a prefessional luthier would obviously be more expensive than building it yourself.
2. How long you're willing to wait for it.
I understand that being a lefty means you're going to be waiting for parts to show up on eBay for a lot longer than a righty waiting for their project parts, but havinf a professional builder make you a guitar takes a lot of time. Some of the big houses like Warmoth and USACG don't take too long, but building it yourself is probably still quicker.
On that note, search around on this forum a bit and you'll see that a few of us here are quite capable woodworkers.
Great idea by the way.
1. Your budget.
Getting a prefessional luthier would obviously be more expensive than building it yourself.
2. How long you're willing to wait for it.
I understand that being a lefty means you're going to be waiting for parts to show up on eBay for a lot longer than a righty waiting for their project parts, but havinf a professional builder make you a guitar takes a lot of time. Some of the big houses like Warmoth and USACG don't take too long, but building it yourself is probably still quicker.
On that note, search around on this forum a bit and you'll see that a few of us here are quite capable woodworkers.
Great idea by the way.
Rhoney Guitars, 2010-2017, 2024
- theworkoffire
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
I think unless you are specifically interested in the whole process of building and finishing, and in your case, hunting down lefty parts, you'll find it pretty difficult to get what you want and it cetainly won't be cheap or quick or in any way easy.
My advice would be to buy one from Ishibashi, which many people here have done with relative ease and with very quick delivery. You can then upgrade and modify in your own time as and when.
Having said that, when faced with the buy or build option I personally will always go for build. I certainly think you've come to the right place here. You may find local luthiers are keen to put their own identity onto your guitar but the scratch-builders and modders on this forum are much more interested in being faithful to the originals (albeit with the occasional twist).
My advice would be to buy one from Ishibashi, which many people here have done with relative ease and with very quick delivery. You can then upgrade and modify in your own time as and when.
Having said that, when faced with the buy or build option I personally will always go for build. I certainly think you've come to the right place here. You may find local luthiers are keen to put their own identity onto your guitar but the scratch-builders and modders on this forum are much more interested in being faithful to the originals (albeit with the occasional twist).
- FireAarro
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
Wrooooongo!jodia54d wrote: Being a lefty, I'm thinking it might be easier to build a JM rather than get 1 from Ishibashi (only place I can find lefty JMs).
Times change. Remember when dog Jimmy used to go white and chalky? Now it grows hair! We got used to it. We'll get used to poly. -blueavenger
- the older brother
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
There are no lefty trem units - there use to be regular trem units on lefty JM/jags with the collet facing upwards (the arm is lefty though IIRC).
I should watch ebay for a while - I've seen a couple of leftys the past few months.
Or go with Ishi - they seem to deliver fast and accurate to US residents (to the rest of the world too, as it seems).
You can always refin it later on....
that was my two cents
I should watch ebay for a while - I've seen a couple of leftys the past few months.
Or go with Ishi - they seem to deliver fast and accurate to US residents (to the rest of the world too, as it seems).
You can always refin it later on....
that was my two cents
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- zhivago
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
I heard a while back that lefty Japanese Jazzmasters and Jags had a lefty version of the tremolo on them...
someone correct me if I'm wrong...I'm not 100% on this...
but yeah, the vintage guitars just had normal tremolos on them
someone correct me if I'm wrong...I'm not 100% on this...
but yeah, the vintage guitars just had normal tremolos on them
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- jodia54d
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
Hmmm... I thought the price of getting 1 from Ishibashi would be about the same as building 1 ... but i'm guessing i'm wrong?FireAarro wrote:Wrooooongo!jodia54d wrote: Being a lefty, I'm thinking it might be easier to build a JM rather than get 1 from Ishibashi (only place I can find lefty JMs).
If both options are going to cost the same, why not have 1 built just the way i like... maybe I should think about Ishibashi again.
Great feedback tho, thanks everyone! Keep 'em coming.
- jodia54d
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
I think you're right.zhivago wrote: I heard a while back that lefty Japanese Jazzmasters and Jags had a lefty version of the tremolo on them...
someone correct me if I'm wrong...I'm not 100% on this...
but yeah, the vintage guitars just had normal tremolos on them
Here's pic i found of a lefty jazzmaster, and it looks like there's isn't a lefty tremolo ... err, hole.
- FireAarro
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
They might end up costing the same cause the lefty Fender models aren't cheap... I don't know how much a project will cost. Depends on the parts. But "easier" is definitely off the mark, it will be much easier to just order one in .jodia54d wrote:Hmmm... I thought the price of getting 1 from Ishibashi would be about the same as building 1 ... but i'm guessing i'm wrong?FireAarro wrote:Wrooooongo!jodia54d wrote: Being a lefty, I'm thinking it might be easier to build a JM rather than get 1 from Ishibashi (only place I can find lefty JMs).
If both options are going to cost the same, why not have 1 built just the way i like... maybe I should think about Ishibashi again.
Great feedback tho, thanks everyone! Keep 'em coming.
jodia, the JM you posted has a lefty trem, the hole is on the other side.
Times change. Remember when dog Jimmy used to go white and chalky? Now it grows hair! We got used to it. We'll get used to poly. -blueavenger
- the older brother
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
.... and I stand corrected
wich is good for you
wich is good for you
Someone knows where I can find the nearest woodchipper to throw my pieces of junk into?
- BlixaFan
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
my trem is left handed on my CIJ jag.
- jodia54d
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
That's a beat.BlixaFan wrote: my trem is left handed on my CIJ jag.
Where did you find your lefty tremolo? Did it come standard?
- ohm-men
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Re: Complete noob lefty JM Project - Basic help?
It can be done, if you got some woodworking skills and have the right tools for the job. And a LOT of patience....
Also you have to be precise. Like for instance the neckpocket...if it's of...your work will be useless.
And a good place to do the work at is not a luxery. I mean there is no fun of making a guitar in your living room...It get's really messy...
Also you have to be precise. Like for instance the neckpocket...if it's of...your work will be useless.
And a good place to do the work at is not a luxery. I mean there is no fun of making a guitar in your living room...It get's really messy...
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