Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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Surfysonic
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Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Surfysonic » Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:00 pm

Seeing some of the outstanding Musikraft/MJT builds here on OSG convinced me a while back to place orders for a custom Musikraft neck and a custom MJT body. Combined with some available components here, I'll have put together a dream custom Jazzmaster with my preferred specs. First time doing this, so fingers crossed! :whistle:

I thought it might be fun to have you along for the journey and enjoy seeing the components as they arrive. The Musikraft neck arrived today and I'm blown away! It has surpassed my expectations. I'm still waiting on the body and will update when it arrives, which may be another month or so.

If the MJT body is as amazing as the Musikraft neck is, then I know I made the right call to go this route instead of saving up for a significantly more expensive vintage or used Fender Custom Shop Jazzmaster that I'd have to settle/compromise on condition and specifications. The overall cost of this project is reasonably within my budget.

The Musikraft Jazzmaster neck has a Licensed by Fender stamp, so I'm very comfortable putting on an aftermarket Fender Jazzmaster decal on the headstock and I would fully disclose this information if I were to ever sell it down the road. However, I might not put a decal on the headstock - you'll see why I'm not 100% sure when you see the headstock... :?

Musikraft Neck Specs

Jazzmaster Neck Custom Build
Guitar Neck Build:

Construction Type:
2 Piece Constructed

Orientation:
Right for Right Handed Players

Scale Length:
25.5" Standard Fender

Number of Frets:
22

Nut Width:
1.650" (41.9mm)

Nut Slot Style:
1/8" Nut Slot (Standard Fender)

Heel Width and Type:
2-3/16" (55.55mm) Rounded Strat

Truss Rod Type:
Dual Acting w/4mm Hex Adjust @ Heel

59 Truss Option:
Standard Positioning

Shaft Wood:
Roasted Birdseye Maple 5A Premium (always wanted but never had a Birdseye Maple neck - not dissapointed!)

Fingerboard Wood:
Indian Rosewood Dark

Fingerboard Style:
Slab (Standard Fender)

Fingerboard Radius:
9-1/2"

Fingerboard Edge Style:
Semi Rolled Fingerboard Edges

Tuner Hole Size:
1/4" X 11/32" (Kluson 2 Step)

Top Inlay Type:
1/4" Dots (Real Aged Clay)

Side Markers:
Aged Clay 2mm

Side Dot Location:
50/50 Split (Finger Board Wood and Shaftwood)

12th Dot Spacing:
Wide (Vintage Style Pre 1964)

Fret Size and Type:
7105 Stainless (Medium)

Skunk Stripe Option 2pc:
None

Back Profile Shape and Size:
C 90 99

Binding:
NONE

Tuner Install:
Supply and Install Kluson Tuners

Nut Installation:
Install Slotted Bone Nut

Finish:
Aged Oil (Best on Figured Woods) ($60.00)

Fingerboard Finish:
Oil on Rosewood Boards ($25.00)

Neck Mounting Holes:
Drill Neck Mounting Holes Standard Fender Pattern

Graphite Reinforcing Rods:
None

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Veitchy
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Veitchy » Tue Jun 28, 2022 3:24 am

I've never seen birdseye look like that - the figuring is wider than usual. It looks great.

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Surfysonic
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Surfysonic » Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:52 pm

Cheers, Veitchy! 8)
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Norrin Radd
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Norrin Radd » Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:01 pm

Spectacular! Those specs are similar to my Musikraft JM neck - 8)

I just finished a Jag build with a Musikraft neck and a Bloomdoom body. Couldn’t be happier. Looking forward to seeing this on progress as the parts roll in. :)

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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Surfysonic » Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:09 pm

Norrin Radd wrote:
Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:01 pm
Spectacular! Those specs are similar to my Musikraft JM neck - 8)

I just finished a Jag build with a Musikraft neck and a Bloomdoom body. Couldn’t be happier. Looking forward to seeing this on progress as the parts roll in. :)
Awesome - look forward to seeing your Jag build! Thanks! :)
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Surfysonic » Thu Aug 25, 2022 8:44 am

MJT body is arriving (hopefully) tomorrow! Here are the specs:
Model Type: VTJ

What details would you like to add to your order?: Swamp Ash, Blond, Light Wear, Light Checking
Photos from MJT:

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I haven't made a final decision regarding pickguard choice. Of the current pickguards I have on hand, the cream pickguard and a dark red (burgundy) tort are my best options. I've already got 3 other Jazzmasters with mint pickguards, so I'd like to pass on mint for now. I don't think pearloid would work but maybe aged pearloid could - I guess I'm concerned it would look too busy.

I have a Squier J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster anodized gold guard but it's overly saturated (very orange-ish) and I don't think it will work.

Ideally, I'd like to get a toned down/subtle anodized gold pickguard but I'm unable to find one - none seem to be available @ WD Custom Pickguards or Stratosphere. I'm hesitant to get something off of Reverb from unknown sellers.

The pickup covers I'll be using are black, so I'm initially leaning toward the cream pickguard until I can find a decent anodized gold pickguard.

I love Spitfire pickguards but I've already got 3 guitars and 1 bass with them so I'm very open to decent and less expensive alternatives.
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Embenny » Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:08 am

Wow, that neck is stunning.

Given how dark the neck is, I think a darker pickguard would suit it well. What about a black guard - maybe even an anodized aluminum one?
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Maggieo » Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:27 am

That is GORGEOUS!!! :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :? :? :? :? :-* :-* :-* :-*

I'd be tempted to get one of those necks, but without the rosewood, kind of like the St. Vincent MMs.
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Surfysonic
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Surfysonic » Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:46 am

mbene085 wrote:
Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:08 am
Wow, that neck is stunning.

Given how dark the neck is, I think a darker pickguard would suit it well. What about a black guard - maybe even an anodized aluminum one?
Thanks, Mike! I would definitely consider a darker pickguard like black anodized or bakelite if the pickup covers were white or cream. I want the black pickup covers to "pop" with the pickguard, not so much blend in with the pickguard.
Maggieo wrote:
Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:27 am
That is GORGEOUS!!! :w00t: :w00t: :w00t: :? :? :? :? :-* :-* :-* :-*

I'd be tempted to get one of those necks, but without the rosewood, kind of like the St. Vincent MMs.
Thanks, Maggie! I am super impressed with the Musikraft neck and will be using them again for a future build - like a maple Jazzmaster (boat) neck. 8)
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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by fuzzjunkie » Thu Aug 25, 2022 5:30 pm

It wasn’t a JM but I saw a see through blonde Stratocaster recently with a gold anodized guard. It would be easier to get one for a JM than a Strat, which was CS.

Edit: The Strat looked good, it almost made me like a Stratocaster

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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Thu Aug 25, 2022 6:29 pm

fuzzjunkie wrote:
Thu Aug 25, 2022 5:30 pm
It wasn’t a JM but I saw a see through blonde Stratocaster recently with a gold anodized guard. It would be easier to get one for a JM than a Strat, which was CS.

Edit: The Strat looked good, it almost made me like a Stratocaster
Not to detail, but sometimes the right strat has it.

With that said, I can’t wait to see this build complete. Gonna be great

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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by marqueemoon » Thu Aug 25, 2022 8:41 pm

That looks great. I would definitely do black anodized for the pickguard.

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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by Zork » Fri Aug 26, 2022 1:17 am

For anodized guards, Herad is the way to go. Great quality, does custom work, overall super nice dude, fast shipping.

I ordered control plates for Bass VI from him twice, but others commented on the forum that the JM guards are superb, too.

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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by MayTheFuzzBeWithYou » Fri Aug 26, 2022 2:08 am

Zork wrote:
Fri Aug 26, 2022 1:17 am
For anodized guards, Herad is the way to go. Great quality, does custom work, overall super nice dude, fast shipping.

I ordered control plates for Bass VI from him twice, but others commented on the forum that the JM guards are superb, too.
Yes.
+1!
I have several Jaguar guards and a guard for my customesque Telemaster. Great to deal with! Great products!

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Re: Surfysonic's Dream Custom Jazzmaster Build...

Post by repoman » Fri Aug 26, 2022 5:04 am

That blonde paint :? :? :?
That birds eye neck looks fantastic too.
I'm imagining that blonde body with a white pickguard like those old telecasters! :w00t:

I learned an interesting tidbit about birdseye about how it's formed-
all those little eyes are attempts by the tree to start new branches that wither and die. Birdseye trees are just regular maple that are placed in bad areas for growth, if they are cramped by a lot of other trees for competition of sunlight, low pockets in forests or other geographic features that create low amounts of sun for them.

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