Shoreline Gold MJT Jazzmaster REBUILD Finished Pg. 2

[HNB]

I saw this build on Reverb for a pretty good price considering the parts. Even with electronics sketchy from the listing, I figured I could sort it out. Here is the listing picture.

lhv2yzy8heufsa24a714 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

It arrived today. As it was, I could only get sound out of the rhythm switch it was seeming so I started taking it apart. While disassembling, I noticed the neck wasn't mounted straight. That happens sometimes with predrilled necks. I filled them so I can redrill and remount it straight. Love the feel of these road worn Fender necks.

IMG_20210929_201309 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210929_201326 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

I took off that no name tremolo and string roller and saw that the holes weren't drilled exactly straight, so I plugged those to redrill after I square off the tremolo corners. Going to install a Classic Player tremolo with the threaded arm and use an American Professional 52mm bridge.

IMG_20210929_201652 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Then I got to removing the pickguard and pickups. Copper shielding looks ok except it isn't connected to anything. It has Sunday Handwound pickups in it. (Wood Chime ones.) Saving those for another build. The wiring on this one was bizarre. I wanted to use a different pickup anyways, so I am just going to load a new guard. I plan on using these Revel WRHB style pickups I got recently. No idea on guard yet. It had a MONSTER huge ground wire to the thimble so I removed it and put a normal wire in. I already put on the dual design straplocks I always use. Progress!

IMG_20210929_201754 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210929_201713 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210929_201709 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[HNB]

Got to work on those filled holes. I used my 1" chisel to shave them flat carefully. Make sure you don't have your hand in front in case it skips so you don't stab your hand. I also go inward to make sure if I scratch, it is in a place that is covered.

IMG_20210930_064913 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_065145 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_065524 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Next I squared off the tremolo corners carefully to make sure it doesn't catch or rub. Always go slow and gentle and keep your other hand out from in front of the direction you are pushing.

IMG_20210930_065940 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Then I put low tac tape around the tremolo so I could trace the plate and mark the holes. Double check your corners and make sure the holes are equal spaced from the tremolo rout.

IMG_20210930_070106 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_070232 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Center punch your holes so the drill press has an easy start place. Then I take the tape off and drill press the holes to the right depth. (You can see how crooked the original holes were.

IMG_20210930_070518 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_071305 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Mounted the tremolo. Make sure your holes aren't too small. It sucks to snap off these screws. If it is hard to screw in, the hole is likely not big enough. Shouldn't need to wrestle it.

IMG_20210930_071323 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_071840 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Then I got to work on mounting the neck. When it was on before, it looked like this.

IMG_20210930_071914 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

I redrilled it so now it looks like this.

IMG_20210930_071918 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_072612 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_072623 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_072617 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

I figured out the wiring. They did two tone pots for the upper rollers and two volumes with the lower. The switch was up to on and down to mute.

I redid the work so now DOWN is on and up is muted with the switch. I also made sure the volume pots don't impact each other. I added my Revel WRHB wired in. (Not using this guard, but it helped me do the wiring.

IMG_20210930_082938 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_082946 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_082943 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

IMG_20210930_083015 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[Embenny]

Nice work. Coming together quickly, as per usual!

I vote for black for the guard, by the way. Parchment would be my #2. But when I had my gd AV65, I kept fantasizing about buying a black guard for it. I think that would look great.

[HNB]

With the white pickup covers, I am leaning to used white or parchment.

[Embenny]

Parchment is my #2. Mine came with an awful gold guard on it (well, a really nice gold guard, but awful on a gold guitar) and I tried a couple of guards on it and off-white worked better than white in my opinion. I ended up going with a very mild mint green because I had it on hand and didn't have a parchment, but I liked it much more than the stark white one I had to compare to.

[HNB]

I will hunt for a nice parchment one then. I thought simple guard on this to show off the gold and relic work. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I do.

[Embenny]

Just found a photo on my phone.

Believe it or not, this is mint. It looked fantastic on the gold, in my opinion. The bright white guard didn't suit it as well, and would suit your aged finish even worse IMO. But I'd buy parchment over mint, especially since mint can be really green depending on the brand and batch.

This one looked greenish if you put it next to the bright white guard, but next to the AV65 off-white plastic it looked just right!



Vs the way it came to me (seller's photo):



Totally agree that the relic will look much better without a busy guard. Pearloid is all kinds of wrong for that guitar.

PS this is making me miss that JM. Damn, was it ever an incredible player.

[s_mcsleazy]

cool build but god damn is that thing screaming for a black guard.

[HNB]

LOL You always want black guards.

That gold guard on gold is too similar in color. I think what you did looks better. I found a pretty thrashed parchment guard and ordered it. It is grimey and gross and perfect for this. I also ordered two strat volume knobs. I will dirty them up a bit also.

guard by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

[tequila_in_teacups]

LOL You always want black guards.

That gold guard on gold is too similar in color. I think what you did looks better. I found a pretty thrashed parchment guard and ordered it. It is grimey and gross and perfect for this. I also ordered two strat volume knobs. I will dirty them up a bit also.

This is the correct answer.

[s_mcsleazy]

LOL You always want black guards.

i'm just saying. on a lighter colour, black guards can add a nice contrast.

also i can't stand black guards on black guitars. looks wrong

[HNB]

but.....................

[parry]

I always have to double-take at the speed with which you turn your projects around. By comparison, I tend to move at glacial-pace
No doubt, this is going to be another great one!

You mentioned how bad it sucks, snapping screws... couldn't agree more. I've mussed-up a few new tuner screws - ugh - a little trick my luthier friend taught me, is to use a bit of wax. It keeps it from binding on the way in and allows you to keep your OG holes nice and tight. I now use this stuff and it works like a charm (smells great, too! haha)

[HNB]

I have read about using wax or soap. I used wax a couple times. Fortunately I haven't ever broken a tuner screw yet. Mostly it has been tremolo mounting screws and it was from not drilling a big enough pilot hole.

[JJCam]

I agree that the pearloid isn't right for this guitar. I think that mint looks fantastic. Cool build!