Pablos Jazzblaster

About 6 months ago I purchased a set of Fender wide range pickups planning to put them in my TL1. Stupid me didn't realise they were not standard humbucker size. I decided against rerouting the tele and keep them for something a bit more special. I've wanted a jazzmaster for ages and, being ridiculously picky, the JM kit just wasn't doing it for me. So, after a few months of planning and a few days of actual activity, here we are. My first scratchy (body anyway).

Inspiration for this build comes from a bunch of different places, Sonic Youth is an obvious major one, but also a build series on YouTube by Tom Chiiron. Along with a few of my own preferences of course.

A pine body seems to be the general consensus for a first build (cheap, easy to work), so we got me some pine and glued some bits together.
http://i.imgur.com/0CbIChAh.jpg
Luckily I was able to avoid the nasty knot.

As the plank I got wasn't perfectly straight, the bits didn't marry up exactly right. Instead of trying to sand it down level, I discovered a workshop over the road from mine with a thickness planer. Score! Planed down to 42mm and perfectly flat on both sides.
http://i.imgur.com/YJL6y6Dh.jpg

Traced out my template and roughly bandsawed into shape.
http://i.imgur.com/mdMS3Ibh.jpg

Attached the template and then routed the sides clean.
http://i.imgur.com/L4waLc0h.jpg
Nice.

Next up, drilled out some of the wood in the cavity so the router didn't have to work so hard.
http://i.imgur.com/A2NXPJAh.jpg
I should have done more. Oh well, learning lessons..

Finally, cleaning up the cavity.
http://i.imgur.com/teN6KAxh.jpg

And now I have to wait for the neck to arrive and hopefully the bridge not long after that. Exciting times! :)

nice one Pablo shape looks awesome. Welcome to scratchy world.
You will learn next time its easier to route the neck pocket very early so you have plenty of meat for the router face to rest on.
Good score with the thicknesser and even better you know the bloke who cuts templates !

great start Craig, makes me think I'd better get some of my templates into action

great to see a scratchie from you, will be watching this one for sure

This is shaping up to be sweet, will be watching closely on this one Pabs.

Looking great Pablo!

niceee. Love jazz shapes :D

Thanks guys. :)

Nice Pab , can't wait to see the finished product.

Looking great Pablo ,I'll enjoy this