JM-1 The King's 2nd PitBull build

[king casey]

Yes Simon, I think it should start with a decent quality bridge.
Measuring the current one, string spacing is all over the shop.

I'd probably be going back to almost bare wood as I'll be determined to get a blemish-free finish next time.

cheers, Mark.

P.S. The Wilkinson pickups have been less noisy this time due to copper shielding.
Yet another up-grade to consider....gee it never ends eh?

[Simon Barden]

I was more concerned with the overall E to E string spacing at the bridge. Normally one of two values, 'US or' 'Asian', with the Asian made necks/bridges being slightly narrower by around 2mm.

[king casey]

I need string spacing as I only pluck the strings with my fingers...and don't use a plectrum.
Fortunately not those big sausage fingers some blokes have however.

Current measurement is 5.5 cm across the bridge.
I can live with that.

cheers, Mark.

[McCreed]

Still not 100% happy with it so when time permits I'll probably have more alterations.

Looks good from my my house Mark!
I hadn't seen this post before so I read it all from the start. When you see a guitar that's finished (as in completed) you never really know what epic journey it may or may not have been through unless someone shares the whole story.

Now you've got me thinking about a JM build now, so thanks for that!

Did you fill in the route on the back as well?
Earlier this year I did a strat that was routed for vibrato and I converted it to a hardtail similarly to your JM. It didn't come out as flawless as I had hoped, but it was a good learning experience. If I do a JM, I think I would also make it a hardtail.

Cheers,
Mick

[RocknRolf]

Hi RocknRolf I'm still not happy with the finish over the various acts of surgery...
The re-filled tremolo rout and the filled in Jazzmaster style tremolo rout.
Eventually going to require a better quality bridge i.e.
https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...er_Bridge.html

Down-side with that though is 'top-load' strings only...and I went to all that trouble doing string-through holes.
cheers, Mark.

Ah yes, I had forgotten about all the alterations you've gone through. Would be a shame not to be able to use the string through option, especially at this point. I found out already with building guitars, when you go for one customization it atleast requieres another two custumizations down the line as a result, your's seems to be no different.

[king casey]

Thanks McReed and Rolf.
I'm so far down the track that I've started to forget what was modified.
I did fill in the rear rout...but it's also part of the 'unfinished' to acceptable part.
Despite all precautions is still fairly visible.


Next time I'll take to it with 'spray putty' and see if I can make it disappear.

cheers, Mark.

[king casey]

Now I've come full circle.
This was the original idea for a colour scheme.
As my TL was supposed to be this colour (and is now red) I think I'll settle for this.


cheers, Mark.

[Simon Barden]

Works for me.

[king casey]

Works for me.

Cheers, Simon.
It's going to get several coats of gloss clear but then given a 'matt' treatment.
I've taken to the pickguard with steel wool to give the whole scheme a 'workman guitar'.
Going to stick with the bridge for now as the Babiscz one's are a bit steep for me at the moment.
I was tempted to re-shape the headstock in the 'tele' shape to mimmic the pitbull JTL but I guess that's also a consideration further down the track.

cheers, Mark.

[king casey]

Since copper shielding, I think these pickups will remain for the time being.


that makes it the 100th shot of this build.

cheers, Mark