EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 01:09 PM
I took an old no name parts guitar and modified it with Mojo Jazzmaster pickups and a custom made pick guard I cut on my CNC machine.
It's a combo of a Strat and a Jazzmaster now and so I call it my Jazz-O-caster
The stock Strat threaded trem arm is sloppy at best, so I got rid of it.
I modified the trem block and made a custom trem arm.
I added Graph tech saddles which I really like.
The guitar came out pretty cool and sounds great.
I attached a pic of it
This is the first recording I did with it.
It's called "Surfer Girl" by Chris Blackwell.
The original tune is 120 bpm but it felt way too slow to me.
I added an intro and changed some parts around.
I liked the middle pickup switch position with both pickups and so I did this version at 150 bpm
http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/files/SurferGirl_150bpm.mp3
Here's the first test I did at 120 bpm just to get some guitar sounds
http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/files/SurferGirl_120bpm.mp3
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
Last edited: Nov 11, 2015 13:11:01
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Nokie
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 550
So Cal
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 01:41 PM
That sounds real good! I do hear a bit of Jazzmaster tone there but the increased sustain of the Strat bridge style must be restricting a full-on Jazzmaster sound. It's not full-on Strat either. Congrats on your good work! -Marty
— "Hello Girls!"
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 01:49 PM
Thanks Marty
The big plus of the Strat bridge is that the bridge is much more stable and useable that a Jazzmaster bridge
I had a 66 Jazzmaster that I modified extensively to get the bridge to be stable and stay in tune.
It still was not that comfortable to play compared to my Strats.
I know people mount different bridges on Jazzmasters, but I already had this guitar laying around and so it got a custom mod.
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
Last edited: Nov 11, 2015 13:49:45
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Ron
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 73
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 01:50 PM
I enjoyed both versions. Your guitar looks and sound fantastic also.
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 01:55 PM
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1275
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 01:58 PM
Really cool build, congrats! Love that tone too, sounds great.
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 02:01 PM
Thanks, It's my new Favorite bastard guitar.
I got so spoiled with the precise trem action on my Ibanez Satriani guitars
I had to do something about that horrible threaded Strat trem arm
It's solid as a rock now
Still workin on getting the new bone nut to slide better
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 02:16 PM
I guess the guitar mod stuff should go into the gear board but I have the recording links here
Here's the Strat Bridge mod I came up with
I drilled the stock threaded hole out to accept a 1/4 inch thick steel rod
I turned the rod on my lathe so it would accept a nylon standoff
The standoff is split on one side so it can snap onto the arm grove
This keeps the arm from swinging too loosely in the bridge hole
My Ibanez guitars use something like this and it works great
Plus it's easy to replace the nylon standoff and they are cheap
I then bent the trem arm in a vise to the shape I wanted.
The stock strat bridge arm hole is drilled at an angle, not parallel to the string holes.
So my 1/4 inch grill came out the lower edge of the block
Then I ground down the edge of the block with the arm in place
The arm has a flat spot that matches the trem block grind
I drilled and tapped a hole for a small screw
The screw holds a piece of nylon that acts like a spring to return the arm to a level position
The plastic piece is flexible but springy
You can rotate the arm and the piece moves up but tries to pull the arm back to zero.
Here's some pics of the mod
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
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SilverFlash
Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 478
Near Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 02:37 PM
That's a really cool looking guitar and it sounds great. Way to think outside the box. (Jazzmaster pickups in a STRATOCASTER? What next? Dogs and cats living together?) I may have to try a Jazz-O-caster project myself.
Surfer Girl at 150 bmp ...hmmm. The arrangement, sound and execution are flawless. I certainly enjoy both, but I prefer your 120 version. It may be just because I've gotten used to the slower version, but there is something about how the more relaxed pace reflects the mental image I've created for my perceived mood of the tune. The quiet sadness of a day at the beach ending, the surfer girl straddling her board against a setting sun, bobbing in the water and waiting for the last good wave. But that's just me, bravo on both versions and congratulations on a killer guitar. However, if you ever record your full arrangement at 120 bmp, be sure to post it here.
Tim
— -Tim
MyYouTubeChannel
My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline
SSS Agent #777
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 02:42 PM
I probably had too much coffee today 
The bitch is that the body needs extensive routing and the pick guard is just barely wide enough for Jazzmaster pickups
I started with a blank Strat pick guard and cut the jazzmaster holes on my CNC machine
I also routed the Strat body on my CNC machine
It was a bunch of work, but it came out great
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
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shake_n_stomp
Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 615
Vancouver BC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 03:02 PM
Well done. I really enjoyed that, especially the first sound file. Those JM pickups sound nice. Woody low end, sproingy, mellow top end, but with enough cut. To my tastes, it is a nice hybrid without "missing" anything to my ears (perhaps JM experts would disagree)
I am primarily a Strat player and found that sweet 'middle' sound when wiring-in a neck-on mini toggle.
Leading up to my recent purchase of a CP Jazzmaster, I definitely thought of going your route.
How much routing did you have to do on the Strat body to accommodate the JM pickups?
— Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 03:48 PM
Thanks
The routing was huge
Picture a single coil strat pickup sized hole and then the Jazzmaster pu sized hole
Plus the JM pickups have those extended screw mounting ears that have to be routed
I thought I took some pics of the body after I finished routing it
I'll find them and post them
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 04:20 PM
By the way, the pickups are 59 JM clones wound by Mojo
They are reversed wound so that the middle position is hum cancelling
The middle position is very quiet
Here's the link to Mojo's web site with info about the picups
http://www.mojotone.com/59-clone-jazzmaster#.VkO-wvmrS9I
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
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Nokie
Joined: Oct 06, 2008
Posts: 550
So Cal
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 05:45 PM
EL34 wrote:
Thanks Marty
The big plus of the Strat bridge is that the bridge is much more stable and useable that a Jazzmaster bridge
I had a 66 Jazzmaster that I modified extensively to get the bridge to be stable and stay in tune.
It still was not that comfortable to play compared to my Strats.
I know people mount different bridges on Jazzmasters, but I already had this guitar laying around and so it got a custom mod.
Indeed, I believe there exists at least one entire forum topic dedicated to the troubles and potential fixes with the JM whammy. Most of us have an easier time with the Strat whammy and I see you've taken that a step further. The one advantage to the JM whammy set-up is the reduced sustain - which is only an advantage when one wants reduced sustain. I suspect that the JM's lack of sustain also contributes to its unique tone. Otherwise your new build has all the right JM factors, in particular the same scale length, pick-ups and tone pots. -Marty
— "Hello Girls!"
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 11 2015 05:52 PM
Thanks for the info Marty,
I always liked the body shape and sound from my 66 JM
I just wanted to get that JM middle pickup tone again.
This guitar gave me something very cool indeed
— My Music recordings - http://el34world.com/Misc/Music/music1.htm
My YouTube Videos - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLACF3A52140161B33
My Guitar amp forum - http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php
Last edited: Nov 11, 2015 17:52:48
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Nov 12 2015 05:29 AM
According to internet sources! The Jazzmaster pickup compared to a Stratocaster is over overwound hot however the wider magnetic focal point of JM also creates mildness. So you get both aggressive and mildness at the same time. I think I can hear a little of that.
I enjoyed listening to your tunes. 
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 12 2015 05:58 AM
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Nov 12 2015 06:49 AM
Sound great and looks beautiful. My first reaction was: why didn't I think of that? It's only logical to combine a great guitar with some great pick ups. Good job!
Last edited: Nov 12, 2015 07:26:40
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EL34
Joined: Jul 02, 2013
Posts: 79
Pisgah Forest, NC
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Posted on Nov 12 2015 06:53 AM
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