As often happens, this started from something small: the trem arm of my beloved CIJ has a habit of falling out the socket so I started looking through replacement bridge/tailpiece assemblies. I idly wondered how much it would cost to put one together from scratch using spares...

Depending on the pickups, I reckon it's around half what I'd have to pay for an AVRI in the UK...with the added satisfaction from a DIY project. Wiring and hardware is relatively easy to find, but my options for the body are either 1. importing one from the US, 2. getting one custom-made or 3. getting an unfinished one.

1. requires Evilbay and I'm not sure what customs would levy on it; the charges on finished instruments are fairly well-documented, but info on individual parts might be a grey area.

2. would involve Warmouth (again, customs might make this awkward), which means I'd have to go for their scratchplates to ensure a correct fit.

3. would involve the mess associated with painting, varninishing and drilling bridge posts in the right place. I've already talked myself out of that.

Assuming I get a painted lump of wood imported (with or without being charged), what other pitfalls and snags usually hit you with a custom build as you go along? I'll be using official Fender hardware for compatibility's sake (bridge, tailpiece, tuners, neck) but if any of you have met unexpected hurdles, I'd like to hear about them so I can plan workarounds or look out for something I haven't considered yet.

Oh yeah, I wouldn't mind opinions on the colour either.

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster/CIJ Fender Mustang -> TU-3 -> RV-5 -> OD-3 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> DD-3 -> RE-20 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-3

"...So now you know the true secret to great tone: all the espresso you can handle."

be careful with such projects, they're addictive;-) I've ordered three times at Warmoth now (and have got the next plan in mind for a while now) and I ended up with quite exactly the total plus 16%vat (I think it is called like that in English). I'm german but I suppose it should not be much different in the UK.

Finishing isn't that much of a problem especially if don't want a glossy finish.

by the way my jazzmaster is the one with the flower on the pickguard in the warmoth gallery:-)

I just want to say, that if your only gripe with your CIJ Jazzmaster is with the trem-arm falling out, you might want to consider one of Eric Brecht's (Guitar Tech for Sonic Youth and Nels Cline of Wilco) suggestions for keeping the arm in. Here's an article on that:

Eric Brecht's Jazzmaster Maintenance Tips


Additionally, if you already have a Jazzmaster, you may want to consider building a different instrument. Telecasters are great guitars for all styles of music (although yeah, no trem). Perhaps a Jaguar then? Anyway, just throwing that out there.

Thanks for the advice so far. Warmoth actually seem like a really reasonable option in terms of cost...with the range of finishes being a major plus point.

I must admit that although this is first and foremost a case of 'because I can' (as in, I have a soldering iron, screwdrivers and a few hours of spare time at weekends) I'd like to build something that sounds different from what I already have. I've never played a Tele that I've actually liked for some reason, but Jag would be nice...or, still taking the shortscale route, a cute little Mustang is an option. Straightforward circuitry too!

The JM trem arm is an ongoing issue but that article has some useful tips on it. Am I right in thinking that the US versions have a groove cut around the 'stump' of the arm where it goes into the body to give the teeth in the socket something to grip onto?

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster/CIJ Fender Mustang -> TU-3 -> RV-5 -> OD-3 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> DD-3 -> RE-20 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-3

"...So now you know the true secret to great tone: all the espresso you can handle."

I'm only popping in to add my 2 cents on colour:
Sunburst jazzmaster = snore
Olympic white jazzmaster = cool but there's so many other options.

Personally I reckon any if these look amazing on Jazzmasters and Jags:
seafoam green, candy apple red, lake placid blue, sherwood green metallic... or what the hell - if it were me I'd probably go candy purple from Warmoth but I know that's not for everyone.

Only other thing - a Mustang or Mastery bridge is a MUST.

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Crustaceo ergo sum

If I'm not mistaken, customs isn't as bad for "repairs" or "parts" so you may be good ordering from elsewhere. And lining up bridge holes sucks!!! I did that on an old Tele for a tune-o-matic bridge and it had dual humbuckers... Had to file down the saddles to get intonation.... Sat around for a while, was going to smash for a show until a friend saw it and had to buy it from me, as it looked like Joe Strummer's Tele, even though I had beaten it even more from hardcore shows.....

As far as Jazzmasters goes, I'm clueless, seen them, played maybe a handfull, but well, buy a natural finished body, sand it down, and paint it something obnoxious!!! I'd say a nice purple or emerald quilt like top would be awesome, just my preference.

I just can't believe the Queen still needs her afternoon crappy tea with the VAT from shipping....

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ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

The Customs breakdown is usually:

Item price
+
Shipping
+
20% VAT
+
Item-specific customs charge (3.5% of the sum of item price and shipping for musical instruments iirc)
+
Administration fee from the courier (be it Royal Mail, FedEx, Parcel Force or whatever).

The last one's the killer: working everything else out is straightforward, but basically the courier can pick any figure they feel like off the top of their heads without rhyme or reason. It's the "we will charge whatever the **** we want for the privilege of paying customs through us and there's nothing you can do about it." fee.

Whatever I do it'll be an offset waist model so I'll go for a Mastery bridge. Jags are a little complex wiring-wise so I'm now down to a JM or a Mustang.

I'm not a huge fan of garish colours though - I love sunbursts, but a transparent red or blue will be striking but would also show up the grain of th wood up close.

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster/CIJ Fender Mustang -> TU-3 -> RV-5 -> OD-3 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> DD-3 -> RE-20 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-3

"...So now you know the true secret to great tone: all the espresso you can handle."

There are some great builders on this forum:

OffsetGuitars.com • Index page

Check out their 'Dressing Room' and 'Library' for some reference material.

Good luck!

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I reject reality and substitute my own

Sadly, that's the truth. When you say "that's ridiculous I'm not paying that!" They say "fine, well I guess you don't want all this stuff you just bought then".
Bastards.

I sincerely hope you're not referring to the old Fender colours like Candy Apple etc as garish

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Crustaceo ergo sum

Nah, I quite like the colours like Dakota Red and the other 'car' paint finishes that Fender use. It's just the crazy swirly patterns and Gretsch-style glitter finishes I steer clear of...it's like dressing your instrument in a gold lame suit (which is cool for some but I prefer something a bit less ostentatious). The J Mascis sig JM for example had me thinking "just...why?"

A friend of mine has a red CIJ Mustang...can't remember if it's Dakota or Candy Apple, but it's a lovely little guitar and the combo of 7.25" fretboard and short scale makes it really comfortable to play. The lucky devil.

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster/CIJ Fender Mustang -> TU-3 -> RV-5 -> OD-3 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> DD-3 -> RE-20 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-3

"...So now you know the true secret to great tone: all the espresso you can handle."

This was why I was pissed at my woman for paying it when I shipped my own personal guitar over.... I wanted to argue with the bastards!!!

OP: And BTW, I have a guitar in a green burst that I love, do a burst in your favorite color!

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ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well