OK, not really entering the challenge but it's gives me a reason to document my first kit build and a place for me to ask lots of stupid questions.
So I ordered a Harley Benton "Jazzmaster" kit that arrived today.
Body looks OK. There are some black marks on it probably from when it's been clamped down for machining. So if I go for a natural finish I will have to sand it down, which I would have to do anyway since the wood sealer is unevenly applied and can be seen quite clearly. The body is surprisingly light.
The neck seems fine, and the frets are almost OK. A little bit uncomfortable on the edges but I can sort that out. It also fits quite tightly in the neck pocket so that is good.
The pickguard I got looks much better than the picture Thomann have on their website
Since it's my first build the plan is to assemble it as it is without any modifications and after that decide on if any modifications are needed. Right now the next steps will be to go through all the bits and pieces and check that they are OK and nothing is missing. I also need to decide on a headstock shape and what finish/colour to use.
Comments
I'd go for an off white / cream for the body, possibly lightly relic'd, and a standard large headstock.
good luck.
I'm guessing it will grow on you as it ages, and once the paint has cured fully, it will stand some buffing and polishing, and naturally age well.
I have a suggestion re- the headstock, which to my eyes anyway, looks a little primitive.
See if you can source a small piece of pickguard material to match, and design a plaque to just add something to the face of the headstock, it could be a very simple shape to fill in some of the space, but could be engraved to have a logo and would really finish off that end of the guitar.
I have done something similar with a large strat shaped headstock, by overlaying a tele design, and I'm not the first to think of it, it looks nice and nicely balances all the other stuff that goes on at the body end.
In time, all that paint will harden, and I'm sure the tone will improve as you get the setup tweaked, a guitar takes a few months to become itself, it is a great process.
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