Building a Custom Jazzmaster style kit - from start to finish!

[@landonbailey]

*get the kit here SOLO JMK-90 DIY ELECTRIC GUITAR KIT* www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-jm-style-diy-guitar-kit-basswood-body-maple-neck-2/?ref=20676 *Guitar Maintenance Tools I use* --------------------------------------------------------- kit.co/LandonBailey/guitar-maintenance-building-tools *SamaN Interior Water Based Wood Stain* geni.us/SamanNavy In this video, I'm going to show you how to build a Jazzmaster style guitar from start to finish! This is a project I've never done before and I'm excited to share it with you. This is a great project for beginners or anyone who wants to learn how to build their own partscaster. After watching this video, you'll be able to build your own jazzmaster guitar! *Timestamps:* --------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Unpack and disclosure 0:50 - SOLO JMK-90 DIY ELECTRIC GUITAR KIT www.solomusicgear.com/product/solo-jm-style-diy-guitar-kit-basswood-body-maple-neck-2/?ref=20676 1:30 - Guitar parts overview 9:45 - Guitar Body Work DAY 1 12:42 - Guitar Body Work DAY 2 13:38 - Guitar Body Work DAY 3 15:50 - Guitar Body Work DAY 4 17:03 - Guitar Body Work DAY 5 17:59 - Guitar Body Work DAY 6 18:35 - Guitar Body Work DAY 7 19:32 - Guitar Body Work DAY 8 20:53 - Neck Prep - oil and fret check 21:44 - Guitar Assembly 35:47 - Guitar Setup 41:10 - Guitar Gallery 42:40 - Guitar Tones and Summary

[@tobystrickland5986]

Hey Landon Bailey! There is one guitar you need to checkout! Loog pro VI electric guitar brother!

[@johnny2796]

my name is johnathan, this video is so relaxing up until that point where i feel like i did something wrong. Thank you so much, i think i'm going to build my first ever guitar to learn how to play.

[@TheCommonSenseProfessor]

My students are building the Harley Benton Jazzmaster kit for a fundraiser. For the price I am totally impressed with that kit. It has P90’s too but no Trimelo.

[@landonbailey]

nice!

[@Sammywhat]

An interesting trick with a new build, or any new bolt on neck guitar for that matter, is to loosen the neck bolts slightly while the strings are tuned to pitch. What it does is it causes the neck to firmly seat into the pocket properly thereby making better neck/body contact. You don't need to unscrew much. They way I've heard is to loosen the bolts closest to the bridge of the guitar first, then slowly loosen the bolts closer to the headstock next. The neck will make a few clicky sounds at that point and will seat perfectly in the pocket. Tighten everything back up and tune it back up. One interesting thing is to see how far out of tune it was prior to tuning... that will give you an indication of how far out of the pocket the connection was. 🎸

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸

[@AdamWellsMusic]

I actually just did that earlier lol yes it was flat a few degrees when I retuned it. I just recently started buying cheap guitars and learning how to fix them up.

[@dejadejayoutube]

The flat neck pocket matched with a tunomatic bridge is a major floor in the JM design from the beginning, shims, as in big fat shims are sometimes required and can even be found on some Fender's/Squire's to this day. Understandably it surprises some folks because normally if you find a really big shim you wonder about the quality of the build and the way it has been machined. Almost all the higher end JM's now have a slightly angled back neck pocket to facilitate correct angles, action, and intonation, with direct neck to pocket contact from well machined components. (*i have nothing against thin shims btw:)👍) cheers for the vid, just trying to help out👍

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸

[@christopheraaron8299]

I've been using Tru-Oil to finish my builds lately. Love the way it looks and feels.

[@calbrockocat8728]

Sweet! I just got the new Harley Benton JA6CC in Lake Placid Blue. That one from Solo is beauty!

[@JMac.]

I’m just waiting on Tele kit from Solo to show up, and I’ll be staining and poly clear coating as well, and adding a custom vinyl wrap, based on my research, these kits ship with a poly resin coating that has to be sanded off before staining, that way the stain will saturate the wood. Cheers from the East Coast Landon!

[@landonbailey]

hey cool have fun!

[@JMac.]

@@landonbailey I will, thanks Landon!

[@Tboyhoot777]

WOW ... THE STAIN did what it was supposed to!! How many gray guitars have you seen in your life? I can't do this ..... good luck, you'll need it!

[@tmeyer2022]

Sanding wood finishes (most types) : - NEVER sand with a circular motion (usually leaves small circular scratches which show easliy on wood grain finish.) - ALWAYS sand back and forth in longitudinal direction (WITH the length of the grain.)

[@tmeyer2022]

Wipe-on Stains always go on thinner than brush on. At that, a Brush-on might have needed 2+ coats, depending if you want the stain opaque or semi-transparant. A benefit of multiple coats of wipe on is that the open pores of the wood (open grain) are 'filled', producing/allowing a smoother top-coat finish.

[@TFShaw]

Looks and sounds nice. 👍 I wish they had a Tele kit with string through body. 🤷‍♂️ Maybe someday.

[@landonbailey]

👍🎸😀

[@doctoribanez]

Its not bad. I appreciate the fact that you put this in one video and didn't drag it out over like 6 videos

[@landonbailey]

this is part 1 of 6! :P

[@valueofnothing2487]

That's an incredible price. The neck and frets look clean. If the frets are good, it would be worth it for the neck alone.

[@landonbailey]

the body is well made, along with the neck. I think those two pieces are worth the price.

[@geralddoyle5131]

Good job on finish.

[@landonbailey]

thanks! it ended OK!

[@SteveResor]

That turned out Really Really Nice.. If someone Wasn't careful They could end up learning something too !! Great color choice with the Blue and Red !

[@landonbailey]

it's Superman

[@PaulCooksStuff]

Finishing is the hardest part. Maybe they ship them with sealer on the body. That might explain why the stain didn't want to stick.

[@landonbailey]

says it has a poly coat

[@jchavins]

@@landonbailey yes if you're going to leave it natural....the sealer seal the wood and won't let the stain penetrate. If you're going to do this type of stuff buy a LPHV spay gun kit from Sprayit.....

[@smartmammal9926]

Still working on mine. The finish is taking a while. You have sealer on it, that is prohibiting the stain.

[@landonbailey]

have fun!

[@garyanthony8044]

Looks and sounds great! Do it again! I mean if you want to, no pressure.

[@txkflier]

Oh, yeah. Those round do-hickies with threads on the inside and six flat sides on the outside are nuts. Same goes for you.. 😊

[@Charles75N]

Looking forward to it.

[@landonbailey]

👍🎸😀

[@papablue3015]

Jeeg? You meant "Do Hickey" I believe? Glad to have helped! Thanks

[@landonbailey]

Yes! Thank you!

[@tobystrickland5986]

@@landonbailey I like to use the word" thing-ama-gegie".

[@jimmyjimmy951]

The fret board looks like my 2005 Squier Standards. Very cool looking grain.. And “ hey, I made it this far and to the end. Great video..👍🇦🇺

[@landonbailey]

Right on!

[@plane_guy6051]

Debbie Downer here -- You can buy a finished Squire for about the same price or even less, but I could see a person on methadone doing this to keep their hands busy :-)

[@clintbeast-bud8119]

hey! I made it this far, I'm no rookie! good new years dude!

[@thseed7]

Bought an Epiphone Les Paul Special last year to try a P90 guitar. Added some quality pickups, components and hardware for comfort and It's now one of my favorite guitars. The P90 growl is kinda great. Been considering a Precision Guitar Kits or Solo Special build using all the parts.

[@landonbailey]

Very nice!

[@danielstryhanyn7278]

A great build. The pickups sounded good.

[@landonbailey]

👍🎸😀

[@stevelaferney3579]

@@landonbailey Cool guitar video and guitar Thanks Alan Don Bailey AKA Landon Bailey. I hate the program that thinks it knows what I want to write and spelunk AKA spell.

[@jonjones655]

Yes, Always respiration. I had to get my sinuses drilled out from wood working on guitars. Also putting a handle on the body in the neck pocket would make the sanding easier.

[@landonbailey]

Good tip!

[@kevinfitzpatrick9537]

Black stain first will make grain pop

[@rexrathtar3893]

List of best bits. Rocky: the bit when he did the boxing. Harry Potter: the bit when they did magic. This video: the bit when you built the guitar. Can't believe you tore strips out of Hockey Night but let MTV live. Call yourself a Canajun? Fun video. Thanks for putting so much effort into it.

[@landonbailey]

😛👍

[@robertgallagher2226]

I just asked Santa Claus for the sunburst Tele kit. Great build. Love the stop motion

[@landonbailey]

Cool, thanks!

[@DaringDan]

Kits are so fun. Cheers. Looks fantastic.

[@landonbailey]

Thanks 👍

[@craigkaschan4822]

Nice work mate. Forgot to paint shielding in the cavity.

[@landonbailey]

Thank you! Cheers! I chose to leave it out :)

[@leftyo9589]

the stain didnt take because of the sealer they had on the body before you started. you sanded off what was on the surface, but not deep enough to remove it, hence the stain could not soak into the grain, as it was sealed.

[@Delzona]

Great video! I have a StewMac kit to build so it was good seeing the steps you went through. I’ve actually built two guitars from scratch and working on a third. So I’m familiar with building,but not from a kit.

[@landonbailey]

Id say Solo is the Canadian Stewmac equivalent

[@smartmammal9926]

Mine is pre-wired too but contemplating an upgrade...

[@landonbailey]

same kit?

[@blackwolf8044]

Made it to the end. Great vid

[@landonbailey]

Nice job!

[@noonesjedi8018]

Great video Landon. You're definitely an underrated creator.

[@landonbailey]

I appreciate that!

[@noonesjedi8018]

@@landonbailey Hey I made it this far! I'm no Rookie! It always made sense to me to place the bridge the way you did.

[@ilovejapanesemusic3858]

Great video! Especially the part about shimming the neck pocket, kind of validated things that I've done👌 I just like working on guitars ⭐pure novice⭐

[@landonbailey]

cheers!

[@angusorvid8840]

Cool video. I've always wanted a Jazzmaster, or Jazzmaster style ax. This might be the way to go.

[@landonbailey]

Rock on!

[@TedSchoenling]

need to sand the sealer off more than you did for the stain to take and then do a light coat of sanding sealer when you are done before the clear coat

[@eddiejr540]

Landon…I’ve always put the bridge on with the screws facing the pickup…because the saddles angle back…just like how a nut angles back towards the headstock…the strings lay in the saddles and angle back towards the tailpiece…but I’ve seen it both ways!!!

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸

[@eddiejr540]

@@landonbailey ….hahaha…dude, I’m still watching…haven’t finished yet!!!!!

[@edwardsmith9801]

I think you did a great job man. Looks good.

[@landonbailey]

I appreciate it!

[@johnbanks2275]

finally found the right wiring diagram for the jmk-90 jmk-10 uses the same diagram scott sent me the wrong one i knew something was not right i solder the blue to the volume pod then to the switch then solder the hot to the tone then to the hot on the out put jack u r done neck pick up termial 1 bridge to the right post solder the the ground wires to the switch finding the right specs took a while take care all

[@BearBearBearNERDFUN]

Well a Nashville style bridge faces the way you have it at 25:11 , But that's not one. that's a Epiphone style abr I think . So face the screws north towards the head stock if you choose . Thought I heard you say kit came pre coated with poly ? The reason you had problems with the stain is the guitar body came pre coated a real good sanding would have helped . And yes I made it this far lol well to the end great vid .

[@landonbailey]

ya I just did a light sanding

[@pacoruizserrano]

Nice work!

[@landonbailey]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ZitherBeast]

That had to hurt when you hit and cracked the screen while trying to install the string trees. LMAO~~~ The final build looks great, nice job man.

[@landonbailey]

no pain, I blacked out!

[@chasepaquette7453]

watched the whole thing seems like you struggled a lot with the stain but you managed so thats good

[@landonbailey]

true!

[@Charles75N]

Commented too soon. loving this video.

[@landonbailey]

😊 thank you

[@secretguitarlab]

Great vid, I enjoyed the commentary!

[@landonbailey]

Hey, thanks!

[@secretguitarlab]

@@landonbailey I received a comment here to "Massage me on Telegram you have won a prize" these spammers could at least get there comments spellings right. Hope those spammers aren't causing your subscribers any trouble!

[@soulgamblers]

decent sound!

[@landonbailey]

🎸👍

[@angusorvid8840]

BTW, I absolutely love the tones. I'm a big P90 fan and a big Princeton fan. Sounds incredible. Rock on!

[@landonbailey]

Thanks a ton!

[@soulgamblers]

Use Feibings Pro Stain for Leather and you won't have that kind of problem!

[@Jdaylily]

Not the hockey night in Canada shirt !! 😂

[@landonbailey]

it was worth it!

[@spokes28]

I think you ended up with a fine color. But it is unfortunate that the kit is a Solo Music kit. I think Solo is the only Kit company to put a sealer on the guitar body-the reason your stain was not absorbed into the wood.

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸

[@nieko3038]

Watched the whole thing. You schould get yourself a Harley Benton JA60 kit. For comparison. Don’t know how much Canadian moneys shipping is. Paid 90 euro for the kit and it’s great value. Added a cheap vibrato and roller bridge. Looked at this one as well. Being a cheap Dutch I went with the Benton. Cheers

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸

[@AdamWellsMusic]

This was fun!

[@calvinevans6347]

Diggin' the look!!!

[@landonbailey]

thanks!

[@pay9011]

That guitar looks likes the plastic army men I used to melt.

[@landonbailey]

they were red and blue?

[@sanozfamily]

With the grain! Every time you started sanding in a circle, I died a little inside.

[@landonbailey]

see the title isnt clickbait! 😁😆

[@thesullivanstreetproject]

@@landonbailey lol, perfect answer

[@christopheraaron8299]

That tool you called a tap is called an awl.

[@eddiejr540]

Landon….great vid…turned out quite nice and sounds just fine…I’m with ya on the finishing…I do not have the patience or skills for that…I’d have to do it the evh way and just spray it with a can of paint and call it a day!!!!

[@landonbailey]

Cool, thanks!

[@hAkonBore]

Your videos are wonderful to watch. This is KZbin gold right here. I’ve been hung up on Aerodyne Stratocasters for a while, do you have any experience with those?

[@landonbailey]

thanks! I have no experience with the Aerodyne stuff

[@mryumish1287]

29:30 -- You say the orange wire is ground and silver is hot -- but wouldn't the hot be the one that's shielded??

[@rodrich1644]

Would like to see you do a Stewmac tele kit.

[@landonbailey]

is there a certain kit?

[@tobystrickland5986]

@@landonbailey they have two telecaster kits at stewmac

[@thesullivanstreetproject]

I’d love to see you do a string-thru Tele kit or even a couple of different ones where you compare the quality of each. That way I can live vicariously through you since I’m both poor and lazy.

[@johnbanks2275]

i hope i solder everything right following your diagram to my 3 way switch i control the hum i get through the volume switch so hopefully when i put strings on this time i wont have to redo it i have power take care

[@joolz666]

I can't believe you ripped up your Hockey Night t-shirt. 😱That's been my favourite of your all the t-shirts you wear. R.I.P.

[@landonbailey]

it had some rips in the bottom. RIP rips

[@eugenebeecher7308]

Dont use old T-Shirts...they are linty-er than new. Get the "wiping cloths" at the hardware store. They are cheap, and made of new, cut up t-shirt materials...and have less lint. And yeah - make sure you put enough finish on before sanding - really easy to damage your dye/stain job - as you discovered. At least 5 coats...at least. And it will sand better if you let it cure a few days.

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸

[@M5guitar1]

2 minutes in and diggin it. I want to build a butterscotch Tele soon. Some other Tubes guy said to put grain filler first before your stain, or was it sanding sealer?....I forgot. That guitar sounds fantastic. Nice build. Would you recommend Solo for a Tele kit? FYi the opposite of grey really metallic gold flake.

[@landonbailey]

hey thanks! I didn't check out any of their other kits. If the quality and price are similar to this one, then I'd recommend one.

[@mattdoliver1984]

Are you happy with how it turned out Landon? I’m in the latter stages of a Mustang build that I’ve been slowly chipping away at for the last 12 months, I wanted to take my time with it because A. I was in no rush & B. Trying to find spare time when you have a 6 year old lad and that I work in the construction industry as a carpenter kind of puts you off wanting to have anything to do with wood as I spend and have spent 23 years doing something that involves wood daily. You get a bit sick of the sight of it, I have nightmares about parquet floors and panelled bathrooms 🤦🏻‍♂️ & have never been a big fan of guitars that are unpainted or finished in a way where the grain is a focal point....it’s just not for me. Anyway, I sourced all the parts online (Fender or licenced by) gotoh tuners, string tree & strap button, Seymour Duncan JB SH4 for the bridge, I’ve got a Mustang MIJ M69 pickup for the neck, which is going to be upgraded at some point, Staytrem bridge, home of tone Wiring harness and like I said hardware and all that is Fender. Literally all I have left to do is too finish the guitar, when I get some nice days with Nitro. The reason I wanted to do this build was because my last few guitars I’ve purchased have all had some minor flaws etc and I paid good money, so I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could get a factory finish and I must say so far it’s been one of the best endeavours I’ve been on and am already planning my next build which will be a Jazzmaster or Jag👍🏼👍🏼 Wish I could show you some pics man. Oh and the pickguard I’m about to order is a beautiful Red Tortoiseshell from Advant Guard, check those things out if you’ve never seen them they are amazing, trying to get red tort at the minuet seems impossible in the UK and I’ve a red pearl one on it atm and it just doesn’t cut it. And lastly it’s too Kurt Cobain specs, another project I’d like to do and I have the body for it already is a Jagstang build .....BUT! And I’ve not seen one yet.....in the Competition Burgundy Burst, I think it would look amazing 👍🏼👍🏼

[@landonbailey]

Thanks for sharing! 👍🎸 Ya I'm happy with it

[@mattdoliver1984]

@@landonbailey was a bit of a long winded comment but I was already committed, I may try a kit build at some point

[@Riverwind25]

Great video Landon. Thanks for showing the mistakes and how you fixed them. Stop drinking and sniffing the Poly. But very cool I always a bit wary of getting a kit but now I might just affiliate link one :) Hey I made it this far, I'm not a rookie.

[@landonbailey]

cheers!

[@jimmyjames2022]

Congrats on a JWD. Funny they give you a tiny stick of solder, when anyone with an iron is bound to have a huge roll of solder already. Finishing can be tricky, even Gibson guitars can have 'sticky necks' when they nitro over undried finish and it reacts to soften the nitro when warmed. Forums are full of people that say it's just sweaty hands, but I've experienced a proper Gibson 'sticky neck' and it's an own really annoying thing.

[@landonbailey]

cheers!

[@johnhowe4079]

Looks the color of a coffee table from Ikea, or at least in my mind.

[@landonbailey]

I don't think I've seen an Ikea table in those colours 😀

[@michaelscortez4341]

Dude that is mahogany what the heck are doing 😳

[@landonbailey]

I require more information

[@miguelmontoya1320]

If you had to rate it on a scale of Squier Bullet, Squier Affinity, Squier Custom Vibe to Fender Player where would it fall?

[@landonbailey]

Affinity

[@virgilgiordano4582]

You didn't sand enough to get whatever the factory put on the bodynext time sand with lower grit and work your way upto the 220

[@landonbailey]

thanks!

[@virgilgiordano4582]

Anytime,also that ground wires very important if it's not there and you touch your mouth to a mic you can die.

[@seanuvan]

Do you plan on any tweeks, or changes 🤔

[@landonbailey]

no plans!

[@TheMojoFilters]

My head's okay, thanks for asking.

[@landonbailey]

😛👍

[@kevincrampton]

Curious how long it took to ship this kit. I ordered a similar kit from Guitar Fetish and it took forever to ship.

[@landonbailey]

a week i think

[@johnbanks2275]

eh landon change your shims to a full pocket shim otherwise the neck will warp over time

[@landonbailey]

cheers!

[@ipuya]

Great video! I watched the entire thing while exercising! I've had it in mind to try a kit. Well i wanted to get the body from warmoth (maybe a thinline tele) and get a fender neck and P90s of course cause they are the best sounding pickups for me. So after doing this would you have done anything different? Like the color or maybe a part that you think needs changing?

[@landonbailey]

People have recommended that I should have sanded the body more initially to help with the grey stain

[@JackTheSkunk]

Is there any reason a Jaguar neck couldn't be used on a Jazzmaster?

[@landonbailey]

I don't think that would be an issue. just the scale length is different so maybe that requires some adjustments

[@mightyV444]

Hey! I made it this far! 😄

[@landonbailey]

Great job!

[@mightyV444]

@@landonbailey - Thank you! You, too! With this guitar build! 😊👍

[@justindeboer4512]

what's the final weight?

[@landonbailey]

7.5 lbs

[@johnbanks2275]

eh brandon i have the same problem with string action being to high on my jazz master kit from solo what degree of a shim did u se i hate that when its not mention important info thanks john

[@robraaiii]

Hey! I made it this far. 😉

[@landonbailey]

Great job!

[@astewart9410]

Noice!

[@johnbanks2275]

i had shim my neck as well i have three way switch different from yours my is the same kit figure that one out they even sent me the wrong directions REALLY

[@landonbailey]

I think my wiring instructions were wrong so I found the correct ones on their site

[@NoSignsOfPerspective]

What song is in the intro??

[@landonbailey]

it's from the KZbin library of free audio tracks

[@wallyneff3318]

What was the final weight of the guitar when finished?

[@landonbailey]

7.5 lbs

[@FRCMoto]

You should write "Landon" on the headstock with a permanent marker, eh.

[@landonbailey]

we'll see! lol

[@brunodelandev]

34:56 i had an Heart attack. 🤣 Well done.

[@landonbailey]

it's the most stressful part.

[@christopheraaron8299]

26:30 I made it this far. I'm no rookie.

[@R.M.Snyder5718]

Hey, I made it this far.

[@johnbanks2275]

lucky you i spent a 1000 bucks they left me out in the cold when i had trouble with jazz master that i bought no advice on anything to fix the issues i watching because close to what i have wont buy anything from them again

[@landonbailey]

that sucks. sorry to hear that

[@bomac06]

Hey, I made it this far.

[@landonbailey]

👍🎸😀

[@johnbanks2275]

anyone know a good canadian company for building guitar kits let me know thanks a bunch

[@BR4D_A]

Hey, I made it this far. I’m no rookie.

[@landonbailey]

👍😛

[@txkflier]

I made it all the way to the end. And then it ended too quickly. I needed a few more minutes..

[@landonbailey]

👍🎸😀

[@twostickersplease]

Just here for the comedy