REFIT & RESTORE Episode 1: Discovery on a 1961 Fender Jazzmaster Guitar

[@danfrancisjr]

✓ happy ✓ healthy ✓ safe ✓ ready for *puisheen*

[@agenblr]

The 2 dislikes are guys that pawned their 61 Jazzmaster back in the 1980s for $35

[@jambajoby32]

Lmao

[@fixedgear37]

the good old days when I could buy that from the pawn shop for $125.. Now, thanks to all the 30 something "post hipster offset gurus" that same guitar can be sold to them for $15k

[@andrewmccarthy7548]

You could talk about how paint dries and you'd make it sound exciting. I think this long-format-multi-episode-restoration is fascinating and awesome! Great work once again man. 👌🤘

[@Puisheen]

lol I think I would bore myself

[@reinhardvanbiljon1]

The back of that neck just took me to another dimension.

[@danc.732]

Anyone watching this should sign up for Mike's Patreon. These videos are amazing, the Discord community is great, and it's great to support such helpful, welcoming, well-done work.

[@jltrem]

After discovering your channel I intended to leave a comment describing how an April 2017 Premier Guitar article titled "DIY: How To Set Up Jazzmasters & Jaguars" helped me so much after I'd purchased a Jazzmaster-style guitar. I found it invaluable. Thought you might find it interesting. Then I discovered you wrote the article.

[@Puisheen]

I'm so happy to hear this!

[@g.koch.]

Start an OnlyFans for Pancake 😏

[@Puisheen]

lol

[@geofflb6537]

I haven't got any vintage guitars, but I hope when my much loved AO60s Jazzmaster needs attention after I'm gone, in 60, 80, 100 years time, it finds someone like you. We don't own our instruments, just look after them for a while before they move on. Going to be a great series - thanks!

[@raynefaded]

That is a GORGEOUS Jazzmaster. Love that colour, SO MUCH.

[@_-_Michael_-_]

This week I bought my first jazzmaster. CIJ 2007 in White. I’m happy. Cheers.

[@mcfontaine]

I just love your knowledge and detail Mike. A true professional.

[@conorfowler]

Awesome, can't wait to see the rest of your work on this. Just signed up to the Patreon too, thanks for reminding us!

[@ChrisCanMakeStuff]

Rambo ran up the steps and Rocky hung out it the forest....

[@Puisheen]

WHOOPS I used the wrong take omg

[@Puisheen]

Yo Adrian they drew first blood

[@alexwashington8749]

I too prefer to use Rambo to Rocky correlative.

[@alfgwahigain5544]

That fretboard is gorgeous.

[@gregsofio275]

Mike - loved this episode! Very excited for the subsequent episodes featuring this restoration/cleaning/refret. I think you have a great plan for moving forward with it as well. Nicely done.

[@Duncanlinc]

I swear whenever you brought up Alton Brown and his influence on the channel, it clicked that you definitely have that presence when going in depth. You make learning and going deep really enjoyable.

[@NintenDub]

My biggest criticism is sometimes you just cannot leave things alone. And plenty of times you just absolutely must touch,change,poke around,disassemble and alter things that just don't need to be

[@FabianSalomonsson]

Yay! This will be such a good series.

[@thecaveofthedead]

It's going to be a fun and calming journey (for us at least).

[@Taallyn]

Looking forward the rest of the series.

[@leochang5284]

As a jazzmaster player. I feel satisfy. Keep up the great work! Love watching it!

[@kiff4701]

this is the first video I've seen from you and I subscribed after a minute and a half lmao. love your energy man

[@SD_Marc]

Great video, Mike! Super informative. You must still be on California time, because this vid dropped late in San Diego! Get some sleep, Buddy!

[@jimsgearbox2120]

At first I was like, “Woah, I have that same screwdriver.” Then, we saw that Phillips come out of the woodwork and I nearly pooped myself because I have that same unit here with my rig items. But, when that big old familiar flathead came out for a gulp of fresh air while getting in some screw time, I came to the conclusion that maybe you and Kyle are stealing my tools and touching my thermostat. I’m not sure where I stand on this. Best case scenario, you have good taste in Sears tools from the late 90’s. Worst case scenario, you have been in my garage and now I need to do a full inventory of my rig gear, especially my prized wide-format grommet collection from truckstop bathroom stalls across the Midwest.

[@TheScottJeter]

"get out of my toolbox" (I have two craftsman sets with those two tools in them)

[@pascalgalipeau1796]

Super interesting. Learned a lot. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@SIXX2772]

You rock buddy ...already love your channel!

[@Puisheen]

Thank you!

[@jaymehalas6509]

Hey Mike, Dan and Mick from That Pedal Show had a couple guitars refretted recently and the video is a great watch

[@turrlurr2043]

Hey man. Discovered your channel recently and I love your content. You're incredibly charismatic and have a personality that reminds me of someone who has a TV gig. I could definitely see you connecting with an enormous audience, including people who aren't necessarily interested in guitar. The first time I saw your content I couldn't believe you didn't have a much higher sub count. You will though, man, just keep it up. You're a great ambassador for the hobby and I love your focus on the offset world. "Keep Puisheen It" - Big Fan

[@theplourde]

I’m really wanting another Jazzmaster. I sold my 2013 Vintage Modified Squier a couple years ago to get out of debt and it still breaks my heart to this day. Hopefully someday I’ll own a Jazzmaster - the one you’re working on reminds of it by color and it brings back a lot of memories.

[@quitthecircuit]

A video on the the "Fret Workout" training process would be so helpful on Patreon or otherwise. Would be nice to see what your path to getting toned for this looks like. Before and After pics. You know. Also we are going to need a montage. Even Rocky had a montage

[@Artefracture]

Iron's grip matches the finish! Btw, snagging a loomer after seeing your vids.

[@pandorski35000]

Looking forward pour la suite, merci !

[@JohnSmith-ym4sl]

Love your channel and your playing and these long form repair videos are so great can’t wait to watch the series as the videos come out thanks!

[@jackgreenwood1817]

Oh yes Mike, this is going to be great! Can't wait to see the finished product, but more importantly I'm excited for the journey there :) I'd be hesitant to mess with the brass shielding plates though, it's not a very reactive metal and so once the surface has oxidised that's pretty much it forever. Shiny is good though, so either way it's fine 👍 Hope you and the family are well

[@Puisheen]

You're gonna be really surprised by the next episode then...

[@jackgreenwood1817]

@@Puisheen just managed to get round to watching ep 2. Wow those plates came up good, nice job :) I'm not sure if you have it in the US, but here in the UK we have a product called Brasso which is specifically for cleaning brass, slightly abrasive and sometimes comes with some fine steel wool for polishing. Take care Mike 🤙

[@BeesWaxMinder]

8:27 - it sounds wacky but seeing as the electrics have been messed with anyway I’d certainly try switching the pickups around and have the lower powered one in the neck and the more authentic one in the bridge… Might be a good sound!

[@obahrey5197]

I love your videos so much!!! I'm so excited for this series! I can't wait to get a Jag or Jazz soon. Keep up the awesome work.

[@xzatious]

Good thing those reverse compound radii never caught on.

[@Puisheen]

lol for real

[@briansimpson8116]

More like this one please

[@pharmerdavid1432]

I'm no expert, but that Brazilian rosewood fretboard appears to have been dried-out to the point of forming cracks, so instead of a smooth surface now it's all cracked-up. I'd put on larger/higher frets to get my fingers off of that, maybe 6105 size? Keep those rosewood boards oiled-up!

[@grantcindrich]

The Aberne beanie emote hits!

[@ThatMattGoodMusic]

Oh boy 👀

[@SarahEHowson]

Yassssssss. Another great video!

[@danielsgrunge]

that headstock looks nice

[@LotharOfTheHillPeople]

I feel like I would’ve just swapped the neck and bridge and called it good

[@chardschoice]

As the owner of a '59 refin, I found this episode quite interesting. Two questions: in your experience, which works better - the aluminum shield or copper shielding tape? And secondly, now that you have everything off the body, what does it weigh? My '59 is so wonderfully light, while a parts build Jazzmaster I made, feels like a brick in comparison.

[@Puisheen]

I think there's a negligible difference between copper vs the shielding plate on the guard. If you have the plate, no need to change that. Not sure what this one weighs as I don't have a scale. Not super heavy and not super light. Average.

[@hdsg8361]

Dude you need to do the qotsa jazz masters !!

[@jordanlee9246]

You need to rebrand these types of videos “This Old Guitar”. You’ve got a Bob Villa vibe lol (in a good way).

[@TheScottJeter]

Most folks do this sort of work on pawn shop level guitars. I only hope that people understand that you only do this with player grade guitars. If you do this (refinish which he didn't do, or re-radiusing the fretboard) with an all original vintage guitar, it becomes player grade.

[@SD_Marc]

Mike, if Pancake or Artoo had tuners fail, like fail fail, would you find vintage-correct tuners, or buy new ones?

[@Puisheen]

Good question! I keep a few sets of aged Gotoh tuners on hand for this exact reason. I don't know that I'd go all-out and try to find vintage or NOS tuners, personally. I can always keep the originals and store them, but the point of having the thing is to play the heck out of it so as long as a fresh set of tuners work great and don't require modifying the headstock, I'm happy. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen!

[@johngeddes7894]

This is most likely a metaphor for man’s inhumanity to man; initially a festering ooze, but hopeful of one day improving its own prognosis to a positive one.

[@pwhite102]

I'm curious how the bridge pickup would've worked in the neck if you swapped the two originals, but also it sounds like it would've been a little mild for your liking

[@kasselcompany794]

Can you identify my 1961 jazzmaster neck pick up..

[@cawtaba44]

Hi Mike! I joined the Patreon but I haven’t received an invite link to the discord group? How can I get there?

[@jasonslik]

Hi Puisheen!!! I was wondering what was the exact year that Fender started to paint the headstock? I have a Fender Jazzmaster AVRI '62 in olympic white and i want to paint it in candy apple red, so is it ok if i paint the headstock because i want to stay close to the year standards? Thank u so much!

[@Puisheen]

Matching headstocks start showing up in ‘62. And of course it’s okay, it’s a reissue guitar. Anything goes really

[@samwich852]

Hey Mike, great video as always. I've considered purchasing a Nash JM 63 but have seen VERY mixed reviews about them. Ever tried one?

[@Puisheen]

Yes, I am not a fan!

[@samwich852]

@@Puisheen Thanks for the reply! Any chance you could elaborate a bit on why that is?

[@elnachovi_plantix]

Hi Puisheen! have you ever tryied a GyL Doheny? what's your thoughts?

[@christianbeale]

what temperature do you run your soldering iron at / how long do you apply heat to the thimbles until they loosen up? i've got a JM with one mastery thimble that absolutely refuses to budge

[@probablyyourneighbororsome8412]

is this r2?

[@nate-orito7990]

Mike sorry I sound like a noob or something but does switching a neck for a strat with one that has a different nut width and fingerboard radius change anything? Or do I really need a neck with the exact same specs as what was originally on it?

[@Puisheen]

As long as the heel fits the body you're free to pick the nut width that works best for you

[@scottwatts6603]

If I'm refinishing a neck, what is the best method to preserve the date stamp on the neck?

[@Puisheen]

Generally I'll do my best to not touch that area if at all possible. Overspray maybe, but I don't strip the end of the neck

[@scottwatts6603]

@@Puisheen That's a good point. I have a Johnny Marr neck someone sanded the back of and I can't say I'm a huge fan of that job. Going to try to not have to sand most of it down but I anticipate it needing to be mostly stripped.

[@ambientsource7576]

Hey I wanted to Ask what you think about the Vintera '60s since you havent reviewed it theres one locally for 750$ I just wanted an opinion?

[@Puisheen]

I like 'em!

[@royalblue2229]

Woah does anyone make copper shields like that anymore?

[@Puisheen]

AVRI62s had them as well as AV65s for a time, but AOs all seem to have plates in the bottoms of the cavity now

[@royalblue2229]

@@Puisheen interesting. I’m doing a jazzmaster build right now and I might see if I can track some down. Thanks for the reply btw!

[@greasymonkeyguitars9292]

Body date of 08/1961!? lol, I was three months old then hahahahahahah! Dang I am old.......

[@Puisheen]

I just realized I missed Pancake's birthday, neck date of 2/61! It's so close to retirement now

[@scottwatts6603]

@@Puisheen "Man arrested for collecting social security on guitar he named Pancake"

[@Puisheen]

@@scottwatts6603 Lol

[@guitarsofold100]

man this guy should be a preacher !!

[@MidtownSkyport]

Rambo :D

[@Puisheen]

I just realized I used the wrong take omg

[@summerbrainrock]

"Muck and Mire" someone read Little Blue Truck :)

[@sharonlee4773]

why not just swap positions of the 2 pickups it came with??

[@Fattypatty2x4]

What’s a good bridge for a Mexican made jazz master. Can you put American made bridges on a Mexican made jazz master

[@Puisheen]

You absolutely can do so easily unless your guitar has an AOM bridge, which will require filling and re-drilling for the proper body inserts

[@Fattypatty2x4]

@@Puisheen thank you. I love your video’s.