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Rainy Saturday Project - Blacked Out Jazz

tonedeaf

tonedeaf

Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2002
743
455
51
Martin County, Florida, USA
#1
I took a couple of hours today to "black out" my MIM Deluxe Jazz.

I changed out the tuners (Hipshot), bridge (Gotoh 201), strap buttons, string tree, output jack plate, neck plate, and control plate. I'd like to do something about the dot markers and edges of the pickguard, but I'm not sure what yet.

Then, I slapped some DR Red Devils on there. I think it came out looking really good; unfortunately, my photography leaves a lot be to be desired. I'm going to see if Mrs. Tonedeaf, who is a much better photographer than I am, will take some better ones tomorrow.

The strings are very much red, not pinkish as they look in this first pic:

blackjazz3.jpg


blackjazz5.jpg


On a side note, I really like the way these strings sound. Like many TB reviewers have already said, they sound new but broken in, right out of the box. Bright and alive but not zingy.
 
#8
I have a whole drawer of those old 5 1/4 floppy disk read/write labels that are black that I use to cover things like that. Just cut a circle out of one and cover the marker. Peals right off later if you want to change back. You can do two layers of the sharpie, if you're careful. Could stain the fret markers though.
 
#10
tonedeaf said:
I considered the Sharpie idea, but I'm a little scared to try it, for fear that it won't turn out well. Has anybody tried that?
Click to expand...

I've used art markers on pickguard edges, specifically an "evergreen" color which looked like mint green on the edge which is the effect I wanted. I found it could be scraped off easily with my trusty SAK if I didn't like it.

I don't know if a black sharpie will cover completely or not but it may make it darker so it doesn't stand out so much.

Can you try it on the back of the guard as a test?
 
#15
Keef,

I don't know if the pickguard is original or not. I got this bass in trade a few years back, and one of the previous owners had set it up as sort of a '75 reissue, with a block neck, pickup cover, and thumb rest. Maybe that included a new pickguard. It does look nicer than some other tort guards I've had, but I don't think it's vintage. I'll try to get some better pictures.
 

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