Jazzmaster VI
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2026 2:05 pm
This one is a long, long time in the making. I was itching for a Bass VI back when I was more active on the board and the only options were vintage, custom shop, or a hard to obtain MIJ. In the end I thought why not try and build a Jazzmaster VI and commissioned the body to be built and ordered a bunch of parts. Life got in the way and it has sat idle until recently. About 6 months after I bought the majority of the parts, Squier released their Bass VI model. A slightly different timeline and this wouldn't exist as that would have been a no brainer at that price point.
Body made by our very own Cooterfinger. Standard Jazzmaster pattern with the bridge and bridge pickup both set back. It's also routed for a HSS setup because it was difficult to plan for how it would come out. I had it painted locally in nitro with a yellowed LPB colour. I think it will age beautifully from here.
Neck is a USACG Bass VI neck with a 64 Jazz Bass profile and ebony fretboard. Some time a little before ordering this I got to visit a famous guitar centre. I think it was the one in LA with Johnny Ramones handprints in the concrete outside, so would have been with Fredo, Rochelle, Ultratwin. They had a beautiful 64 Jazz Bass for $10k and I remember thinking it was far too expensive, then until I played it. I'll never be able to justify that sort of outlay but it stuck with me as one of the nicest basses I've ever played.
Pickups are the Fender J Mascis signature set. Price point these looked to hit the sweet spot. I was struggling to find much at budget prices outside of ones lifted from a Squier JM, and even then they weren't cheap. At the other end you can buy plenty of sets for around £250 and still need the additional hardware to add an extra 10% to that price (foam, screws etc). These were a bit over £100 all in, with covers and all the necessary bits.
Rest of the hardware is pretty much all US Fender parts, bought when I started the project, except the bridge which is a Staytrem.
There's still a bit of work to do. String trees to install, the nut needs properly slotting for the wider strings, and a general setup. I'll also source some different knobs that suit the style and colour a bit better - for now I just used some Mustang types I had in the parts box. But having sat in unfinished in different boxes for 10 to 15 years its exciting to see this one finally together and thought it is time to finally share.
Body made by our very own Cooterfinger. Standard Jazzmaster pattern with the bridge and bridge pickup both set back. It's also routed for a HSS setup because it was difficult to plan for how it would come out. I had it painted locally in nitro with a yellowed LPB colour. I think it will age beautifully from here.
Neck is a USACG Bass VI neck with a 64 Jazz Bass profile and ebony fretboard. Some time a little before ordering this I got to visit a famous guitar centre. I think it was the one in LA with Johnny Ramones handprints in the concrete outside, so would have been with Fredo, Rochelle, Ultratwin. They had a beautiful 64 Jazz Bass for $10k and I remember thinking it was far too expensive, then until I played it. I'll never be able to justify that sort of outlay but it stuck with me as one of the nicest basses I've ever played.
Pickups are the Fender J Mascis signature set. Price point these looked to hit the sweet spot. I was struggling to find much at budget prices outside of ones lifted from a Squier JM, and even then they weren't cheap. At the other end you can buy plenty of sets for around £250 and still need the additional hardware to add an extra 10% to that price (foam, screws etc). These were a bit over £100 all in, with covers and all the necessary bits.
Rest of the hardware is pretty much all US Fender parts, bought when I started the project, except the bridge which is a Staytrem.
There's still a bit of work to do. String trees to install, the nut needs properly slotting for the wider strings, and a general setup. I'll also source some different knobs that suit the style and colour a bit better - for now I just used some Mustang types I had in the parts box. But having sat in unfinished in different boxes for 10 to 15 years its exciting to see this one finally together and thought it is time to finally share.
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