Troy VanLeeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age signature Jazzmaster in for a setup. The bridge pickup is a Curtis Novak. I really dig the vibe of this JM. Yet another guitar that was "play tested" quite a bit before it left the shop.
![2014 Fender Troy VanLeeuwen Jazzmaster [8.6 lbs] :: setup](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53dfcee2e4b0c0da377c65c7/1478985852642-D1Z9WDF93X5XUAHS75VY/20160825_VanLeeuwen_JM_bench.jpg)
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curtis novak
![Mastery, Lollar & Novak :: 2013 Squire Telecaster [8.7 lbs]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53dfcee2e4b0c0da377c65c7/1453991995372-MCF1CYBIAF2N9ON2BJC8/image-asset.jpeg)
A Squire Tele that recently got decked out with a new Mastery Bridge (and string tree), Lollar Special T pickup in the neck and a Curtis Novak in the bridge. Quality hardware like this takes a mediocre budget guitar and ups it's feel and tonal response considerably. She's strung with DR Pure Blues 11-50.
![Mastery Vibrato :: 1997 Fender Jaguar [9.2 lbs]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53dfcee2e4b0c0da377c65c7/1453991867385-OWUB30J94RZHVWDAGCH6/image-asset.jpeg)
This killer Japanese Jag has been in the shop a few times before. One time for a Mastery Bridge install, Lollar pickups installed and again for a Curtis Novak middle pickup install (here and here). Now it's back in for some finishing touches including new tuners, a Mastery string tree and a Mastery Vibrato (with UFO tip). All I can say is that this is one of the best, most versatile guitars I've worked on. The player that owns this guitar is a monster and I love hearing him play it when he brings it by. Dammit, now I need a 3 pickup (Lollar / Novak) Mastery Jag!
![#eb3mystery Semi-restoration :: 1970s Gibson EB-3 [7.7 lbs]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53dfcee2e4b0c0da377c65c7/1450361948259-A0FLI8CGUI75WY7R1HST/image-asset.jpeg)
A poor 1970's Gibson EB-3 that was crudely modified at some point. The mods included adding a P pickup, active preamp, moving the rotary switch, plugging some of the controls, etc. I ended up removing the preamp and rewiring the guitar as close to stock as I could. The rotary switch was returned back home along with adding back one of the volume controls. The tone choke was also long gone so I replaced it with one courtesy of Curtis Novak. The original 2 point bridge didn't allow enough adjustment to lower the action, so a new Hipshot 2 point Supertone bridge was installed. I will eventually group this project into one blog post, but in the meantime you can follow up here: #eb3mystery
The first day back from the long weekend rolls on. Jumping head first into the butchered 1970s Gibson EB-3 mess. Doing my best to get this back as close to stock as you can while dealing with an added 3rd P pickup. I also decided to relocate the previously moved rotary switch back home and add back original controls, so some drilling out of plugs was required. A Curtis Novak choke is going in (original missing), along with Emerson Custom CTS pots. What a mess!
Follow along with this #eb3mystery project here.