JAYDEE OLDBOY + TI CUSTOM (ebony) build

Hello everyone,

I'm starting to build a Jaydee Oldboy No.1 replica.
I'm using my SG 61 RI for the body, but I've run into a problem with the fret scale.

According to the available photos of the Oldboy No1, it looks like it's 25.5, which is atypical for an SG. Gibson is using 24.75
I tried a lot of photos. But from the end of the fingerboard to the bridge position, the scale length 25.5 fits better.
Anyway, it can be calculated quite well based on the height of the pickup frames, which are 42mm (1.65 in)


I'm asking Jaydee Olboy owners what fret scale length they have on their instruments?

Thank you

AFAIK it was a standard Gibson scale length (24 fret board, though). You'll run into other problems like the zero fret, the electronics and finding that bridge... good luck. Would a scratch build not be a better option rather than hacking a potentially valuable existing one?

Hello and welcome, by the way

gitmohair said:

AFAIK it was a standard Gibson scale length (24 fret board, though). You'll run into other problems like the zero fret, the electronics and finding that bridge... good luck. Would a scratch build not be a better option rather than hacking a potentially valuable existing one?

Click to expand...

what do you mean with AFAIK? Idon't see problem with the zero fret, I already have the Jaydee pickups and the Shaller 456 bridge at home

"As Far As I Know".

If you've got those original parts I'm even more thinking a scratch buiild might make sense and save on doing a lot of irreversible work on a valuable guitar. Or even get Jaydee to build the thing... anyway, good luck with your project (I do mean it, I'm not taking the piss here). Photos as you go along would be well cool/received

EDIT: Jaydee still build these, but can't get the orignal bridges, so use Gibson ones... you, however, have the right bridge... they're a custom builder and would surely be able/willing to build you an OB (it's a standard model for them) with your bridge etc... worth asking them?

Yes they can, but I already made one SG and I feel like building another one. Also long waiting time for the instrument.
And the new replicas they are now producing are far from the original OB No1.

That’s great that you have that original hardware. Very interesting project.

I have done some scaling from photographs and it can work quite well but you have to allow for the possibility of anamorphic distortion and lens distortion particularly at the edges of a photograph - by the way that’s how Gibson got the shape of the ‘76 Explorer “wrong”! They didn’t have an original so they were working from photographs.

It seems to me quite possible that John might have offered 25.5” as an option, but it would be nice to get corroboration from another source (than the photos).

I agree this project is begging for a ground up build. The SG 61 is a fine guitar in its own right.

LPTDMSV said:

That’s great that you have that original hardware. Very interesting project.

I have done some scaling from photographs and it can work quite well but you have to allow for the possibility of anamorphic distortion and lens distortion particularly at the edges of a photograph - by the way that’s how Gibson got the shape of the ‘76 Explorer “wrong”! They didn’t have an original so they were working from photographs.

It seems to me quite possible that John might have offered 25.5” as an option, but it would be nice to get corroboration from another source (than the photos).

Click to expand...

Yes, of course, the photos distort. I've tried dozens of them. But the size of the pickup says it clearly - it's easy to calculate it by its size. I also have an answer from Diggins junior.

Is there anyone here who owns a SG JD Oldboy?

Sorry, it's been a long time.
Finally I chose the scale 24.75 and decided to make two guitars at once

Old boy + TI custom (ebony)

The bodies are ready. I'm going to work on the necks.

inlays, necks, headstocks and binding

coloring time

Excited to follow these builds. Fine workmanship on display here. Great choice rolling your own since you have the skill set.

Thank you, They will be beasts, I hope. I'm starting with relic on Old boy

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