Solo JM Style DIY Electric Guitar Kit
Copyright © 2011 Solo Music Gear. All rights reserved | v1.02
tuner and install through the headstock from the back, placing the washer over the post, and threading the hex barrel
nut so that it is finger tight. Install all 6 tuners in the same fashion. Now flip the guitar over and align all the tuners so
they are properly aligned. If the screws are pre-drilled, you can align each tuner to its respective hole, but if not...align
all the tuners to your satisfaction and make a mark on the back of the headstock with a pencil or awl. Drill pilot holes for
all the screws, install the screws and then tighten the hex barrel nuts with a wrench or socket.
STEP 3 –Installing the Bridge and Tailpiece. The JMK-10 has one set of bushings included in the kit for the bridge. Before
installing the bushings, take the red ground wire, strip 3/8 - 1/2" of bare wire, and insert the opposite end into the hole
that goes between the bushing hole and the control cavity. Leave only the bare wire in the bushing hole. Take the two
bushings with the narrow post on top and press into the two holes close to the pickup cavity. Make sure the bushings
are pressed in completely to the shoulder on the top edge of the bushing. You can press these in with an arbour press, a
drill press, or by tapping them in with a hammer. We suggest using a hollow tube or something like a socket to sit on
the shoulder of the bushing, to prevent damage to the post. The Tune-o-Matic bridge sits on these two posts loosely, so
we will install the bridge when we are ready to string the guitar. Screw the JM Trem Tailpiece into place with the
appropriate screws and pilot holes.
STEP 4 –Wiring. All of the controls and input jack are mounted to the pick-guard. Take the wiring diagram at
the back of this manual, and install the 3-way switch, volume, tone and input jack. Following the diagram,
solder all the connections. The pickups mount directly to the body. Temporarily attach the pick-guard to the
body to properly locate the pickups, then mark or start the two mounting screws for each pickup. Remove the
pick-guard and install the pickups with the supplied springs or foam between the pickup and the body. Solder
the pickup wires as per the wiring diagram. If you are inexperienced with the soldering process, enlist a friend
who is, or an expert to assist in completing the wiring. When you are finished, test your connections...and if
you are satisfied, solder the bridge ground in place and screw the pick-guard to the surface of the guitar.
STEP 5 –Extras. Take a moment to ensure there are pilot holes for the strap pins. If not, locate and mark these
screw locations and pre-drill as necessary. The strap pins can be installed now.
STEP 6 –You are now ready to install your strings. Just before you start, it is a good idea to treat the fret-
board with a light oil. This keeps the fret-board from shrinking and cracking, plus reduces discoloration and
dirt from entering the pores in the wood. You can purchase fret-board oil, or you can use any light non-food
oils, like tung oil or walnut oil or lemon oil.
The strings are numbered from the thinnest to the thickest from 1-6. (This means the top string when you are
playing the guitar is the thickest and is number 6) In standard tuning the open notes are 1-E, 2-B, 3-G, 4-D, 5-
A, 6-E. First, install the bridge on the two bridge posts with the screws facing away from the pickup. The JMK-
10 comes with a JM Trem Tailpiece. The small plate sticking up at the back of the plate has 6 holes to anchor
your strings. The strings are installed by inserting the bare end through the appropriate hole at the back of the
tail-piece and stretching the string over the appropriate saddle, nut slot and then onto the tuner. Winding the
string onto the tuning post can be accomplished in various ways....you may already have your own preferred
method, or you may defer to a friend or expert to show you the correct method. Having the proper number of
