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Post by sonicgator on Feb 16, 2007 9:23:21 GMT -7
After MUCH hacking around with this guitar, I've created my own Frankenstein! I didn't set out with this in mind, but the changes just kept coming until I have this setup. What was once this: Is now:
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Post by billyguitar on Feb 16, 2007 10:17:49 GMT -7
Yikes! You're scaring me!
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Post by sonicgator on Feb 16, 2007 10:18:47 GMT -7
Yikes! You're scaring me! Just wait until my next planned upgrade...a Super-Vee locking tremolo!
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Post by JebusCrebus on Feb 16, 2007 11:28:34 GMT -7
Sonicgator,
What was your goal when you set out? What are you using for a pickup in this?
[glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow]
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Post by Joey Beverages on Feb 16, 2007 12:38:07 GMT -7
I'm glad I waited until after I'd had my coffee ... that's enough to scare anyone ;D
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Post by propellr on Feb 16, 2007 13:06:09 GMT -7
Hey-- You could put some cheese and crackers in those holes and have snack time between sets!
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Post by sonicgator on Feb 16, 2007 13:50:56 GMT -7
Sonicgator, What was your goal when you set out? What are you using for a pickup in this? [glow=limegreen,2,300]-J-[/glow] Not that!!! OK, so here's the story: I set out to get a new pickguard for the guitar and wanted a humbucker route to use a Seymour Duncan Phat Cat in the bridge. I decided on an aluminum pickguard, but because the Strat is Korean made, it's specs do not match standard Fender specs, even though it's a Fender. Therefore, I could not use an "off-the-shelf" pickguard. I contacted a custom pickguard manufacturer who specializes in aluminum pickguards; he claimed he had an anodizing process that colored the aluminum itself and not just coated it. So after $100 spent and 3 weeks go by, my pickguard comes in. First, the pickguard was bent in shipping, so I had to "reform" the pickguard to flatten it out. Upon trying to install the Phat Cat, I realized that he cut the pickguard too small for the Phat Cat and only an uncovered pickup would fit in that slot; I stated in the order the exact cut I was looking for. Calling the manufacturer did no good as he would not return my calls. Anyway, I took out the Dremel tool, then routed it out myself ;D. Well, I didn't like the sound of the Phat Cat in this guitar...I loved it in my Mahogany Tele I had, but it just didn't sound right in this guitar...nor did my DiMarzio Norton. So I ordered a Lace Alumitone pickup, just wanting to experiment with it. Because the Lace Alumitones will not work in conjunction with other "normal" pickups, I decided to use this guitar as a single pickup guitar while testing the Alumitone. In the end, I changed pickups numerous times and have finally settled once again on the Alumitone. Because of the swaps, I grew tired of soldering and re-soldering, so I made a distribution block under the pickguard for all my grounds. If I change pickups again, I can just swap out the pickup with no more connections required. I guess I took some inspiration from Van Halen's Frankenstrat as the project progressed and ended up with my own crazy looking, but great playing guitar. I didn't set out to do this, but hey, that was part of the fun. As for the pickguard, I was so mad at having spent the money for something that was made incorrectly, that I just started hacking away. It's actually two separate pieces now, with one piece to simply hold the volume pot while the other only holds the pickup. Who knows where I'll next end up with this!?!? P.S. the marks on the body were made by dropping a metal Chinese medicine ball on it and creating spirals/divots in the clear-coat finish. ***Oh yeah, the black electrical tape is because the edges of the aluminum remained sharp even after filing them, so I didn't want to tear my hands up playing!****
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Post by Curt on Feb 16, 2007 13:52:03 GMT -7
Ok Eddie, when does the red spray paint and electrical tape go on?
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Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 16, 2007 16:35:00 GMT -7
GOOD LORD....YIKES !!! That one would be a story in "guitar mods that went bad " . It's a shame you had the problems but I'm sure with some further creativity you'll get it sorted out and working/looking fine , just look at it as a "learning" experience BTW, the fellow who made the pickguard never got back to you ?? Do you mind posting who it was so we are for warned and don't order from him . Sounds like the type of fellow I would want to stay clear of .
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Post by Shannon on Feb 16, 2007 18:46:58 GMT -7
I like how you disguised the volume pot as tone. That should keep would be guitar pirates at bay.
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Post by sonicgator on Feb 16, 2007 20:11:23 GMT -7
GOOD LORD....YIKES !!! That one would be a story in "guitar mods that went bad " . It's a shame you had the problems but I'm sure with some further creativity you'll get it sorted out and working/looking fine , just look at it as a "learning" experience BTW, the fellow who made the pickguard never got back to you ?? Do you mind posting who it was so we are for warned and don't order from him . Sounds like the type of fellow I would want to stay clear of . Haha! The funny thing is, I like the guitar just like it is now, except for a couple of things, including the Super-Vee trem I plan to add in the near future. I don't want to post a negative about a company on the general board, but PM me if you're looking at pickguards and I'll tell you who it was.
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