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Post by bluzman on Sept 9, 2007 15:33:17 GMT -7
I have a very cool 1966 ES335. The pots are basically gone. It works wide open only and when you cut back on the volume even a little bit, on either pick-up the tone goes away and there are dead spots etc. The components are all verified with a mirror to be the originals. I LOVE playing this ax but I'm careful where I bring it, and at the same time, I'd hate to touch the guts even though I know I can do a good job...
Should I retire this beauty and leave it intact or keep it as a piece of art on the wall above an amp where I can play it occasionally!!
What would some of you folks do??
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Post by tweedpro on Sept 9, 2007 17:44:55 GMT -7
Take the originals out and put in new pots. Take the old ones and put them in the case. No one is going to buy an original guitar if you can't play it. I don't care what anyone says, if you bring this to a show or a vintage dealer and they look at it and then plug it in and it doesn't work they will give you less money. Unplayable and original is still unplayable. But first why don't you just try shooting some cleaner into the pots. Maybe they are just really dirty. Sounds strange but I've seen some pretty bad pots fixed with some contact cleaner. Besides it's a real pain trying to change pots and pickups in a 335.
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Post by dixiechicken on Sept 10, 2007 2:08:44 GMT -7
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Post by rcrecelius on Sept 10, 2007 6:37:14 GMT -7
Guitars are meant to be played...if you enjoy playing the guitar, definitely replace the pots.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 10, 2007 6:56:46 GMT -7
Send it here. I'll dispose of it. Yeah, that's the ticket.....
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Post by dixiechicken on Sept 10, 2007 7:38:28 GMT -7
Nice try "benttop" - but he's already promised me - I PM:d him first thing. ;D Cheers: Dixiechicken
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Post by donnyp on Sept 10, 2007 7:40:09 GMT -7
Try cleaning them first. I've had great luck cleaning pots on a lot of vintage guitars I have owned over the years. De-oxit works really well. If doesn't work, you have nothing to lose.
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Post by bluzman on Sept 10, 2007 11:58:30 GMT -7
I've kept this going for the last 5 years with cleaners. I already have the components and flex tubing to do the job right so I guess it's time to dive in and do it!
Thanks!
PT
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 10, 2007 12:02:01 GMT -7
Get some heavy string and tie it around all the pot shafts before you pull them inside the body. Once you fish them out, you'll have a string there to pull the new ones into place with.
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Post by John on Sept 10, 2007 13:35:10 GMT -7
I would add that if you're going to have new pots put in it...which I think is the right thing to do...take it to the most reputable shop you can find. Just don't throw out the old pots in case some collector...some day...gets a bug up his but because you put usable pots in it. I wouldn't retire it. But use caution as to what gig you will us it for. I only take mine to the 'nice' gigs anymore. It's semi-retired.
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 10, 2007 15:50:39 GMT -7
Some years ago I bought a '59 ES125TDC. A couple of the pots were real scratchy. I had a guy change them all out. Later I sold the 4 pots for $200 to a guy who probably doubled his money on them. I don't care. It's my guitar. It's doubled in value since then anyway.
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Post by mudskipper on Sept 11, 2007 6:21:43 GMT -7
keep the old harness intact and make a whole new harness for it. this means don't unsolder the old pots to swap the new ones in, but rather make a whole new ones with new wires and caps. if you are doing it yourself, making a template for the control mounting holes make things much easier. mount the pots on the template and wire up the new harness.
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Post by bluzman on Sept 11, 2007 11:36:24 GMT -7
Thanks for advice guys... and Mudskipper I am doing exactly like you said... I looked online and there are some pre-done harnesses with high quality components... VERY EXPENSIVE, but I think I'm gonna get one with the nice caps etc!!
I'll keep yas posted!!
Thanks Again!
PT
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 12, 2007 10:39:35 GMT -7
It should improve the sound too.
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Post by bluzman on Sept 15, 2007 14:31:35 GMT -7
Here it is for those that are interested:
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Post by tweedpro on Sept 15, 2007 20:18:41 GMT -7
That's a cool 335. On second thought if the pots are bad it probably isnt' worth much. I'll give ya 50 bucks cash and I'll come and pick it up so you don't have to deal with it anymore.
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Post by dixiechicken on Sept 16, 2007 5:41:20 GMT -7
"Bluzman" - Dc here!
If I were you - I'd change out ALL the electronics - except the pickups of course. There is absolutely NO point in trying to repair this crap. (IMHO)
Replace all parts with quality components, like Switchcraft jacks et. al.
What you should do - is to carefully de-solder and remove all the original parts inside and keep the old parts - just in case you'll eventually sell the guitar.
( also make a drawing on how eveything is soldered and connected - so you can easily restore it )
Then you can include the old/original parts together with a properly functioning axe. You will also be able get a fair price for the guitar, this way.
Cheers: Dixiechicken
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Post by bluzman on Sept 24, 2007 12:17:05 GMT -7
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Post by BW on Sept 24, 2007 13:33:43 GMT -7
Lindy Fralin told me to get some surgical tubing and slip it over the threads on the pots, then pull 'em up thru the holes that way. Sounds like a good idea, haven't tried it. Kinda like building a ship in a bottle. Paul, tell me about dat stop tailpiece...any confessions there ?:^) Also, what does it say on the truss rod cover? I have a '67 w/ BB King's autograph down on the lower bout, I've considered having it drilled fer a stop tailpiece, but what little common sense I have and BB's sig have kept me from it.
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Post by bluzman on Sept 24, 2007 14:57:25 GMT -7
Yes it was modified in the mid 70s at the factory from a trapeze to stop. There is a receipt for the work and I do have the stock tailpiece as it was taped to the inside of the case under the neck. From what I gather Gibson did LOTS of those conversions in the 70s. When I bought it in 1984, from a friend of mine that still does vintage purchases, he told me up front about it and how to tell from the orange tag model number. He had two... Mine was darker and less scratches with OHSC... the other was a 68 with trapeze with non-stock pickups in the lighter red and a 70s case. He gave me a choice at his cost... $650.00. I bought this one because UNPLUGGED it sounded better. I should have bought both!! I never have misrepresented it at all, plus it will never be for sale anyways.
I already bought the 8 feet of tubing! Now I just gotta make the time!
OH yeah... the truss cover... whenever possible I have all my stock truss covers and parts siplocked in the OHSC... Most of my covers say "Newport Slim" then under it the model of the guitar.
Dave Malone from the Radiators gave me that name about 10 years ago and it has stuck!!
PT
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Post by detuned on Sept 24, 2007 19:20:02 GMT -7
That's a beautiful 335! Always wanted one of those...
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Post by BW on Sept 25, 2007 6:44:05 GMT -7
Sure is a beauty. I REALLY would like to add a stop bar to mine, it's just so much more...playable, stays in tune better, sustains better. My bud sold me a '95 335 dot reissue that I played on the Freddie King trib album, its a pretty good guitar, needs pickups and fretwork, like ALL my junky guitars.
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Post by Jan on Sept 28, 2007 0:21:44 GMT -7
That is beautiful, man. I would save the old parts (like everyone says) and I would buy a new kit from www.rsguitarworks.net. If you want to do pickups too, I would probably go with a set from Seymour Duncan. And I would be very, very nice to this beautiful guitar. I would play it through a MAZ with some vintage Greenbacks. Oh my, I can hear it now. PS; don't listen to those other guys. You know who I am talking about... they do not even have a Gibson so you know they are not worthy. Send it to me. I only have 3 Gibsons and they are happier in pairs.
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