After a long time without doing any modding (except repairing my grandson's guitar), I have decide to get the tools back out for a couple of upcoming jobs. The first is to my Aria TA-50.
I stuck a set of D'Addario ECG23 XL Chromes Extra Light (.010-.048) strings on, a while back, and though I like them they are a little heavy for the nut slots and tend to stick on tuning. Add to that the fact I had moved the first string in, a bit, from the edge of the fretboard, and the fact that the white nut was too bright now that the binding is starting to mellow, I decided to fit a new Ivory coloured nut. So that is job number one.
I am also passing on my "Stratru-caster"
which was built using donated parts and as a result only has Squier electrics currently fitted.
As this is a special gift I am fitting a set of IronGear Pig Iron, overwound, pickups and new electrics, before we part company.
I have the new electrics (pickups ordered), so I am going to do a rebuild. I have a spare Strat pick guard, so I will build on that, then when complete and tested, I will transfer everything over to the custom pick guard. It will be nice to do some wiring again. Just a standard Strat set up (other than the overwound pups), but it should be better than the Squier stuff!
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Not that you have to of course, only suggesting out of interest really - for my own taste, I've always wanted to have a tone control that works on the bridge pickup for one thing. I've got the first scheme on two of my own strats, and can confirm it works very nicely indeed. Haven't tried the second, but it looks interesting. Both give the standard strat 5-way operation when the blend is not turned up, with master volume and tone, and both circuits use the existing components and no extra switches.
My Sienna Burst Strat has tone control on the Bridge pick up. There is an indent on the tone control, which takes it completely out of circuit, to revert back to standard Strat configuration.
Nice design on your sienna burst - I do like that guitar!
Had to strip the pups on my Gordon-Smith today, after one of the adjusting screws dropped out. Luckily I didn't lose it, as it is a slot head brass screw, and probably unique to the marque. Once I set it back up it is a lot louder than it was, with very little adjustment to the pup height.
Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.
If the nut slips over time I will add a spot of glue, but as I will not be gigging it I won't bother until it does or until I next change the strings.
I hope the job on the Strat is such plain sailing!
Megi’s wiring does look interesting. I quite fancied doing that myself.
BUT I went with something simpler. It’s in my post “Number 6 On Its Way”. Basically, it involved having a four way switch and a blender for the middle pickup. I dont use the middle pickup on its own. The switch gives you neck, both in series, both in parallel, and bridge. It is all kinds of awesome! Love it love it love it!
And all the best with the wiring, whichever one you choose.
It is a great playing guitar with a reasonable sound. Unfortunately he came to replace a broken string and found the "Monkey dung" block has split through the 2nd string fixing. I have some old Squier bridges kicking about so I will do a replacement. I'll do a full set up at the same time, but as I said, it already plays nice, so I may not have much to do.
I'll keep you informed.
Great work on making it playable, Jocko.
I had to set the string heights and intonation for the cobbled together bridge, then I was able to try it out. It has amazingly powerful pick ups, so it looks as though they have been changed at some time.
With the maple fingerboard it was remarkably like playing my American Standard. Hard to imagine over £1,000 difference in price!
Meanwhile I am giving my Epi Les Paul an airing.
That Epiphone LP Custom is a handsome beast!
I'll maybe start the soldering tomorrow.
All I have to do is strip the guitar and transfer the wired hardware to the bespoke pickguard to try it out with some music.