Simon Barden
17-12-2016, 11:23 PM
A number of (mainly fairly simple) modifications to the ES-1 style kits would allow for a Gibson ES-330/or Epiphone Casino style build.
1581615817
Loose the solid centre block, just have a heel block and one under the bridge area and rout for dog-ear P-90s. Supply a simple trapeze tailpiece like in the photos, nothing complicated. Oversize the headstock paddle maybe so that you could go unique, G*bson style or Epiph*ne style (for all the Beatles fans out there).
I suppose the sticking point may be the factory's ability to supply dog-ear pickups for those who wanted a complete kit. I'd happily buy the kit without as I'd buy my own, but I know there would be lots for who like buying a complete solution. All it takes is a different cover and baseplate to turn a soap-bar into a dog-ear (or vice versa).
One other consideration would be the pickup heights. The ES-1 has a smaller gap between the strings and the body at the neck pickup location than in the bridge position. A recommended P90 bridge pickup location is about 1/8" (3mm) away from the strings whilst the neck pickup is typically recommended to be further away from the strings at 1/4" (6mm) (but your own settings take precedent here). So the neck pickup would have to have a shallow casing and the bridge one a taller one or a substantial shim) to achieve this.
The pragmatic alternative would be to have an ES-1 kit available with standard P-90 routs and pickups and no stop-tail bar post holes drilled, a trapeze tailpiece (and possibly some plastic pickup surrounds that make the pups look like dog-ears from a distance :) ). The ES-1 is already a light guitar and feels more like a 330 than a 335 weight-wise, and has a greater body resonance that's more like a 330, which is what first gave me the idea. And I'd really like a 330, though I'd probably never get round to buying a new Gibson and my mate is very unlikely to sell me his very wonderful '64 ES-330 at a bargain price.
1581615817
Loose the solid centre block, just have a heel block and one under the bridge area and rout for dog-ear P-90s. Supply a simple trapeze tailpiece like in the photos, nothing complicated. Oversize the headstock paddle maybe so that you could go unique, G*bson style or Epiph*ne style (for all the Beatles fans out there).
I suppose the sticking point may be the factory's ability to supply dog-ear pickups for those who wanted a complete kit. I'd happily buy the kit without as I'd buy my own, but I know there would be lots for who like buying a complete solution. All it takes is a different cover and baseplate to turn a soap-bar into a dog-ear (or vice versa).
One other consideration would be the pickup heights. The ES-1 has a smaller gap between the strings and the body at the neck pickup location than in the bridge position. A recommended P90 bridge pickup location is about 1/8" (3mm) away from the strings whilst the neck pickup is typically recommended to be further away from the strings at 1/4" (6mm) (but your own settings take precedent here). So the neck pickup would have to have a shallow casing and the bridge one a taller one or a substantial shim) to achieve this.
The pragmatic alternative would be to have an ES-1 kit available with standard P-90 routs and pickups and no stop-tail bar post holes drilled, a trapeze tailpiece (and possibly some plastic pickup surrounds that make the pups look like dog-ears from a distance :) ). The ES-1 is already a light guitar and feels more like a 330 than a 335 weight-wise, and has a greater body resonance that's more like a 330, which is what first gave me the idea. And I'd really like a 330, though I'd probably never get round to buying a new Gibson and my mate is very unlikely to sell me his very wonderful '64 ES-330 at a bargain price.