Anyone familiar with Carson Electric Guitars?

Thanks guys, most appreciated.
I had an idea that is how it would look Waz, I played around with the tuners I have here for the Splated LP, and they should work fine. If the ones you are sending me are identical, I will just have to drill out the holes a fraction, because the shaft is slightly fatter than the crappy ones that came off it.
I haven't ordered a 5-way switch yet, or a nut. I want to hit up a friend nearby who has built a number of kit guitars and see if he has anything hanging around. I'm not sure if he was an active member here, but he entered a couple of monthly comps and went fairly well.
One was an EVH Frankenstrat tribute, and another had the smashed mirror look to the front.

I recall seeing a Frankenstrat before but there are plenty of EVH fans out there so not sure if that one was from a Tassie builder?

With the LP Tuners they come in a set that are half left & half right and if you line them up upside down it should highlight such. Just checked all my 'inline' axes and they are all the same as per the set on the Magnum posted earlier.

Also just took these shots of my 'Slash' Epi LP that was bought a couple of months before starting all this guitar building madness. Obviously it has hardly been played and this is the first time that I have really looked hard at the tuners which are definitely very low end and now on the to do list for an upgrade. As you can see the main tuning peg posts all line up on the same side.

Attachment 14232Attachment 14233

Hope all this helps in some way.

Thanks Waz, most appreciated.
I have to order another Trem bridge. The cheapie I got off eBay I received was not the same as the one pictured on the ad. It was only a 2 screw style, not the 6 screw version I needed.
Looking at the Pitbull store, they have one for $15, so I'll grab that with a new nut and 5-way switch on payday.

Sensible choice as quite often the eBay specials don't work out so good.

OK, got a 5-way switch from my mate. He also gave me a chrome bridge, but I'll still get a black one from PBG.
He also gave me a nut which looked suspiciously small when I looked at it.
Took it home and placed it on the neck!!
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...pssjddd325.jpg

So, what am I supposed to put on this then? From the base of the nut to the top of the fretboard is approx 5mm, and from the fretboard to the TRC is approx 7mm. What nut should I be ordering from PBG?

Hi Zandit, looks like you will need a Gibson style Nut as that one is probably for a Strat or Tele.

Just measured the one on my Epi and it is 6 mm thick and 9 mm high, and sits 7 mm below top of fret board as it has been cut in at a lower depth?

Suggest checking your LP nut to see if it might fit. If it looks like it might sit a bit high, no problem as you can always sand some off the bottom to drop things down to where they need to be.

Just to double check, you mean this one?
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/shop/u...-type-guitars/

depends on your neck, but that nut is muck more like it

looks like your mate gave you an acoustic guitar nut

Thats the right style of nut Zandit. the Pitbull nuts will fit the Pitbull kits, not sure about the Carson.

have you got the old nut to measure. I expect that should measure about 35mm between the E and e string channels, but you'll have to check the width, height and the depth. Unless you wanted to fashion one yourself, you could send DB the measurments (or the plastic nut) and just ask him to make it for you. The Pitbull nuts are slightly oversized in height and require a slight amount of sanding till you get it at the correct height.

For comparison Gibson measurements are 43.6mm (l) x 4.8mm (w) x 9.5mm (h). (35mm) E to E String Spacing like this http://www.realparts.com.au/nuts/bon...n-slotted.html

Unfortunately, the old was missing when I got the guitar.
I'll have a chat with DB and see about a new one when I order the new Trem.
The nut I was given supposedly came out of a Strat copy.

that makes sense, Strat nuts are thinner and shallower, so that seems right

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zandit75

Unfortunately, the old was missing when I got the guitar.
I'll have a chat with DB and see about a new one when I order the new Trem.
The nut I was given supposedly came out of a Strat copy.

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You could always rip off the plastic nut off your LP build (I know you are gonna replace it with bone anyway ha ha), order yourself a DB "G" style bone nut for your LP see if the plastic one fits the carson and take a photo for us.

if you want a plastic G style one shoot me a PM, I have a couple of spares from kits

Hi Waskelly

Do you have anymore history on the Magnum as I have had one for about 4 years and have been unable to track any history. Thought I had the only one left in the world as they must be pretty old. I am pretty happy with its performance but I am only an enthusiastic learner and may not know any better.

Sorry Z to interfere with your thread.

Greg

Hi Greg the Magnums were made by Samick. In the olden days I think the Magnums were the lower end with the plywood bodies and the Samick brand was the middle range. Still have my magnum, although in pieces. The Samick factory used to churn out a lot of different brands.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GregLane

Sorry Z to interfere with your thread.

Greg

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Seriously? You're apologizing??!!
Mate, this place is built on thread jacking!!! You'll get used to it!!
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...php?1260338978

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...970/trainn.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...zmvb-YtHk_J24A

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-co...3144943171.jpg

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Originally Posted by vh2580

Hi Greg the Magnums were made by Samick. In the olden days I think the Magnums were the lower end with the plywood bodies and the Samick brand was the middle range. Still have my magnum, although in pieces. The Samick factory used to churn out a lot of different brands.

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Hi Tony, you know more about them than me. We also have a Magnum P Bass which has a different font on the headstock and makes me think it was built later. Best thing about the Strat is the neck. Great profile, fairly flat radius, and always feels good to play. Initially I thought the PUP's were average but found some of the upgrade ones did not sound much different/better. Big downside is the 'swimming pool' rout under the pickguard as that detracts a bit from sound projection hence why we sought hotter PUP's. Upside, it was light and easy for a seven year old to learn on at the time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zandit75

Unfortunately, the old was missing when I got the guitar.
I'll have a chat with DB and see about a new one when I order the new Trem.
The nut I was given supposedly came out of a Strat copy.

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There lies the problem, a Strat copy which usually sits in a thin groove cut into the fret board whereas Gibson style ones tend to be attached at the end of the Fret Board.

Plastic ones at a local music store would only cost a few dollars or you could spend a bit more for a bone one.

I didn't even think about the local music shop. I'll call in there tomorrow night

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zandit75

I didn't even think about the local music shop. I'll call in there tomorrow night

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Have the guitar in the car so you can grab it and take inside if you are unsure what might fit or not as the guys in the shop should be able to help you find something to do the job.

As Andy mentioned string spacing is important and acoustic nuts may not work as they will probably be too wide and also have wider strings slots cut which could lead to annoying buzzing at the nut on open strings.

On my Tele I have had 3 nuts, the original plastic, an aftermarket Bone plus an aftermarket Brass where both aftermarkets were a fraction wider than the fretboard and had to be filed/sanded down to size. Unfortunately the bone one bought via mail order didn't stand tall enough and would require a thin shim under it to raise the height to a proper level.... too much mucking about hence why I bought another one. These are examples of what to look out for as this axe may not necessarily take a standard nut straight off the shelf.

Got myself a nut from the local music shop. Only a plastic one, but it's a start.
Also have a new trem and clear neck finish on the way from PBG.
So until everything arrives, it's onto decisions regarding the finish.
I've been playing with colour combos using MS Paint and I'm still thinking Charcoal with Black and Orange Highlights.
I'm not sure if I will just go with Orange Pin-striping, and just leave the black hardware as a contrast, or incorporate Black into the Pin-striping.
I'm leaning towards the second combo shown against the darker grey background, using a thin and slightly thicker orange pin-stripe and leaving the black hardware to speak for itself. Something like this....http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12mm-x-9-...cAAOSwMmBVh6PQ
We'll see. What's everyone else's opinion?

I like the third one down, orange black orange. It gives the orange a bit more punch without adding another colour to the overall scheme

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dedman

I like the third one down, orange black orange. It gives the orange a bit more punch without adding another colour to the overall scheme

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You don't think that would be too much with the black hardware?

Depends on how much and where the pin striping goes I guess.

@ Wazkelly, Thank you very much bud, your package of goodies arrived this morning.
Thanks also for the black knob for the 5-way switch. I'd forgotten about that!

Since my LP top coat is taking forever to cure, I'm going to have a crack at priming this guitar tonight.
The weather has been extremely crap here this last week, so I hope it goes on ok.

Hi Zandit, good to hear that the parcel of goodies arrived earlier today with a couple of extras included too.

If you haven't already discovered it yet you can buy a relatively cheap copper braid at Jaycar to assist with de-soldering things as that will come in handy if you try to re-use the 3 way mini switches. Suggest taking note how they are currently wired up as that gives you humbucker, out of phase, split coil plus the instructions are also in the box for the Hot Stack single coil

Thanks bud, so that Hotstack is classed as a Humbucker is it?
Please forgive my igorance!

No, it is supposed to be a single coil that can be wired up like a humbucker. Not sure if it will sound like a humbucker, just a bit fuller when wired in series, parallel gives you an out of phase sound presumably like position 2 or 4 on a 5 way Strat switch and split coil would be traditional single coil sound. From memory it did have a bit of distinction between each setting and worth the effort wiring it up that way as you will find your favourite setting and that is probably where it will remain most of the time.

Alright, sounds like a plan.
I'll have a look at the diagrams you mentioned, hadn't pulled the package apart that much to see what was in there.
So I'm thinking to leave the humbucker as standard, have the hotstack splitable with the switch, and the neck PU standard as well.
How does that sound?
Might have to get Weirdy involved in this once I have a better look at what I have at home.
Thanks again Waz.

That would be the simplest way to go as the standard humbuckers are only 2 wire and it looks like quite a mission to DIY 4 wire hence why I spent a few bucks on upgrades that were already 4 wire.

Cheers mate, thanks for all that!

Some progress shots....
Applied the first coat of primer and wet/dry sanded back to 800grit. Super smooth, but patchy in some areas.
Using rattle cans is a different ball game for me, so this will be an interesting path.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...psbgyg9rvz.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...pss0nzcbae.jpg

I actually got some runs when I sprayed too close to the body around the horns, so I quickly wiped it back with a clean rag, hence the swipe marks on the front. Hopefully I will cover that up with the next couple of coats.

And now I hit a snag. I just compared the new pickups that Waz sent me, against the originals, and I we may have a problem Houston.
The bases n the new singles are wider than the ones that came out of it. I'm thinking of using a dremel to undercut the cavities, but are there are any other suggestions?
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps4dkicu5i.jpg

Hi Zandit, as it is going to be a solid colour suggest using the dremel to take out enough for the boomerang shaped PUP base to fit in the cavity.

On some high end super strats they actually have that PUP shape cut into the top such as on this PBG kit...
Attachment 14376

Is it the same for both single coils or just the Hot Stack going in the middle position? Either way you will need to at least enlarge the middle PUP rout.

Yeah, both single pups are very similar, and will need some form of modification. I'd like to keep it looking very similar to how it is, and maybe undercut the body cavity a little to allow that section of the pups to fit. I'll have a look at it tomorrow after work.

Under cut is the only way to go then as that is how traditional strat single coil PUP's are made with the boomerang shaped base.

Don't think you will need too much vertical adjustment but should leave enough room just in case.

It was actually quite an easy job with the right dremel bits borrowed from a workmate.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...pskzkveckd.jpg

Probably not the cleanest of jobs, but it won't be visible from the outside.

NOTE TO SELF #2 - Take note of what the guys on the forum suggest when it comes to enlarging the tuning machine holes. Only have your drill in reverse!!! Oopsy repair time!
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps0kecvf28.jpg

NOTE TO SELF #3 - Don't wear your good watch when applying the second primer coat to your guitar body!!!

Final coat of primer applied today. The body is now ready for some colour.
It's not perfect, but with what I have planned, it won't be noticeable!
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...pswbyjzcim.jpg

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...psnrfopwoe.jpg

Now I just have to wait until payday to get my next materials!!

Coming along nicely.

What's next on your shopping list?

Apart from the paint, I have everything I need for this build, or at least on the way to me now, so I shouldn't need anything else for this guitar!
I've come across a product that i want to use for the colour on this build that i haven't seen on this forum yet, so I'm hoping it is a first, and that it works exactly the way i want it to. Fingers crossed. All will be revealed within the next week!!!

Intriguing to say the least and hoping it works out as planned.