Andy have you earthed the volume pot -> lug on the right as you look from above ? The volume pot and 2 tone pots should be earthed to the back of the pot casings or touching shielding that is earthed on the pickguard
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Andy have you earthed the volume pot -> lug on the right as you look from above ? The volume pot and 2 tone pots should be earthed to the back of the pot casings or touching shielding that is earthed on the pickguard
Well its funny that you mention that.....
The Bourns minis have a long thread shaft that protrudes well above the pickguard. The pots only come with one nut which is 3/8" and dont know the thread. needless to say I could not get my hands on two nuts per pot to clamp the pot to the pickguard. Soooo I tried putting a tap washer underneath the pickguard so it holds and keeps the pot shaft from protruding too high. It works...however, the pot does not really touch the shielding underneath the pickguard because of the tap washers. I didn't think that would be an issue given that I have daisy chained the earth wire on each pot and then to the tremolo spring system at the back. But I always wondered if that was going to interfere with the pots.
If I cant figure it out tomorrow I'll take a picture and post it up.
Yep...spot on Wokks. lifted and tested this morning...she works like a dream. I'll dig out the offending section of copper tape.Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
The CLR switch was touching the copper shielding at the back of the cavity and the side. I have a photo of the Tonerider wiring diagram and a photo of my (questionable) soldering effort.
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Got my knotched straight edge from Pablopepper and fitted the bone nut from DB.
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Sound test
https://soundcloud.com/andy40-923020102/audio-test-st-1
First Neck pickup, then middle, then bridge. mid volume and tone knobs rolled off
glad you got it sorted Andy, those Tonerider pups give it the classic Fender sound, good work
This Cinderella is nearly ready for the ball!
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Looks the biz Andy. Lovely deep blue and nice strat sound in the demo
Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk
The Strat sounds and looks great Andy40.
Wokks, you were right on the Volume pot as well. Originally, I had bent back that right lug to earth it and soldered that connection as per diagram. Turns out it wasn't a good solder or not enough connection with the lug to the back of the pot. I re-soldered some push back wire to lug and back of the pot this morning. Volume is good now.
Colour looks really great Tony and even pre-intonation she sounds weet. Are those the stock pups? Great work man.
cheers,
Gav.
no worries Andy I've only build about 15-20 ST kits so know the ins and outs.
Build looks great well done
@ Gav the pups are Toneriders
Drunk playing without sync guitar properly but funnnnn
https://soundcloud.com/andy40-923020102/audio-test-2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy40
The Strat you built is sounding really good now, if these PBG Strat kits sound just as good as a genuine Fender Strat I'm definitely going to buy myself a PBG Strat kit (an STA-1M) as my first kit build, that's for sure, just need to put together a budget for it, hopefully early 2016 is when I'll order the kit, will also do a full diary documentation on it with pics and soundclips.
You should definatley do that Doc. For me this was a purpose build for a harsh lyrical vintage tone (but not in a tele syle...that will come later:cool:). I didn't want a strat copy that produced a commercial "safe zone" sound. I also wanted to know how to build a guitar and set it up so I could keep tweaking it till its just right (not there yet).
When I started, I didn't know if it was possible and only had that idea. The benefits of building this guitar were 10 fold. I learned a hell of a lot and there is still so much more to learn. I have gained respect for the wood and all of the components of the guitar and the time it takes to do it right. Yeah its frustrating on occasion but the sense of accomplishment is unreal.
I was admiring your Les Paul Studio the other day Doc, as I've always wanted one. I just don't think I can buy another commercial guitar as I'm addicted to building them now.
Heres the American Standard I modeled the look of my guitar on:-
Attachment 6701
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy40
I've always wanted to own a genuine Gibson Les Paul after being a bit disappointed with a Samick Les Paul I used to own, eventually I got the chance to buy one and ended up with the LP Studio, it's a real nice guitar and I don't think the stripped back style (ie no binding) in any way detracts from it, I used to own a Fender Mexican standard strat but traded it for a Chibson SG, I might buy a PBG SG kit at some later stage, you could consider getting a PBG Les Paul kit if you're planning on buying more kits to build, I woudn't mind having a go at building a Rickenbacker guitar at some stage too.
Sorry, took down the drunk playing. Kept reminding me of DB trying to play that shovel...ha ha
Here's another test after intonation. This time through Guitar Rig 5
https://soundcloud.com/andy40-923020102/yl-1
sounds excellent Andy, really classic strat sound. What's it sound like with overdrive ?
Should have left ur drunk recording up, I didn't hear it hahah
Bit of everything there for you Wokks
https://soundcloud.com/andy40-923020102/test-mixdown
cheers Andy, if that was the drunk recording it sounded cool, couldn't hear many mistakes
Drunk recording back up.
https://soundcloud.com/andy40-923020102/audio-test-2
I was able to record it on my G1Xon multi effect pedal with loop and audacity until my cable failed.
I don't play much better when sober..... Stupid arthritis in left hand sure don't help.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy40
I thought it was pretty darned good given how smashed u looked
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy40
Sounds cool, I can hear a strong U2 vibe in there somewhere.
hah good work Andy, there were some cool blues there and times you weren't sure where to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy40
What was your poison of choice that night ?
beer...always beer.....Quote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
I had to go to the 9th page or so to dig this one up!!!!
I love this guitar to the moon and back.
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But I promised myself when the ernie balls can't be tuned anymore....its time for some upgrades!!!
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nice one Andy, so are they MOP fret dot markers the 10 white pills ?
Bridge looks good is that a Gotoh or Wilkinson maybe ?
Roller string retainers should help the tuning
Pretty good Wokks. So the rough plans are:-
1. Strip the nitro from the neck and replace it with Dingotone Neck finish final coat. (while its stripped i may think about plugging the existing tuning holes and re-drilling them straight);
2. Patch up the chips in the body paint (I am going to consider refinishing over the Nitro with Tru oil - any thoughts appreciated);
3. re-place the PBG tremolo with my NEW Wilkinson 5 + 1 Tremolo and re-align that bridge placement (its not quite centered with the neck and has always bugged me);
4. re-place the plastic fret inlay dots with MOP inlays;
5. replace the PBG string trees with Gotoh Barrel Style string guides;
6. Do something electronicy. Don't know yet. have to do some research. I have to probably consult with wierdy. currently both tone knobs seem to roll off the tone in switch positions from the neck to the middle + bridge - I've got to fix that. I wanted to give some thought to rolling off the tone on the bridge pup as well.
Thats about it, unless I think of anything else while I have her apart!
Piccy of the Wilkinson 5 + 1
Attachment 12665
Apparently one hole is to locate the vibrato laterally whilst the remaining 5 elongated slots eliminate the chance of screws binding in the holes, resulting in a "return to original position". It has a sweet push-in vibrato arm, vintage spec bent steel saddles, and "stagger drilled" steel block. The Vibrato arm is a little smaller as well, which should make those Gilmour style palm dips a bit easier.Oh ...and it doesn't rattle in the slot:cool:
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A bit unsure about the saddles though, they don't seem to have any string guides?
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Sweet looking bridge. The saddles really don't need slots, less chance of a string breaking burr. String tension will easily keep them in place.
Oh, and tru oil won't work on top of paint.
Nice upgrade plans Andy. As a matter of interest how does the trem block block sit in the body, does it stay within the confines of the back trem route or would it stand a bit proud with the springs attached?
Reason I ask is I attempted an update once on a non PBG body with a Gotoh trem and had an issue with this.
wow that bridge is huge compared to the stock bridge. As Ponch asks you may need some mods for the trem block route being so much bigger. Also the pickguard is going to need fair bit of reshaping and shift the mounting screws for the PG.
Never seen no string grooves in the bridge saddles but as Pabs says I think string tension should hold them in place and less chance of string breaks and think the tremelo will have a smoother action with the less friction.
Should play and sound heaps better after the upgrades !
EDIT after looking at the 2 bridges I think the string spacing on the new bridge will be way too wide for the fingerboard. You really need to match the E to E string saddle dimensions and the new bridge looks almost 20mm wider, plus your outside strings won't be over the pup slugs
Hey thanks guys for the comments!
I should point out something though, the photo is with with the PBG bridge in the guitar and the trem block of the Wilkinson sitting on top of the guitar, closer to the camera, the perspective makes it look really big compared to the PBG. Its actually about the same size, width and length as the PBG. Sorry ponch, don't know how it will sit in the rout until its done. I'll post an update though.
Cheers pabs re: sting guide issue, I can see that now.
Is that true ...about tru oil? the nitro is nearly a year old, I can't imagine it needs to gas off any more. I was only looking at tru oil because I didn't do the best job with the nitro clear coats and was hoping to give it a better finish, and cheaper than using nitro again. Anyone know what i should do? Poly?:confused:
ah of course Andy its the optical illusion the Wilko bridge is closer, didn't think of the trem block making it closer to the camera, it really looks like its on steroids compared to the PBG bridge.
I'm not sure about TO over nitro, maybe do a test on an area under the pickguard to see if it takes ok. Once you build up a couple of layers of TO shouldn't be any issues.
Stripped her down today and compared the tremolo....
Attachment 12669
The width and length of the bridge portion are about the same as PBG, but the block is much fatter heavier and longer.
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That being said it fits in the standard PBG rout for the ST-1 pretty well. theres about 1 mm or so between the bottom of the block and the back plate, which is more than enough room to clip the tremolo springs.
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That being said if your back plate was recessed, you would have problems with the Wilkinson 5+1 tremolo.
nice one Andy looks like you won't need to mod the cavity, pickguard and maybe even bridge plate mounting screws ?
The heavier trem block should feel better using the tremelo. Forgot this had Pure Vintage TR's onboard !
Plastics out, MOP in!
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Nitro is out!
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!
Pesky broken screw from a year ago is finally out, plug is in!
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