That looks top notch mate very nice [emoji106]
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That looks top notch mate very nice [emoji106]
Looking good!
Stay strong, you need to eat as well as build kick arse guitars.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic Mountain
So I just went for it this arvo. Starting with the soldering. Certainly one of the more challenging soldering jobs I've done, not helped by the fact I need new glasses and I currently have conjunctivitis in my left eye (yuk). But it all went pretty well, I just methodically followed my diagram.
I haven't shielded this one, partly due to impatience and partly because I want a really good raw impression of the pickups. Easy enough to do down the track, I err'd on the side of too much wire so things can be pulled out again if needed.
There are a couple of messy spots, but overall its a serviceable job. I'll do a little bit of a trim and tidy before I put the back plate on.
https://i.imgur.com/P7my1WBl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/glFancCl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/K7LHfu3l.jpg
So then a flurry of stringing it up and plugging it in. Everything works! It's early days, but the Alumitones are very bright on first impressions, pulling one of the coil taps results in a much more 'jangly' sound again. They probably sound best with a bit of the tone rolled off. Really I've only had a quick muck around on the el cheapo kit stings. I do have a very, very small buzz, which I am sure is my bridge earth contact. That will be easily fixed with the way I've drilled into the post. So next time I have the strings off I'll sort that.
The action is a wee bit high for my liking, but I've done no setup at all and there is no appreciable fret buzz. I'll let it sit with these stings on it for a bit before I start really working on getting it right. But first impressions are very positive!
Here are some pics in all its dusty, fingerprinty glory. It'll need a good cleanup after setup and then I'll get some glamour shots up.
https://i.imgur.com/8rDrnWNl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7620g6Kl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RBSq7Hal.jpg
Woo!
That has come up very nice mate love the truss rod cover in fact i like everything about this build. Great job
Cheers man. I have to say, I'm pretty happy with myself. I feel like I pushed both the concept and my abilities a bit more with this one. It was a great learning experience.
Woohoo! Congratulations mate, that's freaking awesome!
It really does look the biz Sonic, you should be proud
Bud that is epic, such a great clean design and uncomplicated concept. Brilliantly executed build. Take a bow mate.
Nice. Nuf said.
Wow! Freakin' wow!
Thank you all for the positive feedback. It's great motivation to really push it.
This morning I did an initial setup, tweaked the neck a 1/4 turn and dropped the action. Much better. I've ball parked the intonation and its quite good, but I think it needs to be played and sit for a while to get it really bang on. Pretty normal. There is loads of adjustment left so that seems like it'll be good once finalised. I put the Ernie Ball '10's' on it. I also found my buzz, it wasn't the bridge earth, thats all fine, just a slightly inadequate solder on the switch earth, its now silent, even when the coils are split.
So buttoned it all and gave it another polish. I can see I few bits of polish I didn't quite get off in the pics, but oh well. This thing gets finger prints if you look at it :D.
Anyway, I'm calling this one done, here it is as of this morning.
https://i.imgur.com/IPJk2WWl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6ZF5zmll.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yfDp4aal.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ayWTUuil.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rvjMfYIl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RyCwqW8l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZHWsQpCl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9i721Zyl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NKbpgQEl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/odRu0Wfl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/49sY7S4l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/L5DUhojl.jpg
That looks great sonic, how do the alumtones sound
Very bright and clear. I'm planning on doing a back to back with the alincos in my hagstrom when I get the chance. Very high output. So far my favourite setting is both in humbucker mode, both selected, bridge tone all the way down and neck all the way up. It sounds huge just straight into the amp. I will do a vid after it's settled a bit.
Very nice indeed. A job well done.
That looks wonderful, well done!
Without meaning to cause you a conniption, where are going to site the strap buttons?
I'm still thinking about it. I definitely prefer to play standing so they will be going on. I was thinking behind the neck join and the a bit off centre towards the 'top' of the guitar to help it hang with the neck up a bit. I'll probably just go ahead and do it today. Spent a bit of time playing with it last night. There are so many options it's a bit overwhelming for someone who normally cranks everything to 10 and selects the bridge pickup. So many different tones, it's a lot of fun. I'm thinking I might put 9s on it, that's what most of my other guitars have cause I'm a wuss, but I'll give the 10s a chance to grow on me. It does need a little bit of fret work as well, I'll see how I go today.
Wicked looking guitar mate. Love the finish on it and nice work with the mirror gloss finish.
Thanks man, it really has come up well. I think the most important ingredient is patience. The finishing takes heaps of time and its easy to get too excited and rush things. The reality is that assembly happens very quickly, its worth taking the extra time to get it looking good first. Setup is a whole other story of course, my personal experience is that you need to do it a few times over a period of time to really get it right.
I popped the strap buttons on it this morning. I was worried about the 'neck dive' these are renowned for, but its actually pretty good. The playing position is a bit more left arm out, but nothing too uncomfortable.
I am currently uploading a half assed demo video which I will post soon.
https://i.imgur.com/Er0bHtal.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vPhVi0Gl.jpg
Ok here we go. I'm not really sure how well it illustrates anything other than the guitar makes noise. I can't turn it up very loud as the computer mic peaks out, so it is what it is.
This is through my Ross bass amp, Hagstrom up first (not a really fair comparison, I love this guitar so much, its so warm and smoooooooth)
Excuse the crappy playing and unkempt fat bloke. Always the case when you are on the spot, can't think of a single thing to play, so just rubbish noodling around. I will need to learn something that I can play consistently well, that covers a bit of the fretboard so its easier to do direct comparisons between the settings.
Any, enough excuses, enjoy :D
If I get keen I'll do a better one.. maybe with a mate playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkoW...ature=youtu.be
Very nice Sonic[emoji106]
Ha thanks, the guitar far outclasses the player.
I finally got around to running it through some effects this arvo. Holy carp this thing is a monster!
Regardless of the settings its just so clear and in your face. I will say it lacks some of the overall warmth of the Hagstrom, its a very different animal. With the 10's and the amp cranked up and some distortion, its just a riff machine. I am still coming to terms with the variety offered up by the splitting, but I am having a lot fun just playing instead of building for a bit :)
I can't wait to get it into the hands of some of my mates who are a lot more technically proficient than I am.
I went to reply to your video and my phone died - d'oh!
Looks and sounds great. I'm completely like you when it comes to feeling like you're not up to the standard of your instrument, but the cool thing is you built it and now you can play it and play it and play it and just get better all the time on an instrument that you built. It's pretty amazing really
I did a bit of fretwork on this one last night. It's playing nicely, but I am getting a bit of a rattle from the bridge. Given the rest of the upgrades, its seems sensible to change this as well to bring it up to the rest of the guitar spec. So from memory of reading the forum - there are two different post spacings so I need to determine which this is and order the correct one.
My question is will the kit post receivers work with the after market bridges (same thread/diameter etc)? Can I do a straight swap or am I looking at having to pull them and replace?
EDIT: I'm thinking this one, with 'standard' Tunematic posts? http://luthierssupplies.com.au/produ...oducts_id=2198
I'd love to put a Babicz on it but I'm still in post Christmas financial recovery mode. Happy to hear other recommendations.