TL-1 (Factory second)

[andrewdosborne]

Yep as Fretty & Woks suggest. I play a lot of acoustic and prefer 11's on my electrics. I cannot even feel 9's on an electric with my callused fingers. Plus tone & volume (to me) is improved.

[peterh]

It's been a long while since I posted any updates - two new puppies and summer weather kind of distracted me.
I think the kit's pretty much finished now and I have to say I'm quite pleased with it for a first build.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I found the intonation was off a bit due to my being used to heavier acoustic strings vs the super slinky's that came with the kit. I'd been wanting to try some D'Addario flat wounds since I'm mostly trying to play jazz, so when our local music store had a deal where you buy a set of strings and they'll do a full setup for you, I jumped at the chance.
For me it's made a huge difference. The intonation is much more consistent and as andrewdosborne mentioned, I found the tone and volume improved as well. The volume I think may be due to the heavier strings generating stronger magnetic fields.
So, now it's just a lot more practising so I can do the guitar justice. That, and continuing progress on my ES-3 build but that may be a fall project again.

[wazkelly]

Hi Peter, sounds like it all worked out well in the end. Any shots to show off your new baby?

[peterh]

Here are some shots of the finished kit (sans strap buttons - not sure if I'll put them on or not).

[wokkaboy]

nice build Poida well done, the black hardware goes so well with the walnut brown colour

[Fretworn]

Looks great Peter

[vh2580]

love the colour

[peterh]

Just a short update on this build.
I installed a set of Tonerider TRT3 Blues pickups that Adam got Tonerider to ship directly to me (Thanks Adam!) rather than send to AUS first then back across the ocean. They sound (to me) much fuller and resonant than the stock pickups. I'm still pretty much just a hack at playing but it's a heck of a lot of fun.
The upgrade was pretty painless except that the Tonerider bridge pickup is just a tad wider than the one from the kit so I had to get in there with a box cutter to open up the two outside edges by about 1/8" each.
The only thing I've noticed - and it may have been like that before the upgrade - is that when using bridge or neck pup by itself, there is a bit of a hum but when they are both selected (switch in middle position) the hum goes away. Did I mess something up when resoldering? Could it be shielding related?

[wazkelly]

Probably needs a bit of shielding in those PUP cavities.

[Brendan]

Agree with Wazza, sounds like you may be picking up a bit of interference - some copper tape in the cavities may provide some shielding and reduce the hum.