Custom HotRod Strat Build.

[DrNomis_44]

I wrote something about different pot types here, with a section on CTS pots: http://www.buildyourownguitar.com.au...l=1#post122594, but it certainly can be confusing. Maybe on the mini types with a reduced printing area (as I was just looking at the full-sized types), they refer directly to their curve type without a numerical code?

I think I remember reading that thread, wouldn't it be so much easier if the pot manufacturers could standardize?


Here's a tip for those who are wiring up Humbucking Pickups that have four-wire shielded output-leads, so that the pickup works as a standard Humbucker, first of all determine which two of the four wires need to be soldered together, then use some 4mm heatshrink-tubing to insulate the solder-joint so that it doesn't short-out, you do this by folding the two joined wires back onto the plastic insulation of the output lead, then thread the lead through the heatshrink-tubing, making sure that it totally covers the solder-joint, it looks much neater than plastic electrical tape, I'll post a pic to show you what it should look like.

[Simon Barden]

It would. But pots aren't just for guitars, and major manufacturers like CTS need to make many different types to suit their customers' requirements. And there are many different types of log curve (to different bases) and although 'linear' should be linear, they've also found a need to have lines with slight discrepancies from a straight line (possibly to cope with situations when you're near a major gravity well like a black hole).

[DrNomis_44]

It would. But pots aren't just for guitars, and major manufacturers like CTS need to make many different types to suit their customers' requirements. And there are many different types of log curve (to different bases) and although 'linear' should be linear, they've also found a need to have lines with slight discrepancies from a straight line (possibly to cope with situations when you're near a major gravity well like a black hole).

That figures, I guess that's something that we all will have to accept as a given, so maybe if in doubt, just test the pot with a multimeter to be sure.


I've just finished sorting-out the pickup wiring and it is looking much neater than it did before, what's more is that the scratchplate is no longer such a pain to install now, no more wires getting caught under it, here's another tip, if you can buy some, use some cable-ties to keep all the wires neatly bundled together.


All that needs to be done is to wire-up the output-jack and do a tap-test to confirm that everything is working as it should (fix if there are problems), then install new strings on the guitar and tune it up.


Update:

The guitar has passed the tap-test and everything is working as it should, so, we can now proceed onto the re-stringing and tuning-up.

Update 2:

Well that's all the work on the HotRod Strat completed, she's all strung-up and tuned up, I don't think I'll be able to get her working any better than she is, so I'm going to stop being so OCD about trying to get the best performance out of her and just have some time-out from her for a change.

One of my problems is that I can get a bit obsessive about getting things to work at their best, I still need to learn how to let go and take some time out, but at least I do realize that I have a problem, and I'm in a position of empowerment to do something about it.

[Simon Barden]

It is. And sometimes you've just got to realise that you aren't going to be able to make it any better than it is at the moment. Just as Plank's constant defines the limits of just how much we can know about the position and momentum of a quantum level particle, there's a Plank-Spankers constant that defines just how close you can get a guitar to perfection, but never quite achieve it.

[DrNomis_44]

It is. And sometimes you've just got to realise that you aren't going to be able to make it any better than it is at the moment. Just as Plank's constant defines the limits of just how much we can know about the position and momentum of a quantum level particle, there's a Plank-Spankers constant that defines just how close you can get a guitar to perfection, but never quite achieve it.

That's true, and when you're trying to chase perfection you tend to run into the law of diminishing-returns, and sometimes it can be counter-productive too, because in the realm of Quantum Physics, one plus one rarely ever equals two in the real world since the very instant we try to verify that, we get a totally different result than we had expected due to entropy, some things have a finite entropy value and others have an infinite entropy value, and I think perfection is one of those things with an infinite entropy value, my theory anyway.

Entropy is an interesting concept, and I found this Wikipedia article about it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy


I just tried googling Entropy as applied to perfection as a way to check if my theory is valid, and it turns out that I was pretty much "on the money" so to speak.

https://www.google.com.au/?gfe_rd=cr...+To+Perfection

[Simon Barden]

Apart from the fact that by creating something that works, you are reducing entropy. But you will never reduce it to zero, so there's no point trying. Ye canna change the laws of physics and guitars, Captain.

[Andy40]

Finally caught up with this build Doc. The strat looks great mate. good work. I love the metallic blue with the pearloid guard. it sounds killer too...especially those dive bombs with the FR! I think you've convinced me to get one for the community build.

[DrNomis_44]

Finally caught up with this build Doc. The strat looks great mate. good work. I love the metallic blue with the pearloid guard. it sounds killer too...especially those dive bombs with the FR! I think you've convinced me to get one for the community build.

Awesome mate, I can't wait to see how yours turns out, maybe I could have a yarn with Adam and see if he would be interested in creating a HotRod Strat kit based off my HotRod Strat build?, he could offer two basic models, one with a Rosewood Neck and one with an all Maple neck, I'll email him and see what he reckons.

Also, let me know when you come to do the setting up of the trem, cause I know of a couple of things that make the process a lot easier.

[DrNomis_44]

Apart from the fact that by creating something that works, you are reducing entropy. But you will never reduce it to zero, so there's no point trying. Ye canna change the laws of physics and guitars, Captain.

Very true, according to what I have read online about Entropy, you cannot decrease it, but on the flipside, you can increase it, we as human beings are, and will be, forever bound by the laws of physics, although, that doesn't seem to apply to things I have dropped on the floor and lost, I think Entropy comes into play there too.

[Simon Barden]

No, you can reduce entropy. Life itself is a reduction in entropy. In the great state of things universe-wide, it's only a small reduction, but it is a reduction.