Andy40's SGD-612

[wazkelly]

Okay, everything sounds great all pups and switches are working.

except for one thing.....

The 6 string is in tune except when i play open chords.

Previously when i have had this issue it means the nut is too high.

Interested to know anyone else's theory

Hi Andy, same issue I have had on my unfinished Tele.

When using a chromatic electronic tuner to tune up, playing root chords sound ok, particularly D but when checking across the strings at fifth fret or 5th to 7th harmonics EAD are OK, G sounds a bit off, B sounds even more off and this results in high E ending up sharp when re-tuning the pitch by ear.

This Tele has had 3 nuts and 3 bridges on it plus I have lowered the neck pocket height to bring the action down and that seems to have done the trick. Now strung with 10-46 and been playing it on & off for past month or so to see if it keeps behaving itself. So far so good but having mostly played 9-42's the finger tips get a bit tender.

So how does this relate to your predicament? TOM Bridges don't have much scope for adjustment therefore you probably already got that part sorted and have that lovely spalted LP as a base reference point to work off. This leads me to the next part in that maybe checking how the LP has been setup and then replicating same on the 6 string neck might be the quickest way to getting it sorted. Definitely sounds like action is riding a bit high somewhere and nut would seem to be the most likely culprit but it may be something else. How is the neck angle on the 12 stringer side of things? Are they both the same? Also how deep do they both sit in their neck pockets. With this axe being a bolt-on neck design there are many parts that could need some fine adjustment.

Hope you get it sorted without too much grief and frustration.

[Simon Barden]

So, do you think the nut is too high (as you said 'previously' so I'm assuming you think this one is OK)?

For a well cut nut, the strings should be just a small distance above the first fret, so that they still ring clear but it only takes the lightest pressure and movement to fret the strings. If you can push a string down a bit and it's still not touching the first fret, then in reality it's too high (unless you are setting the guitar up for slide playing, when you want a bit of height there).

http://www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online...lot_Depth.html

0.005" is 0.127mm, 0.010" is 0.254mm, 0.002" is 0.0508mm.

Other possibilities are:
i) That some of the frets have been installed in the wrong place by the factory.
ii) That some of the frets have too flat a top (or a poorly curved top), so that the strings aren't vibrating from the middle of the fret, but more from the front or rear edge.
iii) That one or more of the nut slots are cut so that the string isn't vibrating from the fretboard edge of the nut, but from further back towards the headstock.

[Andy40]

Thanks Waz and Simon.

Some good advice there. The reason I assumed that it might be the nut is because on previous builds where i have replaced the plastic nut with a DB bone nut, I have had to file it down to the right height and, in doing, so I noted that when the nut was too high a common symptom was that even though the guitar was tuned correctly, open chords (not barre chords) were out of tune. Waz, I also noticed this issue on my tele when the string trees were too tight or didn't have the proper break angle.

Here, I have used the factory plastic nut (because i am trying) to keep this build as close as possible to the factory standard.

I checked the fret measurements so its not that and it could be a bad fret job (as i did it myself) but i doubt it.

Buuuut, the plastic factory nuts do to me look a little high, I'll measure them today.

thanks

[Andy40]

Finished
minor tweaking and intonation needed

Well this is one of my better online purchases I have performed whilst intoxicated. It kept me busy for 9 months and 11 days!

A couple of things:
- This kit is completely PBG stock EXCEPT I pulled apart the pickups swapped the ceramic magnet with alnico 5's and wax potted them. - It has all the other Chinese parts and electrics installed in it, including the strings, which are being a bit temperamental.
- I used Brendan's wiring diagram, which worked perfectly! http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wiring-diagrams/
- If you are considering this kit, you will need to plug the existing jack hole and drill a new one.
- If you are considering a Dingotone burst....do it! take note: Blackstump on Basswood body is uniform with the maple neck!
- it is finished with Tru oil - sorry DB; and
- it weighs 4.5 kg (or 9.9 lbs)

I hope I have inspired Wokks to finish his purple monster.

[Andy40]

a few more

[Andy40]

Sound and video demo.

Please note, I shot this with my Iphone and recorded the sound though my Zoom G3 into Audacity. I am not a great guitarist, but you get the general drift of how it sounds.

[wokkaboy]

nice work Andy, came up a treat buddy and the video sounds great some cool noodling. Must take a while to get used to the size of the body and the twin neck positions.
You have inspired me to finish mine, few more in the queue first ! haha

[Andy40]

Thanks Wokks, it does and my weak fingers need to get used to the 12 strings!

I should post one more photo as it related to questions some people had about dingotone.

This is a photo of the jackhole I plugged with a but of pine and some neutral timbermate. after 3 - 4 stain coats and 3 -4 costs of intensifier of Dingotone black stump, I almost cannot see it!

[DrNomis_44]

I just watched the demo video of your double-neck SG, she looks really classy, and there's nothing wrong with your playing, you're way better than me, your playing has a great bluesy feel to it, I also like the tones you got out of the guitar, cheers for posting the video mate, one day I might order a PBG double-neck SG.

[FredA]

Looks awesome Andy!
Great demo too!