Whats on your work bench?

[andrewsrea]

Not sure if I should consider dyeing the fretboard or not.
20210626_102822.jpg

^ India ink!!!

[andrewsrea]

So, if you have been following NGD threads, you’ll know I just snagged a Monoprice Tele—after playing it for a couple of hours, I can understand the advantages of doing the reverse control plate mod, but of course, a couple of the wires are too short, so I have to extend them …

I was wondering if rather than desolder them from the pots (risking overheating), could I just snip them and splice a short run in between, with shrink insulation?

Are there any reasons not to do this, and does the wire splice have to be exactly the same gauge? What happens if it’s not, or am I overthinking this?

Over thinking. I am of the practice of limiting connections, so I'd go for desoldering at the pot. To do this without over heating, you need a solderplut (sucker), because many folks wrap the wire on the lug and trying to 'pull' out the wrap while heating it, usually damages the pot.

[andrewsrea]

This is where I first heard about this technique.

I've done this about a dozen times, with notable great success on my Epi Casino.

[tobijohn]

Over thinking. I am of the practice of limiting connections, so I'd go for desoldering at the pot. To do this without over heating, you need a solderplut (sucker), because many folks wrap the wire on the lug and trying to 'pull' out the wrap while heating it, usually damages the pot.

FWIW, I use appropriately sized alligator clips on the pots as heat sinks...

[jtcnj]

Finally building the head cabs for 2 amp builds -JCM800 Micro and Princeton 6G2.
I'm not much of a woodworker, but.....

[t100d]

Over thinking. I am of the practice of limiting connections, so I'd go for desoldering at the pot. To do this without over heating, you need a solderplut (sucker), because many folks wrap the wire on the lug and trying to 'pull' out the wrap while heating it, usually damages the pot.

FWIW, I use appropriately sized alligator clips on the pots as heat sinks...

Yeah, I have heat sinks and a solder sucker, so will inspect and give it a go

[t100d]

Indio Retro Tele project
Today I did some more fret end rounding and rolled the edges of the fingerboard with razor blade and emery cloth—what a difference! Also rounded off all the edges of the nut and cleaned out the slots.

But here's weird—I took it to a friend's place last night for show and tell, and was doing a quick tune-up using harmonics … to my surprise, when I was on the neck pickup, I couldn't get a harmonic at the 5th fret on the low E string, and on the A it was initially silent but then developed almost as if I was using a volume pedal or a pinky swell. I've never come across this before in over 70 years of playing …
No problem with bridge pickup ( and of course with middle position). Bad stock string, maybe? Neck pickup seems to be working fine otherwise, I tried raising it to see if that would make a difference, but no joy—guess I'll slap another string on and cross my fingers.

Anybody ever come across this before?

[Buddha Pickups]

Not sure if I should consider dyeing the fretboard or not.
20210626_102822.jpg

^ India ink!!!

Hmmm, never heard of that. I'll have to look it up.

I used Fiebings leather dye last time with good results and I think I have some left....and at least I know a good way to scrape the binding this time!

I'm actually going to send this one out to install a "bridge block" so I can use a normal Tom bridge without the floater. Luckily my sister in law can do it for me.

[t100d]

Question answered—turns out, lack of harmonic at 5th fret on neck pickup is endemic to Teles and Strats due to pickup being in a nodal dead zone …

I was about to check the phenomenon acoustically, wondering if there was something wrong with the pickup, when I came across these articles and others similar —

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/for ... p?t=373081

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t.1182914/

Who knew? Never having had a Tele or Strat I'd not come across this!
Doesn't happen on my Ibanez SA220EX, could it be that because it has full size humbuckers, the pole pieces are just outside the "dead zone"?

[ID10t]

Question answered—turns out, lack of harmonic at 5th fret on neck pickup is endemic to Teles and Strats due to pickup being in a nodal dead zone …

I was about to check the phenomenon acoustically, wondering if there was something wrong with the pickup, when I came across these articles and others similar —

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/for ... p?t=373081

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t.1182914/

Who knew? Never having had a Tele or Strat I'd not come across this!
Doesn't happen on my Ibanez SA220EX, could it be that because it has full size humbuckers, the pole pieces are just outside the "dead zone"?

I didn't know that. My only strat is SSH and I don't mess with harmonics much anyway. I'll file that somewhere in my brain.

[andrewsrea]

Not sure if I should consider dyeing the fretboard or not.
20210626_102822.jpg

^ India ink!!!

Hmmm, never heard of that. I'll have to look it up.

I used Fiebings leather dye last time with good results and I think I have some left....and at least I know a good way to scrape the binding this time!

I'm actually going to send this one out to install a "bridge block" so I can use a normal Tom bridge without the floater. Luckily my sister in law can do it for me.

Black India Ink isn't a stain (dye) or a paint, but is opaque like a paint. It will really make a rosewood fingerboard look like ebony. It scrapes easy, resists wear, doesn't come off on your fingers when playing resists cleaners but will easily come off with paint thinner. Pretty cheap at a craft store, like Michael's.

[mozz]

Bought this a few weeks ago. New pickguard, new knobs, fretboard was dry, 35 new stainless screws, strap locks (on the way), tuner inserts fell out, had to reglue them in. Took out the ceramic pickups. MIM jazz's of older venue had 2 of the same size pickups, where a real American jazz would have two different sizes. Wound my first set of bass pickups, A5, 42AWG, 9000 turns neck, 9700 bridge, came out to 7.8k and 8.2k, probably gonna be kinda hot. Installed a Kinman style treble bleed (series cap-resistor) 1000pf and 150k. Still waiting on new strings, have to set the truss rod, set intonation, string height, pickup height etc.

[Partscaster]

I am currently finishing out my 63' strat mod (3tsb), and my 68' strat mod. Its been busy. No free time last weekend.
The 68 is black and my finish was laughable. Paint streaks showing thru. Dust specs, a few cat hairs, etc.
It was ok for me, but decided to give it another shot and sanded again, used a clear plastic box as a dust hood, and added thinner to the paint/tru-oil mix. Body is laying down flat as front and back get their separate treatment. It will not be factory spray comparable. But it will be much nicer than I had previously resigned myself to having.

With about 10% paint, 30% thinner and 60% Tru Oil, the mix lays down and spreads out nicely, and glosses up. I check for side runs, early on and then leave it. Made one mistake flipping it too early and am redoing front, again. But it looks like if I just leave it, it is now bound for a pretty good smooth gloss.

I had drilled and fitted all components to body, and took it all off for refinish. It'll be a few more days and then I will reassemble it all and get to try the Planet-Tone 69' pups, and their 63'pups in other build. Pretty soon, like with my LP-casters, I will definitely have too many partscasters. Which is right about where I want it.

[andrewsrea]

Bought this a few weeks ago. New pickguard, new knobs, fretboard was dry, 35 new stainless screws, strap locks (on the way), tuner inserts fell out, had to reglue them in. Took out the ceramic pickups. MIM jazz's of older venue had 2 of the same size pickups, where a real American jazz would have two different sizes. Wound my first set of bass pickups, A5, 42AWG, 9000 turns neck, 9700 bridge, came out to 7.8k and 8.2k, probably gonna be kinda hot. Installed a Kinman style treble bleed (series cap-resistor) 1000pf and 150k. Still waiting on new strings, have to set the truss rod, set intonation, string height, pickup height etc.

IMG_20210619_102959021_HDR.jpg20210704_185417.jpg

Congrats all around - beautiful!

Your pups will be perfect if you set your bridge height 1st and adjust your neck to blend (it may be lower than usual - but it will work). I experimented with mine last summer and found you are close to the sweet-spot, especially if you have a strong charge on your A5's.

Did you use .187's or .195' rod magnets?

[andrewsrea]

I am currently finishing out my 63' strat mod (3tsb), and my 68' strat mod. Its been busy. No free time last weekend.
The 68 is black and my finish was laughable. Paint streaks showing thru. Dust specs, a few cat hairs, etc.
It was ok for me, but decided to give it another shot and sanded again, used a clear plastic box as a dust hood, and added thinner to the paint/tru-oil mix. Body is laying down flat as front and back get their separate treatment. It will not be factory spray comparable. But it will be much nicer than I had previously resigned myself to having.

With about 10% paint, 30% thinner and 60% Tru Oil, the mix lays down and spreads out nicely, and glosses up. I check for side runs, early on and then leave it. Made one mistake flipping it too early and am redoing front, again. But it looks like if I just leave it, it is now bound for a pretty good smooth gloss.

I had drilled and fitted all components to body, and took it all off for refinish. It'll be a few more days and then I will reassemble it all and get to try the Planet-Tone 69' pups, and their 63'pups in other build. Pretty soon, like with my LP-casters, I will definitely have too many partscasters. Which is right about where I want it.

I haven't said this in forever: Pics, or it didn't happen!

[Partscaster]

I am currently finishing out my 63' strat mod (3tsb), and my 68' strat mod. Its been busy. No free time last weekend.
The 68 is black and my finish was laughable. Paint streaks showing thru. Dust specs, a few cat hairs, etc.
It was ok for me, but decided to give it another shot and sanded again, used a clear plastic box as a dust hood, and added thinner to the paint/tru-oil mix. Body is laying down flat as front and back get their separate treatment. It will not be factory spray comparable. But it will be much nicer than I had previously resigned myself to having.

With about 10% paint, 30% thinner and 60% Tru Oil, the mix lays down and spreads out nicely, and glosses up. I check for side runs, early on and then leave it. Made one mistake flipping it too early and am redoing front, again. But it looks like if I just leave it, it is now bound for a pretty good smooth gloss.

I had drilled and fitted all components to body, and took it all off for refinish. It'll be a few more days and then I will reassemble it all and get to try the Planet-Tone 69' pups, and their 63'pups in other build. Pretty soon, like with my LP-casters, I will definitely have too many partscasters. Which is right about where I want it.

I haven't said this in forever: Pics, or it didn't happen!

just for you, Andrewsrea,

[mozz]

Did you use .187's or .195' rod magnets?

The jazz flatware i bought from Mojotone is .187, same as the stock ceramic MIM pickups as i reused the covers. Just pressed magnets in a tele set today from China and they are .195. I buy all my strat flatware from Addiction FX, it's all .187 and those are the magnets i stock. A2, A3,A5.

I didn't feel like routing out the body for the 2 sizes a MIA jazz would have, but i have read MIM jazz basses since 200? have gone to the 2 sizes. Surprised even the intonation height screws are standard thread.

[mozz]

Found this in my attic, only kidding. Got the rusty bridge from someone here, so it went on this build. I found out using my wife's stained glass " NOVACAN PATINA" on the metal parts works out good. It's nitric acid and selenium and some copper sulfate, you have to burnish up any shiny chrome but i think it came out all right for a first time relic. "ATTENTION" We now have strap locks with ancient MOJO to give you that sound you have always been looking for.

[jtcnj]

Progress on the cabinet builds.

Corner cuts came out a little sloppy; I've done this twice before but about 5 years ago.
Uncle Doug and Rusty (RIP) make it look easy.

[andrewsrea]

Did you use .187's or .195' rod magnets?

The jazz flatware i bought from Mojotone is .187, same as the stock ceramic MIM pickups as i reused the covers. Just pressed magnets in a tele set today from China and they are .195. I buy all my strat flatware from Addiction FX, it's all .187 and those are the magnets i stock. A2, A3,A5.

I didn't feel like routing out the body for the 2 sizes a MIA jazz would have, but i have read MIM jazz basses since 200? have gone to the 2 sizes. Surprised even the intonation height screws are standard thread.

I used .195 and I think I hear stronger transients than the .187 ones I have made in the past. It is moot, since I almost always use a compressor on a bass.

"Novacan Patina" - good to know!!!

[Partscaster]

68' strat build, era spec pups, 4 lb alder body, maple capped neck. Waiting on round core strings due tomorrow.
Gold hardware isnt 68' spec, but I like the look. Hand blackened letters and numbers on knobs.

[jtcnj]

one of 2 completed.
I just need to figure out the waterslide decal thing for the faceplate, and touch up the corners with a little paint maybe.

[jtcnj]

2 of 2, for Brown Princeton 6G2 build.
Some warts and mistakes along the way, good enough for my DIY project I suppose.
Most of the pine board stock came from the demo of my 1972 kitchen cabinets.

[ID10t]

2 of 2, for Brown Princeton 6G2 build.
Some warts and mistakes along the way, good enough for my DIY project I suppose.
Most of the pine board stock came from the demo of my 1972 kitchen cabinets.

20210711_142448-2.jpg

I've said before how much I like your projects, sometimes the mistakes and warts add the most character; but the reuse and repurpose just adds even more cool factor for you in my book.

[redman]

Back the first part of February I was perusing Reverb and saw Kurt had a SX Callisto LTD 2TS for $99.99 w/$18.95 shipping this was not B-stock so I snagged it.
Anyway it is a nice little Callisto w/bolt on neck, P90s solid basswood body and maple neck I haven't saw one from Kurt for that price since. The only things I saw that needed attention were #1 the tuning machines and #2 the nut was a bit funky.
I think it was @mickey that had posted that the Wilkinson EZ-LOC's were good, inexpensive locking tuners. So I took his advise and just today put a TUSQ XL nut and EZ-LOC tuners on it. I set it up the way I like it and it made a bad@$$ little P90 guitar.
Oh by the way this would not have happened if @tobijohn "THE ENABLER" hadn't brought it to my attention in a thread in which I lied like a teenage boy explaining to his girlfriend's father her pregnancy in which I stated I wasn't going to buy anymore guitars, that I didn't have a P90 guitar.

So here it is my $139.73 including parts taxes and shipping P90 guitar. Are you happy now @tobijohn