A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

mozz wrote: ↑Tue Aug 25, 2020 8:29 pm 250K would be more right for strat single coils. I would just wire it as is and if it's too bright or shrill, then switch to 250k pots. I actually like the black pickguard in the first picture.

Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:07 pm I decided that I may as well try to chronicle the mess I am about make.

This past December, I nabbed an older Peavey Predator for...less than $150 Canadian, including gig bag.

20191230_230026.jpg

I went through a couple of ideas about what to do with it, including installing a Floyd I have lying around, but decided to go a simpler route.

I knew that the tuners needed changing, so I ordered some from AliExpress. The bridge was a non starter so I grabbed a Wlikinson-branded bridge...from AliExpress. And I wanted at tort pickguard in HSH that would fit so....AliExpress again. This is a semi-budget operation. I had a couple of pickups lying around that should work.

The tuners...welk,I got nervous about trying to drill these freehand,so I cheated and had them installed.

20200825_150653.jpg

These are Jin Hos, and the feel nice without string tension, which is a good sign.

Now for the pickguard. I think this looks pretty good.

20200825_150928.jpg

The next thing that I need to do is install pickups. I noticed that the pots that came with the guitar were 500K and sounded OK, so I decided to keep them. Same with the switch. I transferred them over to the new guard.

Then, I started to look at the wiring. My wiring foibles are well covered in previous posts. But this should be easy, right? RIGHT?

20200825_151359.jpg

Oh, boy. Lots of wires the same colour, all twisted together. Looks like I have some work to do.

slowhand84 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2020 4:19 pm

Rollin Hand wrote: ↑Tue Aug 25, 2020 7:07 pm I decided that I may as well try to chronicle the mess I am about make.

This past December, I nabbed an older Peavey Predator for...less than $150 Canadian, including gig bag.

20191230_230026.jpg

I went through a couple of ideas about what to do with it, including installing a Floyd I have lying around, but decided to go a simpler route.

I knew that the tuners needed changing, so I ordered some from AliExpress. The bridge was a non starter so I grabbed a Wlikinson-branded bridge...from AliExpress. And I wanted at tort pickguard in HSH that would fit so....AliExpress again. This is a semi-budget operation. I had a couple of pickups lying around that should work.

The tuners...welk,I got nervous about trying to drill these freehand,so I cheated and had them installed.

20200825_150653.jpg

These are Jin Hos, and the feel nice without string tension, which is a good sign.

Now for the pickguard. I think this looks pretty good.

20200825_150928.jpg

The next thing that I need to do is install pickups. I noticed that the pots that came with the guitar were 500K and sounded OK, so I decided to keep them. Same with the switch. I transferred them over to the new guard.

Then, I started to look at the wiring. My wiring foibles are well covered in previous posts. But this should be easy, right? RIGHT?

20200825_151359.jpg

Oh, boy. Lots of wires the same colour, all twisted together. Looks like I have some work to do.

Nice! I just got my $99 Predator score, came with a bunch of bonus surprises too (I knew it had Fender noiseless pups in the mid and bridge positions but turns out it had a Fender CS Fat 50 in the neck also, plus it came with a bonus Crybaby for no reason).

Really blown away by this guitar, been playing it all day today. I had planned a bunch of mods but it's lookin' like all I'm gonna do is change the pickguard and slap on the set of Sperzels I have lying around:

https://www.aguitarforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=958

• not hugely impressed with the bridge yet.
  It may need some further adjustment and better saddle height screws;

• Speaking of saddle height screws, all except those on the high and low E strings are too long. It doesn't bug me much but it could sure bug me less;

• The string tree....I bought a pair of roller trees for this, but you think I can find them? Noooooooo;
  The volume pot is a bit stiff. Works fine, just stiff;

• My pictures all seem to end up upside down or sideways. Darned Peaveys.