Project: To Catch a Predator

[Rollin Hand]

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

[mozz]

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.

[golem]

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.

Isn't there a way you can add a resistor to a pot to lower it's value? I feel like Bill Lawrence often suggested using a higher value pot and adding resistors until you found a value you liked. I'm not sure how to do it, I just recall reading about it. Like you said, most people would recommend 250K. I've found there are times when I like 500K on singles.

[Rollin Hand]

Humbuckers get 500K pots. Like I said, this will be HSH.

[Milkman]

You were going to install a Floyd, but decided to go “a simpler route”.... I get it... I see what you did there.

[Rollin Hand]

Totally unintentional, I assure you. But yeah, less routing is good. I may still try it at some point. I have my OLP still...

[Rollin Hand]

Well, made a couple of minor additions today, namely the humbuckers I had laying around....

Not sure when I will get to the next stage.

[slowhand84]

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

[Rollin Hand]

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

It is fun when you can nab something cheap and have it be thiiiiis close to perfect.

[Rollin Hand]

Minor progress.....

Also, I took a look at the bridge.

I don't care where it's nade, as long as it's nade well!

[Rollin Hand]

Got a little further with my labours today.....

Got the bridge in place....OBVIOUS improvement in quality over the original.

I also got the cavity protected with some copper tape.

And promptly landed on some wiring snafus. First I crossed up the hot and the ground on the jack. Then it still didn't work. So, I pulled it apart, and noticed a loose lug on the original switch. I took a chance and added a new switch. Holy plop, it worked!

So, I got the pickguard installed. Some drilling required, but it is in place and I like how it looks. Not bad for $12.

I was hoping to get it all done in an hour, neck and all. Nope. Time to play with my daughter. That's more important anyway.

[Rollin Hand]

A few thing have been attached to a few other things now.

I have put on a set of 9-46 EB Cobalts and set the intonation and action. I had a lot of issues with fretting out, but they are improving. It is quiet as a mouse, and absolutely rips on 80s hard rock and metal (well, you know, Duncan JB) through my Eleven Rack. Playing fast is a breeze. The damned thing is a hoot.

Issues:

• 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.

So, the next stages are to find my string trees and get them installed and to sort out the bridge. Worse comes to worst, I buy new saddles and a brass block for the old one, or add a Floyd, but I would hate to spend any more money on this.

Oh yeah: gotta add the stainless neck screws for that litle extra something they give.

[Tonray's Ghost]

I was waiting to see if Chris Hansen shows up...

[UrenragK]

Looking great! Nice job