Project 5150: The Madness is over!

[Rollin Hand]

Well, after buying this project a looooong time ago, I used the pandemic as an excuse to finally get this thing close to done. All that's left to do is to set the intonation, deal with some noise, and choose strap pins.

I got the kit from the BYOGuitar.com custom shop.
https://www.byoguitar.com/Guitars/BYO-C ... R-KIT.aspx

I had the body done in swamp ash. The pickup is their own Eruption model. I ordered it with the base, cheap Floyd copy, knowing I had the Gotoh in reserve. I did have to get the post holes drilled though.

A couple of surprises met me when I got this together. The first is that the tuners that come with the kit *suck*. I have some Gotohs on order. Secondly, the neck is way, way thicker than I was expecting. Not bad, but not nearly as slim as I like.

All in all,I learned a lot from this build. I learned a bit about grain filling, a bit about drilling for those necessary little holes that you don't think about until you are putting a guitar together, and a lot about painting a guitar. I have painted yhe entire side of a car -- well-- with rattle cans, but this was entirely different. The paint is very thin on the body. It should wear well, relicing itself over time.

Suffice it to say I have the build bug a bit now. I have to correct the wiring in my Spad (for the first time since I've owned it, grumble), and maaaaaybe do a pickup swap, but I am already thinking of the next build. And I have some red, white and black paint left over.

To be perfectly Frank.

[Rollin Hand]

Ok, tonight I decided to gove it its first REAL test through an amp.....and lest's just say I am wholly impressed.

Tuned to Eb with a set of Fender nickel wound 9-46 strings, I thought it sounded a hair muted...but then I heard it. A warm snarl that could only be described with one colour:

Brown.

I am thoroughly sold on the BYOG Eruption as a brown sound pickup. It sounded remarkable, no matter what VH riffs I played.

What's more, it got that sound through my red stripe Peavey Bandit.

Good lord, Unchained sounded incredible.

So, if you are building an Eddie guitar, BYOGuitar.com is a great place to start.

Now I have to dig out my EVH Phase 90 for some real fun.

[tlarson58]

I'm happy for you. Big project + great tone = win.

[dearlpitts]

That's awesome, nice guitar

[UrenragK]

That looks amazing and a very fitting time to complete your tribute.

First class!!

[Spike]

Love it! Great job.

[Rollin Hand]

Ok, think I found the source of that noise.....

Anyone know how to make a wire stay soldered to a trem claw when it really doesn't want to?

[UrenragK]

I strip the wire, put a couple of turns round the claw, and then solder, getting the claw nice and warm with a large tip.

[Rollin Hand]

I strip the wire, put a couple of turns round the claw, and then solder, getting the claw nice and warm with a large tip.

I am thinking I will tin the wire, sand the soldering point, flux it (I already used flux for all the good it did), put a blob of solder on the claw, then use my dad's old soldering gun to attach the wire. It's more powerful than my iron, I think.

If that doesn't work, I will drill a small hole in the claw and solder to that.

And if that doesn't work, trem claws are inexpensive and plentiful.

[UrenragK]

Yeah, was also going to suggest a small cook's blowtorch to warm the claw, sounds like you have a plan!

[jtcnj]

Really nice project, glad it has the right mojo too!!

The claw surface at the joint has to be hot enough. That means getting it hot quickly with enough wattage, making a good solder joint, and getting out.
The gun may be the ticket.

[Rollin Hand]

Really nice project, glad it has the right mojo too!!

The claw surface at the joint has to be hot enough. That means getting it hot quickly with enough wattage, making a good solder joint, and getting out.
The gun may be the ticket.

I took a peek at the gun this morning, and it is good for 100 and 140 watts, so hopefully it'll get it done. If not, I have other options.

Of course thinking back, the claw I used was hard to deal with in the past too.

Maybe a brass claw....hmmm.....

[mkgearhead]

If all else fails with the claw ground you could always solder an eyelet to the wire and attach it to one of the claw screws.

[ID10t]

If all else fails with the claw ground you could always solder an eyelet to the wire and attach it to one of the claw screws.

Seriously smart solution there!

[fullonshred]

Congrats on a great job. WRT "Brown" sound, wasn't sure why that term was ever used. Googling it I found an interesting story. I can neither verify nor debunk the tale, I merely post it here for your perusal.

"The “brown sound” is a legendary electric guitar distortion tone that musicians try to emulate using various effects pedals, tube amplifiers, and modeling amplifiers. The term was coined by guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Sources of the brown sound are frequently speculated upon, from the pickup Van Halen used on his “frankenstrat” guitar, possible modifications to the amplifier for more preamp gain or simply studio trickery. However; Eddie admitted years later that the amp modification story was made up to increase his buddy’s repair business. No real modifications were done to his Marshall amp except once in a while Eddie would use a different rated output tube(s) that would saturate faster."

[Rollin Hand]

I got it soldered this morning using my late father's soldering gun. I roughed up the surface, applied flux, tinned the wire and put a glob on the claw. I the maneuvered the wire into position and pressed it into the glob with the gun, and hit it with the full 140 watts for then entire hot cycle of a minute. Hopefully that'll do it.

I tought about the eyelet, but I want to keep the somewhat homebrew look to this thing. I still have to check the jack, I think, because it still seems to be making noise a little.

The more that I play this thing, the more that I like it. The thicker neck is not an impediment. It feels like a G&L that I ayed once, with a thick neck that played terrific. I suspect the compound radius helps.

My lone bugaboo seems to be the bridge. It sounds great, works great, feels great, except the arm seems to sit about a half inch lower than a Floyd arm. I am getting used to it, but I might have to change the arm out if I cant adjust it.

Still have to set the intonation, and that should be it. I look at this thing and amazed that it came out like it did -- not exact, not perfect, but the right kind of wrong, if you get my meaning.

I wish that I knew how to make a decent vid or recording, so I could show it off to you guys.

[TVvoodoo]

could you correct that arm by sticking it into a vice and "tweaking" it? I love this project. Who wouldn't want one hanging on the wall?

[Rollin Hand]

could you correct that arm by sticking it into a vice and "tweaking" it? I love this project. Who wouldn't want one hanging on the wall?

Thanks for the kids words.

The arm cat't be bent really (at least I wouldn't try it). It is threaded internally to screw into the bridge, and the tip has a wrench in it...I think. Anyway, I wouldn't want to sctrew up those internal threads, so a teplacement arm is plan A if I decide it's necessary.

[Milkman]

I am impatiently awaiting a sample of Unchained. Please. Thank you.

[Rollin Hand]

I am impatiently awaiting a sample of Unchained. Please. Thank you.

I am not so good at the recording thing. I'll need to find some time where my daughter is away from her iPad, and see if I can find my iRig. Maybe Wednesday?

[Milkman]

@Rollin Hand , you have no choice but to buy this bike that is listed on Kijiji right now!..

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-street-cruisers ... 1530991312

[Rollin Hand]

"..uhh...lemme go and ask my wife"

I could see on his face...and I knowed it aas no!

"I dunno man, she kinda funny..."