Commodore 64
February 28th, 2011, 10:53 AM
Backstory
I got this old Epi Strat clone last year for $45 on Craig's List. I hadn't done much with it besides replace the pots, switch and install a GFS Pro Tube PUP in the neck. It was the first time I ever swapped a PUP or replaced pots..that sort of thing. The guitar has just sat around since then, having sharp frets and an annoying tendency for the pickguard to resonate on lower notes (many of the screws are stripped). I kept it at work for a beater, and even then it didn't get much attention.
So I took it home this weekend, to bastardize, and hopefully make more compelling to play. Because even though the neck is made of 4(!) pieces (scarf joint at the headstock, headstock is 2 pieces, and the fretboard is maple veneer), I really like the headstock. It's the explorer droop type. The headstock is pretty much the only thing I like about it. Inexplicably, this is the only pic I have of it, and you can't even see the whole headstock.
http://www.lucky-cricket.com/files/Gear.jpg
Finally, to the Problem.
The Epi is HSH routed. I have two P90s from a Samick Jazzmaster, plus that Pro TUbe. So I got out the dremel and modified the pickguard. I stuck the P90s in the neck and bridge, and the ProTube in the middle. I think I read somewhere that the ProTUbes are Alnico II, so I figured it might match up OK. PLus it looks cool.
So I wired it up like conventional strat. Here's the issue(s) per positions.
1. Neck P90 is incredibly microphonic, but sounds good.
2. Mixing Neck P90 and Protube results in less volume, but sounds OK.
3. Pro-Tube sounds great alone, volume about = to neck P90 (I have it raised more).
4. Only the Pro-tube is heard, same volume as position 3.
5. Very, Very faint sound. The P90 is working, but it's very very faint.
As far as I can tell, I have it wired up properly, the P90s have a bare wire and a white wire, that's it. I assumed the white wire was the one to be wired to the switch and the bare braided wire to ground.
Any ideas?
PS: It looks freakin' awesome (from a distance) IMHO, and I promise to get pics tonight.
I got this old Epi Strat clone last year for $45 on Craig's List. I hadn't done much with it besides replace the pots, switch and install a GFS Pro Tube PUP in the neck. It was the first time I ever swapped a PUP or replaced pots..that sort of thing. The guitar has just sat around since then, having sharp frets and an annoying tendency for the pickguard to resonate on lower notes (many of the screws are stripped). I kept it at work for a beater, and even then it didn't get much attention.
So I took it home this weekend, to bastardize, and hopefully make more compelling to play. Because even though the neck is made of 4(!) pieces (scarf joint at the headstock, headstock is 2 pieces, and the fretboard is maple veneer), I really like the headstock. It's the explorer droop type. The headstock is pretty much the only thing I like about it. Inexplicably, this is the only pic I have of it, and you can't even see the whole headstock.
http://www.lucky-cricket.com/files/Gear.jpg
Finally, to the Problem.
The Epi is HSH routed. I have two P90s from a Samick Jazzmaster, plus that Pro TUbe. So I got out the dremel and modified the pickguard. I stuck the P90s in the neck and bridge, and the ProTube in the middle. I think I read somewhere that the ProTUbes are Alnico II, so I figured it might match up OK. PLus it looks cool.
So I wired it up like conventional strat. Here's the issue(s) per positions.
1. Neck P90 is incredibly microphonic, but sounds good.
2. Mixing Neck P90 and Protube results in less volume, but sounds OK.
3. Pro-Tube sounds great alone, volume about = to neck P90 (I have it raised more).
4. Only the Pro-tube is heard, same volume as position 3.
5. Very, Very faint sound. The P90 is working, but it's very very faint.
As far as I can tell, I have it wired up properly, the P90s have a bare wire and a white wire, that's it. I assumed the white wire was the one to be wired to the switch and the bare braided wire to ground.
Any ideas?
PS: It looks freakin' awesome (from a distance) IMHO, and I promise to get pics tonight.