I like everything but the headstock color. Keep us updated on the progress!
Last year I bought a White Bridge Tele clone, and right from the get-go I've had plans in mind. I really like the guitar, but I want to add some unique character to it. Here's what it looks like now:
And here's what I'd like it to look like when I'm through:
One slight difference, possibly. I may put a GFS Dream 90 in the neck instead of a humbucker, at least to start with. If I like it, I'll probably leave it. If it's kind of...meh...then I'll swap it for one of my many magnet swap recipients. It will also get a 4-way switch for the series/parallel option, a Russian PIO tone cap (.033) and CTS pots. Oh yeah, and the knobs will actually be black, not chrome.
So, what do you think, gang? Thumbs up, or not so much? Most of the parts will be here in about a week or so, and surgery will hopefully start soon after, time allowing. Should be fun!
-Sean
Guitars: Lots.
Amphs: More than last year.
Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.
I like everything but the headstock color. Keep us updated on the progress!
Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350Originally Posted by Spudman
Amps: Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Avatar B212 / Genzler 12-3, Acoustic B20
Pedals: Pod HD500X, Diamond Compressor, Tech 21 VT Bass, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner
The Dream 90 works great in the neck position
Electrics: Hagstrom Ultra Swede (Gold Eagle Burst) Gretsch 5120 Electromatic (Orange) Custom Nashville Blackout Telecaster (Black, Stat mid/neck p'ups; Lil Puncher (Modern Vintage) bridge p'up; Wilkinson Compensated Bridge w/ 3 brass saddles, Warmoth Vintage Modern Birdseye Maple Neck) Fender MIM Stratocaster (Blue Agave, Rosewood Fretboard, Fender Tex-Mex p'ups; GFS Trem/Block Kit) Highland Spitfire (semi-hollow, flame maple top w/ bubinga inlay)Acoustics:Washburn D10CEQSB, Yamaha FG160E
Bass: Westone Spectrum ST, Warwick Rockbass Corvette Basic Active
Amps: Vox NT15H/V112NT Night Train, Peavey Bandit 112, Hartke HyDrive 210C Bass Amp, Vox DA5
That's good, because that's what I have already. I considered getting a Mean 90, but I already have the Dream from a trade.
Ah, are you one of those "I don't like matching headstocks" people, Eric? Understandable. If I get lazy, I may leave it natural. Hard to say at this point.Originally Posted by Eric
-Sean
Guitars: Lots.
Amphs: More than last year.
Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.
DO IT! I think the matching headstock on a black tele w/ maple fretboard looks cool!
Guitars:
Fender 2006 MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS in 3TS
Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
ESP M II Deluxe with a Tune-o-Matic bridge
Eleanor, the magical, mystical Road Worn wonder Tele
Blackstar HT Club 40
I would throw in a Seymour Duncan Blackout pup (or two!); then you'll have a really blacked-out tele!
However, I'm with Eric, leave the paint off the headstock.
Update: Just got a text from the future Mrs. FrankenFretter that my parts came today. That would be the pickguard, new control plate and dome knobs, CTS pots, Russian PIO tone cap (got that for free), Graphtec nut and a high quality four-way switch. I already have the Wilkinson bridge with compensated brass saddles. I didn't buy tuners, and I'm not sure if I will or not. If I find that the remaining chrome really bugs me, than I'll look for some black ones, but the Wilkinsons that are on there now are good tuners.
I downloaded the wiring schematic for the four way wiring, but I don't like the way the switch positions are. I'm not sure I'm competent enough to change the schematic, though. I'll probably just learn to live with it.
-Sean
Guitars: Lots.
Amphs: More than last year.
Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.
Well, I started the project today. I figured I'd start by doing the humbucker routing for the Dream 90. I finally tried out my router attachment for my Dremel, and it worked great...for a while. I got about half done, and the bit quit turning. I think the clutch went out. I was not happy, but the future Mrs. FrankenFretter has a Dremel of her own. I politely asked to borrow it (I did play the birthday card, though), and took it upstairs in hope of finishing the job. Turns out that the router attachment doesn't fit her Dremel. Ironic, because the router stuff came with her Dremel when she bought it on Ebay.
Crap.
I also found out that the knobs that I bought don't fit the solid shaft CTS pots I bought at the same time.
Double crap.
This is turning out to be one of those projects that's not going to get done in a weekend. I should have known better. I'll try taking my Dremel back to Sears (it's a Craftsman branded tool) to see if they'll honor the lifetime warranty. I've heard that they're not very good about that anymore, which sucks since at the time I bought the thing it was a big selling point that if anything ever went wrong, I could just take it back and they'd replace it.
-Sean
Guitars: Lots.
Amphs: More than last year.
Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.
if by any chance you still have the receipt they have to honor it and replace although just this last month had two Craftsman tools bite the dust(what are the odds) and were replaced on the spot. it has to be the Sears store proper Not an outlet which has less chance of even stocking your tool or parts.taking my Dremel back to Sears (it's a Craftsman branded tool) to see if they'll honor the lifetime warranty. I've heard that they're not very good about that anymore, which sucks since at the time I bought the thing it was a big selling point that if anything ever went wrong, I could just take it back and they'd replace it.
Dee
"When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"
Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal
Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.
Actually I like the headstock in black.
Just some random thoughts:
I like the headstock black.
I did the same thing with knobs and solid shaft pots. Had to order knobs with set screws.
I also used a Dremel to make PUP holes for a P-90. It looks fine from 10 feet away (lol).
-Sean
Guitars: Lots.
Amphs: More than last year.
Pedals: Many, although I go straight from guitar to amp more often lately.
Most of the time, I like a black headstock just fine. I even made my current build headstock black, it's only on strats and teles that it looks a little weird I guess.
But, it might look just right when done...interested to see pics when it's done for sure!
Dee
"When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"
Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal
Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.
Looks classy except for the neck pickup cover I would rather put a gold cover it suits better a black body
Guitars:
1978 Fender Telecaster Thinline Custom USA, New Nash TL-72 Thinline Telecaster, 1965 Harmony Meteor, H71, 1986 Fender Telecaster Esquire MIJ, New Martin J-41 Special, 1933 National Duolian, 1941, New Eastwood Mandocaster 12 strings
Amps:
Tweed Vibrolux Custom Denis Manlay, 1976 Fender Deluxe Reverb Silverface
Ah - there's another interesting / dividing issue...gold hardware. Is it OK to mix and match gold and chrome, or not? Or how about black altogether?
I once actually painted my gold pickups black, dunno how much sense that made...but anyway, I'd go for black open-coils meself.
But, these are all very much taste issues. Whatever it will be, it's gonna look real neat when done. Even the black headstock is growing on me slowly.
Dee
"When life's a biatch, be a horny dog"
Amps: Marshall JVM 410H w/ Plexi Cap mod, Choke Mod & Negative Feedback Removal mod, 4x12", Behringer GMX110, Amplitube 3/StealthPedal
Half a dozen custom built/bastardized guitars all with EMG's, mostly 85's, Ibanez Artwood acoustic & Yamaha SGR bass, Epiphone Prophecy SG, Vox Wah, Pitchblack tuner plus assorted pedals, rack gear etc. for home studio use.
You're right would probably be better to avoid mixing the two All Black is another option specially with the mapple fingerboard
Guitars:
1978 Fender Telecaster Thinline Custom USA, New Nash TL-72 Thinline Telecaster, 1965 Harmony Meteor, H71, 1986 Fender Telecaster Esquire MIJ, New Martin J-41 Special, 1933 National Duolian, 1941, New Eastwood Mandocaster 12 strings
Amps:
Tweed Vibrolux Custom Denis Manlay, 1976 Fender Deluxe Reverb Silverface