Mattpt85 Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 This is a practice project of mine, all the parts were obtained as cheaply as possible from a popular auction site. I din't set out with a plan, just changed things as I went along, the body was obviously a project for someone else before me, I've never seen as many holes in the bridge area! I play in a punk covers band so I've kept the look rough and ready (a happy co-incidence) starting off with a sanding down and re-painting with some red gloss I had lying around Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 Then came the neck which is a leftie but I don't mind that, a quick de-logo was called for, I didn't want to tarnish the name of tanglewood by my butchery. Some hardware plus P pups (I don't like white pups) were scavenged from a cheapo I had lying around, and strings were strung. Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 Then the decoration begun! I thought I may as well add my name to the headstock space, and the band name to the body. I started off with the block fret marker stickers, then halfway down realised I could do them 'yamaha attitude' style so changed tack and put them off centre higher up the neck. Of course I told myself the wonkiness was intended as part of the rough and ready look.. looking back I must have been blindfolded or drunk, possibly both. The green pole pieces were added as it took me ages to break into the pickup case so I wasn't going to spend all that time and not paint them green. I also realised the bridge position was out so re-fitted that, adding yet more holes to the poor thing. Which was soon to be an issue no more... Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 After trying it at the next band practice I realised it was ok but the output was low so I thought I'd get some new pickups ordered. I'm now left with fair sized gaps where the new mm pickup doesn't fit the space for the old one, but that doesn't bother me really. I haven't yet tested my dodgy wiring properly so I may be in touch with Kiogon for a wiring loom. Then I saw a Kahler bass tremolo pop up for auction, I never knew these existed until seeing this so after a quick google I had to get it to try out. I got hold of a router, never used one before so performed a couple of atrocities on an innocent piece of wood I had lying about as practice then got stuck in. I'm a big believer in learning by doing Amazingly enough it wasn't a complete disaster and the trem bridge actually fit! Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 26, 2015 Author Posted October 26, 2015 I've never been a fan of red or black guitars with a white scratchplate and had some blue paint leftover from doing up the kitchen. So here it is in all it's glory (?!) I'll get to try it out tomorrow night at band practice. Probably have half an hours worth of annoying the rest of the lads with very un-called for vibrato and pitch bends then never use the arm again! All good fun though and good experience putting the thing together! Quote
FuNkShUi Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 Very Punk Rock Great way to learn how to go about these things. I've been tempted to have a go at it myself. A project similar would probably be best suited incase i make a complete botch of it Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Posted October 28, 2015 Cheers Guys haven't had chance to try it out yet, need to do some fiddling with the bridge/neck first. funkshui I would say go for it! It's hard at first but I've learnt so much through trial and error (with the help of t'internet of course) If I'm even half as competent as Andy one day it would be a miracle! Quote
bartelby Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 Love it! But you need a mudbucker in that neck cavity. Quote
Jonnyboy Rotten Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 Cool job! I have been thinking about putting a MM pickup on my P bitsa. Is yours in the right place to get the Stingray tone? Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 28, 2015 Author Posted October 28, 2015 I didn't do any measuring for pickup placement I used the existing cavity, which was routed for a 5 string pickup so i'm now left with a nice gap either side but hey ho. I'll hopefully get chance to plug it in tonight and see how it sounds! Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 [quote name='Mattpt85' timestamp='1446023978' post='2896198'] Cheers Guys haven't had chance to try it out yet, need to do some fiddling with the bridge/neck first. funkshui I would say go for it! It's hard at first but I've learnt so much through trial and error (with the help of t'internet of course) If I'm even half as competent as Andy one day it would be a miracle! [/quote] I use those special plastic pants with tight elasticated openings... Quote
Dom in Dorset Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 I can't help thinking that it could do with some green fur somewhere ! Quote
Mattpt85 Posted October 30, 2015 Author Posted October 30, 2015 Well it turns out the bridge placement is out, I'll have to get the tape measure out then re-route pickup and bridge cavitys, at least it's keeping the weight down! Quote
alyctes Posted November 7, 2015 Posted November 7, 2015 [quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1446144018' post='2897340'] I can't help thinking that it could do with some green fur somewhere ! [/quote] This Bridge mutes ?! Quote
Mattpt85 Posted November 21, 2015 Author Posted November 21, 2015 Not worth starting a new thread but I started again on a new body. Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted November 23, 2015 Posted November 23, 2015 [quote name='Mattpt85' timestamp='1448107600' post='2913086'] Not worth starting a new thread but I started again on a new body. [/quote] Is it just me? Can't see the photo... Quote
Dom in Dorset Posted November 23, 2015 Posted November 23, 2015 Nice , love the yellow. "you ask yourself how much more yellow could this be and the answer's none, none more yellow" Quote
Andyjr1515 Posted November 23, 2015 Posted November 23, 2015 Oooh - that's better Yes - like that Quote
Mattpt85 Posted November 24, 2015 Author Posted November 24, 2015 I'm going to change the rest of the hardware for black, black and yellow is a good combo in my eyes. Having trouble now though, after messing up the bridge position on the last one I measured from nut to 12th fret finding that was 16.5" so set the bridge at 33" (I think that's correct) Which made it unplayable, I raised the bridge height as much as I could, which wasn't much, but I am wanting to persevere with this Kahler tremolo bridge to get it working properly. Now gradually tweaking the neck relief and will probably raise the nut as well. Quote
Dom in Dorset Posted November 24, 2015 Posted November 24, 2015 A 33" scale neck sounds a bit unusual are you sure? Quote
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