Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: kevincurtis on June 03, 2008, 02:15:44 PM
-
After consultation on this board and my own thoughts I decided to sell my Lite Ash Tele as it just wasn't right for me, and then thought I would have some fun and venture into putting together a 'bitsa' tele.
The original intention was to get a basic alder or ash body and maybe add some strat contouring and then use a donor guitar for other parts where possible.
This lead to the purchase of this:
(http://www.theaxemancometh.co.uk/resources/tele1.jpg)
Followed by this:
(http://www.theaxemancometh.co.uk/resources/tele2.jpg)
Which has left me in the aforementioned quandary - the body is routed for P90's which I've never considered before and the original plan was to simply change the routing a bit to accommodate a normal tele set...but it would now seem a shame for me to go and hack away at such a nice body!
If I went for tele pickups I would be thinking more piledriver than vintage, and so maybe P90 is the way to go, with some nice nickel covers? I want this guitar to sit between my Crawler'd Strat and Apache'd Tokai Strat soundwise, so thicker than standard single coils, but still focused.
The other part of this is the wilkinson tele which I got cheap as an ex demo , but now I've got it I have to say it's a decent guitar and fantastic value for the money, I was intending using the bridge and tuners, pickguard (and maybe even the neck for a bit if I liked it) and possibly bits of the electronics. But now a bit of me is thinking that maybe I should go P90 on the new tele and just keep the wilkinson to be my 'tele guitar' when i need that kind of vibe ... so I'm open to opinions from the BKP masses! :)
K(http://)
-
A bit of me is thinking that maybe I should go P90 on the new tele and just keep the wilkinson to be my 'tele guitar' when i need that kind of vibe
That's what I'd do :)
-
Spalted Maple top? I like 8)
-
A bit of me is thinking that maybe I should go P90 on the new tele and just keep the wilkinson to be my 'tele guitar' when i need that kind of vibe
That's what I'd do :)
Ditto.
And I think you'll find that the Tele bridge isn't as wide as the P90 rout, so converting to a standard Tele setup may not be an option anyway, unless you make an oversized scratchplate.
-
That's what I'd do :)
Hey TF - given your penchant for doubles... I was expecting you to suggest getting at least another as a backup, and a spare body for when I b*lls this one up :)
Phil - you are quite correct extra 1/2 inch of route on P90 (doh!), although if I was putting a scratchplate on I would probably go custom cut anyway as I'm not a massive fan of the tele version personally.
-
Spalted Maple top? I like 8)
Indeed it is - I wanted plain and ordinary to do a frankenstein job on...but thought this was too pretty to miss out on! :)
-
If i was you, (and i wish i was, that body is sexy...) I'd get a strat style hardtail bridge, or even better, a gibson-esk tunomatic or wrap around. If i never already had a p90 guitar build in the wings i'd do that myself. With a big chunky strat headstock on that bad boy...
-
I really must get round to putting together my Teles - I've got all the parts for two of them, but I never seem to have any time. :(
-
I'd love to do a parts tele - the wood on that body looks amazing, not much to do there at all...
-
That's what I'd do :)
Hey TF - given your penchant for doubles... I was expecting you to suggest getting at least another as a backup, and a spare body for when I b*lls this one up :)
:lol:
-
since the tele has no bridge mounting holes thats the first thing i would decide
i would stick with p-90's since a tele bridge wont go over that route
the easiest bridge to install are ones that have the strings mounted at the back because you wont have to worry about drilling accurate holes straight through the body
this is a nice easy one to fit (3 screw holes):
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Schaller_Non-tremolo_Roller_Bridges.html
or a cheapy (3 screw holes and a channel):
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Top-Loading_Hardtail_Bridge.html
also, is it routed out for any controls yet?
-
I agree with just about everyone else- go for the P90's and keep the Wilkinson as your Tele.
-
Love that top. Keep it clear or in a tennessee orange stain.
How about this for an idea.
Tennessee orange body, black soapbars, bigsby bridge system with TOM bridge and no pickguard.
-
I agree with just about everyone else- go for the P90's and keep the Wilkinson as your Tele.
i agree too. two guitars are better than one. :lol:
-
Tennessee orange body, black soapbars, bigsby bridge system with TOM bridge and no pickguard.
myabe a little more hotrod red - but that could work really well
-
this is a nice easy one to fit (3 screw holes):
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Schaller_Non-tremolo_Roller_Bridges.html
This is more or less the same model as on my hardtail strat, and its a bridge I am very happy with, but I was thinking of something a bit chunkier, or even a wrap around PRS SE style (although I don't want anything that will be a bugger to fit!).
The back is routed for a standard tele control layout with jack socket - it's just the bridge that hasn't been done.
Colour wise - I hadn't considered orange/red but that would complement my lemon drop Edwards. I am currently thinking more blue/purple...but it does have to be a stain cos I would make a pretty poor hash of spraying I fancy!
Cheers
-
or even a wrap around PRS SE style (although I don't want anything that will be a bugger to fit!).
Problem with that would be the height of the bridge - you'd probably need to shim the neck to give it a bit of an angle. Unless you recess the bridge or can live with a very high action!
Also might be tricky to drill the holes for the bridge studs in exactly the right place (but Wez or Jonathan might be able to help with that?).
-
If you go for a wrap around (which, all told, is a very good idea), then for the love of god make sure its intonatable. Most PRS ones arent (and my dear lord how that grinds my gears :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: )
-
If you go for a wrap around (which, all told, is a very good idea), then for the love of god make sure its intonatable. Most PRS ones arent (and my dear lord how that grinds my gears :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: )
:twisted: Nah, one-piece bridges rule! In fact I'm going to take the intonatable Pigtail bridge off my Edwards and replace it with an aluminium stop bar.
If the lack of intonation adjustment is a problem, I recommend some time not practising, to make your technique sloppier, then you'll never notice the difference.
(But seriously, the PRS bridge works fine with 9s or 10s IMO, it's probably not good with heavier strings because you need more "travel" on the saddles to get the intonation right. I think.)
-
I too love one piece bridges. My all time favourite bridge is the schaller 456, closely followed by the 455.
But you basically have to set the intonation all strings at once with the action, forcing you to have one particular action if you want your guitar to sound in tune. And its never quite bloody right. Grinds my gears, I tell you!!
-
I too love one piece bridges. My all time favourite bridge is the schaller 456, closely followed by the 455.
That's not a one-piece bridge! The 456 has at least 28 pieces, probably 40 or more but I can't remember how the fine-tuners work. :P :wink:
Mind you, my "one-piece" is actually 3 pieces I suppose - the bridge and 2 grub screws. That's not including the mounting studs.
-
You know what I mean!
-
OK, OK...settle down at the back there ;) if it doesn't have individual intonation then that would be a downside (I'm also thinking of having a go with an earvana nut), also individual string height would be a slight concern..and now that I have done some more detailed research it seems that is as rare as a certain breed of horses effluent...so maybe I should go with what I already know (the schaller) and get on with quite happily... but you know how it is...always want to try something new/different!
-
I too love one piece bridges. My all time favourite bridge is the schaller 456, closely followed by the 455.
But you basically have to set the intonation all strings at once with the action, forcing you to have one particular action if you want your guitar to sound in tune. And its never quite bloody right. Grinds my gears, I tell you!!
Oh, that there second paragraph refers to the cursed in-intonatables, damn their hides *spits on floor*. Not the schallers. The schallers are fully intonatable, bless their cotton socks.
-
Oh, that there second paragraph refers to the cursed in-intonatables, damn their hides *spits on floor*. Not the schallers. The schallers are fully intonatable, bless their cotton socks.
So ..reading between the lines...you're not so keen on 'non individual intonation' (there must be a proper word for it?! :? ) bridges :)
-
Leaving aside the winding-up :wink: , I'll go back to my earlier point about bridge heights and neck angles.
I think you'd be best off with a low-profile bridge like the ones Wez mentioned, or a Strat-style hardtail if you're confident about drilling through the body.
The Hipshot hardtail is nice:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html
Or the Gotoh:
http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/GOTOH_FIXED_BRIDGE_6_SADDLES_CHROME_GTC102C
-
Oh, that there second paragraph refers to the cursed in-intonatables, damn their hides *spits on floor*. Not the schallers. The schallers are fully intonatable, bless their cotton socks.
So ..reading between the lines...you're not so keen on 'non individual intonation' (there must be a proper word for it?! :? ) bridges :)
Exactly. And niether should you be damnit!!!! :wink:
-
Exactly. And niether should you be damnit!!!! :wink:
I'm not, I'm not..honest! :)
I think you'd be best off with a low-profile bridge like the ones Wez mentioned, or a Strat-style hardtail if you're confident about drilling through the body.
The Hipshot hardtail is nice:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html
I do like the look of the Hipshot - I'm gonna regret saying this..but how hard can it be to drill 6 holes through a guitar..I could oversize them to make sure the string is clear and allow for slightly innacurate drilling...
-
Exactly. And niether should you be damnit!!!! :wink:
I'm not, I'm not..honest! :)
I think you'd be best off with a low-profile bridge like the ones Wez mentioned, or a Strat-style hardtail if you're confident about drilling through the body.
The Hipshot hardtail is nice:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Hipshot_Hardtail_Bridge.html
I do like the look of the Hipshot - I'm gonna regret saying this..but how hard can it be to drill 6 holes through a guitar..I could oversize them to make sure the string is clear and allow for slightly innacurate drilling...
Good :D
And the proper name for non-individually intonatable bridges is "Anti-musical shitee" :shock: :shock:
Technical term, that.
-
[I do like the look of the Hipshot - I'm gonna regret saying this..but how hard can it be to drill 6 holes through a guitar..I could oversize them to make sure the string is clear and allow for slightly innacurate drilling...
If you don't have a drill press it can make a real mess. You need to have the holes at right angles to the body and all spaced correctly. Then you also need to know which type of ferrules you are going to use on the back, as the holes need to be different diameters for different ones.
-
its not hard to get six holes through the body, but getting them neat is very difficult without the rght equipment...and its one of those jobs that can look unsightly from the slightest variation in ferrule spacing on the back.
the job goes much easier on a large drill press
-
And the proper name for non-individually intonatable bridges is "Anti-musical shitee" :shock: :shock:
Phil, you've got dozens of Juniors, help me out here!!! :o
If you don't have a drill press it can make a real mess. You need to have the holes at right angles to the body and all spaced correctly. Then you also need to know which type of ferrules you are going to use on the back, as the holes need to be different diameters for different ones.
Agreed, you certainly need a drill press, but there is a slight margin for error.
If you drill the holes from the top, then if they're a tiny bit out of line on the back you can straighten them up again when you drill the holes in the back for the ferrules. You don't want the string holes oversized or the bridge plate will create a little "lip" at the top of each hole and the strings will catch when you feed them through - not a disaster, but annoying.
You'd need to make a little drilling template for the ferrule holes (from a bit of hardboard or something) to make sure you get them straight, otherwise the drill bit will get "pulled" into the holes you've already drilled from the top. That's what I did anyway.
G&L use a one-piece ferrule which would make the whole thing a lot easier, but I don't suppose you can buy them separately:
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/gl91asat-classic-csb2.jpg)
-
i do the one piece ferrule thing quite often - usually inlayed into the back, sometimes with individual ferrules put into that
i do it because i like the look but will admit i first tried it because i had to after drilling fome ferrule holes badly
-
I'm not going for top notch here - I'm not that patient :( I just want to create something functional that looks ok (getting such a nice body was in a sense an error but it will make me pull my game up a bit!)
That said i don't want a dogs dinner on the back either - I like the look of the G&L ferrule, but as you say, whether you could get hold of one seperately?
On another aspect - if I go with P90's anyone got any ideas for interesting wiring/electronics? I'm very much a one pickup and volume person ordinarily, but this project is making me feel 'playful' so I'm thinking of how I can juice this puppy up in some ways :)
-
Well, it's just two single-coils so you can't do anything too fancy. You could go for the legendary 4-way Tele switch, a pair of P-90s in series would sound huge I imagine (but maybe not too useable?).
Or maybe you could get them tapped and use a push-pull pot or two for some lower-output sounds.