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Author Topic: Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature  (Read 4488 times)

shakman

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Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature
« on: November 17, 2006, 09:22:37 PM »
Hey guys,

This is my first post. I've been reading the forum and I've gotta say I'm now glad to be a part of it and glad I discovered Bare Knuckle after hearing your awesome demos.

I have a few questions you might be able to help with. I have just bought a second hand Les Paul Ace Frehley signature guitar. Just waiting for it to arrive. It has a triple humbucker pickup arrangement. I plan to buy a pair of Nailbombs for the neck and bridge position as the current owner admitted that the pickups sound 'muddy' and suspects they may not even be the originals... besides, after listening to some rocking samples submitted to this forum I'm SOLD on these pickups. I might even get another Bare Knuckle (maybe something a bit blusey or 'sweeter') for the middle position.

Now for my questions... (excuse my ignorance, I'm far from a guitar tech)

1) Does anyone know the ideal pots to use with the Nailbomb pickups?

2) Does anyone know any guitar techs in Sydney, Australia that I can trust the electronics in this guitar to? I hear there are plenty of hackers around.

3) Does anyone know much about the electronics in the Ace Frehley Signature and how the switching works? If so, any suggestions on wiring in a pair of Nailbombs.

Another thing - I'm thinking of getting "plek'd" in Annandale once the new pickups are in. Has anyone had any experience with getting their guitars set up by a Plek machine? What do you think?

Sorry for the bombardment. I'm just starting to get back in to guitar after a 5 year hiatus and I'm very excited, especially with my new axe coming and the discovery of Bare Knuckles.

Cheers,

shakman

Philly Q

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Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2006, 10:01:20 PM »
Don't know anything about guitar techs in Sydney etc, but I'd have thought the existing Gibson pots will be fine.  They're 300K volume and 500K tone (apparently), so I suppose you might want to try 500K volume pots.  

Here's the wiring diagram:

http://www.gibson.com/Files/schematics/lpafwiring.pdf

Welcome aboard, by the way!   :D
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

Peter Antal

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Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2006, 11:03:53 PM »
500K pots will be OK.

shakman

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Thanks!
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2006, 12:52:07 PM »
Hey Peter & Philly, thanks for the info and for the warm welcome! You rock!!!

I can't wait to get some Nailbombs into my axe. I might replace the volume pots too, just to be sure. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

If anyone has an opinion on Plek machines vs guitar tech setups or knows any trusty guitar techs for installing pickups in/around Sydney I'd be forever grateful.

Peter Antal

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Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2006, 04:53:56 PM »
Sorry, I don't know about Plek machines but I'm pretty sure that you could easily do the pickup change yourself. On a LP it's not that difficult. Some soldering and playing with pickup heights when ready. The installation guide you'll get with the pickups is pretty good and in case of any problems we're here to help you.

If you plan to change the pots as well, then that's a more difficult task but hey even I could wire up my Strat with new pickups, switch and pots without any soldering experience. :)

Are you getting an open-pole or covered set? In case of covered, a middle Mississipi Queen would look great IMO - and it's sweet and bluesy as well -, as the polepieces are in the middle. BTW, why did you choose a Nailbomb set? Cold Sweats and Rebel Yells are also nice in LP's. :)

shakman

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Nailbombs
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2006, 07:12:39 PM »
Hey Peter,

Thanks again for the awesome advice.  :D  Once again, I must say, you rock!!!!   :guitar4:  

I've had some minor electronics/soldering experience before, I'm more worried about any damage I might do to the body of the guitar in the process but I might shake my nerves and give it a shot. I'm also planning to buy some Hovland Musicaps capacitors to install at the same time. I've heard good things about them really opening up the range of a pickup and I'll want to make the most out of my Bare Knuckle purchase.

I'm still waiting for the guitar so I haven't made the pickup purchase yet. I was just about to order the Nailbombs when I read your reply. I guess the main reason why I wanted the Nailbombs is a result of the demos that have been posted on this forum. The tonal qualities I heard in the NB demos seem to suit the style I'm into. I particularly love the harmonic qualities of it. My next favourites as far as tonal and harmonic qualities is the Miracle Man. I guess it's just a personal preference but I'll hold off on buying anything now until I do a bit more research based on your advice.

I was originally considering getting the open version in cream but have since convinced myself to buy the 'Nailbomb' engraved camo covered model instead. What are your thoughts?

Any advice anyone can give me on capacitors would also be welcome. Assuming a calibrated pair of Nailbombs and 500k CTS pots for both tone and volume, I was planning to use 0.022uf caps for both neck and bridge. Is this good/bad/personal preference?

Sorry for being such a 'noobie' - I guess you've gotta start somewhere  :roll:

cheers,

 :drink:
shakman

Peter Antal

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Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2006, 10:00:30 PM »
Unfortunately I can't tell you much about different caps as I don't have any tone controls on my guitars. :twisted: I've heard very good things about Hovlands, I'd definitely buy them in case I needed a tone pot. Orange drops are also nice and somewhat cheaper but I don't know about the exact tonal differences, if any.

The reason why I asked about the Nailbomb is that most Nailbomb clips here at the forum were made using Strats or superstrats, I also have my Nailbomb in a Strat. Once I asked Tim for a recommendation for my Artist, and he told me a Nailbomb may have too much mids in a LP. However, I've seen many happy posts about Nailbombs in LP's and SG's since then so maybe it's really up to one's personal preferences... What I know is that there are some models such as Miracle Man, Rebel Yell, Cold Sweat and some others that really feel themselves at home in a LP. So maybe it's worth doing a research on what they sound like... choosing the right pickup might be one of the most time-consuming tasks when modding a guitar but it's definitely worth in the long run. You might never have to worry about pickups again if you make a perfect decision. I'd recommend you to ask others about different models, use the search function, and ask Tim himself... he knows his stuff and always recommends the right models.

Concerning different cover oprions... I'm not sure about the camo... it's a brownish-greenish cover that might not match the colours on the guitar well. If I were you, I'd wait with such decisions till I have the guitar in my hands. :)

Good luck and congrats on your new axe! 8)

shakman

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Setup Nailbomb set on H-H-H Les Paul Ace Frehley signature
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2006, 11:12:19 PM »
Thanks a million Peter.

I've had another listen to a bunch of samples following your advice and have decided to go with the Miracle Mans. They seem pretty versatile and have plenty of wicked tone, even through my cr@ppy computer speakers, and they have flexibility to burn. As you suggested, I will wait for the axe to arrive before jumping in though.

These pickups will either make my GT6 scream or make it obsolete :lol:  Maybe I should see it off along with my Peavey Bandit (and maybe even a few of my dust collecting axes) and buy a tube amp at last  :crazy2:

I'll be sure to let you know how it all goes. I can't wait!!!!

shakman