Author Topic: my new project.... (Read 3776 times)

matteo · « **on:** November 10, 2006, 06:50:26 PM »

...my old rg270dx. i got my vhII loaded yam for rock, and a standard pacifica for blues, so im lookin to turn this into an out and out metal guitar :twisted:

how hard would it be to just run it on a bridge warpig, and cuttin out the tone, volume and pickup selector as well as the other 2 pickups? then fill in the routed holes?

has anyone attempted anything like this? how hard would it be and would it b worth it?

Philly Q · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2006, 07:08:22 PM »

It'd be easy to ditch all the electronics and run a pickup straight to the output jack.

Not sure about filling the holes though. Plugging them with timber would be really tricky and time-consuming, but I wouldn't use a load of wood-filler or anything - it'd do nothing for the tone.

If it was me, I'd leave the holes but cover them with a scratchplate.

maxingwell · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2006, 08:01:29 PM »

Have you thought about maybe getting some false pickup covers or did you want the look of a guitar with one pickup?
As Philly Q said, it shuld be easy enough to strip all the electronics out - are you sure you want no volume control though?

Ratrod · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2006, 01:02:23 PM »

Paint it black and get a diamond plate pickguard routed for a single humbucker. Presto.

matteo · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2006, 01:54:05 PM »

thanx 4 the input guys!!

i think im just gonna go with a volum control. is it still easy to wire it up?

a diamond plate guard would look cool. is it a custom job r will would a pre made "strat guard" fit the rg shape? ive seen some guitars where the scratchplate covers the whole front of the guitar and they look wicked. what do you guys reckon?

paint the guitar? hows the best way to get a decent finish?

sorry bout all the questions but i want this guitar to bedass!! :twisted:

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2006, 03:14:19 PM »

You'll probably need a custom pickguard - a Strat one won't fit. Search around, but there's a chap here on eBay who has diamondplate-effect RG pickguards:

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBANEZ-DIAMOND-PLATE-PICKGUARD-SET_W0QQitemZ320047098301QQihZ011QQcategoryZ41424QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

And he also does custom-made ones including a single-pickup plus volume control option:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBANEZ-RG-MIRRORED-PICKGUARDS_W0QQitemZ320047096791QQihZ011QQcategoryZ41424QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Quote

paint the guitar? hows the best way to get a decent finish?

FAR too complicated to go into detail of different types of paint etc, but basically:

1. Remove the old finish (or you could just spray over the old one)
2. Fill any small dents and sand level
3. Prime the body, sand all over
4. Start building up colour coats, 2 or 3 per day then leave overnight
5. Wet-sand the body (400-grit paper) to get the finish level every few coats
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as many times as you liketo build up the finish until you're happy!
7. After the final coats, let the paint dry for at least a few days (a few weeks is better)
8. Wet-sand with increasingly fine grades of paper (start with 800, going up to at least 1200, the finer the better)
9. Polish with T-Cut compound to a mirror shine
10. Polish with a wax-free furniture polish
11. Bingo!

That's a very brief summary! There's loads more detailed info all over the internet, and I recommend Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide book.

Oh, and it gets very messy. Don't do it in the kitchen.

matteo · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2006, 07:52:33 PM »

thanks for the input guys!! ive just e mailed the guy askin bout the custom job. diamond plate would look cool but im debatin a red or black body? im thinkin black would look meaner! what sort of paint would you use for that??

also, would a metal scratchplate do andything for the tone? :D

Philly Q · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2006, 08:19:16 PM »

If you're going for a DIY finish, you can get good results with spraycan car paints. I've done 5 or 6 guitars that way and it only went wrong when I tried a metallic colour.

A metal scratchplate shouldn't affect the tone, but I think it might vibrate at certain frequencies! Personally, I'd probably go for plastic or acrylic, I think the novelty value of metal would wear off after a while.

dave_mc · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2006, 10:01:16 PM »

i might have missed it, but isn't that ibanez rear-routed? i.e. you'd have to drill holes for the screws for the pickguard...

but yeah, if you can get a single-hum pickguard to fit, that'd be probably the easiest way. or else just leave the other pickup holes empty, for an EVH vibe...

matteo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 12, 2006, 02:58:03 PM »

yes i will have to drill the holes for the guard. im just about to start sanding so id best get busy! :?

gingataff · « **Reply #10 on:** November 12, 2006, 02:59:52 PM »

And at some point upgrade that TRS to an original Floyd Rose, it shouldn't need any additional routing compared at an Ibanez Edge.

dave_mc · « **Reply #11 on:** November 12, 2006, 04:17:09 PM »

^ depends if it's a trsII or trs- with a lo-trs, you'll need to drill slightly larger holes for the trem studs. but yeah, otherwise, and OFR/gotoh/schaller should be a pretty straight swap.

matteo · « **Reply #12 on:** November 13, 2006, 09:38:48 PM »

i was thinkin bout changing the bridge. how can i tell what bridge is on at the mo? can anyone reccomend a good one for bout £100?

also the guy mailed me back bout the guard he will knock one up for the same price!!

im thinkin bout staining the body like this. dont know if a shiny guard will suit it though?? im lookin for something differen to just black or blue coz you can buy them as standard like that( and with a better finish than if i sprayed it!!