OK, I got a 5120 recently and chanced into some TV classics for a really cheap price...except they were gold. I had thought about doing a Black Beauty styled 5120 with all gold hardware or a Black Falcon, but with the new Tim Armstrong model being announced it gave me an idea. I'm not master tech and I am sure that in some eyes I have de-vauled the guitar, but since I don't plan on ever selling it, I'm not that concerned with what it looked like. It was more about learning how to do something and trying to make something unique (kind of) and sharing my experiences with you fine folks here.
Disclaimer finished.
What has been done:
- created special wooden English mounts for the pickups
- installed TV Jones Classics with EM bezels
- replaced chrome knobs with gold ones
- replaced chrome Bigsby with gold Bigsby
- faux gold f-hole binding with paint pen
- matte black finish with steel wool
What need to be done:
- Gold Sperzels
- TV wiring Harness
- custom Paul Setzer pickguard
- Tru-Arc of some kind...AL, I'm thinking...though it's not gold!
Now, the pics! Some of them are from a camera in a dark garage...sorry!
You know what a 5120 looks like...
EM bar prototype...the final one looks something like this...
Drumroll please...Ta-da!
I'm going to regret showing you guys this one...close up so you can see all the mistakes...my paint pen skills are very weak...I tried fixing it a little, but would have probably ended up making even worse...
I'm thinking (and hoping) the mistakes won't be noticed at distance and the dust and fingerprints won't been seen, but I think the sound should make up for it.
Now that it's together I can see about getting some feedback on the guitar and maybe help with a small problem.
It seemed that the bridge pickup was'nt as hot as the neck even though they were about the same distance from the strings. I thought I had accidentally reversed the bridge and neck pickups. But, I also noticed alot of static on the bridge volume pot and when I turned down the bridge volume a smidge the pickup up seemed to brighten up. That's one reason I'm thinking the next purchase is a wiring harness...but my install wiring could be faulty too...what do you guys think?
Anyway, it was a fun build and it a wonderful guitar to play and is starting to come together, only a few more pieces then it will be complete.
Thanks again to everyone here and especially Bax for this site. It's very valuable source for info and opinions and part of my daily routine...could'nt live without it!
The Shetland
