Some of ya'll may recall I'm working on a stuffing a pair of old Kay thin-twin pickups into one of the guitarkits Valco repro bodies. I think I may have a hit a snag!
I did, and it's a big hole. And it's fiberglass, like the original Valcos.
Although I think the fiberglass isn't enough, and I'm going to have to dig into the wood support, too. Those ThinTwin pickups are BIG. I knew they were wide and long, but didn't realize how tall they are, too.
Nah, I've already cut. Plus, note the way the neck already sits 3/4" high of the body. You already need a pretty high bridge to clear things. In fact, I'm not sure the Bigsby Bowtie I bought is tall enough. We'll see, once I sink the pickups.
All I know is, if I can make it work at all, this is going to be the freakiest, funkiest, snottiest, low-rent guitar around. In a good way.
I've dremeled out the fiberglass, which gained me about 1/8 or so. I think about another 1/8 or so out of the wood and I'll be in business.
In a way it's not a bad thing. I wasn't wild about having those big suckers sitting that high off the body anyway. I also think it'll make the pickup adjustment screws viable again. Maybe.
Way back when I was just getting into guitar plumbing (and before I knew better), I found a beat-up harmony archtop to use as a project base. While trying to install a neck pickup, I encountered the same problem - there were two big chunks of wood in my way. So of course I did the sensible thing and started sawing...
Take the neck and some misc. hardware from my squier tele.
Take the pickups from an old Kay Thin-Twin
Mix it up with series/parallel and phase switching (while keeping the tele two-knob, one switch simplicity)
Add a B-5.
Blend with one of these: http://www.guitarkitsusa.co...
Neatone, the valco style bodies come with some quirks. Top mounted pickups are how they're designed. In my case, some improvisation is in order. But it will work.
the Problematic model should also include a Epiphone Frequensator tailpiece (Bigsby B7 optional), NOS white-button Kluson tuners, and an Asian-made PU selector switch. ideally the neck should also have the truss rod adjustment at the heel, a shallow or no headstock angle, and no string trees or a single bar LOL.
Well... the neck is Squier tele, so there is a shallow headstock angle. And one of the string trees is missing. Tuners are whatever came on the Squier Tele, and they're adequate at best. Tailpiece is a B5, with a bow tie bigsby bridge (which may not be quite tall enough). And the pickup selector switch is whatever 4-way switch I found 10 or 15 years ago.
So I'm close.
On the plus side, I've almost got the pickups fitting. I'm getting closer.
With a straight-edge going down the neck, they're sitting about 1/8 below. Wondering if I should sink them more, or if that'll work.
Facebook
Twitter
Some of ya'll may recall I'm working on a stuffing a pair of old Kay thin-twin pickups into one of the guitarkits Valco repro bodies. I think I may have a hit a snag!
Just gonna have to make a hole in that wood top.
I did, and it's a big hole. And it's fiberglass, like the original Valcos.
Although I think the fiberglass isn't enough, and I'm going to have to dig into the wood support, too. Those ThinTwin pickups are BIG. I knew they were wide and long, but didn't realize how tall they are, too.
Something like this ought to do the job...
A little less extreme: nut lifter and a real high bridge, and make 'er a slider.
Nah, I've already cut. Plus, note the way the neck already sits 3/4" high of the body. You already need a pretty high bridge to clear things. In fact, I'm not sure the Bigsby Bowtie I bought is tall enough. We'll see, once I sink the pickups.
All I know is, if I can make it work at all, this is going to be the freakiest, funkiest, snottiest, low-rent guitar around. In a good way.
Slide guitar.
I used a bowtie on mine. I did put a couple of half circle pieces of metal underneath to prop it up more.
Certain pickups will be just too tall. Although taller ones can work in the bridge position with shimming.
Oh, they'll fit. I'll just hack down until they do.
Metal pieces underneath, huh? Gives me an idea for "pinning" the bridge, which raising it a bit.
With the right tools, yeah, I'm sure you can make anything fit.
Jazzmaster pickups are super easy with these projects, though, because they're so short. You have to prop them up with foam.
The thickness of the metal pieces is probably 1/4". I glued them to the underside of the bridge.
I've dremeled out the fiberglass, which gained me about 1/8 or so. I think about another 1/8 or so out of the wood and I'll be in business.
In a way it's not a bad thing. I wasn't wild about having those big suckers sitting that high off the body anyway. I also think it'll make the pickup adjustment screws viable again. Maybe.
Way back when I was just getting into guitar plumbing (and before I knew better), I found a beat-up harmony archtop to use as a project base. While trying to install a neck pickup, I encountered the same problem - there were two big chunks of wood in my way. So of course I did the sensible thing and started sawing...
...clean through the bracing.
I still keep it in the workshop as a reminder.
For those late to my evil plan, here it is:
Take the neck and some misc. hardware from my squier tele. Take the pickups from an old Kay Thin-Twin Mix it up with series/parallel and phase switching (while keeping the tele two-knob, one switch simplicity) Add a B-5. Blend with one of these: http://www.guitarkitsusa.co...
It's sick, I know.
you kind of lost me on this one...isnt just the magnet bar exposed? the rest of the pup in body...ala
also why not shave the heel of the neck to bring it lower to the body
cheers
So your're introducing the new "Problematic" series of guitars?
The Baxter Problem-o-matic!
Don't forget to add the T-zone.
Neatone, the valco style bodies come with some quirks. Top mounted pickups are how they're designed. In my case, some improvisation is in order. But it will work.
It will be incredible. It's inspiring to see a man on a mission.
looking forward to seeing this one bax!
Also, don't forget the Tone Twister and the Tuning Fork Bridge!
And the confetti cannon!
can't wait to see how it turns out! looks like it'll be great.
Oh, you're right! I almost forgot about that!
the Problematic model should also include a Epiphone Frequensator tailpiece (Bigsby B7 optional), NOS white-button Kluson tuners, and an Asian-made PU selector switch. ideally the neck should also have the truss rod adjustment at the heel, a shallow or no headstock angle, and no string trees or a single bar LOL.
Well... the neck is Squier tele, so there is a shallow headstock angle. And one of the string trees is missing. Tuners are whatever came on the Squier Tele, and they're adequate at best. Tailpiece is a B5, with a bow tie bigsby bridge (which may not be quite tall enough). And the pickup selector switch is whatever 4-way switch I found 10 or 15 years ago.
So I'm close.
On the plus side, I've almost got the pickups fitting. I'm getting closer.
With a straight-edge going down the neck, they're sitting about 1/8 below. Wondering if I should sink them more, or if that'll work.