MIMF

What everyone said, but are you certain those are the original machines? Those look Japanese, especially the dual purpose string post (for both slotted and solid peg head). Have you had them off? You might see the imprint of the Klusons that should have been on it. The only reason I bring up authent...

Hi everyone, I am working on one of the Stew Mac OM kits and I'm assuming I'll actually get it done. Anyone have suggestions on a good hard case? I don't need a travel case. In my mind's eye, the old Guild 45xx case would be fine. Black on the outside, fuzzy on the inside, lots of glue in the lid. A...

When working on a Gibson, I've been able to sneak a finger through the F hole to keep things from spinning while tightening. You can also pull the part up by its shaft or handle and tighten with a open end wrench. As an aside, I like to use a length of shrink tubing placed over the pot shaft for get...

This is just so complicated. We all make recommendations based on our experiences (which is better than based on something you read somewhere) and its pretty easy to be monolithic in one's opinion. So this is what I think. I would be pleased to be proved wrong. It happens a lot. I started playing ba...

Happy 21st!!! I remember when I was 21. I really do. Really.

I myself cannot hear any difference, but in the opinion of Dan Erliwine of stewmac fame, they do make a difference. He says that a heavier set will add "darkness" to the tone, while improving sustain. That being said, many people return the old (crappy) Kluson tuners to older Gibson acoust...

James Condino is a wizard.

There was an article in Guitar Player in the '80s about a mandolin maker doing a hand rubbed sunburst. As I recall, he did it backwards, doing the dark first and then the center. I also recall they had a picture the size of a postage stamp showing the work... Looking for that article just now, I cam...

Hi John, Where did you get this pick up? I know the new Guild is selling them. I'm impressed it works with "acoustic" strings but the Monel wrap is nickel. If the phosphor bronze are not satisfactory, apparently D'addario is making a bronze string with a nickel coating,' That guitar looks ...

I did a quick google search for Peavey Pacers. They go for about $130 used (obviously). The older Peavey stuff was robust and a good price. More importantly, I don't think they have any particular "vintage" value. I'm with Mario. Find something used. Or maybe he would like to build you a v...

When I was selling musical equipment, nothing had anything more than reverb and vibrato. Then Mesa Boogie showed how to use a master volume (not quite that simple but). Most everything had gain and a master volume and that kept the people in the front row from bleeding too much. There are a few amps...

John,

Thanks for the in depth tour. That is a very elegant way to compare the controls.

Now I really like this gizmo.

I like gizmos like this. Thanks for sharing. 1) If I understand correctly, the pots (250 or 500) are actuated by the same shaft. So you could not have a 500k volume all the way up with a 500k tone all the way down. 2) What might be useful is a way of removing the volume and/or tone control out of th...

I'm a bit more monolithic. I like .02mfd for guitar and .05mfd for bass (passive pick ups). The tolerance for these parts is such that anything near those values works (for me). If you start to lose the high string with the tone control all the way off, then reduce the value of the cap.

In the early 80's Guild made some dreads with ash back and sides. They sounded pretty good (like early 80's Guilds).

First off: Wow. Chris, that is quite a piece of work. Second: My interest was piqued by Randolph's mention of those Chinese guitars. The mandolin style guitars that I saw are obviously inspired (my word) by Monteleone. Intellectual property issues aside, you have to give those Chinese guitar makers ...

How about: 1) Replace the 5 way with a 3 way and wire the outside pick-ups to it, like a telecaster 2) Mini #1 sends the middle pick up to the output so you have all combination of the 3 (in parallel) 3) Mini #2 is a phase switch for the middle pick-up 4) Mini #3 is the universal coil cutter That be...

The transfer adhesive is a good way and the industry standard (though being industry standard is not, in itself, proof of infallibility). A pick guard so installed is removable by judicious moderate heat and naptha. I've had to reaffix several pick guards where the transfer adhesive has given up on ...

The K&K Definity works very nicely with a floating bridge. They recommend a preamp but it had plenty of tone output by itself.

http://kksound.com/products/definity.php

My choice would be tele style pick ups, one being reverse wound reverse phase for humbucking when used together. I've wired Teles with 5 way super switches. The effect was 1) bridge and neck Parallel/out of phase, 2) bridge, 3) bridge and neck in phase, 4) neck, 5) Bridge and neck in series. While t...