GregP

Cool. I don't have much experience with either, but I'm always more compelled by the description of the 85 than the 81. If they really do sound more 85-ish, not sure why they don't just market them that way. Plenty of people like 85's, too. Then they can work on making the 81-alike. No noise issues?

I don't imagine that it will make much difference in the grand scheme of things. I have two rosewood on mahogany LP-ish guitars with TOM bridges-- one with string-through (Godin LG-90) and one with stop tailpiece (Cort Pagelli). The amount of sustain is nearly identical. To the unaided ear, I can't tell which sustains longer. Anything beyond that falls into the realm of trivial differences. In terms of "tone", it's a non-starter as a point of discussion because almost every other factor (including pickups) will affect tone more than whether it's string-through or stop-tailpiece.

I can't say I'm a fan, either.

It's about those cutaways... <chuckle> Good on ya for wanting to see this one through as a learning experience, though.

Looks great! After your experience with the body, though, I don't know why you'd rework the neck rather than making a whole new one? Looking forward to seeing this painted and finished. It definitely needs that final touch. But man, talk about executing an idea!

I like the way the back looks. I like the way the front looks better, though. WoW!

Teeeerrrrible!

http://forloversofwood.com/index.html A&M are still listing 1-piece, but they're not quick to update their website and so there might not be any actually available. Give'em a go.

Would a chrome pickup cover (without polepiece holes) fit over one of the Lace Dually humbuckers (full-sized, looks like 2 Lace single-coils next to one-another)? I suspect strongly that it would NOT in fact fit, 'out of the box,' but I wonder how difficult and dangerous it would be to remove the plastic covers? Anybody have any knowledge or experience to share? I know Lace does a few covered 'buckers new in box (like the Hemi), but I'm thinking about just checking into eBay and hoping for a deal... and those are usually the typical duallies. Greg

Dunno what you did, but you did something wrong. You already figured that out. - Make sure your switch is the same kind of switch - Make sure that you're wiring to the correct lugs (obvious) - Make sure that if they're the same make of pickup, that you use wires following the same colour codes. So, if Stewmac's diagram has a white and black wire, but yours has white and red, just make sure that you're consistent with how you "translate" the colours. The wiring might seem discrepant, but remember that when the switch is all the way back, because it's a lever, it will create a circuit on the lugs that are forward. But it doesn't matter-- if you do it backwards, just flip the switch around. ;-) Yes, the middle position should be both pickups on. Greg

Well, sure... within reason. I'm not convinced that 13 strings are UNreasonable (or in a less convoluted turn of the phrase: this time, you're probably right!) for all people. But just because somebody asks for something doesn't automatically make it reasonable. Think of "The Homer". And Rick Neilsen's 5-necked guitar... Michael Angelo's 2-neck-- reasonable! He uses them both! Michael Angelo's 4-neck-- unreasonable (well, in terms of practicality)... the other 2 are just for show. 13 strings... that's gray area. As I said, I think you're probably right this time that SOMEBODY out there could find it useful. It's definitely not a cut-and-dry case. I'm with the people that think a Stick is the right choice for somebody who thinks they need a 13-string bass. But... I'm in danger of annoying the heck out of you again. <chuckle> I'll let it be after this post, I promise. <grin> Well, unless there's pure logic to be discussed. In terms of the actual concept of a 13-string bass, not much more to say out of this mouth.

I would almost rather take a good kick to the jimmy than play a 13-string bass on which all 13 strings are discrete strings (rather than doubled). Not meaning to push buttons again, but even just looking at those pickups and you (well, "I" ) can just feel the utter pointlessness of it all.

Wicked-awesome. I'm pretty enthused to see any sort of work related to headless and ergonomic designs. A few niggles (like in the other thread-- just personal perspective!) - chrome pickup rings again... me no likey... but probably customer request - all the hardware is hecka raised, compared to the body surface. No way to get it all a bit sleeker while still using the acoustic bridge? - the access area for the bridge tuners is a bit too 'round and deep' for my liking. I'm not sure what would've looked better, though Other than that, another guitar well-executed! I noticed another variation on-the-go. Looking forward to its completion, too. Greg

Looks great! Love what you did with the upper bout-- it still looks like a tele, but the 'less round' shape to it is sleeker. As for the wood... I'm no expert, so I honestly don't know. But for the fun of guessing, I'm going to go with... cherry. Doesn't have the same grain pattern as the cherry I've used, but meh... just a guess. <chuckle> Greg

Welcome aboard, Liam!

A humbucker will almost always have higher output than a single-coil. That's just the nature of the beast. But it's to be seen as a benefit in most cases... in addition to having different tones based on position (neck vs. bridge vs. middle), you can have different tones based on output. It used to be that people liked a 'bucker in the bridge position because it would be an extra boost in output level (compared to their single-coils) when time came for a solo. In other words, I think it's a mistake to expect or even want all of your pickups to have exactly the same output level; particularly if mixing and matching single-coil with humbucker. Greg

Looks great, man! I still like the pickguard idea, but I'm definitely advocating for it a little bit LESS now... the final product looks so friggin' great.

I believe his guitar came with that configuration... no?

I thought DePaule had some, but I just looked around fairly extensively and didn't see any after all. Are you actually looking for pearloid, or just misusing the word? Pearloid is usually the plastic crap that some pickguards are made from... also known as "Mother of Toilet Seat." Are you not looking for actual mother of pearl? The bird shapes aren't tremendously complex. You should be able to find some CAD plans for them somewhere... print them off, get some MOP blanks, and cut them yourself. It'll be rewarding!

Great work! Love the amber colour. Since everyone gets to point out a wee niggle based on personal preferences, mine will be this: the chrome pickup rings. I'm not a fan of single-coil rings in the first place (I'd even rather see just the side-tabs and no ring) but I think ivory or something less shiny would've been great. Like tuba, LOVE the skinny factor. Looks awersome.

I had to Google for what wfret was. I haven't used either, but surely wfret is going to be more accurate than the rules most people have access too, which are only divided up to the millimetre.

Sorry for the dum questions-- where do you find these Jackson preamps that you speak of? Are they just pillaged from Jackson basses, or available as 3rd-party items? Greg

I read, but I'm no help. Let me help clarify, though. For the pickup combinations you listed, you have the following hardware: 2 X rocker switches (2-position switches) for turning on or off the P-90 and the Duncan pickup (this replaces a typical LP selector switch or Strat-style blade switch) 1 X mini-switch for choosing between single-coil or humbucker (for the duncan) 2 X tone 1 X vol It should be rather doable, but I just don't have the skillz, either.

Count me as the only person preferring the black pickguard. Not sure why the "blending in" aspect is seen as a negative. You can still clearly see (especially in real life instead of the mockup) that there's a pickguard, but it doesn't jump out at you the way the traditional white one does. I rarely buy into the "covering wood up" thing when it's a uniform pattern like the flamed maple burst. There's nothing inherently more special about the flaming that would go under the pickguard than in the parts where it IS visible. Something with unique features, like spalted maple or walnut burl is another matter. For the version without scratchplate, remember that you have a full humbucker rout. Direct mounting the humbucker won't look as clean as in the computerized mockup.

wormtastic! Lookin' good. Tele with pointy headstock isn't my favourite, though Mick Mars had a not bad one.