Westone Dynasty

[avengers63]

GWAD-DANGIT!!!!!!!!

:D

I FINALLY got to the point that I was wiring up this S.O.B. only to find out that TWO of the THREE pickups are dead. I SWEAR that I checked them when they came in.

[avengers63]

OK, I fiddled around with the pups for a while, exploring with the multi-meter. I pulled the tape back and found a broken ground in the bridge pup. I still can't get anything from the middle though.

[avengers63]

All done except for finegaling the back plates into position. Pics to come later today.....

[avengers63]

It still needs the speed knobs and the switch tip. I can't find my black screws, so the back plates are on hold for a bit. Other than that, she's all done.

I gave up on the other Ibanez pups and just got a new set. I'll still be aboe to use the other two HBs in something else, but the middle s/c was totally dead. Instead of trying to make something match, I thought it better to just get another matched set. RG550 pups for under $50 shipped - not bad at all.

As expected, the maple body/maple neck has a LOT of snap and brightness. I'm finding that this is the first ax that I've actually wanted to peel the tone knob back a touch.

The s/c in the middle is hot enough to match the HBs, but I seriously doubt I'll ever play with just it. What I LOVE is the way it accents the sounds of the HBs. with one of each, you have the full HB power, but added color of the s/c twang. Had I to do it over again, I'd have just used a 3-way toggle for the HBs and a p/p pot to toggle the s/c. I'm likely to go that route in the future because I just LOVE the sound combo.

I looked at the pics I have of the original Dynasty - and there aren't many available on the web - for the strap button placement. I was hoping Westone had done their experimenting with where it balances best. Apparently they had because it stays at whatever angle I put it at. Overall, this oddball is EXTREMELY comfortable to play. The pointy bit pokes me in the belly just a bit, but then again my belly is poking out a bit to meet it, so I guess it evens out. The long tail of the V is more comfortable than I realized it would be. I see more Vs in my future.

The crackle was a royal PIA, and I ain't NEVER doing THAT again. It looks great, but it just didn't want to work. At best, the only way I'd ever use it again is for accents on some hard-edged bevels, just to outline the main body.

[Akula]

Looks pretty cool, I love the finish. I probably would've gone with pickup mounting rings, though.

Why the locking nut with a strat-style trem? Pre-used neck, or are you planning to upgrade to a different trem sometime?

[avengers63]

I went with direct-mounts so that less of the paint job would be covered up. It may not be a great amount, but there's not much face to the body either.

Yea, the Westone neck had the locks on it already. I seriously doubt I'll ever lock it down. The Strat-style bridge is there to stay.

[Akula]

Fair do's... I gotta say, the more I look at that finish, the more I want to finish a guitar in Hammerite paint

[Xaromir]

I actually do not know if i like the design or if i don't,

that's always a good sign.

Cool creative new turn on the old v-shape.

I like the paintjob a lot actually, not to much like "in your face" but still very exciting.

[avengers63]

I actually do not know if i like the design or if i don't,

that's always a good sign.

Cool creative new turn on the old v-shape.

I like the paintjob a lot actually, not to much like "in your face" but still very exciting.

Go back to the beginning of the thread. It's not my design.

[Xaromir]

LOL. I've NEVER seen one of those.

Still love the painjob though.

[Narcissism]

Hey John,

I think that Crackle is pretty freakin sweet!

[Muzz]

That crackle played hard to get, just to make you appreciate it more it looks terrific.