This didn't go as planned

[avengers63]

Before i get going.... I like to put a towel down onto the table before I worn on my guitars. There are several reasons, all of which you can realize for yourself. Tonight I just grabbed the next one out of the cabinet without a second thought. After laying it out on the table....  I don't know what those kids did to it, and I'm better off not knowing. All I know is that it's going straight into the "rags" pile, and that I don't really want to touch it again.  

 

So does anyone remember this one? Only the old heads have a chance. 

It's a copy of the Gretsch Thunderbird. Mahogany body, thin maple cap, chechen neck, cocobolo fretboard, Gretsch humbuckers, There's a 3-way toggle, 2V, 1T, and master V. I was still buying the cheapest hardware available, so it all tarnished from sitting out for prolly 10+ years.

 

A few weeks ago, TV Jones had a sale on their blemished pickups. The TV Classics are normally about @$160. These were @$100. Like any sensible guitar addict, I realized this was finally the time to get the real thing and put them into the Thunderbird.

TRUTH: If there was a blemish of any type on either pickup, I couldn't find it.

They both came with foam spacers and wood screws for direct mounting, and a pair of tabs and necessary screws for PG/ring mounting. In case y'all were wondering how they worked, here's a couple of pictuires.

 

I also got a pair of rings for them. @$&.00 is highway robbery for pickup rings, but these are the only ones with the opening sized for TV Jones, so I went for it.

I made some sound samples of the Gretsch HBs, but they won't be making an appearance today.

I haven't picked this guitar up in a while. Like, in several years. Honestly, I'm embarassed by it. It's not that I didn't know what I was doing when I made it, it's that it's REALLY sloppy. I can't believe I had the balls to enter it into GOTM. It was on this first-in-years handling that I decided I was going to have to make another body for it next year. The neck is fine, so it can be kept. Everything else screwed to the body except the jack, switch, neck screws/bushings, and strap pins had to go.

So I got the old pups out and put in the new neck. I tested it without strings, and it worked. That's the beauty of a straight pup swap - it's just 2 hot & 2 ground. All the rest already works. When I tried to put in the bridge, it all ground to a halt.

The hole going from the bridge pup cavity to the control cavity is just too small. The wire will NOT go through no matter what I tried. Believe me, I tried everything. I've done this dance before and I know all the moves. So f* it. I took the pups and salvageable parts, put them into a box, and closed the door on the whole thing. The body & all the crap screwed to it can go into the burn pile. The rest sits on a shelf, probably until after we move next year.

 

 

[Andyjr1515]

Oh...that didn't go how I had expected/hoped...    

[killemall8]

how big is the hole? Must be super small if that wire wont fit

[henrim]

Any reason why not make that hole bigger? I understand it’s not always straightforward but there’s usually a way around it.

[avengers63]

7 hours ago, killemall8 said:

how big is the hole? Must be super small if that wire wont fit

It has to accommodate 2 4-conductor pickup wires, 2 wires going from the individual volume pots to the switch, and another coming back from the master volume. The original HBs were single conductor, so this explains the lack of space.

[avengers63]

7 hours ago, henrim said:

Any reason why not make that hole bigger? I understand it’s not always straightforward but there’s usually a way around it.

2 reasons

1) I'd have to undo all of the wiring going through the hole already. Not that it can't me done, but it'd be a huge PITA.

2) Since I moved here 4 years ago, I haven't been able to find the long drill bits I'd use to do this, and I currently refuse to buy another. 

3) If I'm gonna just make another body next year, I don't wanna put any more effort into it. If I don't make another body, I can get a Gretsch White Falcon copy on AliExpress for <$300 and do some upgrades, including these pups. Honestly, this is the most likely option.

4) Frustration leads to rage quitting.

[killemall8]

16 hours ago, avengers63 said:

2 reasons

1) I'd have to undo all of the wiring going through the hole already. Not that it can't me done, but it'd be a huge PITA.

2) Since I moved here 4 years ago, I haven't been able to find the long drill bits I'd use to do this, and I currently refuse to buy another. 

3) If I'm gonna just make another body next year, I don't wanna put any more effort into it. If I don't make another body, I can get a Gretsch White Falcon copy on AliExpress for <$300 and do some upgrades, including these pups. Honestly, this is the most likely option.

4) Frustration leads to rage quitting.

Well if you decide to do it, extra long drill bits are about 12* at home depot.

[ADFinlayson]

The wires coming off those new pickups do look pretty chunky.