Matt

no i think cars are finished with celulose based paints A.K.A. hamerite etc

well i reckon i could i could wind some PUs like this and also solder the b*st*rds in, but im not totally sure how all the three way and five way switches work - as in what terminals do what and when, so if some one could post a simple diag showing the functions of a 3 and 5 way switch then i might be able to make a mock up diagram for this purpose.

Thanks alot for that but what grades shall i sand to before staining? and do i really need a grain filler and sanding sealer?

ok well im sanding down the 3A quilt top on my guitar, i did the same to the headsrock veneer and it looks great although i used different methods on it. -I have a drill with 120grit disc and a 400grit -different grades of sand paper -cabinet scraper what is the best method of sanding the top so that there is a nice contrast between the light and darker patches on the quilt as i will black stain it later and then put a blue stain over it? using fine sandpaper doesn't seem to do much? what shall i do? I did use an wedge shaped sander thingy on it to start with and im thinking it might have squashe the fibres or something. cheers Matt

Wheres Ansil when i need him , he seems like an electronic genius. i expect he would have an idea how i might be able to achieve this. since im looking at winding my own coils, then putting a coil tap in shouldn't be a problem

Thats what im thinking of doing but id like the initial dimensions as a start first. The edge pro would be even better if anyone has any info? Im thinking i might add adjustable string hieghts.

Has no-one on this forum got a lo-pro?

yea i like making things, it gives me a better sense of achievement plus i have access to a large workshop so i dont think the making of it will pose much of a problem to me, but i do see your point. but then again 'cheap ones off ebay' aren't exactly common. Thanks anyway Matt

Hi im looking at doing the same as wix and making a FR bridge except im looking at making a copy of a lo-pro edge but since i dont have one i need the dimensions Could anyone give me as much information as possible on the lo-pro such as its thickness at certain points and width and distance between back of the saddles to end of brigde e.t.c. Also what sort of material would be the best sounding material to use? would mild steel be any good or do i need somthing with a higher carbon content? Thanks alot guys Matt

Thanks alot wix, your work is very inspirational, and i am pleased to find another guitar maker that is not afraid of more radical designs, and is not afraid to try new things (like makeing the sustainer and bridge). I find people these days too stuck on trying to 'recreate' a vintage sound and making guitars that aren't really very outlandish. Keep up with the good work! Matt

how did you make the bits and shape the steel? im thinking of doing the same and have been for a while and you have given me alot of inspriation. I might have access to a large workshop with milling machines and lathe so that might help . I was thinking on designing a FR Edge Lopro thingamebobby except using a brass bridge block that i got given (wont fit a strat so not sure what its for) and having the strings to go through the baseplate into the block like on a strat. (- im thinking hardcore sustain!) And also id like the posiibility of being able to adjust the string height like on a strat but im not sure how to do it. Ill make up a few designs i think.

Is this the most pointless arguement or what? i thought the original post was for a bridge with adjustments for string spacings?

Oh My God look at all those wires!!? I suppose to wire that thing up is gonna take a few hours by hand!!

Ok well this looks like it could be a very constructive post if i do say so myself- and i do . well i was kinda interested in the tapped single coils idea. the resistor thing sounds like just a decrease in volume but there we go. I reckon the coil tap idea on PU's such as the Evo's could be quite a neat idea as they are quite high output anyway. Maiden do you reckon you would be able to post some pics of the control cavities of the 513 that your friend has? Im sure that could be alot of help to all of us.

Yea i see what you mean. I Know this might sound odd but i was thinking along those line except having the sustainer IN BETWEEN the mid and neck PU and modding the Scrateplate to fit. but that was just an idea Anyone know what the laces sound like? I saw a PU once that was a humbucker but it had 3 coils (so it was like a HB and a half) so it was really big. Anyone know what tehse are and what it would sound like e.t.c. cheers Matt

Fair point, -but not new i was lucky to get a second hand unused set for £100 but that was pure fluke. I thought that they were like £180 new and you can get a warpig or MM set for less if you buy them as a pair

Im looking to make a 'super Jem' (if they can get any superer and have PRS 513 wiring including a sustainer and an on-board distortion effects pot. Anyone have any idea how they wire that thing up? Cheers Matt

I have just put in an EMG 81 and 85 set in a cheap gibbo copy to see what they sound like and they are great BUT GO SPEEND LESS CASH AND GET A -BAREKNUCKLE 'MIRICLE MAN' SET- !!!! www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk seriously it sounds more like an 85 in the bridge, but i have one with double allen head screws and it sounds AWESOME. it has alot better tone and even better harmonics than either. id reccomend Tim at Bareknuckle to anyone because of the 10/10 support and service. anyway thats my 2p worth. but i would go for a MM set over EMG, i must admit i had my doubts but i think they must be the best out there. Matt

Now way it has to be wix's guitar for the sheer creativity of it! not only is it totally original, but hes made all the PU's, sustainer and the bridge! Good on you Wix for not going with the massses and just copying another guitar, it might not be the most beautiful guitar, but it IS the most creative which in my opinion at least counts for half the workmanship. Dont get me wrong its a very hard choice and they are all very beautifull but i find these days there isn't enough scope in the designs people use. Matt

Thanks Dude, well i really want to know what is the big difference between a real FR or Ibanez FR and a cheaper copy? And where to get something like an edge LO-Pro and how much it will cost me (i live in the UK), How do you intend to do the mirror Finish with acrylic? what do you think of this as a start? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...me=STRK:MEWA:IT Also what truss rod would be good for a thin neck like a Jem or wizard if i made my own. thanks MAtt

Ok well im thinking of starting a 3rd project. so far ive made a guitar that is of my own design similar to a jem and am building a carve top similar to a les paul. Im thinking of making a kick-ass jem, but on a sort of budget. At the moment i cant decide wether i want a fred or an evo in the bridge - i want power but versatility. I hope to have a hot rails or similar in the bridge (Duncan Jb Junior) as well as a sustainer of some kind. The whole guitar body (including pickguard and PU covers) to be either: Black with a flip-flop silvery paint that will either be stencile type faces or a vine around it, so that the flip-flop paint scheme will eriely fade into view in certain angles. OR like the new Vai signature with a total mirror finish. Ive had a look at some of the tuts available such as scalloping. e.t.c. On Ebay(.co.uk) theres an unfinished body and neck (fretted + tuners) combo going for about £85 from a power seller, 'woody cuters' or something like that, so im thinking of buying that as a good starting point . ill probably inlay the neck or just leave it nice and black. Any ideas for the projo would be greatly appreciated as well as any cool looking colour schemes. (sorry i cant stand swirls tho). Also is a licenced FR trem that much inferior to a LO-Pro or edge (im not too sure which or what, when it comes to the whole FR thang). Thanks alot. Matt

Cheers for the reply, i understand that they are different, as well as being used by the top players who obviously have a huge impact on their sound, but it was just nice to have an experienced players opinion. Cheers Matt

ok im in the middle of my second project, and am wondering wat pickups to put in it. I have a guitar already with a bareknuckle Miricleman humbucker (which is supposed to be modeled on Zakk wylde) in it. For those who dont know what it is then www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk and look for it. Its pretty high output, not as high as a kent armstrong motherbucker, but it sounds great and gets good harmonics. im looking at getting either emg's, a dimarzio evolution or FRED. I like satrianis tone, but then i like the raw power and pinched harmonics that Vai gets in crossroads. on the other hand i love metallica. and Randy Rhoads. I was originally thinking of winding my own Alnico pro 2 and a slightly lower output EVO with a A5 mag instead of ceramic. What do you guys think?, I really what to be able to see a comparison to the miricleman as well if asnyone knows? Cheers Matt

Well I think and many others do that bareknuckle pickups in england, which are handwound (scatter wound) are the best around, and if the 'stock' products dont take your fancy, then Tim will do a completely unique pickup exactly how you want it for no extra charge. I stand by this man, as they ARE the best for customer service. not only do they sound great but they also do some awesome finishes on the pickup covers! OK £100 for a humbucker or around £170 for a set, but if its for a guitar that will last you years, then maybe its worth it. Matt