rick_here

Bus Bob- (Owch)! I already saw the pic of yer finger injury from yer website...and haven't looked again. Hurts just to look at it (or even think about it). Sounds like you got a good doc and a Good Attitude. I'm wondering if they have you on any kind of Physical Therapy? Other than this we've already mentioned "handicapped" players such as Django Reinhardt and Phil Keaggy (on another thread. Btw, folks Phil is missing his right hand middle finger. And he's right handed and can do excellent finger-style)! stageleft- Right, voicings. I taught myself a bunch of em just going up octaves (from roots). Don't know what all of em are called but know when i can "use" them. Hey MikeB. PS, (I just now recalled)- Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath fame has something "wrong" with one of his chording-fingers. He wears a specially made "cover" over it. Always has....

dude/ 48 (and three-quarters, going on)....???? Features * Specially crafted at: Mom & Dad's * Headstock thru Neck/ thru Body Design * Limited-Edition---only one made!--- 2/23/56, 11:46 p.m. * Cordless....since waaaaay back then * 1956 Vintage Teeth Set, (still have em) Scale Length * Medium-to-Small * uniquely set at 69.5 inches (with no shoes) * Minimal Shrinkage (thus far) Pickups * One 1987 Jeep Comanche, bought new, still runs..... * Vintage "Getting Fat" right around the Ol' Mid-Range * Single-Coil (never managed to get married)....ladies!!! * ahem, ahem..... Frets * (usually) Fretless * (occasionally) "a worry-wort" Neck * some warpage/ minmal * US Marines "leatherneck" aged Sound * Applicable to all playing styles & genre's as in: * Smooth & Warm, for when u need that * Slight "stammer" when Rabid...that "biting" sound! * Three-Way Switch (the good, the bad & the ugly)..... Top Color * "Aged" from a Bright Auburn-Red to a: * Vintage Salt 'N Red Hot Chili Peppers * Removable Amber-White Go-T * Primary Body-Color, vintage Scots-Irish "speckled" AND/OR: LoL, ummm, whatEver/Doh, huh??? peace, rick ><>

@MikeB- Yo/Hey, Man!....& maybe we all can work together here then. @tdog- 'Nice looking guitars you have there. The only thing is, Hitone's guitar---(and mine & MikeB's)---are Ash. So we're dealing with problems specifically related to Ash & "Ash-Coloring," so to speak. But Thanx! for yer input...(I'm learning something new all the time here at PG).

I've got an Ash Body that I haven't started "coloring" or finishing yet. And have discussed options with several members here at PG (on differing threads). I got "warned" before doing anything.... I don't think "MikeB" would mind my posting this (his thread): Staining Woods, Ash Staining Maybe something here will help. In the meantime, I'm still "studying" (and deciding) how I want to do my project-body. So I'm subsrcibing to this thread for: Any Further Info. Thanx & Good Luck, HiTone! rick ><>

You have to forge yer own metal & grow yer own trees!!! ...just kidding.... From the thread's title; I thought maybe Brian was asking for some ideas on a "Built From Scratch Guitar" (to get a plan for one). You know, making a new kind of guitar like-no-one-ever-has or what have you.... I'm now listed as a Forum Regular but am mostly entirely Newbie at "building" guitars. Did I just say building? Or did I mean making? Huh? NEwayz.... Following up on javacody's ideas: I've only "assembled" a Carvin Kit up till now. If assembling can be taken as a synonym for building then, yes (MmKay), I "built" the thing. But we're talking levels of skill here. Also, we'd need to take it into account the Newbie-ness of PG Members. Then the plain fact that some of us just don't have the right tools for whatever reasons. I've used my knees as "clamps"....(go figure). So. I'd place *Mods* before Kits. E.g., installing new pups or a fret-levelling job. Mods & Repairs, going from minor to major (on up the skill level) is almost a separate category. I would assume that most of Y'all who actually make bodies from plain ol' wood & so on; you prolly started-out with Mods & Repairs. Getting "My Own Kit" together is where I'm at right now. Iow, I have various parts from various sources. And since they aren't from the same suppliers I'm having to do some Mods to get everything to work (such as sanding down a neck heel to fit a pre-routed body I bought). Upping my level a notch higher; my next "build" (if I can really call it that?)...is just a body I bought except nothing's routed yet. After all this gets done I may (just may) go for making a body & neck myself. But will have to wait for better weather as the guy's shop---I'm gonna have to borrow---isn't heated. Finally (you must be saying "Already!")....speaking for myself, I really appreciate all the help I've been getting @ PG. And the tolerance of the "newbie-builders" you much more Expert-Folks keep on having toward Ppl like me. Now, back to: The Tutorials. PS, Brian- Those "Luthier-Goggles" work great! (I found my keys)....

Hotrock- I like that too. But already have a standard Tele-Body.... Myka_Guitars & Frank Falbo- Thanks for all that Info! And, (btw/fyi,) I'm still planning on going with the (equally matched set/ @ 9K Ohms) P-90's. I know a guy who has them & likes em. I'm not going for any particular sound (doesn't have to be "Gibson-y" or whatever). Also I hope to get a thread going specifically about this project (soon).

rino- Congrats on Yer Avatar. (As I'm reminded of an olde Adrian Belew recording, "Lone Rhinocerus"...used to have it, wonder what the cover looks like? (I forgot)). I have to admit this is the 1st time I've heard of a solid-body Mando. Did you make it yerself? What kind of wood is it? How thick? Standard Mando-sized? Any F-Holes? Though soapbarstrat's idea of using some kind of Blade-Pup sounded Right; your using a Pup-Cover may achieve similar results. Either way you look at it yer gonna have an "extended field" past the Pup's size. Which the solid-body will also help to compensate for. How's about "angling" the Pup? (like a Strat's Bridge Pup). I just love---the mere idea of---"experiments" such as yours!!! Assuming you've never done one of these before, that would be. How's About: Install the Pup horizontally? (maybe)? Well, I dunno about all-that....(nevermind) So you usually play country-lullaby type stuff? Hmmmm.... I'm kinda thinking that maybe, just-maybe, this "Metal-Mando" of yours may wind up being totally doable for that kinda music. You know, that humbucking "warmth" (with the volume down, obviously). Should work on a few Zeppelin covers....I must add/ would think.... What kinda volume & tone controls will this instrument have? Rear-routed or Cover-Plate? (etc? etc?).... Tell us about yer progress, plz! rick ><> PS, here's Adrian Belew's "album cover" for Lone Rhino---

Wes- It sounds like yer gonna be OK...(I'm no expert at all)! 'Learning things all the time.... Drak- I'm referring to, well, just lotsa stuff I've read on the web (many articles & different/opposing IMO's on various Forums, both guitar-related and for just "wood-working"). I can't remember where I saw it but do recall someone saying that any "exterior" varnish and especially (spar)-urethane should not be used on guitars. If I'm not mistaken this had to do with "tone-dampening" (or silencing); that the stuff's too dense for guitars...as you've also just said. I've also heard that some finishes are incompatible with guitars due to their "over-sealing" (the wood), making it virtually un-expandable (or retracting with temp changes). I would tend to think this would be the case with "EnviroTex" (clear & very thick epoxy). I saw a thread on that stuff where you & some other PGers were asking about it. That's another topic, perhaps, though I do have some related-info. Since I'm new at all this, I'm taking a theoretical approach to whatever I do. So I rely on product-information as well as IMO's on the web. In any event I would think that any Polyurethane product should work with guitars...I guess (?). But.... I just hope Wes didn't get some of that "too thick" stuff...is really all I'm saying. This link has some info y'all may wanna look at, I dunno: Paint Quality Institute: All About Clear-Coatings Not to cause any confusion or anything(!), rick ><>

....correction, my above post.... The Planet Waves Auto-Trim Locking Tuners are actually bigger than the Schaller Lockings...and, therefore, are prolly heavier. PS, soapbarstrat- I have those tuners on a Mexican Strat of mine...but must be "lucky" with em. I'm shopping for Tuners (for 2 or 3 projects) and will keep an eye open for ya....

So Wes- This stuff's non-yellowing (then)? And as far as it being "interior/exterior"...I'm hoping it isn't designed to expand & contract with the weather (iow, with temperature changes). I know that other products such as Spar Urethane & Varathane, well, they do that. And we wouldn't want anything like that on our guitars! I'm still theorizing, so to speak, on guitar-finishes in general (and am basically inexperienced)....outside of some StewMac (Nitro) Lacquer that I personally didn't care for. Any other details I've missed?

Wes & Frank- Which one of these Defthane Products are you guys talking about? thanx

The Tele-Body I plan on installing these P-90's into is an Ash, Vintage (1950) Broadcaster Style (1 & a half inches thick)....I chose a solid Maple neck to accentuate the highs & possibly add some sustain. See, I'm kind of experimenting and (theoretically) came up with the thinner body & maple neck for well, umm, Potato Soup...and perhaps a little Leslie West---and garlic---on the side. "Do you know what I mean?" I'm mostly Irish-American NEwayz.

soapbarstrat- I know lotsa folks are using the Kent Armstrongs in the Neck Position (on Tele's)...for that Olde Tele-Custom sound. Btw, they're available in differing K-Ohms/ Outputs. Hoping not to side-track this thread; my plan is to use a (brass) Hipshot "HardTail" Bridge on my Tele-Copy. So do you already have some P-90's? In a Strat, wow! (what a concept)

rino- Welcome to PG and, no, I don't have any advice. "Sam Bush Meets Tony Iommi" is an interesting concept, however!!! If possible, let's see some pix and how this Mando-Bucker sounds (later). I just can't quite "hear" Mule Skinner Blues...*On Acid*...not just yet NEwayz. Plz keep us updated.

Drak- I can't tell fersure. Was that post to me? But even if it was "To: Hotrock," thanx for that FYI-Data (& stuff to consider)....

Hey Wes- Let us know what you think about the Grover Sta-Tites (here)...after you get & install them, plz. I can use some, maybe. (thanx!)

Adding to the mix...does anyone know anything about these? Planet Waves Auto-Locking Tuners They "look" light...but I'm wary about that "automatic string-cutter" (myself).... Hmmmm

GuitarMan- For whatever it might be worth; I bought two Les Paul Style bodies off eBay for next to nothing. One had been bought on eBay before...by a guy who thought it was a one-piece body and it wasn't. It's a 2-piece Alder Body which he didn't need (or want). My price: $34.oo (including shipping). The other Les Paul Type body is Basswood that has some errors in the pickup routings (which aren't all that noticable/ I can fix). Price: $28.oo (incl. shipping). Suggest: possibly getting another body & using your current hardware (???). But just make sure the body you get is compatible with your neck! (My "sellers" gave me all the info I needed via email...before my purchases). FYI, rick ><>

Alarung- Are these the "rounded" Vintage Style Saddles? or the "solid" types with a string-guide? NEways, you are saying that the strings break where they are "coiled." By that I take it the string "windings" where they're twisted up (at the ball-end). One thing that might help that from happening as well as keeping you in tune is to Solder the ball-end. (Carlos Santana's Guitar Tech does this for him & I've been doing it too for a few years). You simply heat up the ball end---holding the string with a heat-sink---and "melt" some solder into it (and onto the string-windings themselves). This works great as far as keeping your guitar in tune...the strings don't "stretch" at the windings as they're soldered = you stay in tune (much better). Also be careful not to make this Solder to big...so you can string it up! 'Not sure what "saddles back" means. Are you adjusting them (back & forth)? If you have been---this affects the intonation (pretty radically)! Iow, if you move them either way (back or forward) you also have to adjust the intonation, meaning the Saddle-Heights, each individually. Saddles basically have just one "place" where they should be (forwards & backwards) based on the scale-length of your guitar. Once you have (or find) that, then you go about adjusting the string heights (via saddle heights themselves). If you've been adjusting these without knowing for sure what all yer doing (or what is involved); doing that puts waaaaay too much pressure on the strings! (prolly why they've been popping).... If I were you I'd look for some tutorials here at PG---I believe they have some on "stringing-up/intonation setting"---or otherwise take your guitar to someone who knows how, who might also show you how. A Luthier would charge about 25 bucks (US money) or so do do a "basic set-up." Hope this helps some, rick ><>

HotRock- This might not be exactly on-topic but I have 2 of these: Kent Armstrong P-90's, matched-set (both at 9K ohms), 2 inch string-spacing, Neck pup reverse wound, for hum-cancelling My plan is to put these into a Tele-Copy (project), pending getting all the other parts & making the final decision on which finish (?). From articles & "reviews" of these pups, including by those who have them...they sound really good; Ppl like em a lot! So I hope I will too... I had thought about a "blend pot" but ruled that out when I found these: (at Warmoth on the Parts/Electronics page) The working plan is to install 2 of these (2 concentric pots) right onto my Tele-Control Plate; they should work, in effect & for all intents & purposes, just like a "Gibson SG" (2 vols., 2 tones, with 1 three-way standard Tele-switch also on the (Tele) Control-Plate). Though these Kent Armstrong's are perfectly matched (as to their output)...Ppl who have em like em. Personally, I want to try out "evenly matched pups" this time---because I don't always like it when you switch to the bridge-pup & it sounds waaaay too hot. And you have to adjust the vol. It is said that both of these pups, "played together," sound really awesome (more at amazing than hot, per se). Just some ideas, rick ><>

I've been using these for years: "Super Light Plus"... I really like em as they're not real light/ not too heavy. Btw, these used to be called: "Half-Steps."

Alarung- Briefly, I owned a Yamaha Tele-Styled guitar but can't recall if it was a "Pacifica" or not!?!? It had a Floyd-Rose (?) Tremelo on it (or a FR-Copy?).... If yours has a Trem, especially of the FR type; they have to be setup just right for good performance. If you have a stock "fixed" Bridge; we're narrowing things down some. And as the others (here) have mentioned, we need to know "where" your strings are breaking at? (at the tuners? in the middle/some place/ or at the Bridge/Tremelo)? One possibility is that your strings are "locking up" at the nut--or "in" it. Iow, the nut may not be correctly "sized" for your string gauges. If this is what is happenning; they'll break right at the tuners. Or the nut could simply be dirty, causing the strings to "hang-up" (then break). Adding to the mix; the nut may not have the proper angle between the nut istelf & the tuners which would need to be modded and/or fixed. StewartMacDonald's sells "Guitar Grease" a lithium based lubricant that I put on every "moving part" of my guitars---including inside the nut string slots. This helps prevent "lock-ups" and keeps my guitars in tune (especially with the ones that have Trems).... If yours is a FR-type Trem you may not be setting up the Locking-Nut correctly. As to strings, I've used the D'Addario XL SUPER LIGHT PLUS for years and really like them. (Link provided for your seeing the Gauge Sizes). These used to be called "Half-Steps." Hope some of this might help, rick ><>

KennethB- I've kinda been busy with some other stuff. And am just coming out of a "not-playing much" time period. (It's been a few years since I've played "regularly," if much at all).... So since I'm a non-reader, even though I can very slowly transcribe from piano to guitar; I'm gonna dig up my Mickey Baker Books and start over. Actually, I never made it thru Book Two. Though this is sort of embarrassing to say; I have several Theory Books for both just "music" and for guitar. They've been in a box for the last 3 years from the last time I moved...(here). I'm wondering if we should start a new thread on "Theory (Scales/ Exercises)" or something? Thanks for that tip on the Arnie Berle Books. But I can't even remember what I have stored in the closet!!! Hmmmmm, rick ><>

FYI (if it's pertinent to the discussion?)... I found this last nite: Lizzy Daymont's Carvin Kit, Purple Tung-Oiled He says it's an Ash body...but I didn't know Carvin were offering those.... ...and as it follows: Woodburst.Com New to me (I'm newbie). Oooops, yeah. I just saw that Carvin now offers Swamp Ash bodies; My Bad. (made mine 4 years ago, only Alder then) whatever, rick ><>

J- If I remember it right, you got this bookmatched-maple at a local cabinet shop (or something like that) for a really good price. I know that on eBay....if you have time to "monitor" it....there are auctions for One-Piece Veneers of various wood types going on about all the time. I've seen em sell for pretty cheap. Search hint for eBay-searching: try "luthier" and/or "project guitar" (believe it or not).....rick..............><>