DavetheRave

Good point. Maybe I won't use that then. I was thinking about adding a third pickup myself. How do the neck and middle pickups differ in terms of output etc.? How about adding phase switches to these pickups? Is that hard? The diagrams all look relatively simple. But again, I'm not sure if it's worth it. Also, if three pickups will happen then an individual on/off switch for each pickups seems like the best option - get the maximum out of the guitar. Which should be relatively simple.

Hi, No, that wasn't the plan. I think I might just stick to having on piece of wood as the body Yeah, I see what you mean. I think I might just use whatever we have lying around (we have lots of wood). Just cut down an elderberry tree - maybe it would be interesting to see how it sounds. As far as I know it's not a usual guitar wood. Right, I've watched some videos on how to wire pickups etc. I'll do some more research. And I think I'll stick with passive pickups - they seem to be fine for everyone else! Also I think I'll just keep the controls simple. One tone and one volume looks like a good, simple option. Are most pickups wired in parallel or in series? Presumable, in series you would get a higher output. Thanks

Hi, thanks for replying. Would this mean that I would have to make a separate front and back piece for the guitar? Not too keen on that. How does Basswood sound? The bridge pickup was described as "a fairly hot Alnico-powered humbucker" and the neck pickup has a lower output and "sound weedy compared to the power of the bridge pickup". Found this on musicradar.com. So I would guess something high power would do the trick, which means a lower resistance? I guess lots of tone is actually in the playing. The pickups I gave were from the David Gilmour Signature Strat designed only a few years ago so they might not be what he actually used. According to gilmourish.com he had the neck and middle pickups from a '71 bullet truss rod Strat in June 1973 and a Seymour Duncan custom wound SSL-1C bridge pickup (installed late 1979). Presumably a pickup similar to either the EGM SA or '71 neck would have a higher resistance? I saw that the EMGs are active. As I am planning on making my pickups, how much more difficult would it make it? And of course you can't have Dave Gilmour without having a phaser. Is it worth mounting the phaser in the guitar or not? It seems quite a lot of work. How much does he actually use the phaser? Thanks, David

Hi Guys, So in the near future I'm planning on building my first electric (I can already play acoustic). But I was wondering abut a few things. Firstly, body wood. I know that Les Pauls are made of mahogany but, while I really like the tone, I find it too heavy. Are there any woods that have the same resonatey warm feeling but that are lighter? Secondly, pickups. Is it possible to have a guitar that can sound rocky like Matt Bellamy of Muse's guitar (which has a Les Paul type tone) while also having a pickup that sounds more like Dave Gilmour's tone. Would having a humbucker in the bridge position while having a strat pickup in the neck position achieve this? If so, any recommendations for which pickups to get. The Pickups in Dave Gilmour's guitar are as follows: Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan® SSL-5 Single-Coil Strat Middle Pickup: Custom-Wound Single-Coil Strat Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Fat '50s Single-Coil Strat Which is the most important to his sound? And Matt Bellamy has a humbucker in bridge position and a single coil pickup in neck position. All designed by Manson Guitars. Lastly, what type of neck. Is there a benefit of making a through neck guitar or are bolt-ons basically the same. Is it worth the extra work? Thanks, DavetheRave