Thanks,
CMA: You know, I think I might go for it... nothing to lose, although I dont expect to win, given the amazing stuff that always ends up in GOTM. I might not make this month's though, since I'd need to take some decent photos, and it will be a few days until I manage to get the knobs I need from maplin. Might record a sound clip too.
Godin- thanks, I'm really pleased with how it turned out, the colour is exactly what I was hoping for.
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As progress goes; I've now pretty much finished. Still a few things to sort out... frets need leveling (plays well at the moment, even without the levelling, but theres a little bit of buzz on the 10th fret on one string), and the action could be a tad lower. I need those two knobs I mentioned too, and to add strap buttons.
Might do a headstock decal eventually too, but I cant be bothered at the moment
The wiring was a pain in the ass to figure out... had to draw my own schematic and it took a few attempts, but my final schematic worked fine.
And it sounds awesome! Not the most modest statement, but its true , I couldnt be happier with the sound. I currently have it strung up with a 12- 56 set, and tuned like a 'normal' guitar but a full step lower (ie to D)
The notes all sound so clear and defined, the low strings sound almost like a piano
I wasnt really sure how I was going to tune it when I built it to be honest ... I ended up just fiddling around until the tension felt 'right' to my fingers. I like the tension pretty high (I use 11s on my standard guitars).
I went with a 28" scale length btw in the end... (don't think I mentioned that. I think last time I mentioned scale length I said 27.5", but I changed my mind again )
For the wiring, I ended up settling on:
1. Bridge humbucker (series)
2. Bridge humbucker (parallel) + Neck P90 in parallel with bridge
3. Neck P-90 on its own.
4. Bridge humbucker (series) + Neck P90 in series with bridge
5. Bridge single coil (split humbucker) on its own
6. Bridge single coil (split humbucker) in series with the neck p90
(I used the options you suggested, tubab0y, and I dont regret it, so thanks)
The GFS pickups sound really good on their own, the bridge sounds great on clean as well as distortion, and the p90 is really clear as well as 'fat' sounding.
Position 3 (all parallel) sounds really nice on clean... its the most acoustic sounding setting.
I was worried that all in series may be too muddy to be useable, but my worries were unfounded, which was a relief.
Same for my worries that the bridge single coil may be too quiet- its plenty loud enough.
I was careful with my grounding to avoid loops and hum... its all star grounded to one point, and its very nearly silent. - Quiter than my factory made guitars- even in single coil mode.
I might change the capacitor on the tone pot. Its ok at the moment, but I'd like the difference in tone to be a little more dramatic than it currently is.
The neck feels really nice too.
~So basically [incase you hadnt deduced so from that big ego-trip of a post ], I'm VERY happy with the outcome!
Definitely the best guitar I've made so far, and a contender for 'favourite guitar that I own'... I'll have to play it a little more first.
I'll wait till its completely finished, with the knobs sorted and everything, then it will be pictures galore .