wyldbil

The Bill Lawrence L-500-XL is the pickup the Dimebucker is modeled after. It was Dime's main pickup pretty much forever.

[url="http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickup_Window/500.htm"]http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickup_Window/500.htm[/url]

It is a monster pickup for about 1/2 the price of a Dimebucker.

I disagree with the Gorilla Glue bashers. I have done three headstocks with it that have turned out aces. One of these had several large splinters that I had to "jigsaw puzzle" back together before actually reattaching. That guitar has been going strong under hard use since 2001. Another one is a mahogany"banana" stock that was in two pieces. Guess what? Good as new. The main key with Gorilla Glue is C-A-R-E-F-U-L clamping to make the expansion squeeze out and not push the pieces apart, and because once it's set it AIN'T comin' back apart. Besides, once you reset a 'stock, why in the blue bloody blazes would you WANT to undo it?

That's my experience. Your mileage may vary.

That is SWEET. I always liked a one-hum layout like that. Also diggin' the cherry over mahogany finish! So, what shape is the headstock?

Very nice! The carving and proportions look perfect. Set neck, so you score there as well. The BCR neck isn't farfetched, since $immon$' original Punishers were BCR products. If your finishing work is as good looking as your woodwork, that's gonna be a showpiece!

Just don't let Gene "Mr. Litigation Himself" $immon$ know you're making that. He'll want a fee since he legally owns that design. That man is a piece of work!

Back when Neil Schon had guitars made with his name on them, he put wireless units in them.  That was back in the late 80's I think.  Sorry to say that you idea isn't new, but it is cool and I've often wondered why more guitars don't come with this retrofit.  It makes sense if you are a pro and play on stage a lot.

←

Well, yeah. Paul Stanley had some Explorers with built-in wireless back in '76-'77.

That memory is what made me want to do it!

So I take it, all I have to do is put it in? No problems with any other "sheilding" or types of "interference" ? Can it be that simple?

←

Well it was for me. James, I would advise you to proceed with caution. After all, your mileage may vary! On the other hand if I can do it, anyone should be able to.

The one thing I would mention is that I have a really good intuitive sense of how to wire things by looking at them. Must be some sort of savant, because I sure don't have any actual knowledge or training! Just a sense of "well, that goes there, so now it needs to go there". I buggered up the circuit board in a couple of spots and had to do some really delicate soldering to pull it all together. That intuition saved my bollocks in those instances as well.

Now if I can just sort out that intermittently noisy short in my other single pickup guitar which has the stutter switch and the push/pull coil-tap. It should get the next permanent wireless...

Turns out the problem was all the electronics in my living room! I discovered this while shaking down my gear before a gig last weekend. All my wireless stuff made the same noise in this part of the house.

I set up my gear at the club I was playing at last Saturday, fired up the hardwired guitar..and.. NO WORRIES! Worked like a charm.

I ended up using that guitar for most of the show, and it wigged out a couple of gearhounds in the audience. "No cord, no transmitter... ***...?"

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. Oh, and a big "NYAAAAH!" to any negative nellies. Sorry to disappoint ya'll with my success.

Ultimately, it turned out to be a cool thing. I'll be shopping for more cheap Nady Channel F transmitters to pop into a couple more of my favorite guitars.

Matt I understand what you are saying and why, BUT, sometimes folks can come up with an innovative solution to a problem before others tell them "Hey! You can't do that!" Agreed it is not a neckthrough, but I have heard many experienced old-timers referring to a set neck as one. It is an uber common mistake.

So why quell this fellow's creativity? Let's see what he comes up with.

Just my .02...

You're not going to have much luck for two reasons. Probably the most important of these (although there are people who'll argue with me) is that a Les Paul has a 24.75" scale while a Strat has a 25.5" scale - which has a huge effect on the levels of harmonics present.

Second, there's the wood - most Strats aren't Mahogany. I have a strat with a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge, which is supposed to be a little hotter PAF, and it sounds NOTHING like a LP. Don't get me wrong, it sounds good, but it sounds a lot more like Green Day than the Allman Brothers.

All that said, the closest you'll get is with PAF look-alikes - Gibson's that come on new LP's (not actually all that much like original PAF's from the 50's guitars), SD '59, Dimarzio PAF or Air Classic, etc.

←

All this guys says PLUS you have the setneck versus bolt-on factor. Makes a big difference in the resonance of the guitar as well.

To quote Frank Zappa, "A cow don't make ham".

There are a couple of viable less expensive maple-topped mahogany set-neck LP alternatives listed above. Might be a good thing to look into!

Good luck and hope you find the tone you seek.

That guy is a mad genius. Kind of the Giger of guitars. Wish I could afford one!

TeleBlaster

Thanks Lovekraft- those are the kind of hints I was looking for. Figure I'll keep trying different combinations of shielding, no shielding, new cavities, whatever until it finally works to my satisfaction. But, pleae re-read my original post. I detailed my adventures with shielding there.

Here's 2 reasons I'd never do that:

1. Guitars last much longer than wireless systems. Do you want to build a guitar with parts that you know will need replacing in a few years?

2. I wouldn't want to have to rewire my guitar just because I lost the receiver.

←

1)I have had the same wireless stuff for years and years. Take care of it and it lasts. I have to keep a supply of the power supply transformers as they seem to like to burn out, but otherwise no worries. The transformers are cheap through Parts Express. (<$3)

2)Used older model Nady diversities are out there, relatively easy to find and cheap to boot. No worries. I already have two backups and several transmitters.

Your points are well taken, but... I'll still do things my way with my stuff.

I like to step outside "normal" boundares, especially with my well-worn players. It's all just good fun to me. Once I get the noise problem ironed out, this will be one seriously cool stage axe.

Won't have time to get back into it for a couple weeks with band rehearsals and being in the studio making my album. After I get to play with it some more, I'll be back to report on my progress or lack thereof. Maybe some more questions...

Thanks all...

Old DiMarzio PAFs are a hot commodity among Hamer players/collectors. Especially if they are double cream or Zebra.

If you go to www.hamerfanclub.com, join the messageboard and offer it for trade I bet someone there will offer you a REALLY NICE four conductor pickup for it. Plus you'll save a nice vintage pickup from being hacked.

Just a thought!

OK, here goes...

I got bored and took the guts out of one of my wireless transmitters (Nady 201) and hardwired it into the control cavity of my favorite guitar. All went very well until I buttoned it all up. Then came loads of static and interference. Assuming the control shielding was stopping a clear signal from getting out of the guitar, I removed it. A little better but not much.

Side note- the transmitter had a short in the cable between the beltpack and the 1/4" jack. That's what prompted me to do the surgery...

Facts about the guitar- single pickup (DiMarzio Super Distortion) single volume pot.

Early 80s USA Hamer with full control cavity,making room for the transmitter guts and battery, since there is just the one pot in there. The cavity cover is plastic and unshielded. I removed all the copper tape I put on it as well.

So, I am thinking that it is some sort of proximity or shielding problem, but nothing I try helps. Any of you have a beter handle on this and maybe some sage advice?

Thanks in advance...

Bolt-on? Set neck? Pics?

Thanks...

Poverty sucks. If only I had the means that puppy would be MINE! *sigh*

I like that! Rick Nielsen would definitely be proud. Cool color choices for a checkerboard guitar...

There's an article in the new issue of Guitar Player that just may help you out.

Dan Erlewine started a new column about customizing guitars using his shop apprentices and their personal projects. The inaugural column is about doing graphics with tape stencils! Your design is cool and I hope it works to your satisfaction.

Frightfully nice. Seems you have some innovative ideas. Can't wait to see further progress reports and the finished beast!

AllParts wins. They had what I need in stock and ready to ship at reasonable prices. Thanks for the tip, Mark. I do plan on buying from UJ in the future. I did get several bobbin toppers there awhile back. LOVE those bobbin toppers!

Ugliest headstock ever. 

←

I am almost finished refinning and restoring a wrecked vintage Hamer Special I got awhile back. In fact, it's time to reassemble, and I need a few small hardware bits to get her back in the game.

Needed:

Twelve hex set screws for bridge saddle height adjustment. I am sure the stock Fender or Fender-style bits will work. Anyone have these for me?

Truss rod nut. Gibson style.

Who can hook me up with a baggie full of these little bits? Please don't say

"Stew-Mac" as I am not currently prepared to meet their $30 minimum. I am what they call a "poor enthusiast". That's why I am refurbing a wreck rather than buying a custom axe.

Thanks in advance!

Whatever happened to this guy? I would like to know what he came up with!

So... I have a black Hamer I would like that done to. (minus the bird, no offense...) Any chance of hiring out your airbrush artist to do it?