hale88

Hi guys. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your tutorials. Some day I WILL build a guitar from scratch. Right now I'm just getting my feet wet. I had an old body blank someone gave me a few years ago. At the time, I wanted to make a new body for my Ibanez EX350(I know, WHY?) anyway, I totally botched the routing and had this thing in the closet for a long time. I decided about a month ago I could straighten it out and make a JEM. It's got problems, but as long as it works, I don't care. I like the swirl, even if it is a little rough and bumpy. I plan on getting a new fretboard and frets and also a good pickup(maybe two). It was fun and I am happy withthe fact I made it. Anyway, your website has been a big help and inspiration to someone who thought he'd never be able to do this. the pickup isn't wired yet, nor the intonation done. just slapped it together to see what it looks like. Here's the link to the pics. http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/HA.../guitar%20pics/

I went to guitarelectronics.com and used one of their diagrams. It worked! The diagram with the picups, now that I can sit back and look at it, didn't have a ground for the tone pot. I switched things around and ran a ground and finally it worked.

I thought of that, too. Just afraid to try it. I'll give it a try. thanks

I just put a new set of pickups in my project, but the volume and tone controls are screwed up. I followed the wiring diagram completely, I think. The volume only adjusts about halfway, from loudest to moderate. It doesn't shut the volume off completely. the tone seems to be working backwards also. I used the 500K pots from stew-mac. the ones with the long shaft. they were listed under specialty parts. Do I have the wrong pots? They say Alpha on the back if that helps.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t302/HA...itarproject.jpg In case anyone might be interested, here is what it looks like right now. The headstock logo is changed to a waterslide decal and I'm getting ready to put EMG select pickups in it. I know most people will tell me to get the real active ones, but this is a budget guitar. I have around $250.00 in the whole thing. The active emgs cost that much alone, so I went with the selects. I don't have a picture of the back, but it already has the battery box. It was meant for active pickups, but there's just not enough money at this time.

It was the next fret up that was too high. I'm not a professional (or even a novice hobbyist for that matter),so I guess it needs a fret leveling. Like I said before, this is my first build, so there are probably a million things I haven't even thought of yet to ask.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the information.

Thanks. It's a brand new neck, but I guess you get what you pay for.

I'll give it a look with a straight edge. This is my first home built guitar and I'm learning as I go. Thanks a lot.

I put together a guitar from ebay parts. I originally had an Ibanez neck, but it didn't quite fit, so I got one of those "direct from the factory in Hong Kong" necks, which looks nice. But I seem to have one low fret, I think it's the seventh or eighth. is there any way to fix this without doing a complete refret. The action is pretty low and plays great, but when I hit that fret it sounds terrible. Would raising the action a little help this?