The Hub

The latest builds, repairs, and conversations from across Looth. Activity
Filters AND Search controller× In Repair & Restoration× In Sponsor Forums× Reset all
Private member DiscussionShare Your Repair Content

Introducing the NutBuster

Hello All I have been using Ted Bergstrand's online nut calculator on Benchmuse.com which is excellent. It allows you to have a consistent gap between each strings vs the progressive gap that the Stewmac rule gives you. Or you can do consistent centers to the strings. I have definitely found measuring the nut with calipers to work a lot better than the stewmac rule and don't use the rule anymore. I wanted some additional functionality…

1 reply
1 reply
LikeShare
Private member
PS All Hail Ted Bergstrand who introduced me to many very useful things. Kind of nuts how many things I use now that Ted turned me on to.
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Sadowsky bass help needed please 🙏

Sadowsky use unique control plate screws which are much smaller than common plate screws. I believe the ones they use are: #3 × 3/8" Phillips Pan(domed) Head Black Oxide csk self tapping Sheet Metal Screw Type AB thread. Being in the UK, these are really hard to find, pretty much don’t exist here, so can anyone please help me or point me in the direction of a supplier? I’ve contacted Sadowsky direct with no response and also many of my main…

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Hi Nigel. #3's are impossible to find. Can you step up to a #4 like these? There slightly larger. https://accu-components.com/us/shop/precision-components/drilling-tapping/self-tapping-screws/counters…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Heat Blanket controller....

HEy FOlks. Ive Been using a really old timer and reostat control, with a separate thermometer, on my heat blanket set up for a while. Its worked, but id like to be a bit more mindless about it if possible. Does anyone have suggestions for heat blanket controllers that have a digital readout and built in temp control sensor?

4 replies
4 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Sounds good. The reason I picked this model is because is can use a "K" style probe or a thermistor probe which will work in a wet environment (greenhouses etc.). I posted a flat probe upstream that…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Humidity stability, moisture meters

It's that time of the year when I start to get all paranoid on the humidity levels of my shop. It happens at this time as the heating seems to send my hygrometers out of whack and it's quite difficult to keep things stable. So far i've been relying on keeping a 45% constant humidity in an automated system I built on Domoticz (similar to Home Assistant), which control a humidifier and dehumidifier. I'm not that confident i got this nailed…

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Thanks both for your replies. In all honesty so far I have not had any issues with my builds. The Trevor Gore books do mention that gluing should always be done at 45%RH, so i'll keep trying to stick t…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Problem fitting an LRBaggs Anthem to a Martin D-16RGT

So, like an idiot, I got well into the installation of an Anthem pickup system when I realized that the soundhole braces on this guitar are effing Lincoln Logs. They're easily a quarter inch thick (and feel like basswood). Because the Anthem preamp is designed to straddle the soundhole brace, I can't fit it as-is. Anybody got any experience with this? OPTIONS THE CLIENT WOULD NEVER GO FOR (and wouldn't thrill me either): 1. Replace the bra…

8 replies
8 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Thanks for that. In this case I don't think modifying the preamp is possible. At least not for me, as I'm certain the circuit board fills the case. I could potentially 3D print a new case for it, but…
Private member DiscussionGo Acoustic Audio

Go Acoustic Audio Joins The Looth Group: Acoustic Amplification Redefined

Hi everyone, We’re really excited to be joining The Looth Group as new sponsors, and we wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves. I’m Ben, and together with Paul McGill we run Go Acoustic Audio. Paul is in his 50th year of guitar making — a milestone that speaks to both his craftsmanship and his persistence in chasing better sound. He’s spent a lifetime building instruments for players at every level, listening closely to what works…

LikeShare
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Wiring Overhaul - Music Man Reflex Game Changer

Would you have any recommendations on wiring configurations and piezo controllers to replace the electronics in my Music Man Reflex, which used to have the Game Changer system? The guitar has an HSH pickup configuration with a piezo bridge pickup. It has three existing holes for Volume/Tone/Blend, a blade switch slot, and a 3-way switch hole. When I bought this guitar about a decade ago, the Game Changer system offered a mind-numbingly a…

4 replies
4 replies
LikeShare
Private member
You might even consider the Free-Way switch such as on StewMac. 5-way/10-position switch, lots of wiring options there.
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Double Humbuckers - Schematic?

Friends, I am looking for a wiring schematic that shows how to set up 2 humbuckers, each with their own Volume pot -- no Tone in this circuit. Everything I have has some type of Tone control in the circuit. Any suggestions? Thanks!

4 replies
4 replies
LikeShare
Private member
i erased the tones. if you are leaving a switch out the output hot goes to both middle lugs of pots
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Hofner Bass

Got a 60’s Hofner bass coming in that is noisy and feeds back (according to the owner). Thoughts on why? Any chance taking out the control plate screws could be an issue?

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Ian Davlin
Might have a loose common ground for the buzzing. You should investigate the wire going to the tailpiece. If it doesn't have one, add one.
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

DeArmond Rhythm Chief Install

Hey! I had a customer drop off an ultra clean 60’s L4 and he has a repro de Armond rhythm chief he wants installed. Does anyone have any experience installing these with minimal modifications? It has the pole that mounts on the fingerboard which I’m hoping is the only mod. I ordered a repro guard and it will need to be notched for the pickup and have the volume and tone control mounted. Does anyone have any experience mounting a jack to th…

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Private member
If this ever comes up for others here is what I dreamed up: I mounted a small jack onto an L bracket and fixed it to a replacement mounting arm and replacement pickguard. Ready to go!
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

PRS Custom Wiring Question

Ok. I am stumped. PRS Studio is in. 3 pickups. 5-way selector switch. 2 pots. Here's the dilemma: Customer wants two concentric pots installed. The front pot would be volume for the neck & middle pickups on the top knob, the bridge volume bottom knob. The rear knob is for tone. Top knob controls neck & middle pickups tone, bottom controls the bridge tone. I've gotten the skeleton of this sort of figured out but I don't....ha ha? The PRS 5-way…

6 replies
6 replies
LikeShare
Private member
Hey Mike, you said you had a skeleton of this figured out. Do you have a wiring diagram you could share? Two things: Jumping on the Loothalong and talking with people there is never a bad idea. There'…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Reinstall Loose Barrel Jack on G&L Asat

i have a 2010 g&l asat bluesboy with a loose barrel jack. which is to say, when a cable is gently unplugged the jack comes out of the body. there is no nut on the inside of the control cavity to hold the jack in place - it looks like the wood itself is threaded. the jack barely protrudes into the control cavity so i don’t see an obviously good way to get a washer and nut on it. any ideas outside of enlarging the hole and installing a jac…

10 replies
10 replies
LikeShare
Private member
i can confirm that the twine method recommended by G&L secures the jack very well. glad that i don't have to alter the guitar after all.
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

National Triolian - Fishman Resophonic/Lipstick pickup rewiring

Hey everyone. I’m trying to figure out a wiring scheme for a modded National Triolian resonator guitar. It has a Fishman Resophonic end pin jack pickup (link to that is below) as well as a lipstick pickup that was installed along with a three way switch, and two potentiometers. Essentially what I’d like to do is wire it so there is one volume control for the lipstick pickup, one volume for the piezo, and the three way switch controls eac…

4 replies
4 replies
LikeShare
Private member
@member @member Thanks for the advice guys! Yeah this is potentially a bit of a mess but I'll discuss these options wit…
Private member DiscussionNeck Reset Database

1970s Guild S-90

This thing had a conveniently placed hole in the neck pickup cavity that ran all the way to the end of the tenon, presumably the entry point for the long drill bit that drilled the access from pickup cavity to control cavity before the neck was originally fitted. I injected several pipettes of hot water into this hole while heating the fretboard extension area with a silicone blanket to loosen the extension from the body. Reactivated hi…

3 replies
3 replies
LikeShare
Ian Davlin
That is crazy looking. Thanks for sharing !