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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

neck removal - steam or heat?

I've done a few neck resets lately, (new territory for me) using the StewMac Heat Stick. It does a fine job releasing the glue, my problem is filling the hole in the 15th fret slot so that it isn't noticeable. I did a lighter colored rosewood board lately that certainly could have been better. I'm thinking of trying the needle/ steam method instead but haven't found a controllable source for steam. I would appreciate any advice with…

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These from Hotwire Foam Factory work great, and the small holes are usually hidden by the fret wire. The cheaper ones require a slightly larger hole, and run hotter, so scorching is a concern. They…
Private member DiscussionAmps, Pickups, and Pedals

Grease Bucket Circuit Woes

I've done the Fender Grease Bucket Circuit mod on a lot of Strats and it always works. A customer recently brought in a 335 kit for wiring. It got 3-TV Jones humbuckers, each wired to a Seymour Duncan Triple Shot Mounting Ring, 3 separate volume controls and a master tone with the Grease Bucket circuit. My client wanted to see a clear diagram of the wiring, so I got GuitarElectronics.com to generate one. I've used them several times in…

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One other thing (although you've probably already taken care of it): Those caps and resistor can present a lot of exposed hook-up wires. Make sure everything around there is well insulated so that not…
Private member Discussion3D Printing

3D file of a PRS style control cavity template for 2 pot + 1 switch

I need to make a router template for a rear access control cavity in the PRS style of 1 vol +1 tone +1 switch? Placement of pot and switch holes aren't important, just the contours of the cavity so I can print a routing template. Does anyone have a file? Thanks! Justin

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Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Curious Grounding Issue...

Hello fellow Looths, I had a question in regards to a curious issue from a customers guitar. The guitar was brought to me in part because the customer was having an issue where the guitar was intermittent and would ground out. It's a partscaster with an HH pickup configuration, one volume, one tone, 5 way switch, and the tone control splits the humbuckers. The pickups are quick connect Dimarzio's. I took the pickguard off and noticed tha…

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Private member
if it is the jack blade making contact with the shielding inside the jack hole, then you could try a puretone jack. It's got a smaller footprint and two smaller blades that contact the tip rather than…
Private member DiscussionShop Organisation

Shop humidity: Am I nuts to focus on dew point instead of relative humidity?

Not sure if this is the best place for this, but whatever. I need somebody to check my logic here--I could be completely wrong in my thinking. I'm about to start up my new shop in Ireland, and the humidity/temperature situation is VERY different than the Greater Washington DC region. I will also be unlikely to have as complete control over temperature and humidity as I did in our extremely tight, air-conditioned house in the US. I also k…

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Maybe ask other Ireland luths? @member Maybe your shop should be somewhat dryer than the dryest that your customers homes would be?
Private member DiscussionSELL! SELL! SELL!

Stewmac Foredom kit with router base

$300 plus shipping. Used twice. Comes with foredom, foot control, Stewmac router base, And stand. Comes with 1/8” collet. 3/32” available but can’t find it currently. Will sell without router base for $250.

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Hi Bryan - has this been claimed? I’ll take it if not. Thanks, Creston
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Brown's Guitar Factory bridge plate tool modification

Have you ever had a really stubborn bridge plate to remove? I had one not too long ago that seemed to resist wetting with a damp cloth, and subsequently all the heat I could get from my silicone heating pads. After much effort I got about 80% of it out cleanly. The remaining 20% required hours of work with a finger plane. That experience made me think about the Brown's Guitar Factory bridge plate removal tool I had purchased years ago,…

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This is great. Thanks for sharing! The thermocouple link takes me to the thermocouple outlets? Might be a caching issue for me? Joe
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Rickenbacker 620

I have a Rickenbacker 620 on my bench; I have repaired the neck pickup (it came loose, uninstalled) and I am stumped with where the wire should dip into the control cavity. There is no hole in the route for the magnets, I assume it runs under the floating pickguard, but I dont see any relief or path under the main control panel. This has the toaster style pickups and dates to the 50's. Thanks in advance.

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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Side thickness recommendation

I am having a little trouble bending my first acoustic sides. The wood is a interlocked mahogany. I am hand bending on a temp controlled 2" curling iron. I have thicknessed the sides down to 1.9mm but still got some wrinkling and cracking trying to bend around the cutaway. I am trying to figure out how to improve this for the next attempt. I have read some conflicting information on how to do this though. Thus far my plan for the next a…

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Hi Nicholas, I would agree with Anthony, it sounds like you need a larger surface area to heat up the wood. A small pipe only allows you to heat up a small area at one time. I have the ibex bending iro…
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Homemade Gramil

This is my second iteration of a gramil that can be used to fully cut the channels for binding and purfling as opposed to using an electric router. I am working on my first acoustic now but initial tests look promising. Features round beam so you can lightly scratch at first like a marking gauge. Depth control of the exacto hobby #11 blade. The edge for the beam is also shaped so it won't pop out like other wedges. Pretty quick to make…

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Ian Davlin
Really cool!
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Reverend Club King 290 Bass Contour Control

Hey, gang. I was wondering if any of you were familiar with this guitar’s bass contour control. I’ve yet to find accurate schematics. I bought it around 2009. Any help would be appreciated.

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I am familiar with it. It's not exactly their idea. G&L has used this in their circuits, so you might have some luck looking at G&L wiring diagrams. A master bass cut tone control is typically a 1M re…