My latest handiwork (Warning: lots of words as well as pictures)

[Yeroc]

Ok, here it all is. Everything I've been up to for the past 6 months or so. And now with a new modded room, why not just post it all here? Anyway, I'm sure you all want to see the pictures, so let's get to it.

You all remember my Epi Les Paul?
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8328/00002255yc.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=00002255yc.jpg)0
Since that pic, I've replaced the cover on the '59 with a holeless one, repotted both pickups, replaced the pickup toggle with a Gibson original (because I liked the bezel on the nut), and removed all the pushbutton switches and push-pulls. I figured out how to wire the killswitch through a second Gibson toggle and placed it between the neck controls, and a switch to put the pickups out of phase and in parallel with each other, using a 4 pole toggle to bypass the pickup toggle so there are no "dead" configurations. I had experimented with a SD-pickup-booster-based onboard boost circuit I got from GuitarElectronics, and there's a hole from its on/off toggle that I have since fitted the end of a bic pen into.
About a month ago, I decided that I really did like the cream over the black "Custom" look. I was also looking to install an RS Guitarworks upgrade kit. So after a little searching, I found some vintage spec pickup rings and some gold colored USA sized knobs with silver inserts just like the old black ones.
Here's the finished product:
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4779/gear008vf9.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear008vf9.jpg)http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/231/gear009ks1.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear009ks1.jpg)http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2208/gear010eu3.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear010eu3.jpg)
I've promised myself that I'm done modding this guitar. This is about its 5th incarnation, and I decided that if I get the urge to redo a guitar again, it'll have to be after I buy a new one or something. Well, not 2 weeks later the bug bit me again: I have that MIM Strat that has one of the Epi's old 'buckers in it wired straight to the output jack. Woo! Project time again!

Here's what the strat looked like 2 weeks ago:
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6106/strat002xh0.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=strat002xh0.jpg)
I GFS'd this one majorly. Pearloid single humbucker pickguard, Pro Tubes lipstick humbucker (I opted for the neck version for lower output), Alpha 500k volume pot, abalone topped knob, 3-way toggle killswitch(I love these things - they're better than mini toggles and pushbuttons), and a toggle to put the coils in series or parallel. A few extra holes in the pickguard, a few moved holes in the body, and bam. A narly sounding "few"-frills blues machine.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7994/gear012zb1.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear012zb1.jpg)http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7310/gear013sw0.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear013sw0.jpg)http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2914/gear014nj2.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear014nj2.jpg)

Remember that boost circuit I mentioned toying with? Well, I decided I didn't like it in the guitar, and since it was essentially worth $70 in the form of a shiny SD Pickup Booster, I decided to build my own pedal. I got an enclosure from Radio Shack; I had some jacks lying around; got a DPDT stomp switch, a new 25k pot, and pointer knob; and threw it all together. It's tiny:
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/4576/gear005hi2.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear005hi2.jpg)http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5193/gear006td6.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear006td6.jpg)

I never realized there was an image limit, so I'll be making up the 2nd half presently. Enjoy!

[Yeroc]

Next up, my Crybaby. Not quite so much to tell here, just the usual Fasel inductor, pot repositioning, and I wired it for DPDT but I also pulled out the input buffer as you can see in the pic where the green wire runs. I've also cut the rubber stops off the rocker and carefully positioned both the switch and the pot so that when the rocker is all the way forward it goes just far enough to engage the switch, and is also at the top end of the pot. Check it out. There's a picture of the booster too to give you a better idea of how small it is.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7069/gear001ds9.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear001ds9.jpg)http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2314/gear003cv6.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear003cv6.jpg)

Remember that topic about the guy that made a talkbox out of a computer speaker? Well, I just had to try it. One 2" speaker ripped from an old set of Radio Shack speakers. Two PVC end caps (2" one joint size, one tube size). 8 feet of .5" O.D. vinyl tubing. 18" of duct tape. A bit of wire with a plug. One small crate amp. It's nasty, it's sometimes noisy, but it's an alright talkbox to play around with at home and stuff at Lowes cost me less than $5. I still need a stand of some kind to keep the tube from falling out of my mouth.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5151/gear018co0.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear018co0.jpg)

And finally, the big group shot. Strewn throughout this picture are my 2 guitars, my Marshall JTM30, an Epi VJ combo, the Crate and talkbox, the wah, the booster, a DOD 250, some packs of strings, assorted cables, a DOD chorus hidden under a strap, and my Boss TU2.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7192/gear019yg4.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gear019yg4.jpg)

And that's all folks!

[tomac62]

i've always wanted to get into modding! cool stuff

[azrael]

Cool. Ever think about replacing the pot on the Crybaby for a Fulltone ICAR taper one?

[Yeroc]

Heh, sometimes. The first I'd heard of one was the day after those parts arrived from Antique Electronics, which is also where I'd likely purchase an ICAR from. I might do one soon. I also thought about redoing the pedal as a wah/volume. Supposedly that's a really easy conversion, only requiring ground life on one cap or something simple. I'm hesitant to try it just yet, as I haven't located a replacement cap in case I screw something up.

[azrael]

Oh, yeah, super easy.

You can even rig it with a SPDT switch so you can switch back and forth.
Lift the 4.7uF cap.

If you need parts, just check out this place called smallbearelec.com. That's where I get all my parts for modding. They have wah pots and other stuff there, too.

[Yeroc]

Quick update. I scrounged up another DPDT toggle and put it into the LP where the pen cap was as a coil split for both pickups. It activates the south coil on the bridge pickup and the neck shunts direct to ground, using the north coil while in phase and the south coil when out.

[GonZo]

Hey quick question for you Yeroc. How would you rate those lipstick buckers? I want to replace my bucker in '51 and was browsing the GFS stuff and those kinda piqued my interest. I have a Duncan Invader in it now, but it just lacks dynamics and is wayyyyyyy to bright for my tastes. That and the fact that I have a Alnico pro-II in the neck, so they just don't blend at all. Was thinking a lipstick bucker and single stick in the neck would look prety phat and hopefully sound as well too. So, what's your take on it?

[Sixstring]

Cool mods! That's great looking gear.

[Yeroc]

Thanks six!

The lipstick's a lot twangier than other humbuckers, especially so since it's in a strat. I've heard it's not a half bad attempt to replicate the old lipstick sound, so adding that to my own experience with it, I'd say it's not too shabby at all. And you can't beat the look. ;)

[new2this]

grrr nice modding

[Jeremy]

Awsome modding, I love the talkbox, I am gonna have a shot at doing it too! Thanks again for posting your mods :)

[Bender]

sweet man. i would love to get into wiring and stuff...but not yet.

[Cimar]

I am so amazed.I wouldnt possibly dream of pimping my axe but know im thinking of all the things I could do!!:eek:

Keep Moddin':drunk:

[hardstarter]

I have a dumb question. How do you know what grade pot to get? I am trying to make a volume box ad figured I'd got with 100k and after I got that down I was going to add the switch and some type of chip to make a boost pedal.

[xXWylde_ManXx]

That LP is amazing! I love the new gold hardware. Great work on the others, too. Keep it up and post some more!

[Yeroc]

hardstarter, it depends on what kind of volume/booster effect you're trying to make. You could go the simple route and just make a switchable passive volume control, which would work just like your guitar's volume control (and as a stompbox, opposite the way a booster would work). You'd have your amp turned up louder, and you'd get your max sound with the effect off, then turning it on would put the pot in the chain and attenuate your signal to make it quieter. For this I'd recommend a 500k pot.

A booster, on the other hand, is a very complicated amplification circuit, one I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable trying to put together on my own. I would recommend either buy the SD pickup booster, or the circuit I got from guitarelectronics.com if you want to make your own, which comes with it's own 25k pot.

Thanks to everybody else! I'm thinking about maybe trying to build my own guitar someday, and then I'll have nearly unlimited possibilities to customize my perfect setup.