Recent content by cbransfield

Another quick update - I'd been having issues achieving proper string volume balance, especially with a weak 4th string compared to a strong 3rd string. I contacted Lindy Fralin who built these pickups - he was very helpful. He pointed out that he builds these "Split-Blade Humbucker" Strat...

For the record, only very minor adjustments were made on the bridge saddles after the new nut installation.  Intonation is essentially perfect anywhere on the neck, provided I don't apply excessive finger pressure. Also, I am not in a position to measure the actual distances to the required...

Regarding the new and improved low-end intonation of the uncompensated nut, I think we have to say that this is the point where art leaves engineering behind.  I measured the pitch deviations of each string at the first fret prior to replacing the nut, with results varying from -1 to +4 cents. ...

Back again, folks! After several months of "adapting myself" to this new electric guitar, I reached the point that I felt I was working too hard to get around the nuances of the Earvana nut.  So I removed it intact, and used it as a pattern for a non-compensated nut made with Graph-Tech TusqXL...

I'm sure this goes without saying, but the best "debugging" method for string action issues is to play the guitar unplugged.  It's very easy to hear all of the spurious non-harmonic mechanical string sounds, and it encourages me to mitigate them through improved playing technique as well as...

To clarify, I fine-tuned my nut slots with gauged slot saws, and was careful to slope them back toward the tuning heads, so that the bearing point of each slot is at the fretboard edge. I never did experience any problems with the strings popping out of the slots (this was my first concern)...

More tweaks from the settling-in process:  I was hearing just a bit that zingy "sitar" sound on the open high (plain) strings.  It would seem that the Hipshot "staggered-height" tuners weren't providing enough down force at the nut on the higher strings. After a couple of attempts, I've settled...

Progress report:  The neck has settled in and I've cleaned it up. Referring to the on-line StewMac nut setup guide, I set the string heights at the 1st fret to .020" (6th string) to .010" (1st string).  With the neck relief set at .008", the action at the 12th fret is now .070" (6th string) to...

One more construction note re: the Earvana nut. I initially found that the string slots were a bit tight for my D'Addario NYXL1046 strings.  I'm guessing the slots were cut for lighter strings, which would be quite reasonable in case lighter strings would be chosen. I sprang for the StewMac nut...

Yep - it looks like the shim was the proper fix indeed. Craig

The Saga Continues!  Here's a tip for using the Ghost piezo pickup system which might affect the choice of neck style.  Graphtech warns that you can't allow these saddles to settle all the way down on the bridge plate, because this can damage the very delicate pickup wire leads.  The Warmoth...

A bit more info for those interested: "Rocky" weighs 7 lbs 5 oz (3.31 Kg).

Nope - Warmoth picked the flame maple top for me...just lucky!

Yes, that's a Blue Burst finish.

Greetings! As a classical guitar player for several decades, I wanted to build something that would: Ease my ergonomic re-adaptation to the electric guitar Provide maximum tonal flexibility Resolve several issues I remember from playing my pre-CBS Fender hard-tail strat back in the day So...