8-Ball Strat Updates

[MikeW]

Just finished putting the finishing touches on the updates for the 8-Ball and thought I'd post them. The 8-Ball has been around the stable for a few years now but has never been a #1. I've used it with different necks, as a testing ground for electronics ideas I was messing with, and even just as a banger for carrying around when I needed a guitar to fiddle with on trips.

But, I got involved with a new project lately and decided I wanted something specific for it. We're doing more Prog and 60's/70's classic rock with this one, and the 8-Ball seemed to fit the timbre of both the band and the guys in it.

That's a Little 59er in the neck, a Quarter Pounder, and a Little Screamin Demon in the bridge. This setup had a 5-way switch with coil tapping in positions 2 and 4.

Roasted Maple/Roasted Maple, Wizard profile, SS6105, LSR nut, Schaller tuners and a Wilkinson bridge.

So, I pulled the old pickups and dropped a 59-JB set in with a 3-way blade switch to keep it simple. I debated between zebra and reverse zebra for the tops of the pickups but ultimately liked the reverse zebra just a bit more than regular zebra.

Voila!

 

[fdesalvo]

That’s a beautiful guitar, Mike!

 

[MikeW]

Thanks man! Been running it through it's paces tonight to get it ready for our gig tomorrow. It sounds killer and plays so nicely. The more I play on Roasted Maple, the more I like it.

 

[rgand]

Looks really nice. You have just enough white on it to give the right accent to the 8-ball.

 

[Strat Avenger]

That's a nice guitar.
Not too keen on the knob and switch placement, but to each their own.

 

[bagman67]

I like the added cream accents from the zebra coils and knob and switch tip.  Really highlights the 8-ball-ness of the whole axe. 


And I keep coming back to the visual of the white dots on the fingerboard.  Seems the default is black dots on roasted maple, but the white really pops.  I like it.


Sorry I couldn't get it together to come out and hear you play last night, Mike, but keep me posted on when you gig.


Yr. Humble Svt., &c.,


Bagman

 

[MikeW]

That's a nice guitar.
Not too keen on the knob and switch placement, but to each their own.

That's a result of a couple things. First, I'm a huge fan of the Charvels with the simplicity of the single knob and switch. I don't find myself ever changing tone at the guitar so have pretty much eliminated them from the stuff I play live. Second, I've got big hands and the volume knob placement on a typical Strat layout places it right under my fingers where I'm forever turning myself down. Moving it down and away a bit solves that problem nicely.

 

[MikeW]

I like the added cream accents from the zebra coils and knob and switch tip.  Really highlights the 8-ball-ness of the whole axe. 

And I keep coming back to the visual of the white dots on the fingerboard.  Seems the default is black dots on roasted maple, but the white really pops.  I like it.

Sorry I couldn't get it together to come out and hear you play last night, Mike, but keep me posted on when you gig.

Yr. Humble Svt., &c.,

Bagman

Thanks! I really dig it too. everyone that sees it has commented on the zebra pickups matching the logo. It's quite striking IMHO.

Funny you say that about the white dots too. I originally had thought that the black would go better but at the last minute changed my mind to the Mother of Pearl dots. I wish now that I'd followed that thought all the way through and done the marker dots on the top in white as well. I find that on a dark stage, the Roasted Maple is just dark enough that the black markers get a bit lost. Ah well, lesson learned for next time.

Bottomfeeders are actually taking the rest of March and first week of April off since a couple band members are travelling for work. We should be back at it mid-late-March-ish. I'll post you a note here when I find out what the dates/times/places will be.

The new projects is getting rolling too. That's the one that I rebuilt the 8-Ball for, so maybe that'll have a gig or two during the summer. [crossed fingers...]

 

[Strat Avenger]

That's a nice guitar.
Not too keen on the knob and switch placement, but to each their own.

That's a result of a couple things. First, I'm a huge fan of the Charvels with the simplicity of the single knob and switch. I don't find myself ever changing tone at the guitar so have pretty much eliminated them from the stuff I play live. Second, I've got big hands and the volume knob placement on a typical Strat layout places it right under my fingers where I'm forever turning myself down. Moving it down and away a bit solves that problem nicely.

Yeah, I don't run tone controls either, except my current Tele build will have one. I have smaller hands and go for a more traditional knob & switch placement, although I move the knob a half-inch down from the usual Strat location. The pic here in my profile is an older one. The knob has been moved since then.

 

[fdesalvo]

That's a nice guitar.
Not too keen on the knob and switch placement, but to each their own.

That's a result of a couple things. First, I'm a huge fan of the Charvels with the simplicity of the single knob and switch. I don't find myself ever changing tone at the guitar so have pretty much eliminated them from the stuff I play live. Second, I've got big hands and the volume knob placement on a typical Strat layout places it right under my fingers where I'm forever turning myself down. Moving it down and away a bit solves that problem nicely.

I didn't even notice at first - that would be my ideal config.