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And now for something completely different

casper100

casper100

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I've completed two Warmoth builds now, both Telecasters, and I think both went well. Truth is, I don't need any more guitars and I don't plan on selling anything I make (yet), but it has been fun putting my woodworking knowledge into making guitars, so I want to keep doing it.

I have a beautiful set of Camphor laurel that I want to make a guitar top out of, but I don't want to hide it in any way with pickguards, knobs and switches...or even pickups, so I am going to build a solid body, under saddle piezo only guitar going out to an external preamp. The money I don't use for pickups, electronics, hardware, etc. I can put into the external preamp and anything else I need.

I have a Dinkycaster body coming and a neck with jade dots. We will see how it goes.
 

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Well, I have no clue about piezo and so forth, having only really tried it on a beat-to-hell old Ovation. It sounded like crap. But I know there has been tremendous development in the area since I was a spotty lad. I'm sure you will come up with a variant that gives you joy.

That top is going to be a visual feast, though, for sure. Nice grab.
 
rockandroller said:
I highly recommend Graphtech GHOST piezo, have used it in a number of guitars with stellar results.
Click to expand...
Do you know if the Graphtec system can be wired to go directly to the output jack then be processed by an external preamp? The Fishman systems can do that easily. On all the diagrams for Ghost, each saddle has it's own wire that typically gets plugged into their summation board, which I guess I could do.
 
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casper100 said:
I've completed two Warmoth builds now, both Telecasters, and I think both went well. Truth is, I don't need any more guitars and I don't plan on selling anything I make (yet), but it has been fun putting my woodworking knowledge into making guitars, so I want to keep doing it.

I have a beautiful set of Camphor laurel that I want to make a guitar top out of, but I don't want to hide it in any way with pickguards, knobs and switches...or even pickups, so I am going to build a solid body, under saddle piezo only guitar going out to an external preamp. The money I don't use for pickups, electronics, hardware, etc. I can put into the external preamp and anything else I need.

I have a Dinkycaster body coming and a neck with jade dots. We will see how it goes.
Click to expand...
There is something in the upper middle I have seen before, but I just cant put my finger on it..............
 
casper100 said:
Do you know if the Graphtec system can be wired to go directly to the output jack then be processed by an external preamp? The Fishman systems can do that easily. On all the diagrams for Ghost, each saddle has its own wire that typically gets plugged into their summation board, which I guess I could do.
Click to expand...
I asked about that when I installed my first ghost system. They do recommend that you use the preamp because the output for the saddles is pretty low. As far as I know all of the rear routed warmoth come with the control cavity even if no controls are ordered. You could install the preamp into the cavity, but leave the top blank.
 
supertruper1988 said:
I asked about that when I installed my first ghost system. They do recommend that you use the preamp because the output for the saddles is pretty low. As far as I know all of the rear routed warmoth come with the control cavity even if no controls are ordered. You could install the preamp into the cavity, but leave the top blank.
Click to expand...
It shouldn’t matter if the pre amp is internal or external, but yes, the rear route cavity has plenty of space and that’s an option. I emailed them to ask.
 
supertruper1988 said:
I asked about that when I installed my first ghost system. They do recommend that you use the preamp because the output for the saddles is pretty low. As far as I know all of the rear routed warmoth come with the control cavity even if no controls are ordered. You could install the preamp into the cavity, but leave the top blank.
Click to expand...
The basic add on preamp setup is less than $90 and will easily fit. I can always model the sound I want after that, so I will go with that. Thanks for the information and advice!
 
casper100 said:
It shouldn’t matter if the pre amp is internal or external, but yes, the rear route cavity has plenty of space and that’s an option. I emailed them to ask.
Click to expand...

Putting it internally will save you a lot of headache. There are 6 lots of connections coming from the bridge saddles and a summing component that then attaches to the hexpander or acoustiphonic and then in turn a connection ribbon cable from there to either a 13 pin output jack or to a stereo jack. Trying to take the signals outside the guitar without being summed and preamped in the guitar would just be a created problem that is not needed.

If you have a look at this manual which is from Graphtech, that they host on shopify, you can see a lot of set-ups and learn how the modular system options work.

 
stratamania said:
Putting it internally will save you a lot of headache. There are 6 lots of connections coming from the bridge saddles and a summing component that then attaches to the hexpander or acoustiphonic and then in turn a connection ribbon cable from there to either a 13 pin output jack or to a stereo jack. Trying to take the signals outside the guitar without being summed and preamped in the guitar would just be a created problem that is not needed.

If you have a look at this manual which is from Graphtech, that they host on shopify, you can see a lot of set-ups and learn how the modular system options work.

Click to expand...
Thanks. That’s what I figured after looking at it yesterday, so I bought the basic preamp setup. Thanks for the info on the setups.
 
I see you bought one already but some folks on talkbass recommend the Bartolini onboard Preamp AGMPBoo for the Graphtech piezos. It has a port the piezos directly plug into and its smaller overall. I've run the Acoustaphonic in a few guitars going back to when it was called F.A.A.S. Sounded great but their quest to be modular with all the add-on connectors takes up a lot of space. It always had poor battery life too and it wasn't a wiring issue or leaving the cord in. Just another option to consider for the future.
 
The
burst said:
I see you bought one already but some folks on talkbass recommend the Bartolini onboard Preamp AGMPBoo for the Graphtech piezos. It has a port the piezos directly plug into and its smaller overall. I've run the Acoustaphonic in a few guitars going back to when it was called F.A.A.S. Sounded great but their quest to be modular with all the add-on connectors takes up a lot of space. It always had poor battery life too and it wasn't a wiring issue or leaving the cord in. Just another option to consider for the future.
Click to expand...
I will take a look.
 
Although the Camphor Laurel wood is beautiful, it does have a few voids, cracks and defects, so after joining and sanding, I decided to do a clear epoxy flood coat. A full sheet pan from a restaurant supply store is 20.5 x 14.5 inches, perfect to flood coat a guitar top to fit any reasonable sized guitar body. with some epoxy tape and silicone spray, it popped right out straight and flat.
 

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casper100 said:
Although the Camphor Laurel wood is beautiful, it does have a few voids, cracks and defects, so after joining and sanding, I decided to do a clear epoxy flood count. A full sheet pan from a restaurant supply store is 20.5 x 14.5 inches, perfect to flood coat a guitar top to fit any reasonable sized guitar body. with some epoxy tape and silicone spray, it popped right out straight and flat.
Click to expand...
I may be the odd man out on this, but may I suggest calling this one "Mama I'm coming home"?
 
casper100 said:
Although the Camphor Laurel wood is beautiful, it does have a few voids, cracks and defects, so after joining and sanding, I decided to do a clear epoxy flood count. A full sheet pan from a restaurant supply store is 20.5 x 14.5 inches, perfect to flood coat a guitar top to fit any reasonable sized guitar body. with some epoxy tape and silicone spray, it popped right out straight and flat.
Click to expand...
Man, that is going to be a beautiful guitar !
 
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