Black Korina/Wenge Les Paul

[nexrex]

Yeah, I have hammered in the studs myself before as well. This time I let Warmoth do it. I don't really have a drill press, and used a dead blow hammer last time. It came out just fine, but I was pretty much shit*ing myself the whole time.

 

[Alfang]

Forget the fralins, I've been using them and they are way over-hyped, try Kens PDX90's from roadhouse pickups

 

[Alfang]

Oh, and thats one of the most amazing pieces of Blk Korina I have laid eyes on, and i'm a huge fan of BK

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, I have hammered in the studs myself before as well. This time I let Warmoth do it. I don't really have a drill press, and used a dead blow hammer last time. It came out just fine, but I was pretty much shite*ing myself the whole time.

I have a pretty good-sized drill press, but I've never used it to put in bushings (or anything else that requires a press). Seems like it would put undue stress on the drill press that it's not designed to take. So, I always hammer 'em in. Only takes a few hits or so. If you'd rather press them in, arbor presses are surprisingly inexpensive (there's nothing to them) and are good for other things as well. For instance, this 1 ton unit...

...is only $47 through Amazon. It's got an 8" throat depth and a 4.5" range, which is more than you need for most guitars. Of course, the little rascals are heavy as hell, so shipping is killer. But, it's a one-time buy. You can't break them.

 

[bagman67]

Yeah, I have hammered in the studs myself before as well. This time I let Warmoth do it. I don't really have a drill press, and used a dead blow hammer last time. It came out just fine, but I was pretty much shitee*ing myself the whole time.

I have a pretty good-sized drill press, but I've never used it to put in bushings (or anything else that requires a press). Seems like it would put undue stress on the drill press that it's not designed to take. So, I always hammer 'em in. Only takes a few hits or so. If you'd rather press them in, arbor presses are surprisingly inexpensive (there's nothing to them) and are good for other things as well. For instance, this 1 ton unit...

...is only $47 through Amazon. It's got an 8" throat depth and a 4.5" range, which is more than you need for most guitars. Of course, the little rascals are heavy as hell, so shipping is killer. But, it's a one-time buy. You can't break them.

This half ton unit is available from Harbor Freight for $27.99 as well.  Not sure whether its throat is deep enough to accommodate a guitar body but if so... you're in bidness.

 

[Cagey]

10:1 that's the same unit at a better price. One of them may be mis-marked as to tonnage, but 1/2 ton is certainly more than enough force to press a 7/16" bushing into wooden body.

 

[Stew]

Hey Paul,

If you at all undecided on pickups you should really check out a fellow Aussie, Mick Brierley
http://www.brierleyguitarpickups.com.au/index.htm

They are meant to be pretty great (my humbuckers are soon to be ordered) and he'll do custom winds for the same prices as his standard pups  :icon_thumright:

He makes a signature set of Strat & Tele pickups for Brett 'Burger' Kingman (Melbourne session legend) who I used to work with a lot back in the day. Burger is some guitarist and if Mick's pickups are good enough for him then they must be pretty damn good!

 

[nexrex]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will make a note of these for my next build. Pickups are already ordered. I went with the Seymour Duncan Full Shred Neck and Distortion Bridge. I remember Orpheo,  talking about how great these work as a combo in an older post.  :toothy10:

 

[crash]

Love to hear your thoughts on how it sounds when you get it put together.  I have an all BK Les Paul body as well.  Haven't ordered a neck or pickups yet.

 

[swarfrat]

You probably have a Harbor Freight or Northern Tool within driving distance if shipping is too much.

 

[DangerousR6]

You probably have a Harbor Freight or Northern Tool within driving distance if shipping is too much.

Harbor Freight would be a better choice. Northern Tool sucks, at least it does around here, you practically have to order everything. They don't keep jack in stock... :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

I get a kick out of places like that. "I can order it for you!" Big deal. Should I be impressed? I can order it, too, and for less money. If I wanted to order it and wait for it to show up, I wouldn't be here.

I understand retailers have to tie up their money, pay shipping, taxes, building upkeep, extra employees, etc.. I'm sometimes willing to pay for all that if I'm wanting something RFN. But, if they don't keep things in stock, what good are they?

 

[OzziePete]

I get a kick out of places like that. "I can order it for you!" Big deal. Should I be impressed? I can order it, too, and for less money. If I wanted to order it and wait for it to show up, I wouldn't be here.

I understand retailers have to tie up their money, pay shipping, taxes, building upkeep, extra employees, etc.. I'm sometimes willing to pay for all that if I'm wanting something RFN. But, if they don't keep things in stock, what good are they?

The look on some retailers' faces (after they had told you they don't have it in stock but can order) when you reply that "it's OK if you don't have it here, I can find it on the net. But I really wanted it ASAP- that's why I came here" = priceless...When they realise you have similar access to the same stock as them. :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

Hehe! Yeah, it's one of the few polite kicks in the nuts you're allowed to deliver these days.

 

[swarfrat]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who doesn't like NT. Most forums HF gets bashed constantly, even though we all buy the stuff. To me, all of the Chinese junk tool importers are the same, so just pick over it carefully, don't buy stuff with motors from them unless you consider it expendable, and don't pay more than you have to. NT seems to think they're selling a breed above the rest. At least Grizzly does a good sales job, nice glossy catalog, and provides nice documentation on stuff. So they kind of warrant their markup at least for some items.

 

[Orpheo]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will make a note of these for my next build. Pickups are already ordered. I went with the Seymour Duncan Full Shred Neck and Distortion Bridge. I remember Orpheo,  talking about how great these work as a combo in an older post.   :toothy10:

I made a HYBRID with that set. thats quite different. and I used a regular fullshred, not the neck-version will sound awesome, though, the set you bought, but the hybrid will be even better, though the 'neck' version will make a fatter hybrid compared with the regular fullshred version, which will give it a bit more openness and airyness and brightness.

 

[nexrex]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will make a note of these for my next build. Pickups are already ordered. I went with the Seymour Duncan Full Shred Neck and Distortion Bridge. I remember Orpheo,  talking about how great these work as a combo in an older post.   :toothy10:

I made a HYBRID with that set. thats quite different. and I used a regular fullshred, not the neck-version will sound awesome, though, the set you bought, but the hybrid will be even better, though the 'neck' version will make a fatter hybrid compared with the regular fullshred version, which will give it a bit more openness and airyness and brightness.

Sounds great orpheo. That is exactly the tone I was going for . Thanks  :glasses10:

 

[anorakDan]

Hehe! Yeah, it's one of the few polite kicks in the nuts you're allowed to deliver these days.

Yes, but remember those polite nut shots are generally to poor retail employees who have no control or even input into stocking a store.

And the manager of the store has to make his or her best guesses on what you might have a need for in the future. If you're the only one in a five county area that needs a specific widget, once, where is the financial incentive for him to carry an inventory of that widget?

 

[Cagey]

That's true, but inadequate communications and/or planning on their part does not create an obligation on my part. What it does create is a serious business problem for them, which may result in their eventual dissolution. It's happening all over the place, and I'm not at all happy about the loss of local suppliers, but reality is what it is. What am I supposed to do, suffer when simple solutions to my own problems are readily available?

I don't mean to be heartless, but that's just not going to happen. Adapt or die. It has always been thus.

 

[Alfang]

I think Guitar center for example loads their shelves and walls full of stuff they know won't sell, but it's an impressive eye catcher