This is way overdue!
I won the "Body of Mystery" contest that was held in June of 2015. The body and Gotoh 510 bridge arrived on August 11, 2015...and there was much rejoicing!
The Warhead boatneck, roasted maple, Indian rosewood fingerboard, no inlay, Earvana nut, 6100 fret neck was ordered December 14, 2015. So, in January, I felt like I should get off my ass and at least get the pickup cavities painted with conductive shielding paint (mainly to make them black). So on January 23, 2016 I began:
First I masked the pickup cavities:
Then, I applied my first coat of conductive shielding paint:
On January 24, 2016, I applied a second coat of conductive shielding paint:
The Warhead neck with Quilted Maple headstock veneer finished in Purple Dye and Seymour Duncan '59 neck pickup arrived on February 2, 2016. I originally bought Schaller M-6 mini machine heads to put on the neck but realized I might need a string tree. I didn't want to put anything on the headstock that would take away from the quilted maple so I ordered some HipShot staggered tuners; they arrived March 6, 2016 and I installed them March 12, 2016.
First, I lined them up:
Then I drilled pilot holes for each set screw and installed the tuners. Sadly, I stripped the 1st string tuner set screw:
But, they look awesome!
I want to use the FU-Tone.com PMS Pickup Mounting System for the humbuckers. I would have had the body routed for direct-mount humbuckers but since the contest was for any in-stock VIP body, the one I picked was already routed for ring mounted humbuckers. However, both of the Seymour Duncan pickups I planned to install (an old SH-11 Custom Custom and the new SH-1n '59) had long legged base plates and the PMS would need short legs on the base plate to work in this guitar. Fortunately, for a minimal charge, Seymour Duncan will replace the base plates and even re-pot the pickups! On March 5, 2016 I shipped my pickups to Seymour Duncan's Custom Shop and got them back on March 29, 2016.
April 23, 2016 I finally installed the PMS. First the bridge:
Then the neck PMS:
So, it was time for the Bridge Pickup to be mounted:
The neck pickup was a bear to mount because of stringing the cable through the body, but I finally got it:
I then installed the CTS pots and Switchcraft switch after sanding the finish off of the mounting holes so they would fit. I used a dowel rod with sandpaper taped around it and gently twisted it in each hole until the components fit (Thanks, Verne Bunsen, pabloman, and Mayfly):
I lined everything up in preparation of wiring:
Then I put the knobs on:
On April 24, 2016, I wired it up using some cloth braided push-back wire and other random wires I had laying around. Not the cleanest wiring job in the world, but it works:
Since it all worked, I screwed in the Electrosocket:
All that remains is Strap Buttons and installing the neck. Doug (DangerousR6) made a killer neck plate for me and he's doing a special control plate cover too! When they arrive, it will be time to assemble and set up. Expect a few more updates on this thread then look for the completed project in the VIP section.
:headbang1:
I won the "Body of Mystery" contest that was held in June of 2015. The body and Gotoh 510 bridge arrived on August 11, 2015...and there was much rejoicing!
The Warhead boatneck, roasted maple, Indian rosewood fingerboard, no inlay, Earvana nut, 6100 fret neck was ordered December 14, 2015. So, in January, I felt like I should get off my ass and at least get the pickup cavities painted with conductive shielding paint (mainly to make them black). So on January 23, 2016 I began:
First I masked the pickup cavities:
Then, I applied my first coat of conductive shielding paint:
On January 24, 2016, I applied a second coat of conductive shielding paint:
The Warhead neck with Quilted Maple headstock veneer finished in Purple Dye and Seymour Duncan '59 neck pickup arrived on February 2, 2016. I originally bought Schaller M-6 mini machine heads to put on the neck but realized I might need a string tree. I didn't want to put anything on the headstock that would take away from the quilted maple so I ordered some HipShot staggered tuners; they arrived March 6, 2016 and I installed them March 12, 2016.
First, I lined them up:
Then I drilled pilot holes for each set screw and installed the tuners. Sadly, I stripped the 1st string tuner set screw:
But, they look awesome!
I want to use the FU-Tone.com PMS Pickup Mounting System for the humbuckers. I would have had the body routed for direct-mount humbuckers but since the contest was for any in-stock VIP body, the one I picked was already routed for ring mounted humbuckers. However, both of the Seymour Duncan pickups I planned to install (an old SH-11 Custom Custom and the new SH-1n '59) had long legged base plates and the PMS would need short legs on the base plate to work in this guitar. Fortunately, for a minimal charge, Seymour Duncan will replace the base plates and even re-pot the pickups! On March 5, 2016 I shipped my pickups to Seymour Duncan's Custom Shop and got them back on March 29, 2016.
April 23, 2016 I finally installed the PMS. First the bridge:
Then the neck PMS:
So, it was time for the Bridge Pickup to be mounted:
The neck pickup was a bear to mount because of stringing the cable through the body, but I finally got it:
I then installed the CTS pots and Switchcraft switch after sanding the finish off of the mounting holes so they would fit. I used a dowel rod with sandpaper taped around it and gently twisted it in each hole until the components fit (Thanks, Verne Bunsen, pabloman, and Mayfly):
I lined everything up in preparation of wiring:
Then I put the knobs on:
On April 24, 2016, I wired it up using some cloth braided push-back wire and other random wires I had laying around. Not the cleanest wiring job in the world, but it works:
Since it all worked, I screwed in the Electrosocket:
All that remains is Strap Buttons and installing the neck. Doug (DangerousR6) made a killer neck plate for me and he's doing a special control plate cover too! When they arrive, it will be time to assemble and set up. Expect a few more updates on this thread then look for the completed project in the VIP section.
:headbang1:
arty07:
