Great tip for rewiring an ES-339

[Jumble Jumble]

DON'T

 

[Updown]

 

[greywolf]

I love mine just the way it is anyway!

 

[Pelagaard]

The only way I'd ever consider doing it would be with an EMG solderless setup.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

It's not really the soldering that's the problem, it's getting everything in the right place through a stupid little hole. I would happily have a completely flat back on the guitar if it meant I could just have a removable panel in the back for getting at all that stuff.

I got so fed up in the end that I did an imperfect job, so at some point I'll have to go back and do it again. It works, I'm just not totally happy that it will stay that way after a few bumps and stuff.

On the plus side, I put a pair of Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbuckers in there and they're absolutely bloody lovely.

 

[mayfly]

You know,  some of those old 60's gretsches from the 60's had a massive plastic back panel on them just for this.  They were typically covered by an upholstered pad held in place with snaps.

 

[thearmofbarlow]

Post of the year right here.  :laughing11:

I've never understood why the hell anyone makes any sort of archtop F-holey thing without access panels. It's just reeks of laziness and doing things for the sake of "tradition".

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I was wondering about getting an access panel put in, but when I looked at the back of the guitar, it's not flat. So it would be a moulded piece of plastic, quite difficult to mass produce I expect.

Fortunately with a 339 it all goes through the bridge pickup cavity rather than the f-holes, but it's still an absolute nightmare and like I say - its gotta be redone.

 

[thearmofbarlow]

I was wondering about getting an access panel put in, but when I looked at the back of the guitar, it's not flat. So it would be a moulded piece of plastic, quite difficult to mass produce I expect.

Fortunately with a 339 it all goes through the bridge pickup cavity rather than the f-holes, but it's still an absolute nightmare and like I say - its gotta be redone.

It's actually quite easy. You just use the wood you remove as your cavity cover. Glue ribbing around the edge and you're golden. It's a little time consuming though, which is why you'll never see Gibson do it.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Learn a trick from the master himself.
TV Jones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxr9E56qyjg&list=UUsdhMiQuq0Um9OiZ7iXNWRg&index=17

 

[pabloman]

I've done EMG's in a Dot and all new electronics in a C1 AE or whatever it's called. Effin lame.

 

[Johnny]

I've got an Epi Elitist 335.  It's probably my best playing guitar, but the pickups are a bit weak.  At some point, I will be replacing them but haven't decided with what yet.  So, I guess I won't be heeding your advice but thanks for the warning.  It sounds like I'll need to pick a time when I'm in the right frame of mind to take on a tedious project.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

... tedious project.

You guys are wrong!  :icon_biggrin:

Noodling around guitars and DIY'ing are always great times.

It's when is perfected and you got no other excuses to play the damn thing it get tedious.  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Cagey]

... tedious project.

You guys are wrong!  :icon_biggrin:

Noodling around guitars and DIY'ing are always great times.

It's when is perfected and you got no other excuses [but] to play the damn thing it get tedious.  :icon_jokercolor:

Very true. It's not tough to put together a nice instrument when you've got Warmoth carrying most of the water. But, playing it well is a whole 'nother can o' worms. That'll eat your life.

 

[Johnny]

... tedious project.

You guys are wrong!  :icon_biggrin:

Noodling around guitars and DIY'ing are always great times.

It's when is perfected and you got no other excuses [but] to play the damn thing it get tedious.  :icon_jokercolor:

Very true. It's not tough to put together a nice instrument when you've got Warmoth carrying most of the water. But, playing it well is a whole 'nother can o' worms. That'll eat your life.

Oh, I agree with the comment about noodling on guitars, but some projects can frustrate you if you don't have your head screwed on right when you tackle them.  The last thing I'd want to do is make some mistake I would regret later just because I got in a hurry or flustered.

My guitar projects came to a screeching halt a couple of months ago because of home improvement projects.  I've got another couple of weekends of work around the house before I can reload my workbench with my guitars.  I'm really anxious to get back to them.

As for "eating your life".  It already did that!!!  And, I'm still in no way satisfied with my playing!!!

 

[Re-Pete]

The BB King Lucille ES guitar has a back control panel. With all the switches & wiring it's a necessity!  ???

 

[Cagey]

As for "eating your life".  It already did that!!!  And, I'm still in no way satisfied with my playing!!!

In my experience, the better you get, the less satisfied you are. The more you know, the more you know you don't know. It makes owning a guitar/amp/sfx combo that will let you scream like a terrorized demon very important, so you can work out your frustrations <grin>

My guitar wants to kill your mama!​