How to Order/Setup A Guitar for a single Humbucker?

[AGWAN]

So, being as I'm not that good a guitarist. and what I like tends to be Buried in effects. I'm thinking about going the way of the ONE Pickup. (one REALLY GOOD... Pickup)

I've already learned the bridge pickup is the one you keep.

but what I haven't figured out is...
when I Order the guitar (Iceman), will I have any use for the second volume Knob and toggle holes?
is there something useful to stick in those holes?
Will those holes cost a lot to add at a later date? If a second humbucker is put in?

And lastly, is this even a good Idea to start with?

 

[jackthehack]

Sure, there are any number of single bridge PU Warmoth builds in the Gallery.

Looking at the Showcase, if you want a single PU routed Iceman body, you'll need to custom order and you can then specify whatever control holes you want drilled.

It's very simple to add control holes later, you just need access to a power drill and appropriate sized bit. Routing for a second PU later is less trivial and you would need templates/a router/a bit more experience than it sounds like you have, but you could get a luthier/repair shop to do the route for you later, that would be cheaper than buying the templates and router.

Then again, once you get started on Warmoths, you'll wind up just building another Warmoth anyway, so don't worry about it....

 

[AGWAN]

yeah, My Luthier charges 40 bucks for the route. so yay!

Drilling for that Toggle is the biggest scare for me. especially in how it relates to the finish.

as for the Knobs. I figure if I Omit the Tone Knob hole. I'll just stick the tone control in the Volume 2 slot?

 

[Mor Paul]

Then again, once you get started on Warmoths, you'll wind up just building another Warmoth anyway, so don't worry about it....

How many do you have again?

 

[jackthehack]

"as for the Knobs. I figure if I Omit the Tone Knob hole. I'll just stick the tone control in the Volume 2 slot?"


You'll have to ream the existing hole if you want to do that; volume/tone pot holes are 3/8"; 3 way toggle switches are 1/2".

 

[AGWAN]

Stink.

my kingdom for an eighth of an inch....

maybe I do that... and just have a weird Knob set up if I add the humbucker later...

EDIT

wait... no!

I would have to ream for the TOGGLE. I don't need that Toggle for a single Pickup right? one tone one volume... right? same diameter holes?

 

[Patrick]

yeah all the "volume" means is thats where the volume 2 knob is on an original Iceman. its the same size

 

[Dan025]

Stink.

my kingdom for an eighth of an inch....

maybe I do that... and just have a weird Knob set up if I add the humbucker later...

EDIT

wait... no!

I would have to ream for the TOGGLE. I don't need that Toggle for a single Pickup right? one tone one volume... right? same diameter holes?

i think jack mis read, pots are pots, they'll fit in holes for other pots. so yeah what you said. oh and you can use a toggle for other things with one pickup, with a gibson style switch you can say maybe have a split/series/kill switch. or do something funky with the tone controls, or add a "black ice" gizmo from stew mac, it's a diode pair and gives a "passive overdrive" it clips the signal like a distortion, kills the output a bit though.

if you can find another style switch with the same diameter the options are pretty great, split/series/parallel, in phase/out of phase, north coil/series/south coil, ect......

if a rotary switch fits in there you can really go nuts.

 

[AGWAN]

SWEET BABY JESUS! :headbang:

Thanks to this site and Warmoth.com, I just learned Concentric Pots exist!

I can not help but drool at just how clean a one knob, one pickup, Gotoh 510 bridged iceman would look...

*Drools*

 

[bigguspickus]

Or you can put in a Fender S1. That's a pot with a switch built in! With its special Tele knob, it's less conspicuous than a push/pull pot (in my opinion.)

 

[AGWAN]

... I could, but since the Purpose of the concentric Pot is to put my Volume and Tone Knobs on a single shaft...

that switch really... doesn't help.

 

[nexrex]

sounds like a plan. You say you might route it later and add the extra controls. It won't be an easy job as you will be missing the trenches/channels for wiring. My logic would be to route both, even if you just plonk a cheap bridge PUP in.

 

[Finch]

I agree with JacktheHack, its not like its the LAST guitar you'll ever build, so if you want something as specific as one bridge pickup and concentric volume/tone, go for it! Afer you've had time to learn more and play around a bit you can start looking at what your NEXT GUITAR will look like  :glasses9: arty07: :guitarplayer2:

 

[AGWAN]

sounds like a plan. You say you might route it later and add the extra controls. It won't be an easy job as you will be missing the trenches/channels for wiring. My logic would be to route both, even if you just plonk a cheap bridge PUP in.

yeah, half the reason for a single route is it looks like a single route. my luthier doesn't charge that much to do a second pickup. and the rear route for the knobs is the same. there would just only be a single hole drilled out.

I agree with JacktheHack, its not like its the LAST guitar you'll ever build, so if you want something as specific as one bridge pickup and concentric volume/tone, go for it! Afer you've had time to learn more and play around a bit you can start looking at what your NEXT GUITAR will look like  :glasses9: arty07: :guitarplayer2:

EXACTLY!

 

[JaySwear]

as much as i'm usually just on the bridge pickup (probably 90% of the time) i still don't think i could build a single pickup guitar. but having said that, i'm really excited to see this one! a one humbucker iceman sounds awesome... what color? i'm picturing white, but i'm not sure why :icon_biggrin: i think there was another white iceman on the boards somewhere. looked very cool

 

[AGWAN]

Not entirely sure on the color, but I have been thinking out loud in this thread!

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=8582.0

LOL, i like the idea of the icecaster. because I could do it with an actual Tele (had cheap) and a warmoth body. and then upgrade later.

I'm still planning. though... My build could still change dramatically!

 

[Rouse]

http://www.vintageguitar.com/features/gear/details.asp?AID=3280

Just in case you haven't decided on a pickup yet...