Koa Limited Release

[ejphotos]

I was about to post another picture, but apparently it was too large a file even after resizing it significantly. Something change on the forum?

 

[ragamuffin]

I was about to post another picture, but apparently it was too large a file even after resizing it significantly. Something change on the forum?

Yeah, it seems photos have to be under 1MB file file size now

 

[supertruper1988]

You have to host images somewhere else like Imgur then post as a link.

 

[Ma77]

Are you installing the studs for the bridge yourself? Also you live on an island? Thats cool, what island?

Ya I have some hammers I can pound them In, I live on Oahu.

 

[TimesNewRoman]

I'm from Kailua

 

[ejphotos]

Everything is buttoned together. It's now at my luthier for a nut install.

Here are a couple pics.

 

[Rick]

That's interesting wiring, what does it do?

 

[ejphotos]

That's interesting wiring, what does it do?

Obsidian Wire solderless harness. This specific one has a coil split option that splits the coils.

 

[teleme01]

There's been lots of discussion about obsidian in a rear route, no problems? Or did you get one with long pots?

 

[ghostrider25]

Obsidian pots are short shaft which is tough to get in a rear routed body. Kinda looks like you sanded the top inside the cavity to be thinner there to make it work...?

I had an Obsidian harness that I had planned to use for a rear routed body and discovered that it was too short. I replaced the pots on the circuit board with longer ones. It worked fine, but always felt a bit iffy. I didn't want to be playing with the band and it suddenly fail so I ultimately replaced it with a 920D harness which also comes with short shafts but doesn't have a circuit board. They were easy to swap out.

Now the guitar is strong like bull!

 

[ghostrider25]

There's been lots of discussion about obsidian in a rear route, no problems? Or did you get one with long pots?

I've written to them before to ask if they would consider making a long shaft version and they said no.

 

[PFDarkside]

I've written to them before to ask if they would consider making a long shaft version and they said no.

GunStreet just announced solderless designs, you should ask them (and reference that Obsidian wouldn’t).

 

[ghostrider25]

GunStreet just announced solderless designs, you should ask them (and reference that Obsidian wouldn’t).

I think I’ll probably stick with 920D for two other reasons I didn’t mention… placement fit & repairability.

I’ve used Obsidian on a pickguard and it was spot on in terms of fit. I found that fitting a circuit board in a rear routed guitar to be a real challenge. The pots (aside from shaft height) seemed to fit OK, but the switch placement was a bit off and required straining the thing to fit in there. Not sure how GunStreet is, I’ve not heard of them. But, if you know how to solder, the 920D is all standard components so spacing is not an issue. Neither is replacing a bad component like a worn out pot or something.

 

[teleme01]

This guy made me a custom harness, very satisfied, did not ask for solderless https://www.starrguitarsystems.com/ also special thanks to @supertruper1988 who made a solderless custom harness for me, again very satisfied.

 

[ejphotos]

Yes I did have to shave a good amount of wood away to get the harness secured. Guess I threw my warranty out the window lol.

 

[BeachTurtle]

These bodies don't like common short shaft pots. I've had to shave material (wood) out of the back of the control cavity so I can get the pot threads all the way through enough where I can secure them with the nuts.

I can confirm that, I bought a set of short shaft and it did not work.. Will have to buy a set of long shaft pots for this koa build.

 

[PFDarkside]

I can confirm that, I bought a set of short shaft and it did not work.. Will have to buy a set of long shaft pots for this koa build.

Noted.

 

[TBurst Std]

Rule of thumb, short shafts for pickguards only. Otherwise long shafts.

 

[PFDarkside]

I think I need to make an order at “Don’t Tell The Wife Guitars”, they seem to be a big EMG dealer to at can maybe put together a package.

Thinking:
89/SA/SA
Long shaft push/pull (volume)
Long shaft PI2 (tone, phase invert for middle)
Long shaft SPC
5-Way

 

[Rick]

What pickups are you using?