New Guitar day! (You may recognize this builder)

[crash]

Bought this last weekend.  Couldn't resist.  If anybody here visits Ultimate Guitar forums, you may recognize that this is from the user "Explorerbuilder".  He has been building Ken Lawrence Explorer clones for a couple years now.  He sells them on ebay.  I picked this one up for $600.  There is a small blemish on the upper part of the guitar. 

Got some EMG Hetfield pickups waiting for it.

These are some pictures from the ebay auction.  His pictures are better than any that I could take.

Figured Makore top over Mahogany

Matching figured Makore on the headstock

Chechen fingerboard over Mahogany

Neck joint

Here is the little blemish.  I'm probably going to do worse than that the first time I play it.

I am amazed at how light this thing is.  I was expecting this to be a beast.  As it is right now, it is just under 7 pounds.  That reminds me, I need to place an order with Warmoth for some hardware.

 

[JCizzle]

That is sweet. I didn't know EMG made pickups with the pole pieces like that now. 

 

[keeper006]

600? Fo sho.  :rock-on:

 

[Cagey]

Well, it's not a style I'd choose, but it certainly seems like a well-done piece of work. That ought to finish up real nice.

 

[AutoBat]

That is sweet. I didn't know EMG made pickups with the pole pieces like that now. 

It's unique to the James Hetfield signature pups. They also come in any colour you want, so long as it's metallic black.

 

[DangerousR6]

That is sweet. I didn't know EMG made pickups with the pole pieces like that now. 

It's unique to the James Hetfield signature pups. They also come in any colour you want, so long as it's metallic black.

Kinda like the GMC Syclone of the 90's, you could get it in any color you like, as long as the color you like was black.. :laughing11:

 

[crash]

Any tips on installing the bridge studs for someone who doesn't have access to a hydraulic press?

Sorry Doug, no neck plate needed for this one.

Total finished price will be under $1000.  Money left for beer!

 

[Cagey]

Any tips on installing the bridge studs for someone who doesn't have access to a hydraulic press?

I use a drill press. Bridge studs don't require the amount of force a hydraulic press brings to the party.

If you don't have a drill press, you can hammer 'em in, but it's a good idea to make a guide of some sort. Get a piece of wood that's thinner than the height of the mounting bushing, drill a hole in it that's slightly larger than the bushing, and use that to hold the bushing in place to get it started. Once it's in a ways, you can remove the guide and whack the bushing alone. It's a good idea to tape some corrugated board around the hole to protect the finish from being scratched, or in case you miss with the hammer.

 

[keeper006]

Any tips on installing the bridge studs for someone who doesn't have access to a hydraulic press?

Sorry Doug, no neck plate needed for this one.

Total finished price will be under $1000.  Money left for beer!

A block of hard wood and a hammer. Cagey gave all the details.

 

[crash]

Thanks for the replies.  Maybe I'll get out the ole big rubber mallet.

 

[Cagey]

It's unlikely a rubber mallet will work. If you must go the hammer route, you'll need something like a carpenter's or framing hammer.

 

[keeper006]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxf9ywgcGvg&list=PLCFFFE00B2A6E502B&index=6&feature=plpp_video

 

[DangerousR6]

Any tips on installing the bridge studs for someone who doesn't have access to a hydraulic press?

Sorry Doug, no neck plate needed for this one.

Total finished price will be under $1000.  Money left for beer!

:doh:

 

[crash]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxf9ywgcGvg&list=PLCFFFE00B2A6E502B&index=6&feature=plpp_video

Thanks for the video link!  My next question was going to be about grounding the bridge.

 

[keeper006]

No problem. The more you know...  :icon_thumright:

 

[Dan025]

That is sweet. I didn't know EMG made pickups with the pole pieces like that now. 

It's unique to the James Hetfield signature pups. They also come in any colour you want, so long as it's metallic black.

Kinda like the GMC Syclone of the 90's, you could get it in any color you like, as long as the color you like was black.. :laughing11:

i actually think henry ford started that saying with the model a. it was a production thing. you could make more of something if you didn't have options. they just sprayed the car and moved on to the next, same paint, same sprayer.


by the way that's an amazing guitar! congrats on the awesome deal. $600 is a steal!

 

[Ace Flibble]

Thanks for the video link!  My next question was going to be about grounding the bridge.

You don't. You're using EMG pickups, which do not require the bridge to be grounded. In fact, grounding the bridge on a guitar with EMG pickups can add noise and create a shock hazard.

 

[AutoBat]

^^True story.  If they'd include a solderless pup selector switch I wouldn't've needed to get the iron out.

 

[crash]

Thanks Ace!  I almost went out and bought a long 1/16" drill bit just for that :doh:

According to the UPS tracking number, all my hardware is showing up on Monday.  Was hoping for tomorrow  :sad:

 

[Cagey]

If you're going to buy an aircraft bit to make ground wire access routes, get something bigger than 1/16". You'll snap that thing immediately, if not sooner. Go at least 1/8", if not 3/16". Nobody's ever gonna see the hole - don't make your life difficult.