Fat Pete
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...Obsessional insanity or something loftier? (Warning - long post.)
This probably isn't a proper work in progress thread as all the important work was done quite a while ago by Cagey - many thanks Kevin. In addition his bread and butter work - full assembly/wiring and his superb fret work - he also routed for the tremolo which Warmoth won't do on showcase bodies and something I wasn't looking forward to doing myself.
The authorities don't allow me to 'perform' in public very often but the guitar arrived just in time for me and my brother's annual antedote to Christmas cheer. The guitar performed ok which is not something I can say for myself. Fortunately I live 120 miles from the venue.
Anyway...
What have I been obsessing over? For me, there are three things wrong in this picture.
No, the Kahler isn't one of them! Can we just blame Adrian Belew and move on? Thanks.
I was aware of 2 of the issues while still at the planning stage
1, there's a big gap between the ring and the pickguard at the top and no gap at the side.
2, it's a showcase body that was originally routed for a standard Tele pickup and part of the rout is visible below the hb mounting ring.
3, Which I wasn't aware of until Cagey pointed it out during the build - the Alumitone pickup is noticeably smaller than a regular hb so there's a big gap between it and the ring.
It hasn't escaped my notice that almost nobody else would... notice. But it's my guitar and I guess I must like all this nitpicking - mustn't I?
So.
The router made quick work of 1. Looks much better to me.
To address 2 & 3, I had a custom ring cut from acryllic. I think it works ok; the shaping of the 'extension' is similar to the Kahler. Though I had a dim hope that it might look ok just painted (it is painted 'chrome' though you wouldn't know from this pic), this was always likely to be a prototype. If I get a proper one made and chrome plated, I'll have to get AutoBat make me a 'stupidest amount of money spent on a pickup ring ever' banner. Maybe I'll see sense and just use a taller standard ring which I think would make the gap less obvious - apart from when looking at it dead straight on.
More foolishness to follow shortly...
This probably isn't a proper work in progress thread as all the important work was done quite a while ago by Cagey - many thanks Kevin. In addition his bread and butter work - full assembly/wiring and his superb fret work - he also routed for the tremolo which Warmoth won't do on showcase bodies and something I wasn't looking forward to doing myself.
The authorities don't allow me to 'perform' in public very often but the guitar arrived just in time for me and my brother's annual antedote to Christmas cheer. The guitar performed ok which is not something I can say for myself. Fortunately I live 120 miles from the venue.
Anyway...
What have I been obsessing over? For me, there are three things wrong in this picture.
No, the Kahler isn't one of them! Can we just blame Adrian Belew and move on? Thanks.
I was aware of 2 of the issues while still at the planning stage
1, there's a big gap between the ring and the pickguard at the top and no gap at the side.
2, it's a showcase body that was originally routed for a standard Tele pickup and part of the rout is visible below the hb mounting ring.
3, Which I wasn't aware of until Cagey pointed it out during the build - the Alumitone pickup is noticeably smaller than a regular hb so there's a big gap between it and the ring.
It hasn't escaped my notice that almost nobody else would... notice. But it's my guitar and I guess I must like all this nitpicking - mustn't I?
So.
The router made quick work of 1. Looks much better to me.
To address 2 & 3, I had a custom ring cut from acryllic. I think it works ok; the shaping of the 'extension' is similar to the Kahler. Though I had a dim hope that it might look ok just painted (it is painted 'chrome' though you wouldn't know from this pic), this was always likely to be a prototype. If I get a proper one made and chrome plated, I'll have to get AutoBat make me a 'stupidest amount of money spent on a pickup ring ever' banner. Maybe I'll see sense and just use a taller standard ring which I think would make the gap less obvious - apart from when looking at it dead straight on.
More foolishness to follow shortly...
