dixonrich74
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first build. this should be interesting. already concerned about drilling screw holes for all the plates, tuners, mounting rings. any tips? thinking of putting two duncan phat cats in her.
The White Dixon Iceman
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metalman22105
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Tips on drilling:
Definitely measure twice or three times, and only drill once like Blackdog said!
Make sure you soap all of your screws (keeps the wood from cracking and keeps them snug)
when you drill the holes for the pickup rings, make sure that you put the neck on FIRST, and string up the 1st and 6th strings as guidelines for the pickups (to help line up the pickup rings) someone told me this a long time ago and it has helped with all my builds!
Definitely measure twice or three times, and only drill once like Blackdog said!
Make sure you soap all of your screws (keeps the wood from cracking and keeps them snug)
when you drill the holes for the pickup rings, make sure that you put the neck on FIRST, and string up the 1st and 6th strings as guidelines for the pickups (to help line up the pickup rings) someone told me this a long time ago and it has helped with all my builds!
dixonrich74
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ah yes. makes sense. i'll post more pics as i move along. thanks for the help.
dixonrich74
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any thoughts on the best location for strap buttons for this guitar? i've read that on the ibanez's it can be a little awkward.
Where in world are you located?
I've a pair of Catswhisker 'boutique' Phat Moggies (P90 in humbucker size) with chrome covers that are surplus to requirements. I'm in UK.
http://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/
I've a pair of Catswhisker 'boutique' Phat Moggies (P90 in humbucker size) with chrome covers that are surplus to requirements. I'm in UK.
http://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/
Nando Vallart
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Looking good, but MOOOOOORE PICS!
dixonrich74
Newbie
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i'll check out a dremel. i'm a musician, not a luthier, so excuse my dumb questions, but is it helpful to drill slightly shallower than the depth of the screw so that the screw itself does the work on the last few turns?
dixonrich74
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djf67 said:
i'm in NY. i already have one phat cat from a prior project, so i'm going to stick with those for now, but thanks.
dixonrich74
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my childhood obsession with star wars stormtroopers lives on through my guitar!Black Dog said:
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metalman22105
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The drill-bit diameter you use should be the same size as the diameter of the screw's core (the part without the threads) that way, the screw WITH the threads is slightly larger than the hole you drill, thus keeping it snug but not overly tight all the way down.
DangerousR6
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Sweet, icemans are so bitchin'....... :icon_thumright:
Another point about using the neck to measure: put two strings on the outside tuners, but also make sure the neck is seated fully against the bottom of the pocket. Most people, myself included, like the neck-mounting screwholes through the body to be large enough that the threads don't engage the body at all. When you're drilling for the tuners, it's easier to use a small ruler to line them up than to do it only by eye. I prefer (candle) wax to soap for lubricating the threads. The littlest screws for the tuners are there for alignment only, so they don't need to be structurally-strong. These guys love to strip their heads, especially if you're using an old beat-up phillips head #0 size screwdriver. I end up buying a new screwdriver every few years, even after sharpening the old one once or twice.
dixonrich74
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attached the neck. in the midst of painting the cavities with shielding paint. next is the drilling of holes. considering fralin p92s, HD z90s, or a vintage wound HB. any thoughts?
Super Turbo Deluxe Custom
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Depending on the type of tuners, the kind with the threaded bushing, you can get them hand tight. Then, take a sturdy straight edge and place against the under side of each tuner so they are flat against the straight edge and mark the hole with a pencil. Take the tuners off and see with a straight edge if all of the holes are aligned. If so, drill on. However, just because a hole is marked correctly doesn't mean it will be drilled correctly. Indenting the hole with a punch or awl may be advised. Most important, this isn't a race, and no awards are given for "fastest assembly." If you get all the parts on a Wednesday and you want to gig with it on Friday.....pause. Hopefully you'll have this build for years to come. It would be a shame ten years from now to have a poor assembly because there was a hurry to play it. Understand what you're doing before you do it, and if something doesn't feel right, take a step back and think about it. This forum is a great place for second opinions.
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