Waffle Making

[richship]

Starting small. I really like the look of the Waffleback tuners (coincidence, I swear), but I'm trying to get all the plastic bits to be ivory, so the green buttons had to go. I found a place in Germany that makes grained ivory replacement tuner buttons (along with many other things - picked up a matching toggle switch tip) - http://www.crazyparts.de/

A Dremel cut-off wheel is a wonderful thing. The technique of heating the shaft didn't seem to do much with the new buttons, so I just pushed them most of the way on and finished with the help of some large slip joint pliers.

 

[richship]

Got some work done installing stuff. Putting in the brdge studs with a block of wood and a mini-sledgehammer was fun.

The pickups are angled slightly toward the neck to follow the string line. The box they came in had inserts made of dense foam in various thicknesses which was perfect for the install. The self-tapping screws went right into the mahogany with no drilling.

Putting in the strap buttons, I rememberd I had salvaged the parts from a 70's Tele copy and there were a couple of formerly white felt pads that had yellowed over time and look very nice with the ivory bits.

I think I've decided on where the controls go, but the long shaft pots won't be in for a few days, so no hurry.

 

[Nando Vallart]

wow! It looks so cool with these EMGs... if it sounds half as good as it looks, it's a serious killer axe!

 

[B3Guy]

I'd try to tone down the platinum white look of those pups myself . . . IDK how, tho.

P.S. Puhleeeze pics with the neck at least sitting in the neck pocket, I'm pretty sure it will look drop-dead gorgeous  :hello2:

 

[crash]

It looks like the pups match the binding.  Love that guitar.  I want to build a guitar with P90's, now I'm thinking a VIP.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[B3Guy]

is it white binding? looks more cream to me . . .

 

[richship]

The binding and pickups are ivory and look very cool with the gold. Getting the subtle shades to show in a photo is tricky.

 

[B3Guy]

I'll take your word for it.  :icon_thumright:

 

[hannaugh]

No tone or volume controls?  :icon_scratch:

 

[Mor Paul]

He's drilling himself.

 

[OzziePete]

What EMGs did you decide on?

 

[richship]

I ended up with a PFT and a PSA. Thay are their "warm" Tele rythym and Strat pickups with alnico magnets in a P90 housing. I saw them on an EMG price list and ended up ordering them from http://instrumentpro.com/ and I assume they special ordered them from EMG.

Based on the ouputs I'm going to try the PFT for the bridge and PSA for the neck. They are easy to switch around (the connector detaches at the pickup) so I can try the other way as well. I may end up getting a P60A for the bridge if I end up wanting a humbucker there.

Installed the tuners and put on the logo:

 

[mgaut051]

Been working too much - that registered as pulmonary function test and prostate specific antigen to me. Talk about brainwash. on the plus side - that's a sweet waffle.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Very ballsy choice with the pickups, and they're working!  This is a great looking build, and I'm so glad the Waffle build is so unique.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Liking it!!  :icon_thumright:

 

[rapfohl09]

Looking fantastic. There really is a sense of pride that comes with having helped fund this project. :icon_thumright:

What are the plans for the controls?

 

[richship]

Looking fantastic. There really is a sense of pride that comes with having helped fund this project. :icon_thumright:

And I feel some resposibility to do a good job!

What are the plans for the controls?

Two independent volumes and a tone. The first just below the bridge and the others curving down toward the output jack.

Pulling up the volume for the neck pickup will direct the signal to the ring of a TRS jack for stereo output. Pulling up the volume for the Bridge pickup will reverse the phase.

I found a jack at the local electronics store that will do stereo and has a DPDT switch controlled by whether a plug is inserted (for turning the power for the pickups on and off). It is square and a bit big, but i found that it will slide into a 7/8" side jack (barely).

 

[richship]

Drilled the pot holes tonight - had to be very careful with the finish. It came out well, but I'll try to avoid drilling large holes in expensive finishes in the future.  

Also got the jack plate installed. I think some more parts are due in tomorrow. And I ordered a strap for it today as well.

 

[DangerousR6]

Drilled the pot holes tonight - had to be very careful with the finish. It came out well, but I'll try to avoid drilling large holes in expensive finishes in the future.  

Also got the jack plate installed. I think some more parts are due in tomorrow. And I ordered a strap for it today as well.

I should have your neck plate done tomorrow rich.... :icon_thumright:

 

[richship]

I should have your neck plate done tomorrow rich.... :icon_thumright:

Cool!

I received the ivoroid sheets for the cover plates. Hopefully I get time to play with the router soon. I also got a package from EMG, but it seems they forgot to include most of the parts I bought.