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Old friend from Miami
So, back in '85 I put together a nice axe for a good friend and client when I was still doing service for a big music store in Wichita. Used a Warmoth body, a Performance neck, a pair of Duncan Distortions, and the obvious Kahler trem. He used it playing live and on recordings before moving to Miami for a better job (with Univision?).
Anyway - he needed it squared away and contacted me about working on it. Of course, I said yes. He shipped it to me a month ago, needed a fret level and action set, clean up the Kahler, touch up the dings and chips, and make the neck smooth and satiny once again. Someone else installed the EMG HSS setup years ago - wasn't me. Anyway - it's back together and playing silky smooth again. Will box it up soon and entrust it to the tender mercies of UPS.
Originally it had a 3 way Gibson style pickup selector, but a 5 way Strat switch was installed at the same time as the EMG's. The switch plate was rectangular and superglued to the body. Double sided tape held the switch to the plate because the slot was too large, and the switch was just floating. I managed to pull off the plate to round off the ends, and bevel them a bit for a nicer look. Added the correct screws to hold in the switch, and secure the plate to the body. Much better now!
There was no relief in the body to adjust the truss rod, someone had gouged a hole there that looked nasty. I used a Dremel to enlarge it and smooth it all out, then applied a super glue finish and buffed it out to protect the maple and match the original lacquer finish I had sprayed so long ago.
Somewhere in a box I have pictures of Pablo holding this when new. I'll have to dig them out and scan them.
Anyway - he needed it squared away and contacted me about working on it. Of course, I said yes. He shipped it to me a month ago, needed a fret level and action set, clean up the Kahler, touch up the dings and chips, and make the neck smooth and satiny once again. Someone else installed the EMG HSS setup years ago - wasn't me. Anyway - it's back together and playing silky smooth again. Will box it up soon and entrust it to the tender mercies of UPS.
Originally it had a 3 way Gibson style pickup selector, but a 5 way Strat switch was installed at the same time as the EMG's. The switch plate was rectangular and superglued to the body. Double sided tape held the switch to the plate because the slot was too large, and the switch was just floating. I managed to pull off the plate to round off the ends, and bevel them a bit for a nicer look. Added the correct screws to hold in the switch, and secure the plate to the body. Much better now!
There was no relief in the body to adjust the truss rod, someone had gouged a hole there that looked nasty. I used a Dremel to enlarge it and smooth it all out, then applied a super glue finish and buffed it out to protect the maple and match the original lacquer finish I had sprayed so long ago.
Somewhere in a box I have pictures of Pablo holding this when new. I'll have to dig them out and scan them.
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