Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

[That90'sGuy]

I've been fighting with my Dean Chafin Del Sol lately. I wanted to put in Dimarzio Virtual PAFs in it, but I was afraid to because it's top routed (I always hear about guitar techs moaning about replacing archtop hardware).

The other day, I got enough balls to strip the pups from my Epiphone and solder them to their respective parts on my Dean (taking out the pots etc.). Top routed stuff sucks, plain and simple. It would be impossible to get the far most hole my tone pot... or so I thought.

I did some brainstorming (I do my best thinking at 2am ). I got out some wire, took one end and put it through the hole to the other side. I took that side and securely fastened the pot to it. The other end I held firmly in place and when the other end was secure, I pulled on it to get the pot to the other side.

This may be common sense to some people, but for me it took me a couple hours of failure to come up with this solution. Worked flawlessly and I can now finally get the hardware all straightened out in my axe. I was smart enough to try out how the pups sound in that semi-hollowbody before I made any moves. After this much work, the last thing I would want is to find that something doesn't work or doesn't sound good and have to tear it out all over again.

To the guitar techs that deal with this every day, I applaud you. Top routed things suck and I can't imagine a back route for an archtop would kill much tone.

[butnut]

Re: Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

Congrats on figuring out a way to do that. Sometimes ya just gotta think and do. The challenges and rewards of doing your own mods, repair or troubleshooting is all part of the hands on stuff I love to do...but I do know when somethings gotta go to a pro. My son's 335 copy badly needs new pots and eventually a pair of Phat Cats...I look forward to the challenge!

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

It's really fun when the wires have been space cut and loop during installation .
Added tip-when putting in the output jack I always slid a thin piece of doweling in and let gravity do the work.
semi-hollows are just a part of a tech's day,that's why Jack Daniels stock is doing so well

Hey JohnJohn -

I'm slow this morning and don't get how to use the dowel. Do you put it in the jack itself?

Thanks for your help - I need to swap out the tone pots on my Heritage 535, make the neck tone "no load", and add treble bleeds.

Chip

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

I've only done it once, but I remember tying string to all the pot shafts and the input jack. Then, as I dragged the parts through the body, I had a way to drag them back into place. I used tweezers or needlenose pliers to grab them, and pull them back into position. It sure beats paying a tech over $100 to do a pickup change!

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

Haha... I used tweezers and needlenose pliers to grab them as well

Pain is the arse, but it's rewarding when you're done

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

Slide the dowel,(about 1/8"),through the output jack hole up to an f-hole.Slide the output jack into place and onto the dowel,turn the guitar up and down comes the jack.You'll need to guide it in,but with the dowel it won't slide off,damage the surrounding finish and at 1/8" it'll slide right out without pressing into the jack's contact.
Are you gonna take any pic's?Would be a great tutorial,and an even better excuse to see a Heritage

Thanks a bunch, JohnJohn. That makes perfect sense.

Yeah, I'll take some pics when I get to the electronics. Might try to post some this weekend anyway.

Chip

[tone4days]

Re: Tip for getting hardware in place on an archtop

i used dental floss when i hot rodded my ibanez am-50 ... worked fine .. took a long time and taught me patience .. i needed to 'walk away' for a while after each component .. took me all weekend, but i had my sanity and never got so burnt out that i forgot my lessons learned ... the last piece took about 1/4 the time of the first .. practice makes perfect :-)

good luck
cheers,
t4d