Butchered an Orville LP Junior DC

[fretburner]

Finally got my ObG LP Junior DC back

I got it as a chunk of wood with its dogear pup replaced by a humbucker, and the route was done amateurishly.

Since it was already "butchered" by the previous owner, I decided to add a SC pup in there and replaced the tone knob with a mini-toggle.

Bridge pup is my fave Gibson bridge pup - the 500T while the neck pup is a DMZ Injector Bridge. The latter doesn't sound like any fender SC - it's rather warm and powerful, maybe even warmer than a P90. It does NOT quack at all haha! I love it though.

I never was into fender SCs -- too thin and bright. The only "true" SC I liked was the Duncan SSL-5, although I think I will also like the SSL-1.

Will be hunting for a Hot Stack (the one with a single rail). Neck pup is direct-mounted btw.

P.S. Got lazy with the polishing with my wireless drill and I already took too much of the finish (was already hitting the paint). I thought it's shiny enough even with the polish/swirl marks.

 

[switchman]

Tip of the cap for creative modding. Don't think I've ever seen an HS LP Junior.

Any issue with lower volume / dropouts with that neck pickup?

With a narrow angled bridge like that a typical Strat pickup will be noticeably wider than the string spacing near the end of the fretboard..

 

[jeremy]

those orvilles are nice guitars! looks like a fun ax to play

 

[Mincer]

What year would that have come out?

 

[d1dsj]

Very cool Gordon Smith make double cuts like that with a hum and a single. That looks great, enjoy.

 

[fretburner]

Tip of the cap for creative modding. Don't think I've ever seen an HS LP Junior.

Any issue with lower volume / dropouts with that neck pickup?

With a narrow angled bridge like that a typical Strat pickup will be noticeably wider than the string spacing near the end of the fretboard..

No issues with volume and drop outs.

The DMZ Injector bridge is F-spaced so the pole for the low E sticks out a bit, but no issues. Volume-wise, I had to lower the 500T match the volume toggling between bridge and neck. I use Gibson' factory pickup height for the neck and adjust the bridge so the neck volume is a little higher than the bridge for solos.

I was worried about the staggered pole pieces of the Injector though. But so far, it seems okay.

The 500T poles align perfectly with the strings.

 

[fretburner]

those orvilles are nice guitars! looks like a fun ax to play

My main guitar in my younger, gigging years was an ObG LPC in Olympic White. Quality is top notch ... As they say, Gibson Japan.

I shouldn't have been surprised, but the guitar is very resonant. Unplugged you can feel the entire guitar vibrating against your body.

I used solid brass bridge posts and graphtech nut. The lightning bolt bridge I got from Philly luthier supplies - supposed to be a MIA zinc bridge. I'm probably keeping it, though wondering if an aluminum bridge would be an upgrade? Again, it's already very resonant as it is.

 

[fretburner]

What year would that have come out?

Serial number indicates 1988.

My ObG LPC was a 1991.

 

[fretburner]

Very cool Gordon Smith make double cuts like that with a hum and a single. That looks great, enjoy.

I saw one put a Charlie Christian pup in the neck (albeit it was a SC), which is why I'm going to wait for a Duncan Hot Stack (with a single rail) to pop up in marketplace so I can try it.