Incoming: NVD
- Thread starter ItsaBass
- Start date
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Incoming: NVD
I've been getting used to the guitar for a couple of days.
The pickups are better than I initially thought. Still a little too thick (overwound) for me, but I can tell they're actually pretty decent quality. I might swap their positions and see what it's like (for a thinner/brighter bridge pickup and juicier neck pickup).
The fret work is also better than I thought at first. A couple days of playing knocked some of the crap off. The end bevels are actually halfway decent for an Epi. Still will be going to skinny frets, though. Will give me an opportunity to add some more radius to the board and replace the fretboard dots with period-correct ones while I'm at it. The savings I got off of regular sticker price will pay for a re-fret.
The nut is bad, and so are the tuners. Intonation is abysmal. I will be fixing this myself at the next string change.
I am learning not to care about the slight cheesiness of the hard case hardware and tolex. It looks OK from a distance, and it just needs to be able to get the thing from point A to point B with some semblance of style.
Hard not to think about the Custom Shop Amos set for this guitar! If only the stock ones weren't so decent already. Also considering PAF Masters or PAF '59s (or some combination of the two) instead of Seths.
I've been getting used to the guitar for a couple of days.
The pickups are better than I initially thought. Still a little too thick (overwound) for me, but I can tell they're actually pretty decent quality. I might swap their positions and see what it's like (for a thinner/brighter bridge pickup and juicier neck pickup).
The fret work is also better than I thought at first. A couple days of playing knocked some of the crap off. The end bevels are actually halfway decent for an Epi. Still will be going to skinny frets, though. Will give me an opportunity to add some more radius to the board and replace the fretboard dots with period-correct ones while I'm at it. The savings I got off of regular sticker price will pay for a re-fret.
The nut is bad, and so are the tuners. Intonation is abysmal. I will be fixing this myself at the next string change.
I am learning not to care about the slight cheesiness of the hard case hardware and tolex. It looks OK from a distance, and it just needs to be able to get the thing from point A to point B with some semblance of style.
Hard not to think about the Custom Shop Amos set for this guitar! If only the stock ones weren't so decent already. Also considering PAF Masters or PAF '59s (or some combination of the two) instead of Seths.
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blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: Incoming: NVD
PG is going to do the Explorer & V full time again. I know everyone was dying for that update
PG is going to do the Explorer & V full time again. I know everyone was dying for that update
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Incoming: NVD
That's cool. They must've gotten some sort of licensing agreement or something. I'm itching to do another kit from them but looking at the LP Junior this time. I play my SG Junior that I did in 2011 all the time. Recently replaced the bridge though for one with individual saddles.
That's cool. They must've gotten some sort of licensing agreement or something. I'm itching to do another kit from them but looking at the LP Junior this time. I play my SG Junior that I did in 2011 all the time. Recently replaced the bridge though for one with individual saddles.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Incoming: NVD
I have considered, and inquired about, those kits a few times, but he doesn't offer an alternate fretboard or frets. If I'm going to do a build from that stage up, I want to be able to specify a curvier board and skinny frets, and also work with someone who is more open to doing work outside of the boxes they have established. A Gibson style guitar with old-school Fender radius and frets is a dream of mine, but it's hard to find a way there outside of a complete scratch build.
I have considered, and inquired about, those kits a few times, but he doesn't offer an alternate fretboard or frets. If I'm going to do a build from that stage up, I want to be able to specify a curvier board and skinny frets, and also work with someone who is more open to doing work outside of the boxes they have established. A Gibson style guitar with old-school Fender radius and frets is a dream of mine, but it's hard to find a way there outside of a complete scratch build.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Incoming: NVD
Well, the final word: I kept the thing. I mentioned some of the issues to my Sweetwater salesman, and we agreed that I would keep the guitar if he refunded enough money to get a new nut put in by my tech. And I am growing to like the pickups now that I've got them going through my better amps at real volumes; I might be able to avoid a pickup swap with a little tweaking. I really think that swapping their positions, while it might seem counterintuitive, might have some promise. I find the bridge one a little too thick, and the neck one a little too stiff. And the way these are wound, the neck pickup should have plenty enough juice in it to be able to serve as a bridge pickup. Either that, or maybe I'll try them in parallel. Or do the swap, but just run the neck (formerly bridge) pickup in parallel. Maybe do a little dewaxing and some mag swapping along the way. But in regards to the pickups, I think "the bones" are good enough to work with, at least for now.
Well, the final word: I kept the thing. I mentioned some of the issues to my Sweetwater salesman, and we agreed that I would keep the guitar if he refunded enough money to get a new nut put in by my tech. And I am growing to like the pickups now that I've got them going through my better amps at real volumes; I might be able to avoid a pickup swap with a little tweaking. I really think that swapping their positions, while it might seem counterintuitive, might have some promise. I find the bridge one a little too thick, and the neck one a little too stiff. And the way these are wound, the neck pickup should have plenty enough juice in it to be able to serve as a bridge pickup. Either that, or maybe I'll try them in parallel. Or do the swap, but just run the neck (formerly bridge) pickup in parallel. Maybe do a little dewaxing and some mag swapping along the way. But in regards to the pickups, I think "the bones" are good enough to work with, at least for now.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Incoming: NVD
Yes indeed. Proper '50s V parts (brass tailpiece, sunken ferrules, etc.) from that German supplier. All the hardware, guards, plates, ferrules, etc. off of this one will get sold off to someone who wants to make their '58 into an Amos. I might let the case go too, as I am starting not to dig it's shape when it comes to transport.
Yes indeed. Proper '50s V parts (brass tailpiece, sunken ferrules, etc.) from that German supplier. All the hardware, guards, plates, ferrules, etc. off of this one will get sold off to someone who wants to make their '58 into an Amos. I might let the case go too, as I am starting not to dig it's shape when it comes to transport.
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Incoming: NVD
I find de-waxing and a magnet swap fixes a lot of the Epi pickup woes
I find de-waxing and a magnet swap fixes a lot of the Epi pickup woes
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: Incoming: NVD
looks like PG just included custom orders for V's and explorers again.
You can pick your fret size & fretboard and just about everything else except neck profile which is wonky
https://precisionguitarkits.com/product/v-type-custom
looks like PG just included custom orders for V's and explorers again.
You can pick your fret size & fretboard and just about everything else except neck profile which is wonky
https://precisionguitarkits.com/product/v-type-custom
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Incoming: NVD
You cannot pick your radius, and they don't have 6230 (skinny) frets as an option.
I've been over this multiple times with him. He's not interested in accommodating anything outside of his CNC programs, or outside of materials that he already stocks. I'd have to get slots only (no frets) and have someone else radius and fret the board.
You cannot pick your radius, and they don't have 6230 (skinny) frets as an option.
I've been over this multiple times with him. He's not interested in accommodating anything outside of his CNC programs, or outside of materials that he already stocks. I'd have to get slots only (no frets) and have someone else radius and fret the board.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Incoming: NVD
Man, I'd be happy with that the way it is. Glad he is offering this again.
Now, V or LP Jr DC? I've been pretty set on doing a LP Jr DC in Army Drab Green.
Man, I'd be happy with that the way it is. Glad he is offering this again.
Now, V or LP Jr DC? I've been pretty set on doing a LP Jr DC in Army Drab Green.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Incoming: NVD
Yup. I dewaxxed a few some years ago and there was a TON of wax. Once I got the outside wax gone, it opened the pickup right up, like taking a blanket off a speaker cabinet.
Looking forward to seeing how this all turns out.
Yup. I dewaxxed a few some years ago and there was a TON of wax. Once I got the outside wax gone, it opened the pickup right up, like taking a blanket off a speaker cabinet.
Looking forward to seeing how this all turns out.
ItsaBass
New member
Well, update. I am kind of stuck on this project for now, while I think for a bit. I see these selling for over $1,000 on Reverb. They became somewhat of an instant collectible, I guess. I paid $700 total for mine, including tax and delivery. If I can sell for $1,200 or more, I can make a cool $500 profit, and buy a P.G.K. V and Explorer, and build them to match.
Artie
Peaveyologist
I just noticed this. So, you said . . . "Can I have it for less?" And they said "yes?" Sweet.
Nice project, btw.
ItsaBass
New member
Yes. Most stores have some wiggle room below sticker price. It never hurts to ask.
ItsaBass
New member
Well, it's decided. This guitar will be moving along to a dealer in a straight-across trade for a new American Performer Telecaster Humbucker. The jump in value of the V puts its median market value at $1,300, according to the dealer. Pretty crazy, as they were retailing for $900 up till a few months ago. The Tele retails for $1,150, and the absolute best price I've been able to haggle for it anywhere has been $950 plus tax, so approx. $1,050 delivered. I paid $700 delivered for the V, so I'm happy with the trade. I could sell myself, but I'd have to photograph, describe, list, pay fees, deal with idiots, etc. And the dealer is getting a hot ticket item for their cost on a run-of-the-mill Tele from last season, so they're happy too. We both win.
ItsaBass
New member
Glad to oblige with a pic pulled off the Internet. By the time all the dust has settled in the trade, I will have $700 into a brand new one of these babies (retail price $1,150). I think that's a very fair investment. $450 below retail, and no tax or shipping charges. And the best part is that the $700 was already spent a year ago, so nothing out of pocket right now.
I have the Mustang Bass in the same series and color. It is absolutely stunning, and a very good instrument. It's a gorgeous three-stage metallic urethane from the Sherwin-Williams Automotive Rod & Restoration line (https://www.sw-rodandrestocustomcolor.com/colors/PCRC1). It's darker and a bit more towards purple than in this pic (Sweetwater's pix are always too bright IME). I installed a single ply thick (.070") real celluloid tort guard with a black aluminum backing that I cut out of Cine-Foil. With the black behind it, it is such a dark tort it almost reads as black – a very dark inky burgundy with swirls...and nothing looks as juicy as real celluloid. I will do the same on this Tele...and might send both in to Marty Bell to have the headstocks painted to match the bodies.
The V...well, it was good, and had potential to be even better. But first of all, the street value had jumped up to almost double what I paid for it, so I saw an opportunity. Plus, I was really not THAT into the prospect of carrying out my extensive plans for it. I have so many projects going already, and the V was another big one just sitting there in the corner growling at me. I saw it as a way to snag a great deal on this Tele, which I have wanted for a while. I do want a V, but I decided in the end that I'd rather put it together some time down the road, using a Precision Guitar Kit. I did like the Epi ProBuckers, though, once I swapped their positions (juicier/thicker pickup in the neck spot, and clearer/brighter pickup in the bridge spot).
P.S. I have a solitary Seth Neck that could go in the Tele if I don't like the stock pickup...and an extra hard case for it, so I'm pretty set. Just need to change out the guard and possibly paint the headstock face.
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