NPGD x 3

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Funkfingers

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Made another one of my occasional value-for-value trades with a friend this morning.

Shed ye olde Ibanez RG410, Hondo Formula One Roadster-alike, Epi Lucille and project Ibanez RG550M. Returned with three other guitars in "kit/project" state. Patrick Eggle Berlin Wall, Höhner JT60 and ruined Charvel Model 3. (Yes, another one.) Also, some non-guitar gear.

The Model 3 has already been disassembled and the useful parts cannibalised for my Model 4 project.

Narrowly avoided exchanging Yamaha YSG (the PRS-style thing) against a Charvel Model 6. The Yamaha may eventually go but I reckon my project Model 4 will do most of what I would use a Model 6 for.

Pics in the morning, after I get some sleep.
 
Re: NPGD x 3

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Höhner JT60. The interesting stuff is under the scratchplate. Wilkinson bridge is not original.
 
Re: NPGD x 3

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Remains of Charvel Model 3 #2. Taken a severe beating at some point. Headstock grafted back on. Body split in several places. Vibrato turned out to be JT-6 saddles on Ibanez Edge base plate and block. Ho-hum.

All useful components cannibalised for other Charvel project.

The neck in this photograph could well end up on a new body. :)
 
Re: NPGD x 3

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Patrick Eggle Berlin Wall, as acquired. Racing Green metallic. Requires Schaller vibrato, string clamp and machineheads. Havering over hardware finish. Original was black. Gold matches my old Gibson Tony Iommi humbucker but looks a bit Liberace. Chrome is pedestrian. Nickel or Satin Chrome is all that remains.

EDIT - After a rummage through my parts bin revealed MIWG gold Schaller Straplocks and machineheads, it has to be a gold Schaller double locking vibrato. (Already ordered!) Now, to decide about pickups: bluesy PRS McCarty Treble/Bass pair or downright evil Gibson Iommi?

:scratchch
 
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Re: NPGD x 3

I am not entirely certain.

In theory, on a guitar with a string clamp device, even a headstock break should not affect anything else. Well, not immediately.

More likely, the dogbreath metal used in the JT-6 vibrato failed catastrophically, allowing the spring and string tension to wreak havoc. (The vibrato on my #1 Charvel Model 3 is constructed from parts taken from two broken examples.) The wood around the threaded inserts is, in the words of Frank Zappa, "severely ugly".
 
Re: NPGD x 3

I love the Höhner JT60. I would put a Super Distortion S in it and go for broke.
 
Re: NPGD x 3

Thank you.

The JT-60 qualifies as interesting rather than astonishing. The control circuitry is ingenious but the components are appallingly cheap. American pickups and pots would improve some aspects but not others.

The fingerboard radius appears to be 20". The overall weight is reminiscent of Seventies CBS/Fender boat anchors. Guaranteed to induce that Elvis Costello "My Aim Is True" cover photograph buckling knees stance.

Hot bridge pickup suggestion is a good 'un. The irreplaceable pickguard probably demands a single coil sized humbucker. If my G&L Tribute ASAT Classic is anything to judge by, a Li'l '59 could be the smart choice.
 
Re: NPGD x 3

Well, the Epi Lucille was no great shakes - even after I upgraded the pickups.

The old Ibanez RG410 (Kramer Barretta clone) had an elderly zebra SH-4 JB in it. It does the Eddie thing. I don't do the Eddie thing but my friend does. He and that guitar belong together.

The RG550M was, literally, a box of parts that I had never gotten around to reassembling. Ironically, now that I have received a Floyd Rose Special as part of the trade, the RG project could have progressed.

The Hondo Formula One Roadster-alike was okay in a cheap/fun Eighties guitar kinda way. My friend has GAS for those early Eighties 'nez guitars. The Hondo has satiated his need.

The guitar that my friend did not get this time was my Yamaha YSG (the pre-PRS collaboration design). I can imagine the refurbished Patrick Eggle becoming the guitar that my friend hoped the YSG might be.

The guitar that I did not acquire this time was a Charvel Model 6 (we think). A set neck, twenty four fret, Kahler flat mount vibrato Rock beast. Maybe next time? Maybe not.
 
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