Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Wattage

High Voltologist
Took in my buddy's very sick and crusty 1984 Texas era Saturn to bring it back to fighting condition.

This guitar was his #1 for 20 years, I think he cleaned it once.....maybe. Bought it new in '84 (A series s/n) and retired in in '05, it has pretty much sat in the case since. His main squeeze these days is an HH Strat but he'd like to get this up and running again.

Take care of your guitars mis amigos. Something as simple as wiping down after gigs makes a HUGE difference. If you have very corrosive sweat obviously you need a little more attention to cleaning and maintaining.

Needs a load of TLC and a significant fret level, frets look like bum teeth from 1-12. Most of bridge saddles are corroded beyond use, the knobs are heavily corroded, the set screws were rusted and fused to the knobs. The pots and switches hardly work and aren't worth trying to get clean seeing how poorly this thing is wired.

So the plan -
Take it apart and clean thoroughly
Fret level and re-crown (jumbos with enough meat so thankfully so it doesn't need a re-fret)
Gut and install new 500k p/p pots, switch and jack with re-wire (CTS & Switchcraft)
Graphtech replacement saddles, minor repairs to trem
Change pickups to C5/59 set with coil split
Whatever else I find along the way......


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Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Cool guitar! Definitely could've been wiped off...my dad's guitars from the 80's all look almost brand new because he wiped them down everytime before he put one back in the case (never kept them out.)
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Take it apart and clean thoroughly - DONE, damn thing was disgusting! Wiped everything down with denatured alcohol and then went to town tearing it apart.
Fret level and re-crown (jumbos with enough meat so thankfully so it doesn't need a re-fret) - At my friend's shop for the work
Gut and install new 500k p/p pots, switch and jack with re-wire (CTS & Switchcraft) - parts are in
Graphtech replacement saddles, minor repairs to trem - So glad I ordered the graphite versions, they were a bit too wide so I sanded down the sides of each saddle til I got'em fitting. Fixed the bar lockdown and polished the crap out of it. Almost all oxidation is gone.
Change pickups to C5/59 set with coil split - got the '59n but wasn't thinking I needed a TB version of the C5, duh

So far I've got the body looking pretty good. There are more than it's fair share of scars but I've got it shining again. Mequir's Scratch Remover did a nice job on the haze and the light stuff.

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Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Found the bridge pup in the Trading Forum, score

The other parts I needed should be in today, have to fix the OHSC too

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Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

I love the in-progress pics of this project.
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Thanks

Got the 59n in and the bulk of the wiring done, just waiting for the bridge pup. Push/Pulls, new rings, new knobs, switch and switch tip.

The wiring scheme

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Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Really cool project! Enjoying the progress pics too, keep up the good work!
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Got the pickup in from 51501984 today. It had a cover tacked on so I got that off, dropped it in and got it wired up.

Can't wait to get the neck back!

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Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

It is amazing how well that body cleaned up.
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

I used traditional elbow grease lol

It's funny I showed my bass player and he had thought it had a matte finish
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Got the neck back today and set it all up. Went back together like a charm. I'll give it back to my buddy at rehearsal Tuesday night, he's pretty psyched.

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Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Great work, now it looks like something ya'd want to play. Your buddy should be thrilled with the result. How does it play and sound ?
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

He can't believe how it looks, I don't think he held out much hope for it.

I think it plays great, the fret level came out fantastic. The frets were huge so there was plenty of meat on them, I kind of think they might have been bass frets like SRV used. They still seem like jumbos!

It sounds really good but we'll dial the pups in at volume when we rehearse. I've got the heights where I'd set them but each guitar has it's own thing that needs to be accounted for. I am not a big locking trem fan but this one doesn't seem to be a tone killer, the guitar has plenty of sustain and resonance. This thing had really good bones and that still shows thru.
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Wow, that looks awesome! I always loved those guitars when they came out. I can't belive that guitar was waiting underneath that crud. I bet he wants it back now.
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Maybe the crud protected it lololol

I am thrilled how it came out.

Only issue I am having, and it's an odd one, the hole for the output jack is drilled rather small. They used an MIJ jack originally and it is smaller than any jack I have US or import. The new jack works but it takes some effort. I am going to try and clean the original jack up and use it.

Schecter was getting parts from ESP back then and I guess the electronics were part of the deal.
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Incredible job! You done well and brought a guitar back up to tip-top shape! :clap:
 
Re: Schecter PT/Saturn Resto Project

Thanks! I am surprised how quickly it all came together.

He wanted me to try and touch up the "scars" but I told him no. That would ruin all the character of the guitar, this thing is a warrior and it shows, I love that.

There is a chunk out of the back that it "acquired" when some A-hole jumped up onstage one night years ago, it's a great story and one that would be lost if it was cleaned up.
 
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