Inflames626
New member
Hi all,
It's been a while. For those who don't follow my posts most of my guitars are MIJ Jacksons from the 90s-00s that I would upgrade with Schaller hardware and a variety of pickups. Usually I could come out about $200-400 ahead over buying a premium import or US mass produced model with the same features.
These old budget and mid priced MIJ guitars now seem to be selling on Reverb for close to $1000, which doesn't make sense considering a new import Jackson with a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge and EMGs/genuine Duncans might cost you $1200.
I just don't like the new aesthetic choices Fender/Jackson/Charvel are currently making. Too many colors, too much binding, and too many reverse headstocks when all I need is gloss black and shark fin inlays at most.
Anyway, context established, to my point:
Do you guys have any recommendations for a U.S. domestic retailer that sells quality import/metric sized stuff made specifically for Japanese guitars? This includes usual stuff you see on these guitars like split shaft pots combined with set screw knobs (I have seen this combination on 90s US made Peavey Foundation basses as well), box style 3 way switches, import style 5 way toggle switches, etc.
Years ago I used one site to buy a push/pull pot for a Jackson DK2S when I didn't want to use a taper reamer to enlarge to volume pot hole. I love how fast and smooth that knob is, but I can't for the life of me remember where I bought it from.
I have noticed these sites: http://www.japarts.ca/ and https://www.hosco.co.jp/en/?brand=hosco and even Allparts has a Japanese parts site now: http://www.allparts.jp/
But I thought all of these might have higher import/shipping fees into the U.S. I'd rather find a domestic distributor who sells quality Japanese parts.
Allparts told me they usually sell only standard/imperial/US sized parts on their domestic site. There is Guitar Parts Depot but they sometimes don't have what I need.
I've tried Amazon for my last few builds and it has been hit or miss. Brands like Kaish, Musiclily, Fleor, Randon, etc. can be really spotty for me in terms of quality. I know I have the guitar wired up right, but the taper might work in reverse, or the switch doesn't work on one side, etc. I have piles of these inferior quality parts and am tired of giving them yet another chance in my new builds.
The only sure thing I have found there is the Kaish version of the Shadow volume killpot, which works well at about half the price.
As far as push pull pots, I have found it better to go with Bournes and just enlarge the pot hole with a taper reamer. That way I know it will work. I usually get these Bournes push/pulls from Mouser Electronics.
For my older hard wired, non quick connect EMG stuff I use CTS. The new CTS push/pulls seem easier to use with 4 conductor pickups but also are much bulkier. For new EMG stuff I will often clip off one side of the quick connects and solder them to a conventional pot/switch/jack.
I know traditionally Alpha has been used in metric guitars but some of the Alpha push pulls I have purchased recently have seemed closer to US diameter. I have had to ream some holes despite purchasing Alphas, and I generally feel Alphas are not as well made as Bournes pots. You can "feel" the cheapness in Alphas, sometimes. They feel much lighter and more fragile than Bournes.
Then of course there is the spline/thread/diameter issue which can get kind of complicated when trying to match up knobs and pots.
Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
Edit: I'm familiar with guitarelectronics.com as well but, again, sometimes they don't have everything I need and have too much of what I don't need.
It's been a while. For those who don't follow my posts most of my guitars are MIJ Jacksons from the 90s-00s that I would upgrade with Schaller hardware and a variety of pickups. Usually I could come out about $200-400 ahead over buying a premium import or US mass produced model with the same features.
These old budget and mid priced MIJ guitars now seem to be selling on Reverb for close to $1000, which doesn't make sense considering a new import Jackson with a Floyd Rose 1000 bridge and EMGs/genuine Duncans might cost you $1200.
I just don't like the new aesthetic choices Fender/Jackson/Charvel are currently making. Too many colors, too much binding, and too many reverse headstocks when all I need is gloss black and shark fin inlays at most.
Anyway, context established, to my point:
Do you guys have any recommendations for a U.S. domestic retailer that sells quality import/metric sized stuff made specifically for Japanese guitars? This includes usual stuff you see on these guitars like split shaft pots combined with set screw knobs (I have seen this combination on 90s US made Peavey Foundation basses as well), box style 3 way switches, import style 5 way toggle switches, etc.
Years ago I used one site to buy a push/pull pot for a Jackson DK2S when I didn't want to use a taper reamer to enlarge to volume pot hole. I love how fast and smooth that knob is, but I can't for the life of me remember where I bought it from.
I have noticed these sites: http://www.japarts.ca/ and https://www.hosco.co.jp/en/?brand=hosco and even Allparts has a Japanese parts site now: http://www.allparts.jp/
But I thought all of these might have higher import/shipping fees into the U.S. I'd rather find a domestic distributor who sells quality Japanese parts.
Allparts told me they usually sell only standard/imperial/US sized parts on their domestic site. There is Guitar Parts Depot but they sometimes don't have what I need.
I've tried Amazon for my last few builds and it has been hit or miss. Brands like Kaish, Musiclily, Fleor, Randon, etc. can be really spotty for me in terms of quality. I know I have the guitar wired up right, but the taper might work in reverse, or the switch doesn't work on one side, etc. I have piles of these inferior quality parts and am tired of giving them yet another chance in my new builds.
The only sure thing I have found there is the Kaish version of the Shadow volume killpot, which works well at about half the price.
As far as push pull pots, I have found it better to go with Bournes and just enlarge the pot hole with a taper reamer. That way I know it will work. I usually get these Bournes push/pulls from Mouser Electronics.
For my older hard wired, non quick connect EMG stuff I use CTS. The new CTS push/pulls seem easier to use with 4 conductor pickups but also are much bulkier. For new EMG stuff I will often clip off one side of the quick connects and solder them to a conventional pot/switch/jack.
I know traditionally Alpha has been used in metric guitars but some of the Alpha push pulls I have purchased recently have seemed closer to US diameter. I have had to ream some holes despite purchasing Alphas, and I generally feel Alphas are not as well made as Bournes pots. You can "feel" the cheapness in Alphas, sometimes. They feel much lighter and more fragile than Bournes.
Then of course there is the spline/thread/diameter issue which can get kind of complicated when trying to match up knobs and pots.
Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
Edit: I'm familiar with guitarelectronics.com as well but, again, sometimes they don't have everything I need and have too much of what I don't need.
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