Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

M

Mallowpuff

New member
Well, I mentioned this in the last thread about dokken, but I'm going to be working my hondo over the next few days/weeks and would like some opinions.

I posted this same thing in the other thread, but to make it so you don't have to go down to the bottom of that thread(and it's kinda getting off topic as it was about the dokken neck) I'll post it here.

What do you guys think about putting another humbucker in the Hondo and painting it pearl black with real metal flakes? Again our neighbor owns a professional car body shop, and said he could get us the paint and some "real" automotive grade metal flakes. We've routed out the spot for another humbucker and primed in so far..


Being that it's made out of plywood, will it ever sound good? From some I've heard it barely affects the tone and others say it would make better firewood no matter what you put in it..

Lastly, how do you guys think the zebra humbuckers would look in it? I think they look awesome againsted the black it will be, and it kinda brings out the binding even more.

Pics of it before the new spot for the humbucker and such cause I can't get a camera at the moment.

P1010270.jpgP1010267.jpg

I was thinking something along the lines of these for pickups? http://www.guitarfetish.com/CLEARAN...-Ferrite-Zebra-Humbucker-Pickups_p_12185.html But I'm not sure.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Who cares that its plywood i still think tis worth some time and restoring. Get a gfs import tremolo and pickups.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

kramersteen said:
Who cares that its plywood i still think tis worth some time and restoring. Get a gfs import tremolo and pickups.
Click to expand...

Thanks. For right now, I have a cheaper trem I'm putting on it just because I already have a tight budget and I already have it. Could you link me to some pickups you'd recommended? The cheaper the better and I would like, not need, them to be zebra.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Take a bit more time a get better parts. Nevermind it being plywood, it's still cool and pretty rare at this point.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Get the GFS Crunchy PAT set. A few bucks more, but will be a better pickup.

I had a Crunchy PAT in a plywood Strat, sounded amazing.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

dominus said:
I'd get black ones, but yes, those. :)
Click to expand...

Just because, or are they different? But thanks!!! I told my father, and it looks like we'll be getting them!

Is there an easy way to tell if a neck is not to warped? It looks kinda twisted.. If it ends up not being usable(and not from dokken), we'll probably get a new one. It's not going to be much of a hondo after all this anyhow. :lmao:
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

I have two guitars with a similar finish you are going to use. It is on two of my EBMM guitars when they did their first Roasted Maple neck run and it was called "Black Sugar". It is a very cool finish (as I am not big on Black) but I really did it. The guitar looks like it has a regular solid black finish until light hits it and then you see all gold and silver sparkles. I agree that you should wait until you have enough scratch to get a good pick-up and hardware as it can make a world of difference, so why settle? Just because the body is plywood doesn't mean everything can't come together to make a guitar that is special! There was a guy on 'The Gear Page" who just made a post very similar to yours with an 80's plywood body Dimarzio guitar he has had since the 80's and (who also owns quite a few high end guitars), but simply had his mind boggled as he stated he couldn't believe how great the guitar came out and the wicked tone on it= So you just never know!
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

I have a parts-caster that started out with an Ash body, I put everything from that guitar into a Palouwina body, it sounded 99% the same as before. Then everything got put into a plywood body, and it still sounded 99% the same as body #2. I really don't think WHAT the body is made of, really matters (to us non-pro's anyway, who was the virtuoso guy who claimed to hear a difference between brands of batteries in his pedals?) as long as the bridge is in the right spot and the neck bolts on securely and straight it shouldn't be an issue. My plywood Affinity sounds awesome, it has Neodymium pickups and the guitar that those were in before this particular body also sounded great. Don't worry about what the body is made of!
As far as the tremolo, the one on there now is junk. The other poster suggested a GFS tremolo, I put THESE
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Made-in-Mexico-Import-Strat-UPGRADE-trem-Solid-STEEL-block_p_489.html
on all my Strat types, they really make the guitar sound better, it stays in tune better, too. The block underneath really makes a difference-the trems these guitars usually come with have small, thin Zinc blocks and getting a heavyweight steel or brass block will help a lot.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Steel-and-Brass-Tremolo-Upgrade-Blocks_c_216.html
You COULD get a block and a set of saddles for your tremolo, but since it's rusty you're better off just getting a whole new one.
Oh- saddles! Some people say the "bent steel" ones sound better than the "cast" ones
http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...dles_for_Hardtail_Bridge_Chrome_set_of_6.html
I did notice that I break fewer strings with the bent saddles than the tremolo I have with the cast ones, but that's probably because the cast ones have sharp edges in them I should file down.
 
Last edited:
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Everytime i see the word Palouwina i feel this odd sensation. I hate that wood :dunno:i would rather ply.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

I think Palouwina is a "nuisance tree" like the Cottonwoods we have here, that throw TONS of fiberous seeds everywhere (they clog up the air conditioner if I don't sweep it out every week) the Pal. trees grow like weeds and somebody figured out they can sell guitar bodies made of them to get rid of some of the wood!
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Thanks!! The new one I was talking about is actually this one, or atleast something really close.. Although, I know it might just be better to get a new one of those GFS trems..
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Mallowpuff said:
Thanks!! The new one I was talking about is actually this one, or atleast something really close.. Although, I know it might just be better to get a new one of those GFS trems..
Click to expand...

That's the equivalent to a big steamy aceman turd :bigthumb: But it will get ya going on the cheap.

I have a gfs import with the brass block and its decent for the money.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

kramersteen said:
That's the equivalent to a big steamy aceman turd :bigthumb: But it will get ya going on the cheap.

I have a gfs import with the brass block and its decent for the money.
Click to expand...

:lol: But as long as it'll work for right now, I'll keep it until I can afford a new one. It should be being painted soon enough.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Mallowpuff said:
Thanks!! The new one I was talking about is actually this one, or atleast something really close.. Although, I know it might just be better to get a new one of those GFS trems..
Click to expand...

Spend a few dollars more and get one of the GFS trems.

"Genuine Fender Squier." Lame.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

dominus said:
Spend a few dollars more and get one of the GFS trems.

"Genuine Fender Squier." Lame.
Click to expand...

Well, I mean I literally am holding that one in my hand. I already have it. I just got it awhile ago for like 7$. Haha.
 
Re: Working on a guitar, opinions wanted.

Mallowpuff said:
Just because, or are they different? But thanks!!! I told my father, and it looks like we'll be getting them!
Click to expand...

Let me know if you ordered those yet. I just got a guitar in yesterday that had a zebra set of GFS Crunchy PATs, I could sell them to you for a few bucks less than GFS charges. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

IMENATOR
Should I get a 24 fret guitar?
2
Replies
36
Views
4K
Rex_Rocker
Rex_Rocker
blakejcan
Can you have a recessed floyd on a S/S/S strat?
Replies
14
Views
588
orpheo
O
Jermo3178
Squier 40th Anniversary Tele upgrade idea, with questions and opinions..
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
Jermo3178
Jermo3178
Anficht
Dave Murray using a bridge humbucker in the neck spot on his black Strat for 2025
Replies
17
Views
993
Archer250
Archer250
misterwhizzy
Where/when did "modern" guitar tone begin?
5 6 7
Replies
129
Views
3K
Cynical
Cynical
Back
Top