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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 7:47:08 GMT -5
This Epiphone SG was my first “Real” guitar. After many years, I answered the inner craving to turn it into a fire-breathing P-90 tone monster like I heard on “Live at Leeds” years ago, and like Carlos used at Woodstock.
The bridge array and pick guards are not the same, but it’s close enough! And the P-90s are screaming!
Bear with me wile I try to upload photos…
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 7:58:29 GMT -5
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 8:14:03 GMT -5
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 8:15:33 GMT -5
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 8:16:33 GMT -5
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 8:17:55 GMT -5
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 8:19:17 GMT -5
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 8:38:45 GMT -5
To summarize, I bought a router template to open the cavities, but found that the neck was in the way. Instead of building up a raised jig, I opted to just chisel the wood. It would be hidden under the new guard anyway.
The pickguard was new, drilled and routed for P-90s.
I knew to keep the pups parallel with the strings, so I made a block and got it to the correct angle to account for the neck angle of +-3 degrees. That block also needed holes drilled into it to give the pole-piece screws enough clearance to travel up and down. I had to shorten the mounting screws in the bridge cavity, lest they come out the back of the guitar. There is very little wood beneath that cavity to work with.
The neck pup just screwed directly into the tenon. The radius in the corners of the rectangular opening in the pickguard for the pups had to be filed some. All in all, it took a lot of fitting and finessing, but it works like a champ! I left the Les Trem off.
P-90s give me chills up my spine! Shivers in my thighbone; I'm shakin' in my kneebone!
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Post by Leftee on Jun 30, 2022 9:48:03 GMT -5
Great work!
What pots did you use? I ask because P90s like 300k volumes.
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 10:20:44 GMT -5
I just ordered new 500k pots and 22 micro Farad caps.
I see lots of different opinions on this. 300k pots do seem like a great range. What caps to you suggest?
Meanwhile, it’s got the original 500k pots and 47 micro Farad caps. Sounds real good.
Am willing to experiment.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jun 30, 2022 10:29:52 GMT -5
I just ordered new 500k pots and 22 micro Farad caps. I see lots of different opinions on this. 300k pots do seem like a great range. What caps to you suggest? Meanwhile, it’s got the original 500k pots and 47 micro Farad caps. Sounds real good. Am willing to experiment. I've mentioned this trick in other threads, but I'll throw it out there. If you use a high value pot and have some resistors, you can wire a resistor in parallel to the pickup (so, just running from hot to ground anywhere that is convenient) you can effectively change the load of the pot. It isn't 100% the same as the pot rolls down, but to my ears it works well. So, if you had 1M pots and used a 1M resistor, you'd have a 500k load. If you have a 500k pot and use a 770kohm resistor, you'll have something close to a 300k load. You can buy resistors cheaply enough that you can experiment. Get some alligator clips while you're at it, and you can go back and forth in real time.
On the caps, I rarely find I like anything higher than .022uf on humbuckers and p-90s, they get kinda honky. It might be working well for you depending on the pickups you have, and if they aren't as hot as some others out there.
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 10:38:22 GMT -5
In the interest of science, **might** go to those lengths. Truth is, my ears are so blown out in the upper mids, I doubt I’d hear the difference, lol.
But I’ll for sure try some experiments with caps.
Thanks for that!
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Post by Leftee on Jun 30, 2022 12:33:01 GMT -5
The “Live at Leeds” tone was very likely 300k pots. That’s why I asked.
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Post by WireDog on Jun 30, 2022 17:55:52 GMT -5
Not going to bend over backwards for Pete’s tone, now that I’ve thought more on it. He played .12s (strings), I’ve learned. No way I’m going there! I’m sure the general consensus of the major suppliers 500k pots all around, with 22mfd caps will work for my ears.
Right now it’s got 47mfd caps in and, like Leftee said, it is a bit honky.
I appreciate these comments and suggestions!
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jun 30, 2022 17:58:25 GMT -5
Nice. What P90s did you use?
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Post by WireDog on Jul 1, 2022 16:59:55 GMT -5
Auf Kiltr, I used Golden Age , “Parson Street ‘Originals’ ”, through StewMac. Not RWRP or modern anything.
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Post by Leftee on Jul 1, 2022 17:18:10 GMT -5
Those are outstanding P90s.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jul 1, 2022 17:32:56 GMT -5
Haven't tried the Parson P90s but dig their buckers.
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Post by WireDog on Jul 1, 2022 20:56:38 GMT -5
I read about Golden Age pups right here.
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Post by rdr on Jul 3, 2022 11:20:22 GMT -5
Nice job! I used the chisel method when I was 13 to install a neck humbucker ala Keef in my '62 Tele. Don't hate me.
Gonna keep your Les Trem ?
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Post by WireDog on Jul 3, 2022 20:21:07 GMT -5
Rdr, thanks. That was some determination to chisel on a guitar at that age. I’m an old hand at chiseling wood.
I’m keeping that Les Trem. It will go back into rotation eventually, probably on the Epi again.
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Post by Pinetree on Jul 4, 2022 15:36:28 GMT -5
Very nice.
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Post by LTB on Jul 5, 2022 20:32:47 GMT -5
Wow, very nice job! You do great work |
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