More Guitar stuff now

[shiva]

Haven't posted here in a while, between computer troubles, the kid, and doing some web work, got rather busy. Anyway, despite my newness to all of this, I've never been known to do anything halfway. Sometimes it's a good thing, and sometimes, I end up broke.

The last time I posted on my very severe G.A.S. problem, I had just picked up my Hag, and a guitar for the kid, a blue to match my Black Ibanez geo. Since then I added my pedal stuff, picked up a whole bunch of parts, and have 4 guitars/Bass in various bits ready for parts to come in. (my area really sucks for parts, I have to travel 60 miles just to get a plastic black pickup ring)

At the moment, just building up spare parts, I found I like to fix up these old things, in fact, I have 10 complete sets of Vintage tuners coming in shortly, for 6 inline, 3x3, 12 string, and classical guitars.

So, here's the new children...

First off, my blue girl between 2 bass guitars. The one on the right is my first guitar ever, a Mann Jazzmaster I bought in 1977. (Mann was the name Ibanez used in the Canadian market in the late 70's)
On the left is a Sorrento (Kawai made) semi acoustic Beatle bass, around 1971 or so. This may be modified, as there is no way to get in her, so I may cut and add a plate for the pots and jack. It's a beginner bass, and will never be worth anything, plastic inlays, but sound wise a true gem. I have some Teisco 1960's tuners coming for her, vintage knobs, and I need to replace the input and tone pots. For a cheap mail order thing, pretty decent sound. Also added a Trayner Bass amp for the 2 bass guitars I have.



I added a bunch of pedals, a mixer, mic etc, as well as my first rack unit. I just moved and rewired it, but here's a older pic.



I love the BBE Stinger, but the bi-mode chorus just rocks.

And here's my latest project, a Memphis LP Studio, MIJ by Ibanez, around 1980 or so. This was a used, and very well loved guitar to say the least, and who ever owned it before did not even clean it. It took days just to remove the oil, and the fret board I went through 3/4 of a bottle of lemon oil, and my cloth is still black. The image folder shows the state I got it in, and the cleaned guitar afterwards. The amazing thing is other than a busted tuner, everything worked.



The project folder is http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/dd354/shvmr/Memphis%20Project%20Guitar/

Rather odd looking thing, looks like the Bastard child of a mating between a Les Paul and a SG. Memphis is well known for their cheap hollow plywood bolt-on LP's, this though is rare, a set neck, solid mahogany guitar with very decent parts. The rail humbuckers threw me, I thought they were 3rd party, but they are not. The inlays are brass!

Waiting for some tuners, can't wait to get this strung, and intoned. Those pickups had a great range, and despite the fact the strings were badly rusted and totally dead, had a real snotty, 80's metal sound.

Well, guess I can stop bragging now...

Once I get everything fixed and new parts put on, will grab another and fix it up. Still can't play but sure a lot of fun just potting around fixing these old girls up. My friend thinks I'm nuts though.

[GUITARGOD]

Thats a nice axe. I like the feel of LesPaul style axes, it's in good shape too. Nice find!

Nice collection of stomp boxes, i used to use a bunch of stomp boxes myself and at times still wish that i had them all, but i've grown used to rack gear now and finely found my sound after years of searching so i'm happy also. You have enough of them there to get your sound the way you like it i bet.
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GUITARGOD

[shiva]

Pretty close.

The vintage pedals are just far better than the modern stuff, and far cheaper as well. I have the one rack unit, which I use to add missing sounds, but for the most part, I use the pedals.

I'm still waiting on those **** tuners. USPS is so slowwwwww. 3 weeks now, how can you americans stand that? I could walk there, pick them up, and back and still have them sooner.

I did find out the rails are clones of the Anderson pickups, and they are very very close. Appears this brand is being sought after as well, because of the quality of the semi set-necks guitars. I've seen Vantage have these as well, but just normal humbuckers. The model number is sp-200, and called the ghost.

[GUITARGOD]

I hate waiting for an order sometimes they arrive fast like in five or six days but it depends on the time of year and when you place an order i think, and where you are may have some effect on how fast you get your goodies.
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GUITARGOD

[shiva]

be 3 weeks now. Mind you, it's a huge bunch of Vintage parts, 60's stuff. 12 string, classical, acoustic, 6 inline and 3x3 bars as well as bushings etc. Still, very slow, as I wanted to get it in and done up for Xmas.

Sigh... at the least though, shouldn't have to wait for parts with the stuff coming in. I have 2 more guitars that are waiting for these parts, so I guess I will be busy this holiday. The bass guitars are already done though.

[GUITARGOD]

I have a neck to fix and i have it taken off but i need to find the right chunk of steel to clamp it to. I talked to a guy years ago in Rosburg Or. who claimed to have fixed a bowed neck with moisture, slow heat and slow pressure, i plan on giving it a try.
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GUITARGOD

[Rainbowinthdrk]

[GUITARGOD]

That would do the trick! It's the oddest thing with this neck, the bow happend just blow the headstock and bowed away from the string tension after it had been in the same enviornment as my other guitars for about a year. Maybe it was pissed because it wanted played more!? I think i can fix it!
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GUITARGOD

[D-Man]

Love the Hagstrom and the off-brand bass copies!
Do you Terry Livgren of Kansas used to play Hagstrom? It's on the back cover of their 3rd album. He's probably the biggest star to play them.
The jazz bass looks a LOT like an old jazz bass copy I had in the late 70's, which just had a large cursive "C" on the headstock.
I always wondered what brand that was. Could have easily been some export Aria or Ibanez or something.
I sold it which I still regret because it was a cool bass.
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Bass guitarists hold it all together.

[shiva]

[shiva]

And (finally) finished the Memphis.

Added BC Rich dark chrome locking tuners (not the most high end, but they do the job, and fit the guitar for the price range) a new truss cover, input/jack plate and a graphite nut to replace the old plastic one. I figure the entire thing cost about 225, which is reasonable as I have seen this particular model go for around 400 without all the bumps and nicks like this one has.

Set up and intoned etc, it's a very strange guitar with those Anderson cloned rails, but then it fits the rest of the guitar. If there ever was a guitar that has a Identity crisis, it's this one. Can't seem to make up it's mind whether to be a LP, SG, or a Studio. Plays pretty good though now, and will be the "beater" in the household.

Here's a couple pics:



and one after I had to repolish it... oops



Had a lot of fun working on this, never was brave enough, so sorry it's done in one way. In a couple years, I expect I will need new frets, so will strip it, fix the bumps, and get it repainted.

Thanks for the comments guys.

[GUITARGOD]

Turned out very nice man good job!
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GUITARGOD

[Bobby66]

...Just arrived!...
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...As long as it's NOT about love...

[shiva]

[GUITARGOD]

Nice man..nice!
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GUITARGOD