Modification to Black Beauty & 'Faux-Buckers'

AnalogFrog · Post by **AnalogFrog** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:44 pm

Okay so a few of you may have seen this guitar in the showcase, well I did some modifications... The original toggle was pooched so i opted to get a new 2 pickup toggle and wired the middle pickup to be controlled by its own mini toggle and to share the neck volume and tone controls. I also added 'period correct' gibson top hat knobs, and replaced the input jack. But... while removing the middle pickup i noticed it was lighter than your average humbucker... turns out the thing was a skimpy single coil in a humbucker shell!! all three were like this (remarkably there was no hum while i played it stock, I had no idea they werent humbuckers...

)

I really liked the look of the old covers so i resoldered them on to the replacements: I replaced the "faux-buckers" for a Gibson 57 Classic in the neck, and a pair of Hagstrom HJ-50s for the middle and bridge.. it sounds definitely darker than the old pickups but these handle gain better

here are some pics:

Post by **charles** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:13 pm

Those faux-buckers are wild - I've heard of that being done but have never seen it "in the flesh" so to speak...

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:56 am

nice mini toggle! I never thought the 3 pickup setup was all that practical but it looks soooo cool!!!

AnalogFrog · Post by **AnalogFrog** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:16 pm

Oh Charles, this one is Made In Japan. (engraved in the neck plate)

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:20 am

Ah-h, you are wise in the ways of wiring Grasshopper.

Impressive job!

But after all is said and done, you didn't say if you were happy with the new improved El Degas. It's "darker" you say, but is that what you were after? Are you a happy lil' analogfrog?

AnalogFrog · Post by **AnalogFrog** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:46 am

Yes indeed! much better!! It was weird, before, I liked the sound of the stock pickups, but they reminded me more of a tele neck pickup than a toneful PAF or PAT# , but these get it, maybe not as well as a 58-59 LP but thats a bit out of my league... Since these pictures I've added a second mini toggle in the same area but between the tone pots, Its not yet functional but it will soon be controling a coil tap for a new Seymour Duncan PAF (still on order), and I found a 'vintage' correct tinted creme toggle tip instead of the bing bling gold one

And ive confirmed this to be Nitro finish, (its had a few dings at the jam space) very thin coat, and very, very brittle. I'm still on the look out for a faded chrome bigsby (maybe) to complete the JP look but I really like the stop bar setup too.

P.S. Are these ABR copy bridges? they do have the wire (ignoring the plastic saddles)

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:43 am

Eee gawds..another toggle?!

Ya see, this is why Charles and I stick with 2 pups.
I can barely remember what setting to use on a 3-position switch, especially when, um, "performing".

I can't imagine how screwed up I'd be with a control panel like this.
Probably end up receiving an air traffic controller like Spinal Tap!

AnalogFrog · Post by **AnalogFrog** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:53 pm

Well Barry, as you can see I like my gizmos and LOTs of tonal options!, I think I'll start a new thread elsewheres on everyones gear and other guitars, perhaps in Free range?

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:46 am

Yikes! What ever happened to the "wireless" revolution anyway? Went the same way as the "paperless" office I guess.

Yeah, you should start a thread (or two) on pup mod's and wiring. I'm sure there are many who are considering doing something to their old axes and don't know where to begin. Success stories are always instructive and inspiring!

The only mod I've ever done was about a thousand years ago, on my Westone Spectrum ST. I swapped out the stock bridge pup for a Duncan Seymour. That really boosted the output dramatically which was needed at the time for what I was doing, and the band joke was that it was so hot you could jump start yer car on a cold January morning! But that's about it.

Cheers!

Post by **charles** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:31 pm

AnalogFrog wrote:Well Barry, as you can see I like my gizmos and LOTs of tonal options!, I think I'll start a new thread elsewheres on everyones gear and other guitars, perhaps in Free range?

The "This & That" forum might be a great place for that thread!

I guess I could have named the forums in a slightly less obtuse way...