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Post by antares on Apr 15, 2019 11:03:00 GMT -6
Well folks, a thorn in my side was the chrome on my Firebird. Over the last couple of years I have been systematically replacing hardware with nickel plated alternatives. First was the T-O-M (now replaced with a TonePros example) and followed swiftly by the stop tailpiece. More recently I swapped out the pickup mounting rings. Today it was the turn of the covers. I left the fiddly bit until last! They had wax-potted the pickups, but thankfully only very sparingly. After releasing the solder I was able to run a scalpel around with no risk to the windings.
Here's an odd thing: each pickup had what looked like a Tufnol spacer at one end of each individual coil, but each pick up was staggered with its spacer at opposite ends. They were probably just bits of card soaked by the wax? I don't know why it should have been necessary to stagger the coils in that manner, but I replaced them anyway. Maybe the bobbins were 60 thou undersize for the covers? (I am aware that vintage mini hummers are a little smaller.)
I was forced to resort to a heat gun to reflow the solder that holds on the covers. I had to do this once before when I exchanged a full size humbucker for a P90 on my Gordon Smith Double Cut because my 40 watts Weller TCP doesn't have enough oomph. I know all about the dire warnings regarding heat guns, but I have found that provided you keep the hot tip stationery when you release the trigger, no harm comes to the magnetic properties of the (in this case) ceramic bar magnets.
Of course this was all about aesthetics, and as usual your scribe can hear diddly-squat difference in the *tone* despite the new covers being fabricated from oh-so "transparent" and hallowed nickel silver base material. I have thrust my hands into that gaping wound and can confirm that it is apochryphal- subjectively speaking of course (and indeed YMMV.)
I have of course looked at the chromium on the "Banjo" tuners, but given the asking price for a set of Klusons finished in nickel, I think I'm going to pass on that "upgrade" and dull them down with some Scotchbrite and 6000 grit abrasive pads. Those Gibson Banjo tuners are out and out absolute dogs though. I reckon Gibson chose Katrina to bury the bad news that was those tuners because they now fit Steinbergers. The trouble is from my blinkered perspective, they are part of what sets a Firebird apart from the crowd and so I'll persevere with them. Talk about grinding gears though... Yeuch.
Still and all, it's good fun and seems to be about all I can manage these days!
e&oe...
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Post by dnic on Apr 15, 2019 18:51:48 GMT -6
Not a fan of gold hardware either. So much so that I probably would not have bought the guitar in the first place. But you've done the second best thing by replacing it. Smiles
No idea why they would stagger the bobbins on mini buckers. John might have an idea. If I had to guess I'd say maybe it spreads the magnetic field out a bit.
It took me a second to catch on that heat gun was a reference to a gun type soldering gun. Here in the states a heat gun blows very hot air but not concentrated enough to solder with. I caught on with the part about keeping the tip stationary and releasing the trigger.
I was about to say I've never played anything with a mini bucker but just remembered I replaced one in a Telcaster I worked on. Sounded pretty good as I remember.
Now we need some picture Steve.
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Post by antares on Apr 16, 2019 9:07:32 GMT -6
That's right Dane, a Weller 100 watts soldering gun. They generate a very large magnetic field, but it's my understanding that the decreasing hysteresis loops that are formed as you remove such a field away from the magnetized item can be avoided by keeping it still while you cut the power. Well I reckon those with a better understanding of magnetism than myself would be better placed to make such a declaration, but it seems to work out OK for me. Here are a couple of pictures for you. It's a zebrawood limited edition. I think it was a Guitar Centre promotion back in 2007 and allegedly only 400 were made. I have an ulterior motive in so far as I'm hoping you'd consider a 'bird before undertaking a Vee! I would really like a Lyre Maestro Vibrola but they command ridiculous prices for what are basically bits of pressed tinware and rod, and after "ruining" my 1973 (ish) Strat with a red "plastic skin" refin and an ebony board, I have an aversion to boring holes in even just for a dummy lyre engraved cover plate like Derek Trucks has on one of his SGs. I know this is in the pickups board so I'll hold back from here on. Within the subject of pickups though, I think it's worth noting that the mini hummers do seem to have a distinctive sound and that's something coming from me. They seem to pump a little extra zing into the typical hummer sound rather in the way a P90 or P13 does compared to a Strat type. (I can smell snake oil at one hundred paces!) I have a colleague from near Pennsylvania who tries to convince me that Al-Ni-Co would be much better than these ceramics, but I don't want to alter something that ticks all the boxes for me. e&oe...
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Post by dnic on Apr 16, 2019 17:53:00 GMT -6
I remember a stern warning in one of my Dan Erlewine videos about using the soldering guns because of the magnet/pickup possible damage thing. Because I think a bigger gun like that would be great for heating frets up before pulling. Great for acoustic guitars I guess.
That Firebird is a beautiful thing. Don't worry about me building a V they really don't interest me unless it was commissioned. I like the look of the firebird but I'd hate to end up with a neck heavy guitar. But a reverse Firebird could be the best of both worlds.
And now my apologies about rabbit trailing from the main topic. But I was just responding to Steve's post so it's his fault.
And now more on topic, I've thought for a long time now that alnico mags were more mellow less screechy but I read an artical or saw a video a while back the the explained why that was not a real accurate way to look at ceramic mags. I hope I book marked that page. I need to look into that again. Or just ask John to make me something that sounds good.
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Post by antares on Apr 17, 2019 3:13:39 GMT -6
These mini hummer pickups cannot be made to sit normal to the strings. This is of course only really a consideration with hummers (and again primarily on guitars with set back necks.) I think that if you persevere and play around with how the springs are aligned along the height adjustment screws, you can eventually achieve a pickup rest position that approaches acceptable, but that's a real hit and miss regime. My Yamahas all have two height adjustment screws each side of the pickup that allows some rake adjustment. If the guys at Yamaha figured this out 40 years ago what's wrong with Gibson (and others- I'm not singling out Gibson) that they have still not addressed such a basic thing? Does not compute for me. I suspect that there is a degree of market conservatism that resists change at the bottom of this. Can you imagine a 'Burst retro fitted with two height adjustment screws? Sacriledge!
Those soldering guns are domestic tools with a 12 second limit on deployment. They would not be suitable to heat up frets, but I confess that I have many times ignored that restriction in a cavalier fashion by pulling the trigger for between 30 seconds and one minute. It still wouldn't be good for fret work though Dane. I have used it when I installed the P90 and of course again just the other day on the Firebird pickups, all without any detriment. If anything, holding the tip still should if anything augment the degree of magnetic flux. I would value John's experiences here too, on that and regarding those little packers too.
So many folks hold Al-Ni-Co in high esteem that there must be something to it. I have to stand by my gut instinct that like resistance and capacitance, magnetism is a physical property and the individual coulombs swarming past or through the poles each second simply cannot have any preference as to one base material or any other- how would they "know", but they would ineluctably respond to increased levels of magnetic force. Maybe different metals generate different spreads of magnetic fields because that ought to have some influence on the string interactions.
Fascinating things pickups!
e&oe...
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Post by dnic on Apr 17, 2019 7:14:04 GMT -6
Steve, I don't have a lot of time this morning so I'll just address the soldering gun part. Dan Erlewine spit the bowed tip so that it hit the fret in two different places causing it to become part of the circuit and very rapidly heat the fret.
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Apr 17, 2019 7:19:24 GMT -6
These mini hummer pickups cannot be made to sit normal to the stringsā¦ So many folks hold Al-Ni-Co in high esteem that there must be something to it. I have to stand by my gut instinct that like resistance and capacitance, magnetism is a physical property and the individual coulombs swarming past or through the poles each second simply cannot have any preference as to one base material or any other- how would they "know", but they would ineluctably respond to increased levels of magnetic force. Maybe different metals generate different spreads of magnetic fields because that ought to have some influence on the string interactions. Fascinating things pickups! e&oe...Fascinating, indeed. Nice Firebird. I, like you, prefer nickel hardware for the way it ages and takes on that soft patina. However, the worn gold on a mid-60s 'Bird can look very cool...just takes a long time to get there. They do sit "funny"...I've actually bent the feet of the base with pliers to get them to sit level. A risky move....try at your own peril. Concerning magnets, the Bill Lawrence told me that "magnets don't have a tone" during a decidedly one-way conversation I had with him once. Like you said, he explained that magnets affect the inductance of the coil, and do not produce a tone per se. Based on my research and years of messing with pickups, I believe that basic truth. But, similar to the way players use the resistance of the pickup to refer to its "output" (which is an incorrect characterization), magnet material is often used to characterize the strength the magnet. That is, an Alnico2 (A2) magnet has a weaker magnetic field than a ceramic magnet of the same size. That difference will affect the inductance of the coil, and, generally, the ceramic magnet will produce more AC current in the same coil when compared to the A2. Those Firebird pickups generally have spacers in them to keep the bobbins and the assembly from rattling around in the cover. The cover is an integral part of that pickup, and, unlike a large humbucker, they are not suitable to be used without a cover. That being said, I do like the way they sound, and Firebirds are some of my favorite guitars. More to follow, John
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Post by antares on Apr 18, 2019 12:36:51 GMT -6
Non pickup related update: I have tweaked the truss rod. This is far and away the best truss rod I have ever encountered. Despite my standard procedure of 1/4 turn and leave for 48 hours to assess the effect, it was so smooth and responsive that I gave it 6 (count 'em) 1/4 turns straight off. The neck is now displaying 10 thou of relief and plays like butter. Such a contrast. Unfortunately, it has revealed that the nut slots have been cut too deep (presumably by the previous owner?) Since I do not share the abilities of Dane and Eddie (and no doubt John) I'm avoiding replacing the nut and invoking the bone dust and Cyanoacrylate trick. I'm stoked with this. She's a completely different instrument right now.
Where are you Eddie? I miss you and I fancy everyone else does. Puleeze check in Bro'.
e&oe...
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Post by dnic on Apr 18, 2019 21:51:04 GMT -6
It is amazing how a well set up guitar is a joy to play. Bone and CA work great together and make a solid job of it.
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Apr 21, 2019 10:16:08 GMT -6
It is amazing how a well set up guitar is a joy to play. Bone and CA work great together and make a solid job of it. True. That is why I always recommend a good setup prior to changing out pickups and other mods. Tip: I use black electrical tape to shield the fingerboard and headstock when I'm using CA on a nut installed on the guitar. The black tape will keep glue from seeping underneath it while blue masking tape will not. Try it on scrap first! John
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Post by antares on Apr 22, 2019 1:25:19 GMT -6
That's good advice John, I had thought about it because the only other time I tried it the nut was off the fretboard. I remember that I finished up making a new nut (two actually because bone can be inconsistent in hardness and careful filing suddenly went too far in a couple of strokes. Also, I'm not exactly certain that the one on there already is actually bone. It could be a hard plastic. I keep looking but I just cannot be certain. I can see this 'Bird going for a set up because it's a serious guitar. Oddly enough, although the Firebird is a bit angular (if only like a south paw Jazzmaster played right-handed) I find the Explorer a step too far in "out there" concepts, but I do know that you like Explorers John. j e&oe...
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Apr 22, 2019 6:39:26 GMT -6
That's good advice John, I had thought about it because the only other time I tried it the nut was off the fretboard. I remember that I finished up making a new nut (two actually because bone can be inconsistent in hardness and careful filing suddenly went too far in a couple of strokes. Also, I'm not exactly certain that the one on there already is actually bone. It could be a hard plastic. I keep looking but I just cannot be certain. I can see this 'Bird going for a set up because it's a serious guitar. Oddly enough, although the Firebird is a bit angular (if only like a south paw Jazzmaster played right-handed) I find the Explorer a step too far in "out there" concepts, but I do know that you like Explorers John. j e&oe...Good point - I've seen a lot of nuts which were not bone, but some clever substitute unknown to the owner. Sometimes you have to do the smell test - sand a bit and smell! Very distinctive aroma. Remember that Gibson used nylon nuts on late 50s Les Paul bursts, which are thought by many to be the gold standard of guitar tone. I do like Explorers because they remind me of those monster fins on American cars from the 50s! In addition, some of my favorite guitarists used Explorers, from Clapton to Rick Derringer to Ace from KISS. I think they were just ahead of their time in the late 50s, which is funny considering the design aesthetic of that era. John
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Post by dnic on Apr 22, 2019 7:17:44 GMT -6
The V and the EX were really ahead of their time even considering the car esthetic. In 57' with their strange shapes and weird new wood. And then the SG still called the LP. Gibson must have really thought their LP sales were dismal to be trying all these new designs. IDK maybe they were frightened by Fender's Strat and electric bass.
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Post by antares on Apr 22, 2019 9:07:42 GMT -6
I liked Vee-s when I was very young because they were "racy" in an elevated Strat way, but over time I realised that a design which needed a ribbed rubber pad to keep it on your leg whilst sitting was not a good thing. Albert King used to crook his over his leg so there's always a way. The Explorer just seemed a bit too "out there" for me and that string angle over the nut is painful just to look at. I first encountered the Firebird on the inside of Roxy Music's "For Your Pleasure" gatefold sleeve, although it was a long while before I knew what it was in those pre-internet days. Phil Manzanera's red 'Bird was a seven. I do regret not sticking out for a Five, but the Zebrawood is still a great guitar (ignoring the machine heads!) Anyway- Polly Jean Harvey plays a Seven and Chester Burnett played a 'Bird. What better reason than The Wolf ;<D
Sun's been out big time here. Hope you had a good Easter break guys.
e&oe...
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Post by antares on Apr 22, 2019 9:10:35 GMT -6
I forgot to mention, those revered early 335s had Nylon saddles and so some of the greatest tunes of all time were played on Nylon components. Lest we forget...
e&oe...
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