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nighto5150
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Post subject: Johns 'Ed's Baby' Build #1
 Posted: Apr 15, 2012 - 04:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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Hey folks! I figure now is a better time than any to publicly document my first ‘Ed’s baby’ build. (Yes my name is John and this thread’s titled as #1 with the hopes I’ll build another in the future LOL) I actually started this a few months ago… working on it off and on when I have the spare time, time of which I haven’t had much of lately. I’m newly married and remodeling the home (Holmes on Homes rocks). That Canuck sure knows his stuff! At the rate I’m going now, I’ll be done with my build sometime in the next 50 years. But one thing I’ve learned, and am practicing now with successful results, is that patience is a virtue.
I want to first off thank all of you guys for the exceptional build documentation along with the unbelievable guitars you’re all building. Of course I can’t thank those enough responsible for starting Halen.com which is an endless cornucopia of VH guitar information, documentation, facts and juicy speculation. It’s been a dream come true for confirming things I’ve thought were true about Ed’s guitars, learning tons of new stuff I thought never existed, and of course seeing up close in detail how you guys have attacked your builds. What an outlet! It’s amazing how much we all think alike  So here we go… this will be very slow going and please give me as much input and correction as you can. I know I’ll miss something |
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nighto5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 15, 2012 - 04:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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So here is my parts inventory… stuff I have and stuff I don’t have yet. All accompanied with some detail:
** The body and neck – Prior to purchase, I was deciding between Musikraft and Divebomb. It was a tough decision but I went with DB. I felt like I was a rope in a tug-of-war match! Both are great builders. I’ll go with MK for my next build. The body is 1-piece Northern Ash, and the neck is 2-piece 2A birdseye, Charvel San Dimas neck specs, 1 ¾” nut width. Nice work Kyle!
** Some misc parts – Couldn’t go wrong with Allparts.com. The pickguard and other ‘nick-nack’ stuff from there… machine head screws, pickguard screws, neck plate screws. The eye-bolts are from Lowes.
** Floyd Rose – I have a stash of parts I’ve been squandering for years, luckily an original Floyd w/ R2 nut was in the mix. I also have a pair of black bridge screws that were already ratted out nicely on the top (black paint peel with rust coloration). My wife complains I’m a pack rat of small little cr@p… this is how being a pack rat pays off!
** Tuners – My original intent was to go with the typical mass produced Schaller Mini’s as seen on the Fender reps, as well as being on the original at one point per the exposed holes drilled on it. My hope on finding original crowns has always been slim, even though I can’t help to Ebay it from time to time. (Steve you’re a lucky b@st@rdo!) I did in fact find manage to find some two screw tab Schallers though. I figure even though these aren’t currently on Ed’s baby, there were on the neck at one point in time. So I gobbled these up quickly.
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Nix5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 15, 2012 - 08:12 PM
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Joined: Aug 31, 2011
Posts: 1274
Location: indiana
Status: Offline
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Dude things are looking good so far can't wait to watch this build, while I'm. Working on my #1 build.  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 - 03:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 22, 2011
Posts: 829
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phew John, that's already a very very impressive group of parts right there, and congrats on the tuners! looking forward to seeing this thread move forward...  |
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Steve_U1S
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 16, 2012 - 06:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 13, 2009
Posts: 945
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
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Can I borrow those tuners? I seem to have misplaced my safety pin...
(And inside one for those who've looked through the nitty-gritty depths of the QGS build thread...)
Nice parts... Looking forward to the development of this thread.
Cheers. |
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nighto5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 01:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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Steve: Thanks! And I do in fact admire the inprov skilz you displayed with the safety pin... a step I would perform as well if I had a set of crowns, simulating the way the original is today. I did though contemplate on simulating the holes for the crowns, but then I thought the order/chronology of Ed's installation of the various tuners would be off. I'm not 100% certain of this but if I were to guess:
*The two screw tab Schallers were on this neck first
*The typical W. German Schallers second
*Then finally the rare crowns as it is today.
If this is truly the case, the Fender replica is wrong (Schaller mini's with the crown screw holes exposed) but there aren't too many rear headstock pics of Ed's original neck during each phase so who knows the exact truth, and Ed could have swapped tuners every month so who knows.
With this, I'm just leaving these tuners on without the visible crown tuner holes. I'll only do this whole process if I manage to find a set of crowns, which will take an act of God. |
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nighto5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 03:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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Since we're on topic of tuners:
When I received the tuners, the screw threading in some of the tuners casings were gunked up with God knows what... because I couldn't screw the top nuts in all of the way. Initially I was a little alarmed thinking they were cross threaded. Upon further inspection I saw that wasn't the case, so some squirts of WD-40 did the trick and on they went.
*Loosely lined up all tuners parallel to edge of headstock, then tightened.
*Used a tiny pick to puncture pilot holes for screw tab screws, then screwed away.
*Installed R2 nut and string retainer.
*Drilled the two extra string retainer holes by the low E tuner: One from the previous position of the string retainer, and the other from the legacy 'flat on both sides' Floyd Rose string retainer (as seen when this neck was on the Rasta).
It's amazing how long I spent lining up the string retainer at that odd slant! I had to have spent an hour looking at pics until I was comfortable with drilling! The same went for the two extra holes by the low E tuner.
Another little observation are the black nut washers on the tuners... looks kinda cool! Wondering if these are original but I think they are. Looking at the pic of PCR's tuner and that washer looks black too.
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Last edited by nighto5150 on Apr 17, 2012 - 03:07 PM; edited 1 time in total
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Steve_U1S
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 03:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 13, 2009
Posts: 945
Location: Toronto, Canada
Status: Offline
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Sounds like a good plan - besides, with luck, you will turn up a set of crowns; then you'll want the holes in the right places =]
And, I honestly suspect that tuners danced on and off of there much like the necks danced on the bodies...
Cheers. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 17, 2012 - 03:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 22, 2011
Posts: 829
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| that's what I love about this place, learn something new every day! Love your observations on the tuners and the retainer John, great stuff. You're right also, my washers are almost black. In fact most of the washers are black or almost black on all the vintage tuners I've bought (WG SChallers for my VH1 and 80s Gotohs for my 5150). Wasn't sure myself about them on the others, but I'm keeping as is on my build, Goes with the vibe. |
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nighto5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 04:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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Pickups:
I personally haven't heard an Duncan EVH in person, so I took a leap of faith in using one for this build based solely on everyones input here in this forum. I did test it out after all my modifications and it sounds out of this world.
I had some apprehension at first when it came time to start tearing into this thing to nasty it up being this is the first thing on my list of things to beat up. But as I got into it I started taking great joy in the fact that I was finally in process and the apprehension soon wore off. From there on out, beating things on on this project has become par for the coarse : )
Pretty much the only thing I didn't relic myself is the neck single coil... I purchased one of Johnny's Replicator X's. I just can't begin to tell you what an outstanding job you did Johnny! Your communications were superb, ordering and delivery fast, and your work is just awesome. Thanks!
So the steps I took to nasty up the humbucker:
* Used a rat-tail file to simulate string wear on front edge of PU (low E,A,D areas).
* Lightly threw sand marks and dulling on top of bobbins with mucho light grit sandpaper.
* Drilled out pickup screw holes just a skosh on the long-leg baseplate as the SD screws are a bit too big. I used a 49.2mm baseplate I got on Ebay. Thanks Steve for your input on this.
* Started aging pickup baseplate after drilling (stewing it in muriatic acid with some copper Romex soaking on the bottom).
* Carefully removed original baseplate and coil tape. Soldered on new baseplate.
* Temporarily installed the pickup in one of my existing guitars to verify I didn’t destroy it. Oh it works fine BTW : )
I re-used the original pickup tape, but with the wax all over it, it barely sticks. I'm not sure if I should keep it as-is for the cruddy affect, or wrap a few new pieces. Your guys opinions are appreciated!
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jimi1647
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 04:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 17, 2011
Posts: 690
Location: USA
Status: Offline
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| Fantastic relic job on the pick-up, John! And great score on the two screw Schallers! I need a set for my Unchained replica... |
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nighto5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 05:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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jimi1647 wrote:
Fantastic relic job on the pick-up, John! And great score on the two screw Schallers! I need a set for my Unchained replica...
Thanks a ton Jimi! It means a lot coming from you. I felt I hit the lotto with those tuners but gave up hope on finding another set until I saw PCR found a set. So there's hope. I'm in process of gathering parts for my 'Rude' build... when Ed had the strat neck on the rude, were these type of tuners on it also? Or is that the same neck that was on Unchained/Rasta and now Frankie? Lotsa questions regarding the Rude : ) |
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 06:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 15, 2010
Posts: 1878
Location: NY
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John,
Thanks for the kind words brother. I do appreciate that, it's always nice to know folks are happy. Now I know why I pass the labeling on to the "wife" dept of JBM Guitars because mine is so sloppy....lol.
I have to say that you did a stellar job on the humbucker...now just sign it for that extra mojo...  |
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www.JBMGuitars.net
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nighto5150
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 06:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 27, 2011
Posts: 328
Status: Offline
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Johnny62 wrote:
John,
Thanks for the kind words brother. I do appreciate that, it's always nice to know folks are happy. Now I know why I pass the labeling on to the "wife" dept of JBM Guitars because mine is so sloppy....lol.
I have to say that you did a stellar job on the humbucker...now just sign it for that extra mojo...
OMG I forgot to sign it!!! LOL Ok The signing ceremony will be coming up soon... I'll send invites to you all and do a live video feed of the illustrious event!
Your kudo's mean a lot Johnny... coming from the relic master! I'll actually be hittin you up on a reflector set sometime soon. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Apr 18, 2012 - 06:53 PM
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Joined: Dec 15, 2010
Posts: 1878
Location: NY
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nighto5150 wrote:
Johnny62 wrote:
John,
Thanks for the kind words brother. I do appreciate that, it's always nice to know folks are happy. Now I know why I pass the labeling on to the "wife" dept of JBM Guitars because mine is so sloppy....lol.
I have to say that you did a stellar job on the humbucker...now just sign it for that extra mojo...
OMG I forgot to sign it!!! LOL Ok The signing ceremony will be coming up soon... I'll send invites to you all and do a live video feed of the illustrious event!
Your kudo's mean a lot Johnny... coming from the relic master! I'll actually be hittin you up on a reflector set sometime soon.
Cool but they are actually Scottb5150's sets. I host him on my site, so once he tells me I can put 'em back in stock i'll let you know..Good guy that Scott! |
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