Niallmo's Goldtop EMG Relic.

Niallmo

Ok, I have these on the way:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/96CDFE8D-B30E-48D0-A708-70AD922F50F1_zpstopcwzwg.jpg

Harley Benton L-400 Gold Top Classic.  B-Stock.  Satin finish so ripe for a light relic job. No belt sander, just a bit of play wear, a bit like the Hetfield ESP Truckster but less severe.

May go for other aged parts, possibly some Grover tuners and a decal of some kind behind the bridge. Either a pin up girl or something like an Iron Cross.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/19B530CA-9F5D-44D1-BB52-010A612BAB37_zpsosbubq48.jpg

I already had the 81 & 85 but the wiring kit is also from Thomann, £10 cheaper to my door than the UK stockists.

Total cost so far is less than £100 and about £180 if you include the EMG's. I can sell the Warlock they are in to recoup a bit of it though.

Niallmo

It's arrived. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/7BD4E900-BF60-42FB-9CA3-08A2FA33D7DE_zpsbj1rrrld.jpg B-stock...1mm hole in the headstock inlay, untidy finish around the neck joint and again around the cutaway. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/B5FE9E19-8598-4C49-822C-2B9608DEA840_zpsnhtxyer1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/5D7D422D-BAC2-4A48-92A2-49EE316EDD01_zps6egu41nq.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/605DA1F1-B3AE-4EC1-B329-6A8C54D61FE9_zpsrxjj4sfc.jpg Apart from those its fretted well, plays well and has a good sustain acoustically. Feels a lot like the HoneyBurst I have. Overall it looks great too. Satin finish all over. Once again, for the money it's fantastic. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/A8C3880A-68CA-4333-BAC2-709EEF941FD0_zpsykn2dm7p.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/FA9C464B-2884-4869-8989-01495911BAF5_zpsohw0umc9.jpg Wiring kit is waiting at the post office. Hopefully get the EMG's in tomorrow.

Niallmo

Post-2

Niallmo

Post-3

entee

post 1-3 not showing here mate @Niallmo

FelineGuitars

I think he has reserved those slots for the next updates so it'll read easily when the project is finished??

Niallmo

Yup, just placeholders...

Niallmo

It's here...see above....

Niallmo

Let's just ignore the reserved posts lol.

Anyway, the wiring kit has been picked up and this morning I gave myself a bit of a challenge. Could I strip out and re-wire the Gold Top with EMG wiring and pickups while my one year old son had his nap?!

A reminder...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/EE5171D8-BAA5-4C0A-9A80-A499262A801C_zpspa9tbkaj.jpg

Sounds good with its stock pickups. Lowered the action a bit, now plays well too.

Here the stuff to go in....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/564D1F2B-5E82-4305-A2CE-EC7DE545D9D4_zpselxh9cid.jpg

Start the clock (Thomas goes for him nap...)

Original wiring...,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/B7F215AE-CAAB-41BA-9F52-58511951E346_zpsq62zupcg.jpg

Long neck tennon??

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/A778596F-1C24-47B7-952B-6C0099465EE8_zpsusscieq3.jpg

Seems fairly well constructed, laminate basswood body.

Pots in and pickups installed...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/C395A919-8BB8-4CE6-A422-76F59824EEB6_zpszpvuaeb0.jpg

Now link everything up...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/747D9F44-5A7B-4F92-8266-0DC88C238AA6_zpstkswyb4o.jpg

Worked first time! Had to move two wires as the switch was upside down, bridge in the "up" position. Not exactly neat but it all fits.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/EF416D89-DD0C-469D-A1A4-0299EDEF43AD_zpsimjawvnt.jpg

Very pleased, and it took about an hour, my son slept for over two hours so I set up the Tomkat in the final pic too!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/E9935A01-3788-481A-9DE3-EC10C246D30D_zpspcxncrua.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v375/Niallmo/743F3F53-CCA4-42B3-A728-39C893FD9A11_zpsiz0hpyc1.jpg

Now, do I perform a light relic job on it?

entee

looks great!  not a fan of relicing but that's just me    Nice to see a straight forward modification. 

Fortheloveofguitar

Looks great buddy!

Been looking at this model for a while and I also have some EMG pups kicking around.

Looks like it's on

JudasVigilante

Firstly, I love this guitar, a LP goldtop for that money is amazing. Bet those EMG's sound amazing. I have a question about the active Pickups though. I've never had a set in any guitar of my 20 odd. How often do you have to change the battery, do you have to take the cavity guard of quite regularly? You've just answered a long standing querry of mine as regards to where you put the battery in one of these active EMG guitars. I thought you had to start and cut a section of the body out to put it, but in the control plate cavity is much better. May attempt one some day. As for relicing, It's it's up to you, I'm sure it'll look amazing either way.,But it'll be hard to start and rough up that gorgeous gold finish!

Niallmo

@judasvigilante thanks! Yes it does sound fantastic, the batteries last over 100 hours IIRC. It'll be months before I need to change it. You can get holders that clip into the back of the cavity plate too. Mine just about all fits in the cavity. You can put the battery wherever it will fit so if there's space within the original body it's all good. .

guitarfishbay

@Niallmo @JudasVigilante ;

100 hours is incorrect.

If they are normal EMGs (not the X series) and you have no other active controls you should get 1500 hours out of a two pickup guitar on a single 9v battery.  

It is important that you don't leave a cable plugged in to the guitar when not playing as otherwise the battery will continue to drain.

http://www.emgpickups.com/media/productfile/p/o/powertips_tricks_0230-0190c.pdf