Ok, I have these on the way:
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.
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.
Comments
Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.
Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.
Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com. Facebook too!
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?
Been looking at this model for a while and I also have some EMG pups kicking around.
Looks like it's on
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.