1984 Japanese Epiphone Sheraton

danishbacon

More of a curiosity query here. Any idea why the pots inside some Japanese epis are so massive? They're something around a 50p coin in diameter. 




Edit: what I've been able to find online has been so sparse, figured I could consolidate some info on this thread on particular features that differentiate this Wine Red 1984 Matsumoku made Epiphone Sheraton. Maybe it can be useful to someone. 

simonhpieman

Oo, get a pic online. My Japanese Riviera has been messed with so much I've no idea what's supposed to be on there or not!

danishbacon

Here are some photos @simonhpieman. Very difficult to photograph the pots and am not sure I could even try to swing one out of place for a better shot as they're so big.

Adam_MD

I think they're metal covers around the pots rather than the pots themselves.  At least that's what mine look like on my 82 riviera.  I've never taken them out though.  I've not had to. 

danishbacon

Adam_MD said:

I think they're metal covers around the pots rather than the pots themselves.  At least that's what mine look like on my 82 riviera.  I've never taken them out though.  I've not had to. 

Interesting. I've googled every keyword I could think of and can't find any images of these pots/covers. There is some solder on them, can't tell whether they are soldered do to the pots or somehow pressed on. Might have to pull one to quench the curiosity. @ICBM ever seen these? 

They've got a nice taper and the tone is good across the range. 

Someone mentioned they may be military? pots. 

ICBM

They won't be military pots, they're shielding cans. Gibson used them in the 1970s - I didn't remember Epiphones having them, but I can't remember when I last saw a proper Japanese Epiphone like that.

danishbacon

Bingo @ICBM ;
Cheers mate
http://www.es-335.com/2010/06/16/what-the-heck-is-a-shielding-can/

simonhpieman

Yeah my 70s Starcaster has shielding cans. Seems a bit overkill on humbucker guitars?

The solder keeps the can sealed.

ICBM

simonhpieman said:

Yeah my 70s Starcaster has shielding cans. Seems a bit overkill on humbucker guitars?

It's to stop a completely different type of noise - electrostatic rather than magnetic - but I agree it is generally overkill.

shugz

Usually only 3 pots if similar in style to the older Gibbo setup. The last cover doesn't usually fit!

H

danishbacon

Pickups:

I've not measured the pickups but the Maxon MMK75 are supposed to be PAF type humbucker, generally of the same output brdge and neck. According to a forum post I came across, they're Alnico II and supposed to measure sub 8k. Reference. 




Routes:

The Bridge route goes into the centre block, presumably to allow for the massive shielded pots and harness to be fed into place with less difficulty than through the F hole. Curiously there is a factory installed woodscrew to Edit: align the neck joint. 

 

 

skikdi53

@danishbacon, mine is like your's, nothing wrong, many semi-hollow from Matsumoku have this woodscrew.

ICBM

It’s not to strengthen the neck joint - the glue is far stronger once it’s set, you could take the screw out and it would make no difference - it’s to fix the alignment precisely during assembly.

Gibson might do well to use something similar...

danishbacon

skikdi53 said:

@danishbacon, mine is like your's, nothing wrong, many semi-hollow from Matsumoku have this woodscrew.

Cheers, didn't suspect something wrong, rather curious as I'd not seen a neck joint like this before and being under the paint was obviously there for a reason. 

@ICBM, makes sense now once I think about it, given how the neck could wobble laterally during install and a couple of mm off would mean strings out of center on the neck? 

ICBM

danishbacon said:

@ICBM, makes sense now once I think about it, given how the neck could wobble laterally during install and a couple of mm off would mean strings out of center on the neck? 

The lateral fit is actually pretty good because it's between two vertical faces, but it should also allow precise control of the neck angle depending on how much you tighten the screw, if there is a small amount of wiggle room on the bottom - this is something Gibson have a real problem with.

danishbacon

ICBM said:

danishbacon said:

@ICBM, makes sense now once I think about it, given how the neck could wobble laterally during install and a couple of mm off would mean strings out of center on the neck? 

The lateral fit is actually pretty good because it's between two vertical faces, but it should also allow precise control of the neck angle depending on how much you tighten the screw, if there is a small amount of wiggle room on the bottom - this is something Gibson have a real problem with.

So, if there is a bit of gap at bottom and screw is gradually making the neck angle shallower as it is screwed in, what keeps it from getting even shallower as the glue dries? Drying position or would they stick a shim in there? 

ICBM

danishbacon said:

So, if there is a bit of gap at bottom and screw is gradually making the neck angle shallower as it is screwed in, what keeps it from getting even shallower as the glue dries? Drying position or would they stick a shim in there? 

If it's a fairly tight fit it won't move once the screw is set where you want it.

This isn't something I've ever done by the way, I've just read that it's what it was for... and it is certainly true that all the Japanese manufacturers seem to be able to get better accuracy of the neck angle than Gibson do