New build ideas based around a single item of hardware

MattNovak

Right, so the 9/10ths FB is virtually done and settling in. The weird Zemaitis-y thing is in progress.

I have a lovely short Maestro trem from Guitar Slinger in Germany which is going unused, so time to think about what to use it for. Does anyone else get inspiration this way? At present, I'm thinking a smaller Korina Explorer to keep 'on theme' with the FB as I also have some 70's LP mini humbuckers... that will likely change overnight though  

Any suggestions? Cool vintage Epi's are also a possibility for inspiration.

Staty safe all,

Matt

MattNovak

I also have one of these old Framus pickups somewhere, they'd be a ball ache to mount though...

 

TTony

I sometimes build stuff around pickups.



Gibson Nighthawk p’up ... because I love how it sounds in my Gibson Nighthawk.



The one on the right built around a set of Gibson PAFs ..



... so a LP-esque seemed appropriate.

paulnb57

Ive done it a few times, seen a bit of hardware then planned a build around it, your Firebird did, so I’m building a Fenderbird bitsa with a custom made body
Ive alsogot a Bigsby Bowtie bridge that Im planning a build around......

greggreg66

I think that’s a great idea as a starting point for a build

MattNovak

Hmm - just looking at vintage Epiphone Wilshires - the dogs hair finish in particular. Ticks the maestro and mini humbucker boxes! 

earwighoney

MattNovak said:

Any suggestions? Cool vintage Epi's are also a possibility for inspiration.

I'm not a guitar maker, but a buyer/player and aside from Tony's aspect from building the guitar around the pickups (which makes a lot of sense), as a player (I play fingerstyle) I like bridges with wider string spacing, then getting pickups that fit the wider string spacing as well.

@TTony I really like all those guitars, in particular the finishes; I like the natural look opposed to some nitro guitars one which can be a bit too shiny, the LP with the PAF's is an an absolute stunner in particular. Fine work. 

Danielsguitars

earwighoney said:

MattNovak said:

Any suggestions? Cool vintage Epi's are also a possibility for inspiration.

I'm not a guitar maker, but a buyer/player and aside from Tony's aspect from building the guitar around the pickups (which makes a lot of sense), as a player (I play fingerstyle) I like bridges with wider string spacing, then getting pickups that fit the wider string spacing as well.

@TTony I really like all those guitars, in particular the finishes; I like the natural look opposed to some nitro guitars one which can be a bit too shiny, the LP with the PAF's is an an absolute stunner in particular. Fine work. 

You'd like the mojo dual foil doesn't matter what bridge you use, it's still epic

earwighoney

Danielsguitars said:

You'd like the mojo dual foil doesn't matter what bridge you use, it's still epic

It has rubber ceramic magnets, string spacing doesn't matter with those? I've been listening to a lot of Harmony H44's recently and I think I might have read the Hershey Bar of that is half a Mojo Dual Foil.

The problem with Mojo Marc's pickups is he makes too many interesting designs!

TTony

earwighoney said:

@TTony I really like all those guitars, in particular the finishes; I like the natural look opposed to some nitro guitars one which can be a bit too shiny, the LP with the PAF's is an an absolute stunner in particular. Fine work. 

Thanks @earwighoney ; - for me it's partly a matter of choice (I prefer to see and feel the wood under a finish) and lack of skills/equipment to do anything else!

impmann

MattNovak said:

I also have one of these old Framus pickups somewhere, they'd be a ball ache to mount though...

 

Pretty sure those are the Bill Lawrence designed nuts he also marketed under his own name.
I built a Tele around one, as a homage to a hero of mine - Steve Marriott, who had a very similar guitar in the late days of the Small Faces.
As it turns out, these pickups are utterly incredible. Definitely a ‘lost gem’ with a tonality that’s in the P90 camp but got its own thing going on. Oh, and it’s HOT - about 9k but still has treble clarity. 

Honestly it’s one of my favourite guitars now, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
Pic for you - you can see the bigger Lawrence mount (it’s a bit ugly but I like it). 

PhilKing

I picked up a Schaller 8-string bass bridge and then had to put together an 8-string bass.  I think I've used it a couple of times since!

With a short vibrola and two mini himbuckers, you could make an Epiphone batwing Wilshire.  I think they are very cool, I have a batwing Coronet (the junior version):

Sarge

 Built around a set of Westone tuners, which I didn't use because I didn't realise right handed tuners shouldn't be used on a lefty neck

MattNovak

Great looking tele (and others) @TTony ;

@impmann , I had three of the Framus pickups (rescued from a 60's 335 alike) but two are in a Tele now... did it years ago and the guitar itself is at my parents in storage. Will have to dig it out and reappraise it once the madness is over! Also, didn't we trade a 335 / LP Jr some years back?  

@PhilKing thats lovely. I'll see what I can find in terms of plans (only really need the body outline, I do my own thing with necks and scale length etc - just to get the shape right)

@Sarge, your strat looks lovely with the matching headstock. 


Fretboarders logic: I have a single ferrule: it cannot go unused - I must build an entire guitar around it  

impmann

@MattNovak I think we did! Foolishly I let the 335 go a while back... I regretted it soon after.

DrBob

In answer to the OP, yep it’s how most of my builds start 

Funkfingers

Ah, yes. The ol' Melvyn Hiscock Syndrome, as described in his book, Make Your Own Electric Guitar. Complete one build. Observe your container of unused parts. Devise a new build to use up these parts. 

sawyer

Build a 9/10 reverse Firebird with single pickup and your maestro wobbly bit? Or, you know when you turn a reverse Firebird upside down and it looks right,apart from the knobs wrong side? A reverse,reversed Firebird. Single pickup and maestro. Would look awesome.

MattNovak

Great suggestions all, thanks. The British answer to the Epi stuff?