It came from under the stairs...

slotrod65 · 08-03-2010, 12:25 PM

I dropped my Wife off at the mall the other day, and took the opportunity to stop into one of my local guitar shops. I was simply wasting time, drooling over new Jags and custom shop Teles. One of the things I like about this shop is that they have a "wall of shame" under the stairway, where the el-cheapo, traded in guitars dwell. There is always something interesting under there, even if it is just due to its wonderful junkiness.

Today, there was a hollow body guitar. Now, I am a sucker for el-cheapo guitars, ever since I discovered Silvertones back in the early 1980's. This sparkle black guitar appeared almost new, with the exception of the headstock logo. The previous owner must have been embarrassed about owning it as the logo was scribbled/painted over. I tried the guitar out through a Fender Blues Jr, and really cranked on it, to see what it could do. I was frankly impressed. The clear channel gave me a nice bright, semi hollow sound, and when over driven I got some pretty great, if a bit thin crunch. The guitar felt great to play, and the sound was OK, but lacked oomph. I was especially impressed with the neck, which was pretty shallow, and the action, which was low. The best part was the price: $99!

Here is the kicker: This was a Delia by First Act. I have owned a LOT of guitars over the years, everything from Strats to Teles to Gibson to Vox. I am a Fender Guy. But I have learned one thing: Sometimes a cheapo guitar can be a real sleeper.

I picked up my Wife from the mall and burted out: "I found a guitar that I really liked, and it was only $99!" Now, I presently have 6 guitars and basses, and my Wife has told me before that 6 is enough. To my suprise, she said: "Do you still have that $75 VISA card you won as a bonus from work?" I said, Yeah.... She went on: "Well then, the guitar will only be $24 then, right?" I said Yeah!! We drove to the shop, and I brought it to the counter. The shop owner said, "Wait, this has a case." Whaaaa?... I was sure it would be a soft guitar bag, but he came back with an Ibanez hardshell case!

Cheapo guitar, and a hardcase, for $24 out of my pocket. I had a great day!

When I got home, I tried it out through my VOX AC15, and I was still pretty happy.

Then, I cranked up my laptop for some research. I have found out that this is a First Act CE540 "Delia." It is made in China, and supposedly had a list price of $499, but based on my internet research, they actually were listed at $250-$300.

As the pickups are the weakness of this guitar IMHO, so I was thinking of replacing them. Then, it hit me: I have a set of GFS Memphis "Rick" style pickups in the basement! These plus a hollow body guitar should give me something to "jangle" with.

Then I took the guitar apart to add the pickups. Of course, the GFS Memphis pickups did not quite fit the First Act pickup mounting rings. Five minutes with a round jeweler's file, and some sanding sticks took care of that.

I unsoldered the old pickups, threaded in the new wires, and soldered them in. I was very pleased how easily this went.

I re-attached the neck, then restrung and tuned it. Then came the moment of truth: I plugged her in, and both pickups worked! another day!

The pickups really, really change the look of this guitar. The sound is much better.... but I really wanted some single coil edge...The new GFS pickups are supposed to mimic the Rickenbacker sound, but Rick pickups are single coil. So I was thinking of splitting the coils, and to avoid the mess of new switch holes, I should replace each volume with a vol/push-pull pot. I also figured that while I was at it, I should replace the caps and tone pot as well.

Last night I took the plunge and rewired this lil' puppy.
Each vol knob was replaced with with a Bournes 500K push/pull pot, the tone with a 500K CTS pot. Also added was a .022 orange drop cap.

The pot mounting holes had to be massaged just a tad to 3/8", as the originals were just a hair smaller in diameter.
Then is was just soldering from there on in.

With the push/pulls I am able to split each pickup, individually, into a single coil. The sound is super thin, and this morning I was able to get some neato, almost fuzz like distortion from the bridge pickup. Frankly, I am always nervous when I do a major rewire, and am afraid that I might plug in, and nothing will work.... But this time, I was really happy.

I love cheapo guitars!!

Phred

ratdog472 · 08-03-2010, 12:35 PM

Are you sure you didn't steal that? For $24 you know you did.

The prices on those are insane for a First Act guitar. Good score! Now all we need are some sound clips.

I have always contended that cheapo guitars are in ways better than overpriced Gib$ons. We already know that Squier has it's advantages over a regular Fender ($ x Mods).

richieryan · 08-03-2010, 02:37 PM

That's way cool. I thought the First Act brand was just a wal-mart thing.

BillStickers · 08-03-2010, 03:12 PM

Fantastic story

some nice lines in there

"There is always something interesting under there, even if it is just due to its wonderful junkiness."
Me likes that

Great score. Very cool.
Nice one.
Thanks for sharing

pictoratus · 08-03-2010, 08:51 PM

Regardless of how they sounded, those pickups 'made' the look on that guitar!

S. Rock · 08-03-2010, 09:00 PM

cool story. congrats on getting and modding your guitar. when I see the name "First Act", I usually shy away from them. but you've done alright !

pictoratus · 08-03-2010, 09:46 PM

Forgot to add ... Great thread title!

GordonRules24 · 08-03-2010, 10:07 PM

That's a sweet guitar! I didn't even know First Act made something as upscale as a hollowbody. Congrats! By the way, if you're feeling really adventurous, that thing would look really great with a Bigsby!

AllroyPA · 08-03-2010, 10:39 PM

I dont' kmow if you're a writer but you should be, great story. H.N.G.D~!@

Hugh · 08-04-2010, 02:18 AM

Cool story and outcome ! congrats, looks cool

Looks kind of Gretschy

YeahDoIt · 08-04-2010, 06:31 AM

What an exciting story! The guitar looks so pretty now. I wonder if you can take the "First Act" logo off the headstock and replace it with your name.

I think the really cheap guitars vary in quality from poor to occasionally very good.

slotrod65 · 08-04-2010, 09:22 AM

I have been toying with refinishing this in another color, since black just fades away on stage. It sure would scream in Candy Apple Red, but I have other projects to complete first, so that will have to wait a while.

squierjosh · 08-04-2010, 09:40 AM

Hmm....

Amazon.com: First Act Delia - Limited Edition...

slotrod65 · 08-04-2010, 11:44 AM

Yeah, First Act has an odd sort of business plan. They do produce limited edition, high end guitars like the one above, and then selll millions of cheapo Chinese produced clones at Walmart, Toys R Us, Target, etc. In fact, in Guitar Shops I have seen both a bolt on, and a set neck version of the Delia, both foreign made and asking about $200. Do they believe that if some "Rock Star" plays a $2200.00 Delia, that millions will want to purchase a cheaper version?

Well, it worked for Fender. The real difference is that it is often hard to tell the difference between the two First Act versions, while Fender at least markets theirs as Custom Shop, MIA, MIM, MIJ, Squier, Affinity, etc.

As I said, I like cheapo guitars, that happen to play well. I would not buy a $2200.00 guitar, even if I won the lottery. Really.

Phred

dannyvawn · 08-04-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slotrod65

Well, it worked for Fender. The real difference is that it is often hard to tell the difference between the two First Act versions, while Fender at least markets theirs as Custom Shop, MIA, MIM, MIJ, Squier, Affinity, etc.

Phred

I disagree, It is very easy to tell the difference between them. All of the LEG's and Custom models have set necks while the cheaper imports have bolt on's. The only way a higher model has a bolt neck is if it is a custom made model and the buyer requests it.

slotrod65 · 08-04-2010, 03:48 PM

I am not so sure that the set neck means a $2000 custom First Act guitar. My Delia is a CE530, which is a bolt on. The CE540 was a set neck, and cost about the same when new:

http://www.austinbazaar.com/product/...ight-Blue.html

My local Daddy's Junky Music has a Delia CE540 set neck for $152.99, used. I played this yesterday. It has a set neck, and is another great guitar for the money.

All three guitars are Delias, and two have set necks. If First Act had labeled (on the guitar, not in their sales lit) each guitar differently, such as a Delia Custom, Delia Value, Delia Standard, then I think people would have a better understanding of what value level they were looking at.

Ph

dannyvawn · 08-04-2010, 04:47 PM

I was wrong, you were right. I didnt know that existed. Maybe I will do better research next time. God I feel like such an ass for being the only person on here that has ever been wrong. Now I must go run 9 gauge guitar strings 1/2 inch under my fingernails. That will teach me.

slotrod65 · 08-04-2010, 05:20 PM

Hey, no worries. I still find it odd that First Act came out with three versions of this guitar. Two makes sense to me (custom shop and mass market version), but 3????

It just means that we have more cheap-but decent guitars!

Stratatattat · 08-04-2010, 06:24 PM

beautifully done! is it hard to rewire a semi hollowbody? i was always afraid to mess with things thru the f-holes...

slotrod65 · 08-05-2010, 09:04 AM

Well.... this is a First Act guitar, not a Gibson ES335, and there is a 4" x 8" control cavity on the back.... so access was no problem at all.

horax · 08-11-2010, 11:34 AM

If you were to repaint it, I'd go with Olympic White with black trim. Make it look like a tuxedo of sorts. THAT would be classy.