Finally ordred the stuff.

Skribbles · 08-22-2010, 11:14 AM

Well after much self debating and researching and trying to press that "buy button", I finally ordered a few things from GFS to mod/upgrade my CY Bullet.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/BHM-St...rd_p_1182.html

I didn't want to go with this but couldn't really find a cleaner way of moving that volume pot (quite often hit it by accident) and being able to turn each pickup on individually.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/105mm-...CK_p_1158.html

http://store.guitarfetish.com/Now-ST...ck-_p_514.html
GFS don't have any chrome roller trees (or atleast that is what the website says) so I figured staggered tuners would be nice and do away with trees all together.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/Xavier...046_p_902.html
Cause it's cheap and I desperately need new strings (running a set of dunlop 10's with the stock bullet 11ga (B string), I broke the E-string and still had the original strings).

http://store.guitarfetish.com/Import...mm_p_1472.html
Might have a go at replacing the nut meself (was planing on spending $150AU taking it to a luthier to put a graphtech nut and complete setup anyway but if I can do the nut meself, that's a bonus).
I thought about going with the bone nut but wasn't sure if it would be a wise idea, not knowing the quality, atleast the graphite should be more uniform I figure.

All that should be headed my way soon (can't wait!) then I just need some new pickups (thinking of a set from D.Allen).

Will update this thread when the stuff gets here and might take a few pics and stuff.

Cheers.

motoman45 · 08-22-2010, 11:51 AM

wow thats a box full....it will be awesome!!!!!!!!!!

Squirr · 08-22-2010, 12:00 PM

Happy modding!

dannyvawn · 08-22-2010, 12:09 PM

You could also check with John Benson at bensoncustom.com for pickups.
He makes good custom wounds. Right around $75 shipping included.
He also does rewinds for $25 shipping included I believe.

Shipping to Australia is probably more.

5thumbs · 08-22-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

You could also check with John Benson at bensoncustom.com for pickups.
He makes good custom wounds. Right around $75 shipping included.
He also does rewinds for $25 shipping included I believe.

Shipping to Australia is probably more.

Have you used Benson P/U's if so how do ya like em?

dannyvawn · 08-22-2010, 03:07 PM

I have a few sets and love them. They are quality and a great price. I have a set in one of my strats now and you would have a hard time convincing me to change out the middle and neck but Im not really happy with the bridge. It sounds great but not quite what i'm looking for. I keep changing it out but keep going back to it. No fault of Johns. Thats what I ordered. Very vintage and underwound. very good clean but it doesnt dirty up well. Great for blues but not SRV style. He has hotter wound singles and humbuckers. Im waiting for a single spaced stack humbucker. He will make you what you want and they are made to order so expect a week or two. If you dont like them, simply return them in the same condition. No problem. I'm a big pain in the ass when it comes to pickups. You wont find a better pickup for the price or maybe even at double the price. I will personally put them up against any $150 pup.

5thumbs · 08-22-2010, 03:40 PM

Thanks im trying to find that right set for a project. I want to ck. out as many P/U makers as possable before i buy.

Skribbles · 08-23-2010, 06:12 AM

Cheers fellas.

Yeah, I can't wait for it all to get here.
Just need to get a reamer for the tuner holes, should have a drill bit for the pickguard and I am hoping the nut will be a straight forward job.

I am used to the shipping prices and always expect it (this lot was $27), my other hobby (RC) requires me getting parts and stuff from the US so buying overseas is no issue for me.
Including postage just about everything is far far cheaper.

Skribbles · 08-25-2010, 02:18 PM

Well the package is on its way....

On another note, I went into a local music store a couple of days ago and they had a COS Bullet on the wall.
I picked it up and fiddled (attempted playing it) with it for a few minutes and was amazed at how good it felt.
I didn't get the chance to plug it in (was in a hurry) but everything about it was just so nice, felt right, very resonant (had heaps of sustain) the neck was darker than usual with a darker (yet quite nice) grain, frets/finger board was great.

Wishing I had the $230 to be able to call it mine.

69chargerse · 08-30-2010, 01:25 PM

This says chrome roller trees are in stock....

http://store.guitarfetish.com/Pair-o...ish_p_601.html

Skribbles · 08-30-2010, 02:04 PM

Haha, now they are in stock.

Oh well, hopefully the staggered tuners will do the job.

Skribbles · 09-02-2010, 11:25 PM

Parts arrived this morning.

The nut I ordered is plastic, not graphite.

How well are the gotoh style locking tuners supposed to work?, should you still be able to turn the knob when it is "locked"?
Never mind this question, I didn't notice the pin, I thought it was a clutch like system.

On the other hand though, BHM and bridge look great.

Skribbles · 09-03-2010, 11:06 AM

whats the trick to getting the BHM pickguard to work?
I can get the bridge but none others.

Edit:
Kinda got them working, just has to be upside down, trying to figure out why, nothing is pulling or anything.

Edit 2: scratch that, back down to the bridge and one position of the middle, 3:40 am now, been at it for over 12 hours, time for a break.
Suspecting dodgy switches but dunno, I've now tried 3 different wiring configurations and checked each about a dozen+ times, all were correct.

If anyone has any ideas or theories please share them, I am willing to try.

Skribbles · 09-04-2010, 03:30 PM

To any one that may be interested...

I ended up using this diagram (the 2nd one (modified)) and I had to cut out the bit of shielding around the phase switches, after that it all worked fine.

http://www.treblebooster.com/brian_may_pickup_mod.htm

Will post up some pics later.

Skribbles · 09-08-2010, 01:15 AM

Pictures aren't great... it was rather late/early when I took them.

I actually had a small problem with the block, it didn't quite fit, I had to scrape/file back the paint and a little wood.

First attempt at wiring it up using GFS diagram, had grounding issues with it and then I used the diagram I posted before and after some troubles with that I eventually got it going but looks a bit messier now (forgot to take a picture of it, might do when I change out the pickups.

Could anyone help confirm that this nut is plastic?
I am about to send an email to them but just wanted to make sure before I potentially make an arse of myself.
http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=...6byoh4l5k2TGxc
http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=...EUE4h4l5k2TGxc

It looks like plastic, feels like plastic, you can see the bit from injection molding and it sounds like plastic when dropped onto a hard surface (to me anyway).

A little review on the pickguard.
It's nice, fits alright (still need to drill out a few holes though), looks good.
As for the electrics, I noticed quite an improvement (I put the old strings back on for a short while), it is now warmer, smoother, cleaner and the highs are no longer harsh, volume and tone pots are far better, (tone actually works).
I noticed it is also far more quiet than before but more usable and can drive the amp a little bit harder.
As for the use of the different phase/serial/parallel positions, almost all of them have a distinctly different tone, most are usable but some are not as usable (to me a couple of them sound quiet, probably wouldn't be as much a problem for a cranked amp though).

I like it and am enjoying it but I could have done with just a switch for each pickup, I am liking not having the volume and 5 way pickup switch there though, makes it feel nicer to me, not as compact.

AllroyPA · 09-08-2010, 08:02 AM

That's fat .....