My Oldest Son's Guitar - Von Herndon #1:

Robert Herndon said:
Restrung this tonight for my Son with EB .009's and did a complete setup.

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This is the original Von Herndon prototype - Serial Number VHO-0001 with body and neck by B. Hefner.

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I leveled the bridge for the lighter strings he wanted, set bass side action @ 12th fret to .060" and treble side to .040" respectively. Adjusted pickups to 4/32" and added the gold plated brass trim rings.

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I raised the pots up all the way so I could get the volume knob to clear the bridge trim ring.

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Guitar intonated very easily and intonation checks out across the fretboard.

This 100% mahogany guitar is super lightweight. The neck is one piece construction, 1950's 'U' profile, 12" radius and 24.75" scale length.

The Floyd is a licensed copy (Gotoh I think) with a steel block.

I cut the pickguard myself from a single ply blank and countersunk 9 holes in it. The pickup spacing/routing is different than a regular Stratocaster - the pickups were squeezed together for the change in bridge position.

The idea was to step up to a better, commercially made pickguard later, but he likes the black on black look.

Originally, this guitar was fitted with a Tone Man harness and 12 pole adjustable Von Herndon Supre-Sonic humbuckers measuring 17k.

Several different sets of pickups were eventually used in it.

I pulled the Tone Man harness for use in another project and fitted this guitar with discontinued GFS "Double Slugs" (circa 2007) and both have 50mm neck spacing. The pickups measure 15.0k.

This guitar uses Alpha metric pots and a .022uf K40Y PIO tone capacitor. At 4/32" pickup height, the tone is incredibly well balanced.

Not a bad guitar for free... :)
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Awesome look'n guitar, man...
 
Robert Herndon said:
Good tip! Thanks!

Since he is new to Floyd's, I thought the USA made variant of the Tremolo Stop (with adjustable thumbwheel) would make it easy for him.

:)
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I own a Yamaha RGX Custom guitar (in black) with a Floyd Rose style vibrato that also has the adjustable thumb wheel on it...a very handy and unique feature. It makes changing the strings a whole lot easier.


;>)/
 
So, I wasn't happy with two things. The E/A/D string height at 1st fret was a little high and the first three frets were pulling sharp. First fret height was about .027" and I prefer .018" to .020" respectively.

I used a 3mm tapered diamond burr (Dremel) in my 3/8" drill to drop the nut slots very slightly down to .018" which cured the sharpness.

I also had a funny noise when the Tremolo was in use - like a creaky door.

I applied a drop of oil to the fulcrums - no change.

Turns out it was the (4) tremolo springs. I put a single wrap of Scotch Super 33+ black electrical tape around each one and the noise was gone.

Only thing I need now to truly call it complete is the Tremolo Stop, which is on its way.

Another empty space!
 
These are the go RobertC__Data_Users_DefApps_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_bp2214_2.jpg
Saddle shims to match the FR's saddle radius to the neck radius. Allparts part No. APBP2214-001. Only in thickness of 0.2mm, but by adding various numbers of under the outter pairs of saddles most radius necks can be accommodated. Or you can use feeler gauges to make your own shims, though I'm a bit late telling you now I guess. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
These are the go RobertView attachment 12183
Saddle shims to match the FR's saddle radius to the neck radius. Allparts part No. APBP2214-001. Only in thickness of 0.2mm, but by adding various numbers of under the outter pairs of saddles most radius necks can be accommodated. Or you can use feeler gauges to make your own shims, though I'm a bit late telling you now I guess. Cheers
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Yes! Thats a great tip! I have a couple of sets from AllParts and his guitar already has them.
 
Robert Herndon said:
Yes! Thats a great tip! I have a couple of sets from AllParts and his guitar already has them.
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Its a pity they only come in that one thickness of 0.2mm. IIRC, my Jackson has 3 shims under the E strings saddles & 2 under the A & B string saddles. Gets it close to right for the 12"~16" compound radius neck, but if I made a few out of feeler gauges I could get it perfect. Maybe one day. That's a damn fine looking guitar, by the way Robert, well done. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
Its a pity they only come in that one thickness of 0.2mm. IIRC, my Jackson has 3 shims under the E strings saddles & 2 under the A & B string saddles. Gets it close to right for the 12"~16" compound radius neck, but if I made a few out of feeler gauges I could get it perfect. Maybe one day. That's a damn fine looking guitar, by the way Robert, well done. Cheers
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Thank you, Ivan...

It's not perfect. When I look at it, I see every imperfection, but it's got a certain character about it...
 
Robert Herndon said:
Super neat, USA Made spring loaded Tremolo Stop....

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Neat little item, would make string changes much easier. Oh, while I'm here, the FR nut radius, as you know is the only "non adjustable" part of a FR. Here's a chart of the various nut specsV__3708.jpg
Luckily my Jackson's nut (R3) is the same radius as the 'board, but many guitars arent & require the same sort of surgery as you performed on your son's. Cheers
 
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ivan H said:
Neat little item, would make string changes much easier. Oh, while I'm here, the FR nut radius, as you know is the only "non adjustable" part of a FR. Here's a chart of the various nut specsView attachment 12242
Luckily my Jackson's nut (F3) is the same radius as the 'board, but many guitars don't & require the same sort of surgery as you performed on your son's. Cheers
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Excellent! I used R3...
 
ivan H said:
Neat little item, would make string changes much easier. Oh, while I'm here, the FR nut radius, as you know is the only "non adjustable" part of a FR. Here's a chart of the various nut specsView attachment 12242
Luckily my Jackson's nut (F3) is the same radius as the 'board, but many guitars arent & require the same sort of surgery as you performed on your son's. Cheers
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I still find it necessary to cut the string slots to get first fret height correct....

IMG_20170815_59333.jpg
 
jtcnj said:
After I did the fret level on my brother's Ibanez (idk the model; was a $2k guitar 20 years ago), the nut was then high.

Luckily the nut was shimmed and it worked out well by just removing the shim.
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The shims are available separately. These Allparts shimsC__Data_Users_DefApps_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_bp0426_2.jpg part No. APBP0426-001 come in a pack of 4, 2x0.2mm & 2x0.3mm. Cheers
 
jtcnj said:
After I did the fret level on my brother's Ibanez (idk the model; was a $2k guitar 20 years ago), the nut was then high.

Luckily the nut was shimmed and it worked out well by just removing the shim.
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I wish mine had shims!!!
 
I was thinking I should have got that one; mine has a allen head screw and a nut to snug against the bracket.
But, I have not been inclined to float it since so its fine.

I think I have a little spring rattle too I may try the tape.
 
jtcnj said:
I was thinking I should have got that one; mine has a allen head screw and a nut to snug against the bracket.
But, I have not been inclined to float it since so its fine.

I think I have a little spring rattle too I may try the tape.
Click to expand...

These springs made a creaky sound. The tape works, although coated and/or damped springs are also an option.
 
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