NGD & Soapbar P90's

Ok, sorry for the delay in getting back with the obligatory pics, I stopped off to catch up with a buddy I haven't seen in years & got caught up for a weekend of serious imbibing. My liver still hates me. Anyway, here's a couple of picsWP_20180507_001.jpg WP_20180507_009.jpg WP_20180507_006.jpg WP_20180507_006.jpg
Its a 2010 model so weight relieved & the normal wiring harness with 715 series (polyethylene) orange drop tone caps WP_20180507_007.jpg which can be seen through the cover (kinda like smoked glass). For a 2010 model its really seen very little use & has almost no fret wear. Still has the Gibson "slightly high" nut cut for 9~42's but other than that Im really happy with it. Plays well, is very resonant unplugged & the P90's sound great. I'll cut the nut for 10~46's & lower it a little, then tweak it to my liking over the next few days. Cheers
 

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Thanks Mr Grumpy. I just noticed that I stuffed the pics up, still not quite 100% recovered from overdoing the weekend. Maybe a mod could kindly remove one of the pics of the back of the neck. Notice just a little wear of the finish in the middle of the neck back. Not hard to wear these satin finishes. Cheers
 
jtcnj said:
Congrats man, that is really nice.
Havent played any P90 lately; I'm in a bit of an early Malcolm / Angus tone chase.
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Tones I very much like myself. Both are actually quite clean tones. Angus I get pretty well with a T top type pickup in my SG's bridge position & straight into the bright input of my 50 watt plexi clone through greenbacks. @Don O, yes that cover is pretty cool. First time I've seen one like. Not sure if its stock or an aftermarket replacement. Cheers
Edit: Today is restring with 10~46's & tweak to my preferences day. I have 10~46 nut files as I use that gauge on everything except my (Floyd equipped) Jackson & 5 string, open G tuned Tele so I'll widen & lower the nut slots. Cheers
 
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Ok, I widened & lowered the nut slots, strung it with EB 10~46 slinky's & lowered the bridge. Hard to get a good pic of bridge height with the guitar hanging off you & use a cheap phone camera but hopefully this shows itWP_20180510_009.jpg

I raised the tailpiece studs 1/2 a turn so strings just clear the back of the bridge (they were touching it when I got it). Took a bit of relief out of the neck, lowered the pickups & intonated. Played good enough before, but there's nothing like having a guitar set up exactly as you like it. This afternoon I'll set the pickup/pole piece heights, at volume through my 4 hole 50 watter. WP_20180510_007.jpg
Cheers
 
That looks like such a nice and fun guitar to jam on. From jazz to hard rock! Congrats again... :cheers:

If you don't mind...
Do you have an accurate figure of the weight of this LP?
How are the fret-ends, and the fretboard edges?
And finally,
What are you using for nut slot files?
 
syscokid said:
That looks like such a nice and fun guitar to jam on. From jazz to hard rock! Congrats again... :cheers:

If you don't mind...
Do you have an accurate figure of the weight of this LP?
How are the fret-ends, and the fretboard edges?
And finally,
What are you using for nut slot files?
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Thanks Sysco, yes, it is a fun guitar. I don't have an accurate weight, but compared to my traditional which is just on 9lb, this is noticeably lighter. I'd say sub 8lb, maybe 7.7 or something. There's no fret sprout
WP_20180511_001.jpg & the fretboard edges are ok, not sharpWP_20180511_002.jpg
Seeing as I use the same string type & gauge, EB 10~46 on everything except my Tele & Jackson, I thought I should invest in the correct size filesWP_20180511_003.jpg
These radius the floor of the slot properly as well as having the file teeth extend about 2mm up the sides of the shaft for shaping the slot walls. Ok, I'm just about to head out to where I can make some noise with it. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
Thanks Sysco, yes, it is a fun guitar. I don't have an accurate weight, but compared to my traditional which is just on 9lb, this is noticeably lighter. I'd say sub 8lb, maybe 7.7 or something. There's no fret sprout
View attachment 14963 & the fretboard edges are ok, not sharpView attachment 14964
Seeing as I use the same string type & gauge, EB 10~46 on everything except my Tele & Jackson, I thought I should invest in the correct size filesView attachment 14966
These radius the floor of the slot properly as well as having the file teeth extend about 2mm up the sides of the shaft for shaping the slot walls. Ok, I'm just about to head out to where I can make some noise with it. Cheers
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Nice looking file set. I've got a couple sets of the Ibanez files which are very similar. Handy to have around. Nice freak'n guitar too. I don't know what it is, but this guitar just says "YA BABY" too me...
 
I wondered if that type of nut file was any good - in the better constructed examples.
I have eyed that very set at Philadelphia Luthiertools.
I have a cheapo Chicom set of those and they are usable but not very good.

I have used the hacksaw blade styled ones -real nice (borrowed from an amp building buddy)
 
jtcnj said:
I wondered if that type of nut file was any good - in the better constructed examples.
I have eyed that very set at Philadelphia Luthiertools.
I have a cheapo Chicom set of those and they are usable but not very good.

I have used the hacksaw blade styled ones -real nice (borrowed from an amp building buddy)
Click to expand...
I've had these files for maybe 5 or 6 yrs. When I ordered them (off local Allparts distributor), they got lost in the mail. After waiting few weeks I contacted the seller (who said it happens a lot) & was told if they don't arrive by the end of the week a new set will be sent out. Anyway, both sets arrived within a day of each other. I opened both & made one set of what I thought were the best files & sent the others back. So, they are not all created equal. If these are used to just cut the slot with the file held at 90 degrees to the nut, the strings will still bind somewhat. The slot floor will be the right radius, but not wide enough to prevent binding. The slot walls must be widened. You can see the white nut material on a sides of a couple of files in the previous pick, where I have rocked the file side to side a little to widen the slots. I also relieve the back of the slot some on the D & G, & also the A & B strings (tuner side of slot). I then polish the slots with really fine wet & dry paper, which I haven't done on this yet as I didn't have any wet & dry. So I've used these files a total of 6 times & let a few friends use them. If I was doing a lot more nuts I would definitely be going for a set of better "individual" correct size files like the hacksaw type you mentioned.
While I'm here, how do others here with soapbar's adjust them? I got to adjust these some yesterday arvo, but hadn't quite finished when the other guys arrived. They've ended up with the bridge poles still screwed down & the high E side probably 2mm from the string when fretted at the last, the Low E side angled away from the strings like strat pickups, maybe 3 1/2 or 4 mm from the string fretted at last. The neck poles I screwed out a couple of turns, the pickup angled like the bridge, maybe slightly further from the strings. They sounded good but I'm sure I'll get them better. I'll also change the wiring to 50's scheme. Cheers
 
gasket said:
Hmmm, after your post yesterday I checked Allparts and at $106 decided to sleep on it. Today your review isn't great so time to look further. Suggestions welcome.
https://www.allparts.com/nut-files
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I got them from realparts.com.au who are an Allparts distributor here in Oz. I just looked & they're listed at $109.00 now. They do have the better quality Hosco files as single size @ around 22 or 23 bucks each (ouch) or in a set of 10 for 185 bucks. When I got them (probably 6 yrs ago) they were a good bit less (our $ was in better shape). As I said, if I were doing more nuts I'd get a full set of the highest quality available, but for the 6 I've done in the time I've had them against the cost of having it done for me I'm probably in front. It really doesn't take much time or effort to cut the slots properly with them. I just take my time & keep checking each string in the slots as I go (I cut them with the guitar strung). Cheers
 
My history of working on guitars is short. I've set up 4 nuts and have also picked up on doing it with the guitar strung.
I have a couple of projects backing up now and don't want to use various butchering tools as have done in the past. I get a reasonable practical result but not as tidy as correct nut files would allow. Will order (still to decide) this week.
 
gasket said:
My history of working on guitars is short. I've set up 4 nuts and have also picked up on doing it with the guitar strung.
I have a couple of projects backing up now and don't want to use various butchering tools as have done in the past. I get a reasonable practical result but not as tidy as correct nut files would allow. Will order (still to decide) this week.
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Philadelphia Luthier Supplies has the same Hosco files as I have listed at US$53-99. They have the higher quality single Hosco files in all sizes at $12-95 each or the set of 10 files for US$98-99. The singles & set of 10 are (I believe) the hacksaw blade type. Hope this helps. Cheers
 
ivan H said:
Philadelphia Luthier Supplies has the same Hosco files as I have listed at US$53-99. They have the higher quality single Hosco files in all sizes at $12-95 each or the set of 10 files for US$98-99. The singles & set of 10 are (I believe) the hacksaw blade type. Hope this helps. Cheers
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Thanks for the advice. Order placed for the set of 10.
That US$98.99 through PayPal with international economy shipping turned into Au$145.94 OUCH !!!
No matter tools eventually pay for themselves.
I'm going to have the best nuts in town ... HAAA haaa
 
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