Cheap 12 to 6 conversion

gasket

gasket

Ambassador of the Guitarded
Early this year I jumped into my first assembly.
A PitBull ES-12 kit for my wife, she's a bit of a 12 string fan. She wanted a natural look, I think it looked unfinished but no matter it was for her.
Came like this ...

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Finished ...

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Since then she's acquired a 1980 620/12 Rickenbacker and the kit guitar is sitting unloved. I decided to convert it to a 6 string for myself, hey it owes me peanuts so lets have some fun and at the same time an education. Yesterday I stripped it electrically, fitted a 6 string bone nut, bridge and tail stop. I have a set of Duncan humbuckers coming from Florida arriving before Xmas (I hope).
Looks like this now ...

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As I get further into it I'll have questions, every step is a new one for me BUT it's a pleasure not a job.
 
that could get interesting........

as the Friday meeting will most likely involve them anyway---especially if Dave doesn't find his PANTS by then !
 
JohnnyGoo said:
lookin good,love f hole guitars myself.how would you rate the Pitbull kits
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The woodwork is outstanding.
If I buy another I think I'll upgrade components at point of sale or buy a raw timber kit.
The service from Adam is second to none, I can't say enough positive things about buying and after sales backup.
 
The little project doesn't look a lot different but today I put a couple of hours into ...
Cutting the nut for correct 1st fret height.
Adjusted the rod for correct neck curve.
Set the overall string height.
She has to sit while the pickups wing their way across the ocean.
It's now officially a 6 string, I'm open to suggestions on changing the headstock shape. One idea is dowel the existing holes, add some timber to the right and re cut to a classic Fender shape possibly Coronado or Starcaster?
Then it's decision on colour, again open to suggestions, I'm thinking Union Jack flag fading out without covering the binding.
Happy to make it interesting or unusual, it's about making me smile while pis*ing my conservative Fender loving son off. ;)

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Reactions: RVA
Cool!! Be careful how you cut the headstock. The existing string pull / angle may be important.
 
RVA said:
Cool!! Be careful how you cut the headstock. The existing string pull / angle may be important.
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Correct me if I don't understand, I'm very new to all of this, all an education.
I figured left to right wouldn't do any harm, front to back will stay approximately the same.
Actually Fender style will straighten the strings (left-right) out a bit, that must be good, yes, no???
 
gasket said:
Correct me if I don't understand, I'm very new to all of this, all an education.
I figured left to right wouldn't do any harm, front to back will stay approximately the same.
Actually Fender style will straighten the strings (left-right) out a bit, that must be good, yes, no???
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I am no expert either, but if you try to string the lightest strings to the left, you may have issues due to the neck and headstock angle. Fenders usually have little angle and string trees. I may be incorrect and there may be more to it, but I would ask someome who knows more than me before taking the plunge.
 
RVA said:
I am no expert either, but if you try to string the lightest strings to the left, you may have issues due to the neck and headstock angle. Fenders usually have little angle and string trees. I may be incorrect and there may be more to it, but I would ask someome who knows more than me before taking the plunge.
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Thanks for ongoing comments.
I just checked one of my Strats and yes a shallow headstock angle is compensated for with string trees on DGBE.
This PitBull guitar has a steep headstock angle so trees shouldn't be required.
6 strings up each side before modifying, I'm proposing 6 only running from L to R across the center line of the neck.
Again call STOP if I'm about to shoot myself in the foot.
 
I don't think making a Fender-type headstock shape will cause a problem.

Look at the Gibson Explorer. It has an even more extreme shape than a Fender and it's angled back, similar to other Gibsons.
 
say Gasket could you post a pic of the Ricky 12 string ???? i would love to have one of those and bout the only guitar i got GAS for
 
JohnnyGoo said:
say Gasket could you post a pic of the Ricky 12 string ???? i would love to have one of those and bout the only guitar i got GAS for
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It's a 1980, my wife's pride and joy.
I'm thinking of getting a (black) six string version early in the new year.

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Running out of time before Xmas to get the bits together for this project.
In simple terms I'm about to go to my local shop and grab tone and volume pots (they have Dimarzio 500K in stock), recommendations please for cap rating???
I don't have time today to make a study of this vexed subject JUST looking for middle ground to get the rebuild done over the holiday.
I can change and play with different caps in the new year.
BTW my ear tends to like SLIGHTLY brighter tone rather than deep heavy.
 
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