And So, It Begins: The Great Washburn Hot Rodding Thread

[smitty_p]

Okay, I have a few more minor cosmetic changes.

I replaced the black plastic switch tip with a polished metal switch tip, and I painted the screw black that fastens the pickguard to the support arm:



Here's a closer look at that switch tip. Of course, the black switch tip did not look out of place, but now all of the hardware pieces are a consistent color.



I also swapped tuner buttons. I replaced the typical Grover "kidney bean" buttons with Imperial buttons. I think these give it a slightly more aggressive aesthetic.



And, here's a full shot of the current state of the guitar:



Now, it's time to think about the innards and, frankly, I'm having second thoughts.

I played this last night at rehearsal, and it actually sounded pretty decent. I must have not had something right on my initial listen. Distorted patches were nice and thick, but not flubby. And, the cleans were nice and clear.

I will replace the pots, at least, because these are four-wire pickups and I want to be able to split the humbuckers. So, I'll be putting in push-pull pots, at a minimum.

I'm gonna play this with its current p'ups for awhile before committing to a change.

I may be closer to The Metal than I thought!

 

[iblive]

Okay, I have a few more minor cosmetic changes.

I replaced the black plastic switch tip with a polished metal switch tip, and I painted the screw black that fastens the pickguard to the support arm:

View attachment 103108

Here's a closer look at that switch tip. Of course, the black switch tip did not look out of place, but now all of the hardware pieces are a consistent color.

View attachment 103109

I also swapped tuner buttons. I replaced the typical Grover "kidney bean" buttons with Imperial buttons. I think these give it a slightly more aggressive aesthetic.

View attachment 103110

And, here's a full shot of the current state of the guitar:

View attachment 103111

Now, it's time to think about the innards and, frankly, I'm having second thoughts.

I played this last night at rehearsal, and it actually sounded pretty decent. I must have not had something right on my initial listen. Distorted patches were nice and thick, but not flubby. And, the cleans were nice and clear.

I will replace the pots, at least, because these are four-wire pickups and I want to be able to split the humbuckers. So, I'll be putting in push-pull pots, at a minimum.

I'm gonna play this with its current p'ups for awhile before committing to a change.

I may be closer to The Metal than I thought!

I’ve modded a couple of my electrics. But with the Viking…. I look at those F holes and think…. Nope. Factory is just fine. Thankfully, it does seem to my ears that it’s pretty decent as is. Actually about the only electric I have where I’ll play the bridge pickup only. The other ones I pretty much always blend with another pickup.

 

[smitty_p]

Alrighty, so I played an event (not with the new band), but the other guitar player from the band was there and heard my HB-30 in the crowd.

He came up to me afterward and told me it was one of my best-sounding guitars. The distortion is thick, but articulate; and the cleans are clear but not spiky.

Our (very experienced and good) bass player has played with me while playing this guitar. He even asked me, "What kind of pickups do you have in that Washburn?" After talking a bit about it, he just said, "Well, whatever you got, you shouldn't change a thing."

So, now I'm actually a little apprehensive about making any drastic changes to this. I still want to install push/pull pots to do the coil split thing, but I'm going to measure the existing pots to match the values of what I have in there now.

I guess sometimes ya gotta know enough to take, "Yes," for an answer!

 

[GrooVey]

made a new pickguard

I like it. Adds to the tuxedo look.

still want to install push/pull pots to do the coil split thing

I highly recommend Seymour’s Tripple Shot pickup rings.

Triple Shot | Seymour Duncan

Wiring mods made easy with four different sounds at tips of your fingers. This is the flat Trembucker sized ring in black.

www.seymourduncan.com

I’ll never go through f holes again. But, if I must, and the f holes are small, it will be with mini pots.

 

[smitty_p]

I’ll never go through f holes again. But, if I must, and the f holes are small, it will be with mini pots.

Yeah, Bourns makes a great mini-pot. I've used them before. They're very good quality and they don't feel cheap when you use them.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Smitty I love your pickguard work ... as a fella who's made more than a few i know it's a process... unique shape you came up with the little fang there in it!

Something similar I did once was take an engraved nickel candy dish from a thrift shop and backed it with black plastic peeking out of the edges a little. Just a thought if you'd like to metal up a bit more, but i gotta say your black on black looks very rat rod.

Another suggestion is dye the inside of the back of the guitar with black so we don't see raw wood there through the F-holes, I think you might like that. I'd stay away from ghost flames, that's more rockabilly than metal

 

[smitty_p]

Smitty I love your pickguard work ... as a fella who's made more than a few i know it's a process... unique shape you came up with the little fang there in it!

Thanks! That means a lot coming from you.

Another suggestion is dye the inside of the back of the guitar with black so we don't see raw wood there through the F-holes, I think you might like that. I'd stay away from ghost flames, that's more rockabilly than metal

Interesting about dying the inside. I hadn't thought of that.

Also, good point about the ghost flames. I appreciate the input.

 

[smitty_p]

I like it. Adds to the tuxedo look.

Thank you, sir.

 

[GrooVey]

Bourns

That’s right. You know what you’re doing.