Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

[Newc]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

If you DO mix rails and poles, I'd put the rails in the middle for aesthetics. With 2 poled pickups right next to each other (bridge and middle) the railed neck pickup will either look like a freakish fretboard extension or just two stray lines [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
But if the rails are in the middle, then you have dots/lines/dots/lines from the bridge pickup to the end of the fretboard, which is an even/odd grouping instead of even/even/odd/odd [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Fragger]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

LOL, no man, I'm not the winner of that guitar. Too confused to buy it. Plus, I don't know if you could trust people especially on a used guitar, on Ebay. In any case, I think you are saying that Alder is better, or more toneful, if such a word exists. Still no clear word on the DiMarzios in the DK2, I think people on this board are fans of the Seymour family [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] .

Anyway, thanks for all your help!

[ QUOTE ]
Somebody has hit the Buy-It-Now on that killer lefty USA Dinky I posted above. If the winner isn't our man Fragger here, I will personally find Fragger and beat him half to death with a stick. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Just kidding man! Should have bought that guitar and spoiled yourself, you deserve it after all this time! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I find alder to be much more toneful than basswood. To me, it seems more difficult to find a basswood guitar that sounds good compared to finding an alder guitar that sounds good. The proportion of good sounding alder guitars is higher (to me) than good sounding basswood guitars.

That being said, supposedly the basswood Petrucci EBMM guitars sound great.

DonP... no problem with mixing rails with standard polepieces. I agree they look funny sometimes, but oh well... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Got 'em in my Shannon Soloist, effectively a three-humbucker guitar with the option of splitting the neck and bridge pickups with the 5-way megaswitch to achieve single coil tone:



[/ QUOTE ] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

I bought my three most recent guitars online... my Jackson Shannon Soloist, my Taylor K14c, and my ESP/Edwards '68 Les Paul Custom. All three happen to be the most killer guitars I've ever owned. I don't know if I lucked out or what, but I am rather content with my current little arsenal. My next guitar, a hot rod Strat, will be a parts guitar from various online sources (GMW, Warmoth, GuitarPartsDepot.com, etc.)

I will probably be buying online from now onwards. There is just simply a better selection online for the stuff I like compared to in local stores.

Of course, if you're hesitant, remember to hit the JCF Dealers. They're here for us.

[IommiChild]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

Hey NOTP, would you mind posting or PM'ing me a pic of your control cavity or a wiring diagram...I want to rig up my soloist the same way. I too have a couple of hot rails and a hummer at the bridge.

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

No problemo, I'll snap a photo or two of the control cavity tomorrow. Unfortunately, you'll be left to interpret everything in the photo yourself, since I know absolutely NOTHING about soldering and wiring and electronics! All I know is that I have 500K pots and a 5-way megaswitch! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] My best guess is that all three pickups in my Soloist are four-conductor to enable these wiring possibilities.

Ideally, I want a 7-way switch... do those even exist? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Position 1: Full neck Hot Rails
Position 2: Split neck Hot Rails
Position 3: Neck and middle Hot Rails
Position 4: Middle Hot Rails
Position 5: Split middle Hot Rails
Alternative Position 5: Middle Hot Rails and bridge Super 3
Position 6: Split bridge Super 3
Position 7: Full bridge Super 3

Insanity at my fingertips. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Newc]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

Push/pull pots for the splits.

Buying online is the way to go IMO. I've only been burned on one deal, and that was a 70's NaturalBurst SG that had a headstock repair. I got it cheap enough, but the repair wasn't that great, and I took a bit of a loss when I put it back up.

Just remember to ask lots of questions and READ the entire description before buying.

[GodWentPUNK]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

Fragger, I've gotten some great lefties off ebay. I just recently picked this one up for $300 and it's DEAD MINT web page. I think that this guitar plays and sounds better than the DK2's (IMO). Also, on this auction, the seller decided last minute to though in a brand new SBK case and he shipped it to me even before he got my payment so I'd have it for christmas. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

joe...

[RacerX]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

[ QUOTE ]
I've only been burned on one deal, and that was a 70's NaturalBurst SG

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Twice? Charvel bass? Whatever happened with that anyway?

[Fragger]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

[ QUOTE ]
Fragger, I've gotten some great lefties off ebay. I just recently picked this one up for $300 and it's DEAD MINT web page. I think that this guitar plays and sounds better than the DK2's (IMO). Also, on this auction, the seller decided last minute to though in a brand new SBK case and he shipped it to me even before he got my payment so I'd have it for christmas. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

joe...

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like a hell of seller, Joe. I search Ebay everyday man, and when I find something good, I just can't get over the used issue. Cant really trust what they have in store for you. Even the supposedly new DK2s, I would fee better if I would order it from a Jackson dealer. On the other hand, if you were selling that DK2 that you had, I would be on it, in a second. BTW, as a fellow lefty, what do you think of the mods that I posted about? Thanks for your input!

[GodWentPUNK]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

Fragger:

There are many things that can help you decide your pickup config (ie, personal taste, music style). For myself, I don't really like the H/H setup. I perfer H/s/s or H and that's based upon the style of music I play. Like Newc suggested, the lil 59 is a humbucker that will fill in a single slot without making any changes to the guitar (which could effect future sale).

Here are my comments on used gear. I'm 43 and over the last 20 years of looking for lefties at GC/ASH and places, I've found 0 that I liked. My first real guitar was a G&L that I custom ordered in 84 and that had been my main guitar until about 2 years ago when I started to get more lefties off ebay. As noted, your always taking a chance on ebay but if a seller looks ok, odds are you probally going to do ok. The JCF has been another great place where I got some of my lefties. I have only 2 new Jacksons (SL1 and SL2H) and all others are used (but not abused). Lastly, I'm not paying a kings randsom for these and if I had to, I could take a 40% loss and get some of my money back. Once you start to purchase used gear, you'll then be able to ask more specific questions to the seller.

Good luck!

joe...

[Fragger]

Re: Modifying a Jackson, Opinions/Help needed....

That's a valuble advice, Joe. Thanks a lot for that. Its nice to know that there are lefties here on the JCF as well. I think you are the only one whom I know of. Anyway, lets see what happens.

As for the style of music, please go to my first post. You will see it there. Thanks!