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Up to Discussions in Variax Transplants
1231 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Jun 21, 2011 3:11 AM by medwardsguitars RSS
medwardsguitars Just Startin'
medwardsguitars
9 posts since
Mar 10, 43437
Currently Being Moderated

Jun 20, 2011 7:12 AM

Fanned fret transplant?

well? anyone ever hear of anyone doing this?

 

I'm an amateur builder with over 75 guitars, basses, mandolins bouzoukis etc under my belt and I've been GASing for a Variax of some kind for several years now.  Well, yesterday I won an auction on eBay for a 300...... and depending on whether the neck is as.... well...... in need of attention..... as I've heard these can be, I might do a transplant job.

 

I like fanned fret guitars.

 

I have an acoustic and a 5 string bass with fans and if I was going to transplant the variax goodies I would want to Fan it.

 

now here's the rub.

 

can the individual saddles be lifted out of the bridge or is it a "this is it" sort of unit?

 

I have the facilities to build a hardtail  diagonal bridge, and If the saddles are "harvestable" I'd be sorted.

 

surely I'm not the only person to ever think of this...........

Tags: variax, fan, variscale
  • variaxlover Just Startin'
    variaxlover
    309 posts since
    May 19, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 20, 2011 8:00 AM (in response to medwardsguitars)
    Re: Fanned fret transplant?

    Most of the necks on the 300s I've owned were just fine.  Some were exceptional.

     

    But, I love the idea of what you're doing.  Have never played a fanned fret guitar but it's on my bucket list.

     

    To answer your question, yes, the saddles are "harvestable" just like any Strat-type bridge, however there will be some complications.  Each saddle contains a piezo element with a very short wire connecting it to a small bit of circuitry hidden underneath (I wouldn't call it a circuit board, but I'm no electrician so I don't know what to call it.  There should be pictures available elsewhere in the Transplant discussions).  Anyway, the wires are only about 1" long.  If I understand correctly you want to build a new bridge that is also fanned, so assuming that you can fit the little circuitry piece under it, you'll probably need to extend those little wires.  Shouldn't be a big deal, just wanted to warn you about what you will encounter.

     

    Good luck!  Please send pictures of your progress on this most interesting project!!

    • medwardsguitars Just Startin'
      medwardsguitars
      9 posts since
      Mar 10, 43437
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jun 20, 2011 9:05 AM (in response to variaxlover)
      Re: Fanned fret transplant?

      Ok cool,

       

      I've seen several piezo bridges for electrics, and I've fitted a few, a LR Baggs to a strat, a couple of cheap ebay tunomatics, and a 5 string bass..... but I've never butchered one.

       

      I take it that if I screw up, any piezo saddle will do as a replacement?  well, any SET of piezo saddles......

       

      I have a strat with an acoustic style bridge with a bone saddle over a under saddle piezo and it's fun to to look at folks faces when I get acoustic sounds out of a leccy guitar with a pair of pink dimarzio PAF pros in it.......

       

      I have to say I'm a fan of cheap guitars and have had several really nice squiers over the years, so the slagging that early Variax necks got,....... well, I'll reserve judgement til mine arrives in the post.  never actually been in the same room as one, so I'm really looking forward to it!  Next step is a POD live unit, either the XT or the X3, whichever I can get cheap......

  • jealousblues Just Startin'
    jealousblues
    77 posts since
    Feb 11, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 20, 2011 12:51 PM (in response to medwardsguitars)
    Re: Fanned fret transplant?

    Dont know if anyones mentioned it yet but people were using ghost saddles in transplants for a while before the va 2 came along.

     

    They would cut off the connector and solder the individual piezos to the board or the line coming out of the board.

     

     

    I want to see this

     

    fanned frets just look cool tbh

    • medwardsguitars Just Startin'
      medwardsguitars
      9 posts since
      Mar 10, 43437
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jun 21, 2011 3:11 AM (in response to jealousblues)
      Re: Fanned fret transplant?

      good news, thanks.

       

      HOPEFULLY I can still use the original saddles, but it's good to know if I have a screw up I can get others.

       

      as to fanned frets, I just love 'em!  I'd never played a fanned fret guitar til I made one myself and I'm totally sold.  it's just so comfy to play, especially on a long scale 5 string bass.....  I've since played Dave White's Traveller http://www.defaoiteguitars.com/page38.htm and the whole concept of a gentle fan....  just lovely.

       

      added to the HUH? factor that a Variax already has with all the range of available sounds, it's got to be a goer!

       

      my last build was a fretless 5 string bass and I actually considered using a variable scale on that, but a fanned fret fretless was too much for even my sick mind to contemplate!!  (and I wanted a piezo bridge and I couldn't find sensible priced piezo individual bridges.......)

       

      but, like I said before, it depends on how much I like the 300's neck whether it gets butchered or not....... but if not, it'll be the only instrument in my stable of 15 that WASN'T built by me...... hope the others don't bully it!

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