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Up to Discussions in Variax Transplants
4285 Views 29 Replies Latest reply: Dec 18, 2009 10:36 AM by gitarzan53 RSS
fuly4jc Just Startin'
fuly4jc
114 posts since
Mar 26, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 4, 2009 9:42 AM

Latest Transplant Done!

All finished,to a point.I will have pics soon.It doesn't look perfect but plays awsome!Word to the wise to all who are just starting=ALWAYS MAKE SURE SCALE LEGNTH IS RIGHT!!!Ran into this and not paying attention,just assumed all was well.I was able to repair what was needed but what a pain!!Also had to do many minor adjustments for playability issues.All electronics work flawless.

Setup as follows=

Strat style body,electronics from back/no pickguard(used)

New flamed maple,rosewood board(u shape to c shape to lower frets)

Lace Silver pu's mid and neck positions

Carvin C22 bridge

Vax electronics

Wilkenson lock tuners(vintage style)

TBX tone for mag pickups and Treble bleed for volume pot

Almost completely noiseless!!!!Switch from mag to vax at anytime(first time I attempted this mod,3rd vax trans).I think I am going to change to a diff body at somepoint,something more strat vintage(I just like it better) but for now I am pleased.Pics soon.Rock on!!!

  • gitarzan53 Just Startin'
    gitarzan53
    203 posts since
    Apr 28, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 4, 2009 12:16 PM (in response to fuly4jc)
    Re: Latest Transplant Done!

    +1 on the scale length! Just because you're working on a "strat-like" guitar or a "les paul-like" guitar, doesn't mean just go look up the scale length on those models. Measure it...distance from nut to 12th fret X 2.

     

    Glad your guitar works!

    • amx05462 Power User
      amx05462
      3,480 posts since
      Sep 1, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 4, 2009 1:38 PM (in response to gitarzan53)
      Re: Latest Transplant Done!

      actually  to work  best  with the  variax  programming  the  scale  length  should  be  the  same  as  the  origonal  variax  or  pretty  close.

      • fuly4jc Just Startin'
        fuly4jc
        114 posts since
        Mar 26, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 4, 2009 2:51 PM (in response to amx05462)
        Re: Latest Transplant Done!

        Amen to both of those posts!!This was definantly a learning experience in many ways.I actually am glad that a few things happened like that as crappy as it seemed at the time.Now I know how to improve on the next and how other things work to make sure it gets done right!I actually am almost as addicted to building as I am with playing=almost!!

        • amx05462 Power User
          amx05462
          3,480 posts since
          Sep 1, 2008
          Currently Being Moderated
          Nov 4, 2009 3:10 PM (in response to fuly4jc)
          Re: Latest Transplant Done!

          well if your  into  building  you may  want  to get  a  copy  of   this  book.  see  attatched  photo theres  alot  of  seetup and  ajustment  stuff  also  a  good  section  on  buying  a  guitar   also  some  radius  tools  in the  back.  and  fix  it   ideas.

           

          its  my  bible.

          Attachments:
          • fuly4jc Just Startin'
            fuly4jc
            114 posts since
            Mar 26, 2007
            Currently Being Moderated
            Nov 4, 2009 4:14 PM (in response to amx05462)
            Re: Latest Transplant Done!

            I have a similar book by Dan Erlwine.Absolutley a must for anyone doing their own repairs and setups.And thank god for the internet!Where would us diy"ers be without it.

            • amx05462 Power User
              amx05462
              3,480 posts since
              Sep 1, 2008
              Currently Being Moderated
              Nov 4, 2009 4:21 PM (in response to fuly4jc)
              Re: Latest Transplant Done!

              oh yeah    its  great  when you need  parts   a schematic  stuff  like that.

               

              although   i was  rewiring a  epiphone 56  gold  top reissue  to  56  specs.     i got  ten  different  schematics  that were  all   different.  so    even  though  most  of the  time   the  net  helps   there  are  those  times   that it  will drive  ya  nuts.

               

              that book  cost me  18 bucks   probably  saved  me  at least  a  grand  over  the  years  maybe  more.

  • fuly4jc Just Startin'
    fuly4jc
    114 posts since
    Mar 26, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 16, 2009 11:19 PM (in response to fuly4jc)
    Re: Latest Transplant Done!Pics!!

    Not the best but hopefully it shows everything.I welcome all comments,questions and criticism(please go easy).Works great!!Almost dead quiet too!Peace!!

    Attachments:
  • orangekeeper2 Just Startin'
    orangekeeper2
    71 posts since
    Feb 27, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 2, 2009 2:57 AM (in response to fuly4jc)
    Re: Latest Transplant Done!

    I have desoldered the 300 pots on one of my transplants and wired the mag pups onto the 300 5 way selector on my other transplant. The 300 5 way switch is a standard 2 pole design allowing you to wire up 2 sets of connections completely independently of each other. If you have a look at the transplants on the transaxeguitars site, there's a Brian May red special transplant that shows the wiring of pups to the selector switch.

     

    With regards to desoldering the pots, I did so in order to put the pots where I wanted them, instead of going with the PCB layout. All I did was desolder and add small lengths of wire between the pots and the PCB. Works a treat.

    • fuly4jc Just Startin'
      fuly4jc
      114 posts since
      Mar 26, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 2, 2009 8:06 AM (in response to orangekeeper2)
      Re: Latest Transplant Done!

      When you wire the mag pu's to the 5 way,do you get all 5 possible combos(neck,neck+mid,etc...)or just each individual pu.That is the only reason I went with switches instead because I thought that is how it worked but I am interested how it worked for you.I will soon be replacing the body I have now with a actual strat body and was thinking of different ways to wire.

    • Tatts Just Startin'
      Tatts
      5 posts since
      Jun 1, 2006
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 2, 2009 9:57 AM (in response to orangekeeper2)
      Re: Latest Transplant Done!

      Thanks Orangekeeper & Fuly4, brilliant info.

       

      Orangekeeper, did you re position all three pots or just the tone pot?

      I am installing a Fernandes sustainer in mine and this does require the vax pots to be re positioned because of the pc board.

       

      Fuly4, I have a pdf of the 5way switch which should answer your question about the pickup selection.

      I'll try to upload it on here for you.

       

      5wayschem.pdf

  • orangekeeper2 Just Startin'
    orangekeeper2
    71 posts since
    Feb 27, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 2, 2009 12:58 PM (in response to fuly4jc)
    Re: Latest Transplant Done!

    No worries man.

     

    Tatts, I desoldered the volume pot. I could have done the same with the tone pot but I managed to get it where I wanted without and my soldering skills aren't that good so I decided to keep as much as possible on the board (The model selector would have been a nightmare for me).

     

    Oh, just in case anyone is interested, I also desoldered the 5 way switch on this transplant and put in a 6 way rotary switch. I wasn't confident in cutting a slot in my LP for a 5 way switch, but could just about cope with drilling a hole.... It took a bit of workin out how to get all 5 vax pup combinations on a rotary, but it works too.

    • Tatts Just Startin'
      Tatts
      5 posts since
      Jun 1, 2006
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 3, 2009 9:51 AM (in response to orangekeeper2)
      Re: Latest Transplant Done!

      Thanks Orangekeeper, brilliant work.

       

      That 6way rotary sounds like a good idea as I am making a Les Paul double cut with a carved top and, finding a good spot for the 5 way is gunna be a major problem as well as aesthetically.

      • gitarzan53 Just Startin'
        gitarzan53
        203 posts since
        Apr 28, 2006
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 3, 2009 3:04 PM (in response to Tatts)
        Re: Latest Transplant Done!

        The other alternative is using a 3 way switch like I did. I tried to paste the thread into here, but it doesn't work for some reason. You can look at the thread called "latest transplant" (not this one).

        The trade-off is you lose a bunch of models, but as long as workbench works, I don't have a problem with that.

        • fuly4jc Just Startin'
          fuly4jc
          114 posts since
          Mar 26, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 18, 2009 8:02 AM (in response to gitarzan53)
          Re: Latest Transplant Done!

          Got another body to transplant!Friend of mine had an old fender squire that he didn't want so he gave it to me!It is white(very faded) and very thick.All beat up and looks very worn.Perfect!I am going to re-transplant all my stuff from my latest build to the new one,should also fix my scale length issue seeing it is an actual fender body to go with my neck.I've almost got goosebumps!Souldn't cost me a thing due to having everything needed already.I'll take more pics as I go and post them to update everybody.Peace to everyone and Merry Christmas!!!!

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