Building Another Project Guitar; Lovable Mutt

[edwardofhuncote]

I started on this one a good while back, with the goal of learning a little bit and hoping to get better at soldering. Also, using some old parts and pieces, along with some generously donated, and traded parts.

The husk is/was an Epiphone SG Special... a two-humbucker, single volume/tone/ball-bat switch model. A very cheap guitar to start with, and a factory second too, but has a figured maple neck. I have de-horned, and reshaped its body to something that reminded me of 'The Peanut' guitar. I won't try to replicate that, at least not beyond the general idea. This one will be a lovable mutt.

I stripped all the original pickups and electronics out, and the rather cheap hardware. I have a nice brass stoptail and bridge for it, and after reshaping the headstock I'll put some nice tuning machines on. I'm leaning towards a Loar-era 'Snakehead-inspired pattern for the headstock. The holes will have to be plugged and re-drilled of course, but I'll be covering the front and back with veneer anyway. I may even bind the edge. (binding a headstock is a big ol' pain in the butt...) The body will get a top laminate veneer, probably not the back. I've got quite a bit of routing to do on the back, and filling, re-routing to do on the top. The pretty maple veneer will hide my dastardly deeds.

I'll get more into the electronics a little later, after I've decided more, but the core of the idea was using a set of 60's Gibson Melody Maker single-coils, and a third P-90. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the P-90 being at the neck. And the two single-coils at middle and bridge, or possibly scrunching them close together at the bridge, effectively working like one pickup. I could also put the P-90 between them, make it switch like a Strat somehow. I'm not sure if, or how that would work, given the difference in output. It might be better to keep them discreet, or buffer some way. Since they are available again... a 'Blaster circuit on the output? That would add some Alembic sauce to it.


I'll put up some pics later on... not much to see now but parts. And parts is just parts.

[sonicus]

I shall be watching your project with interest ,as I too take pleasure in such endeavors .

[cozmik_cowboy]

I, too, await further reports with baited breath (that's what i get for eating worms.....).
I was always under the impression that "Special" in the name of a LP/SG model meant 2 P-90s - but Gibson/Epiphone have done stranger things.
And if I may offer my humble opinions? 
1)  There are few things in life sweeter than a P-90 at the neck, and
2)  My Strat has a 5 way blade, and I added a mini-toggle that cuts the neck in no matter what position the blade's in, so I can get all 7 combinations.

Peter