eldoro
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by eldoro on Jan 30, 2008 12:44:14 GMT -5
I fancy buying an epiphone sg, then putting a set of emgs in.
Never put active pups in a guitar before. Just wondering what i'll be like for room trying to fit the battery pack in the back panel cavity? or if anyone can reconmend any other ideas for what to do?
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Post by wolf on Jan 30, 2008 15:17:40 GMT -5
Well, I own a Gibson SG Standard and although it does have some room, most of it is taken up by 2 volume controls, 2 tone controls and a rather large pickup switch. Also an SG is very thin and so don't expect it to have that extra bit of "depth" that a Les Paul has. I don't know that much about active pickups but one solution for more room is to remove a tone control or how about removing a volume control and a tone control and wire the other 2 as a master volume and tone circuit? Actually my SG had all that junk in it. I removed both volume controls and left 1 tone. I then added seven new switches for what I call Super Seven Switching. www.1728.com/guitar6.htm and to show I'm not afraid to make drastic changes to the SG, here's what it looks like now:
Actually, I made another change after that. I substituted a rocker switch for the "In phase / out of phase" toggle switch.
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Post by newey on Jan 30, 2008 20:08:29 GMT -5
eldoro-
You can get a fairly good idea of whether you'll have fitment probs by getting a 9 volt battery, taking off the cover and seeing where you think it will need to go. Of course, you'll have a battery holder which is slightly bigger than the battery itself so you have to allow for that. But that should give you a fairly good idea if it's going to be an issue or not.
You can also buy some more space by using the "mini" style pots in place of your stock ones, if you're not willing to scrap a control or two as Wolf is suggesting.
And I just reread your post and realized you don't have the guitar yet, so a test fit won't work. Maybe you have a friend with one?
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eldoro
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by eldoro on Jan 30, 2008 20:41:09 GMT -5
Yeah, didn't think there would be too much room. The 1 volume appeals, but then i'd be left with a hole in the body, want to make this one a nice neat job.
I suppose i could always rout a small comparment in the back and fit a battery box, although i'm really not keen on cutting and drilling the body! might have a look around and see if i can find any similar projects.
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Post by JohnH on Jan 30, 2008 22:45:20 GMT -5
The most recent guitar I needed on board power for, did not have room for a normal 9V battery. So I used lithium button cells instead. I could get away with just 6V for my circuit, which was two x 3V cells, stacked. I think I could have squeezed another in, to make 9V.
I used 20mm x 2.5mm cells. These cells have surprisingly good capacity for their size, and while the quoted milliamp hours are less than for a 9V alkaline (approx 160mAH v 550mAH for a 9V alkaline), lithium cells are noted for their consistent voltage output through their life, as compared to alkalines which decay steadily. Hence the useful life, at which you still have say 80% of the nominal voltage may not be so much less.
John
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Post by wolf on Jan 31, 2008 1:05:51 GMT -5
eldoro
Heck, this is Guitar Nuts. You wouldn't necessarily have to leave a hole showing in the guitar if you removed a volume control. How about: • Removing the original volume control and replacing it with the cheapest thing you can find in your workshop. To make the extra room, destroy as much of the pot as possible (especially removing the "cap"). Then put the knob on the destroyed "pot" and no worries about a hole showing. • Replace the pot with a bolt, such that the knob will fit properly on that bolt. • Get a wooden dowel that will fit precisely in the hole and on which you can mount the knob.
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Post by kuzi16 on Jan 31, 2008 9:06:38 GMT -5
if you are feeling VERY dareing...
break out the router. MAKE room for the battery in the back. black covers that you can shape yourself are at stewmac and none of this will change the face of the guitar that everyone sees.
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eldoro
Rookie Solder Flinger
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Post by eldoro on Jan 31, 2008 14:45:25 GMT -5
I ordered the guitar today so should be with me by the start of next week, once i have it in front of me to play about i'll make my mind up what the best way to go forward!
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Post by wolf on Jan 31, 2008 17:29:47 GMT -5
eldoro Personally, I wouldn't go with the router just yet. (heck, I'm not afraid to cut into a guitar. Just look at mine in the photo above. Was it worth it ? Damned right.) Anyway, removing let's say one volume or tone control (and using some of the methods to disguise the hole) allows you the option of restoring the guitar to its original condition in case you want to sell it. I don't know why, but for some reason, the guitars that get the most resale value are the ones that have had nothing done to them. Just a thought in case you plan on selling the guitar.
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