New Life for an Old Predator

[outris]

If you've seen my thread over on the wiring board, you'll know this has been a work in progress. In addition to modding the wiring, I refinished the guitar, a 1994 Peavey Predator. This was more of a project for fun, so I'm pleased with the results.

This guitar started out with a standard Red paint job similar to this
usera.ImageCave.com/outris/Peaveypredato2r (Small).jpg[/img].

I added new pickups, a new DPDT switch. Then I refinished the guitar, customized the pickguard, pickup covers, tremolo cover and added some homemade knobs.


The result is this:






usera.ImageCave.com/outris/Picture 002.jpg[/img]

[ijustwannastrat]

Very nice! I've never been huge on wood pickguards, but I like how that one looks. pup covers add something great to the pickguard. But, could you get a picture of the edge? it looks like you put a different stain or something on the edge, but it could be the lighting...

[cynical1]

That's some very nice work on the pickguard, pickup covers and knobs. I'd be interested in knowing how you did it.

And I always have a special spot for a Peavey. Rock solid working man's guitar...no goat's milk latte required.

Good work and thanks for posting this one.

Happy Trails

Cynical One

[outris]

Ijustwannna,

I added a pic from the edge. This wasn't a different stain, just a different kind of wood. There is some type of veneer over the top and back of the guitar, not sure what the woods are though. Would be interested to know if someone can identify them.

Cynical,

For the pickguard, pickup covers and tremolo cover, I used various veneers, glued right on top of the original plastic covers. For the knobs, I started with some hardwood cabinet knobs from Home Depot, then sanded and dremeled them into smaller new shapes. Then I glued veneer on the knob tops to match the pickguard. Then I coated everything with about 10 coats of spray lacquer.

[sumgai]

outtie,

The body wood is most likely basswood, but the two caps are less easily identified. I think I'd guess poplar.....

But whatever the woods are, very nice job! +1 for the good photoshoot.



sumgai

[thetragichero]

dayum that looks gorgeous!
xoxo


--chris

[ijustwannastrat]

What's up the the D string saddle?

[outris]

During the modding....I lost the screw and spring. Going to be replacing the bridge anyway. Any suggestions on what to replace it with?

...and durn you ijust...you had to notice that! ;D

[ijustwannastrat]

Is hacking the body an issue for you? I would say keep the trem-leo, get some locking tuners, a good nut (graphite?), and some of those saddles with the small graphite contacts where they touch the strings. Set it up so there is absolutely no "up" movement on it, and call it a day. I hardly use a whammy, and I dislike having to compensate when I bend 1 string and keep 1 or 2 others still. No matter what you will do, though, it will turn out great. Once again, good job on the guitar! I hope mine turns out half that good.

[andy]

I really dig the way that looks!

Did you also veneer the sides of the pickup covers?

I think ijustwannastrat probably has a good suggestion with the Graphtech saddles- they should just drop straight in and by all accounts, they help the performance of the guitar, and refine the tone too.

[outris]

Andy,
I didn't veneer the sides of the pkup covers. I just painted them brown.

So you think I should just keep the existing bridge and just replace the saddles?
New Tuners were on my list of upgrades...any specific recommendations? With regard to the graphite nut, I've not tackled that before but willing to try if its not to difficult. Advice welcome!

[andy]

Well, unless you want anything other than a Strat style bridge, the only upgrade you can really do is with the gauge of metal it is made from. The chunkier the better, in most opinions, but to that end the only advice I would have is 'find one that fits properly'!

Gotoh and Schaller are well repected tuner-makers, so are always a good bet. I've never used locking tuners, and have heard both good and bad about them. The balanced view I've recieved from other opinions is that they cost good money for something that careful stringing can take care of anyway, although, as they say on the internet, YMMV. Another type to consider for any Fender type headstock is tuners with posts of graded height, which keep the break angle over the nut more consitent, helping with general tension and tuning stability. Again, I've not tried these myself.
Any well made brand will be a good choice, but is usually more a luxury in the way they feel to use than an actual improvement in practical application, unless of course your current tuners actually don't work!

As I understand it, graphite nuts are fairly easy to cut and fit, much as normal plastic ones. They are in fact, I think, Teflon impregnated with graphite, and their main claims to being an improvement over other types are extreme slipperiness, keeping snagging away for good tuning stability and good vibrato arm operation, and consistency within the materials- being manmade it is free of voids and is the same density throughout. Of course, plastic shares that second one!

[sumgai]

I've long had Graphtech saddles and their nut on my rig. It is pretty easy to knock out a nut on most Fender necks, but some time ago, cynical1 put up a post about how to do this the easy way. Wouldn't you know it, but I don't seem to be using the correct search terms, I can't find it just now. Perhaps c1 himself can recall it, or just re-state it here for you..... <insert fingers-crossed-with-a-hopeful-look smilie here>

As to the locking tuners, I've had guitars for much longer than lockers have existed. (Much too much longer, blankety-blank!) I've never had a real issue with tuning stability, but then again, my name isn't Eddie Van Halen, nor is it Steve Vai. But the main thing for me is that the lockers that came stock on my newest Strat let me insert the string, tighten down the lock, then crank the tuner about 1/5^th or 1/6^th as much as I had to without the lockers. That translates to quicker-back-to-playing times, when you break a string on stage.

Just one player's point of view.....

HTH




sumgai

[andy]

Sept 21, 2009 11:37:39 GMT -5 sumgai said:

But the main thing for me is that the lockers that came stock on my newest Strat let me insert the string, tighten down the lock, then crank the tuner about 1/5^th or 1/6^th as much as I had to without the lockers. That translates to quicker-back-to-playing times, when you break a string on stage.

Good point, I hadn't thought of that side of it.