Another EPIC transformation on another pink ebmm...

[Tollywood]

Well, as promised, Pinkbert was ready yesterday...and she came out exactly as I imagined:

This picture really captures the pink to red burst:

 

[xjbebop]

custom + cool.... very nice!!!

 

[Tollywood]

Nicely done!

custom + cool.... very nice!!!

Thanks, guys. I'm very pleased with how it came out.

 

[mtrejo]

Is it me or an optical illusion…did you set the trem to pull up like your Luke?

 

[Tollywood]

Is it me or an optical illusion…did you set the trem to pull up like your Luke?

Hi Mario, No illusion; it's true...I love the Luke III so much, that I had Pinkbert set up just like the Luke: 1 1/2 steps of back pull.

 

[mtrejo]

Score buddy!

 

[dibart77]

Man, that Pinkburst is really cool. How is the Sustainiac as a neck pickup? Is it a single coil or is it hum cancelling?

​

 

[mike_baugh]

That looks VERY cool! Why don't you pop in a couple pink LED's inside? The pick guard would light up real nice!

 

[DrugDM]

Guitar looks awesome. Quick question, do you know if the luthier had to add a shim to the neck to make the trem float on your guitar? I feel the same way now after playing my L3 and need some flutter on my AL.

 

[banjoplayer]

well Pinkbert is special. I Like it the more traditional way, but what the heck - it looks like a lot of fun and you had a clear idea, so why not? Have fun with Pinkbert. I´m sure he is in good hands and gets his playing now!

 

[Tollywood]

Man, that Pinkburst is really cool. How is the Sustainiac as a neck pickup? Is it a single coil or is it hum cancelling?

​

Thanks, Jeff.

It sounds really good as a neck pickup. When you get the Sustainiac, you can wire it as single coil sounding, or humbucker sounding. The default wiring is single coil, and your tech would solder one additional wire to change it to humbucker. The unit is single coil size and you can order it with a second dummy coil to fill the void of a humbucker. I kept mine single coil size so that Jim wouldn't have to route the tone block in that area.

well Pinkbert is special. I Like it the more traditional way, but what the heck - it looks like a lot of fun and you had a clear idea, so why not? Have fun with Pinkbert. I´m sure he is in good hands and gets his playing now!

She is special...check out the figuring on that ash body. I've kept all the mods beneath the pickguard, so one day in my golden years, I could return her to stock, if I wanted to...but I doubt it.

Although Steve Vai inspired Pinkbert, he uses a Fernandes Sustainer, but their electronics are much larger and would require much more routing to the body.

That looks VERY cool! Why don't you pop in a couple pink LED's inside? The pick guard would light up real nice!

This is way too funny - I actually almost did add pink leds in the cavity to be activated when I was in full-on sustainiac mode; but I didn't do it.

Guitar looks awesome. Quick question, do you know if the luthier had to add a shim to the neck to make the trem float on your guitar? I feel the same way now after playing my L3 and need some flutter on my AL.

Thanks! No, he didn't add any shims to make it float. He removed one of the three springs and made the remaining two V shaped, mainly because I switched it from 10s to super slinky 9s. Then, you just back out the two screws on the spring claw until you get your desired back pull. 1 1/2 steps is perfect.

 

[banjoplayer]

She is special...check out the figuring on that ash body.

Is it a one-piece-body? Looks like...

 

[Tollywood]

Yes, it is a one piece body. Absolutely beautiful figuring. It was on display at last winter's namm show.

 

[Stratty316]

I think a BFR Albert Lee is in my future... Maybe I'll go crazy and change the pick guard to black pearl.

 

[Tollywood]

I think a BFR Albert Lee is in my future... Maybe I'll go crazy and change the pick guard to black pearl.

Now you're talking!

Seriously though, the BFR Albert Lee is a sight to behold...that Pinkburst color is sooooo cool in person. Highly recommended!

 

[Stratty316]

It's on my list... Just have a few things ahead of it at the moment.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Nice! You really made that guitar YOURS. I personally would have stuck with the pearloid pickguard, but that's just me.

So how does she play? I've tried out sustainiac style pickups before, and I honestly just can't get them to work with my playing. I have enough trouble getting a TREM to work with my playing.

 

[Tollywood]

Thanks, tbone, she came out exactly as I wanted. Plays great and the DiMarzio Gravity Storm is a very nice sounding pickup with alot of midrange, which I like. I am an 80's guy, but I never liked that scooped midrange sound.

The Sustainiac is very cool, but I have not mastered it yet. So far, I just mess around with it, but it is really cool and I like the buildup of sustain. I like to fool around with the whammy bar and the whammy pedal and other pedals to make noises and other weird stuff sometimes. That's where I'm at with it for now.

 

[Tollywood]

Hey Guys,

I have a question about the black line that is on the border of the maple cap on this guitar and the JPs. How do they do that? Is it done by a machine or an old-school hot rod pinstripe painter? I'm hoping it's done by some old guy by hand, but it sure looks perfect.

 

[kimonostereo]

Hey Guys,

I have a question about the black line that is on the border of the maple cap on this guitar and the JPs. How do they do that? Is it done by a machine or an old-school hot rod pinstripe painter? I'm hoping it's done by some old guy by hand, but it sure looks perfect.

One way would be to route a small edging into the body wood, then pour a resin into the edging or use actual binding then put the cap top on.

I could be wrong, but another way to do it: use a thin laminate sandwiched in between the body wood and the maple top.