let's take a peek inside an Albert Lee.

[Spudmurphy]

Last week I said that I would post some pics of my Albert whist it was having a replacement pickguard fitted. So, trying to keep out of the way of the guitar tech and working with a digi camera that has an intolerable "depth of field", here they are:-

Albert on the bench

Albert Naked

Q. Spot the differences between the two pickguards?

A . The area of the shielding is different and the new one didn't have the round sticky tab to hold onto the "Quiet Circuit" cannister.

Pic of the pickups

another pickup pic

The discolouration on the label isn't there really - it's a result of enhancing the contrast on the label in photoshopThere was no "plug" to unplug the pickups from the rest of the loom - maybe you don't get them on a piezo?
I wish the prince of darkness (beej ) was here !!

Finally a blurry shot of the back of the piezo

Now were there any bits left over ???

 

[robelinda2]

COOL SPUD! Great work! what colour is the new pickguard?

 

[azzy_wazzy]

Ooooh goodness I think that'll put Trev off changing the pickguard!

Scary!!!!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hi Rob
It's the same colour! - Hey you can beat the Aussies (only in one dayers )
but you can't beat a white pearloid 'guard

 

[fogman]

Oh I can't look!!!!

It's like watching open heart surgery!

 

[threeminutesboy]

very nice pics

 

[uvacom]

Interesting, those pickups are APS-3 in the middle and neck position, too. And they say "0835" and "0836" just like mine.

I called Seymour Duncan about that and the person I spoke to was very helpful, but he couldn't help me and said he'd have the custom shop call me back, but they never did.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Here's a link to a video showing how to remove the trem arm - basic I know, but a Newbie was asking about this the other week
enjoy .....
02tremoloarmremoval.flv - Video - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

 

[mbgreene]

Very cool spud .

It looks like you're swapping pickup covers as well - you non CIC guys get to have all the fun.

I like the trem arm video. My Silo works just like that. My Gremlin however meets resistance after the initial inch. It comes up out of its seat as it should, but after it travels up an inch or so it stops and I here a ping. I've pulled up with a bit of force - enough that it should come out - but it pings and stops.

Any ideas anyone?

I could pull harder, but I don't think I should have to based on how the Silo operates. Plus, I'm not exactly petite and I have, can and will break things.

MBG CIC ALOC

 

[robelinda2]

Hi Rob
It's the same colour! - Hey you can beat the Aussies (only in one dayers )
but you can't beat a white pearloid 'guard

and what a thrashing we copped!!! Who wouldve thought. Caned by the Poms then the Kiwis.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Very cool spud .

It looks like you're swapping pickup covers as well - you non CIC guys get to have all the fun.

I like the trem arm video. My Silo works just like that. My Gremlin however meets resistance after the initial inch. It comes up out of its seat as it should, but after it travels up an inch or so it stops and I here a ping. I've pulled up with a bit of force - enough that it should come out - but it pings and stops.

Any ideas anyone?

I could pull harder, but I don't think I should have to based on how the Silo operates. Plus, I'm not exactly petite and I have, can and will break things.

MBG CIC ALOC

No I left the pickup covers as they were (white), in one of the pictures the pickup cover is off so you are seeing a naked Seymour Duncan pickup. When you take the pickups off the scratch plate the covers just "pull off".

I'd heard about a "baseplate" on the bridge position pickup and was suprised to see that it comprised off a very thin piece of metal attached to the bottom of the baseplate.

A friend who makes pickups was explaining the intricacies of magnetic fields etc etc. But I needed beej with me to translate!! This mate makes superb pickups - he can mimic 50/60 's F3nder pickups to a tee.
If I ever made a replica of an Albert - I'd get him to do the pickups, F hole Albert, no pickguard etc etc etc drool !!!!
Edit
Look I know you CIC chaps (all scrambled egg, ceremonial swords and officers mess) don't like to get your hands dirty !

Just give it a good yank then have a try at the tremolo arm
Addendum
Scrambled Egg Trivia

'Scrambled eggs' was, of course, the phrase which Paul McCartney sang when he first got the tune for 'Yesterday' but hadn't yet thought up the words. Things would have been very different if he had stuck to the original version...

Did you know that 'Scrambled Egg' is also the name of the braid on a Naval Officer's uniform.

 

[Spudmurphy]

and what a thrashing we copped!!! Who wouldve thought. Caned by the Poms then the Kiwis.

Shoot R2 - I was expecting a hammering from you - whitewash, misplaced MBE's etc etc - you must be mellowing

 

[robelinda2]

only as good as your last game, as they say Spud. and for us, that aint very good!!! Hopefully we will redeem ourselves at the World Cup.

Ashes are safe though, 5-0!!!!!!!

How come you didnt try a different pickguard for the hell of it?

 

[Spudmurphy]

I love the look of my Albert so didn't change it- how can you improve on perfection !!!

PM sent

 

[Axistence]

Spud. nice pics & vid, congrats! Very good job

 

[candid_x]

Spud, why did you change the PG, if you replaced it with the same color? And, does it bother you that it isn't shielded as much as the original?

Love that color, btw. I'm not crazy about white perloid, but it looks righteous on that AL.

 

[dfrady]

Interesting pics, i enjoyed looking at those, Thanks for sharing Spud !!!

 

[Colin]

even with the pick guard removed you can see the attention to detail

 

[KungFu Grip]

Kinda sad to see less shielding on the new pickguard.

 

[beej]

But I needed beej with me to translate!!

I was there in spirit, fella

Yeah- the replacement pickguards with partial shielding- that always bothers me! I don't know why they don't extend the foil over the whole p/g for a few extra cents.

For a cavity to be totally shielded you really want the entire surface area to be conductive. Granted there are holes etc for the pickups, but the more area that's shielded the less RF noise the wires, switches, etc will pick up.

Anyway- good suff! Hard to imagine that AL looking any better than it already did!