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Spudmurphy

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Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
A little while ago I started this thread about my JP refurb project
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/36275-my-john-petrucci-refurb-project.html
So just to get everybody up to speed here's what I did next:-

The piezo switch was shot and was totally U/S so I managed to get another one.
When it turned up I was surprised to see that it had the wiring loom all attached to it
P2110121.jpg


P2110124.jpg



The wiring goes from the switch to the main control cavity, and the wire felt really tight. I had to remove the neck pickup to reveal the piezo wiring running under the humbucker legs to a hole that led to the control cavity
P2130161.jpg


I did have a proper wiring diagram for the Pet, but I also made my own diagram (I know it's not up to Beej's standard but it was Spudproof)
P2130171.jpg


Just to go back a step - I had to rebuild the Bridge unit with new piezo saddles which I had to solder to the PCB. The factory solder joints were soooo flat - must have been done in a solder bath? Mine were initially a bit more proud, but I felt that they would still not short out in the recess machined into the trem block - I installed a cardboard "washer" between the PCB and the machined cavity also put a small piece of tape in the machined cavity to make sure !! This picture shows the pcb prior to the solder joints being cleaned up and made flatter and neater.
P2130176.jpg


Underneath the bridge pickup was all this cardboard to raise the pickup height.
P2130164.jpg


P2130165.jpg


Just before I started to bolt the neck back on
P2130178.jpg


Neck going on
P2130180.jpg


The guitar has now been set up, the intonation is spot on, in the 12th and 24 fret positions.

The piezo sounds great and I have just taken a family shot of all my balls which I'll post soon.

A big thanks to Simon in Cardiff Guitars who helped me sort out a problem yesterday - no power going to the Piezo Pre amp.
Cardiff guitars have a very sweet green BFR LUKE in stock and a lovely LE 05 Silo (Butterscotch)


Once again a big thanks to Fsmith who helped in a big way to get this guitar - cheers Fred also to GWdavis who also helped

Gonna let the guitar settle and check the set up over the next couple of days.
 

luv

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Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
933
Location
Colorado
great stuff Spud! thanks for sharing.

funny what some people (previous owner) will do to guitars......to each his own I guess.
 

OLPlayer

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Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Messages
225
Location
Barry, Wales
A big thanks to Simon in Cardiff Guitars who helped me sort out a problem yesterday - no power going to the Piezo Pre amp.
Cardiff guitars have a very sweet green BFR LUKE in stock and a lovely LE 05 Silo (Butterscotch)


Once again a big thanks to Fsmith who helped in a big way to get this guitar - cheers Fred also to GWdavis who also helped
I notice I didn't get a mention ;) I held the JP body, while Simon pulled the new toggle switch wires through - an invaluable contribution me thinks :D
 

Sticky1973

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Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
868
Location
Scotland
Very cool indeed.

The finger board looks lovely and dark. Smarts of some TLC right there :)

Any thoughts on the body colour being changed?

Looks great Spud, really nice.
 

GWDavis28

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Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,749
Location
Mass
Spud man, looks great, glad to see you go the switch man!!

No problem it was my pleasure, but the major thanx go out to you man!!! ;)

Glenn |B)
 

Spudmurphy

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Joined
Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Very cool indeed.

The finger board looks lovely and dark. Smarts of some TLC right there :)

Any thoughts on the body colour being changed?

Looks great Spud, really nice.

The fingerboard was subject to a lot of "Spud Hours", and came out looking good.
The action I have set slightly below the factory specs and it feels like a nice guitar to play.
I love the variations that my 4 EB's give me.

The body colour ? - I'm going to leave it as it is, at least for 6 months and play it. Then I may try and resurrect the mystic dream finish - realising that there will be blemishes. If it turns out crap then I will respray it.

I'm also looking at maybe building a Swamp ash body for it - AL shaped. :eek:
Hard tail with 2 humbuckers. I have a slab of ash already lined up and now going thro some pick up options with my mate the pick up builder.

But just to reiterate - just gonna play it, let it bed in and enjoy the fruits of my labours.

It's still very early days yet and I need more playing time. - Going to use it live pretty soon too!!
 
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