My SSS Albert modifiaction.

[Spudmurphy]

My SSS Albert modification HHH AL anybody?

Well I was thinking last night. I have 3 Alberts
One with MM90's
One SSS Piezo Trem
One SSS Hardtail.

I came from a HH background having played a Les Paul for 30 years, but just don't like the actual guitar anymore.

I also have 2 good friends, one a guitar builder with one hell of a good reputation, and another who makes the best pickups around (Really!!).

He has finished a trial of a new pickup design that splits the HH more effectively (so I'm led to believe - and will have a good chat with him tonight.)

Now the beauty of the Albert is that I could get it routed to take the 'buckers, after all who gets to see underneath the pickguard - only me. So it would in essence be a mod that could be reversed as I will keep the SSS pickups/Pickguard.

The mod would be carried out on the Hardtail Albert.

It's a bit of a step to take and I'm mulling it over - any thoughts/suggestions/ input/ opinions would be welcome.

If I get it done, I'll be sure to post plenty of pictures of the mod process.

Cheers

Spud

 

[fogman]

sounds cool Spud.
give us some sound clips too! :]

 

[jzeijen]

You could 'just' get an AL HH. But to modify a guitar that you are planning on keeping anyway is a great idea. At least you know what you get playability wise!

I personally really like the sound of an AL HH with a maple neck, even more than with a rosewood neck.

Any idea on which humbuckers to use?

 

[GWDavis28]

Kevin, wow, sounds like a great project, but would it be worth while to go HHH instead? More options and the only other ones that have a AL HHH is Joe Bonamassa and in the Vault,

Glenn |B)

 

[Spudmurphy]

Nice one guys - good food for thought.
I'm in the market for one more guitar (honest just the one!), and that will be a silo.
The plan would be to visit the states and get one on my travels. I've always said that if they built a silo with a gc I'd get one.
So buying another Al would be out of the question.

I was also thinking of 3 humbuckers but that would be a little bit removed from the conventional model - still thinking that one over though.
Yeah I'd like the maple neck on it too, and the hardtail is a nice guitar. One of my gripes with the Al has been me hitting the volume control so I could alter the placement of that slightly on the conversion too. I have adapted my technique to stop me hitting the volume control but it still happens sometimes in the "heat of battle". Even more so now that after over 40 years of playing I'm using the volume control a lot more now.

Pickups? - well I'd look hard if anybody were to sell HH they took out of their AL and put up for sale, but remember, my mate is a pickup Builder - Shed Pickups in the UK and they really do knock Bareknuckle pickups into a cocked hat. They are some of the finest pickups out there. I'd watch my mate make them too (although I wouldn't be able do film that (I don't think))- but I could certainly scatter some windings lol. as I said he has (if I understood him correctly) developed a HH that "truely splits"

I'll post some video clips of the outcome that's for sure.

 

[kestrou]

tagging this thread so I can some back to it - dying of antici... pation!

kestrou

 

[beej]

Spud- I'd probably do it (I've routed my Pinkburst for a Silent Circuit). Just a little bit of wood and you can always go back to singles. Why not.

 

[Tollywood]

Kevin, wow, sounds like a great project, but would it be worth while to go HHH instead? More options and the only other ones that have a AL HHH is Joe Bonamassa and in the Vault,

Glenn |B)

+1 on H-H-H.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

The difference from a "real" Al HH is the wood involved. I've played a number of "real" HHs with mahogany body and rosewood neck and actually bought one of the 1-off Ash/maple Als from the Warp tour. Now, it had no tone knob so I assume no cap. The tone was definately less dark than a "real" HH. It was very clear and sounded great. I think that if you're ok with a tone that's not as dark as the "real" Al HH or an LP, you'll be fine. Also, your friend may do some magic on the pickups to make them how you want them.

 

[GWDavis28]

Kev, if memory serves me right, EBMM had issue with the 6 way switch they were thinking of using. There is a place that sells the 6 way switch (aka super switch), food for thought.

Glenn |B)

 

[fsmith]

Kev,
Just send me the pickups and I'll "test" them out in mine... I'll let you know if you should go for it or not. What are buddies for?

I say go for it.

fred

 

[MM90TB]

Cool project! Can't wait to read about the completion and any comparisons you may make of your project HH conversion against a factory HHAL. Have fun with the project!

 

[Spudmurphy]

Thanks for the comments.
I'm still just thinking out loud, and a HHH would be a great way to go.
Cheers Glen re the switch, I'll be discussing that with the guitar tech and pickup guy on Saturday afternoon when we will all get together.
I'll be talking about the switching options and pick up splitting options.

So shall I go HH or HHH thats the question? Hell I could even go HsH.
I think also I'll go for individual routing of the body cavities for the HH (HHH) rather than a swimming pool route ala the silos.
I'm looking forward to the chat on Saturday when I can discuss the options.

I'll have to get a scratch plate made too, and I'll try moving the volume knob out of the way slightly.

If you check out the link in my sig to the hardtail Albert you can see the colour of the guitar. I need to decide on a colour for the pickguard and want to keep a classic vibe to it. (Vintage sunburst, natty headstock).

Fred, could always arrange to get pickups shipped over to ya at mates rates lol.

Back to the switch - if anybody wants to post any links to a switch that would be good.

Finally, I'll weigh the guitar before and after too.

Ok - gotta get back to work !!!!

Tax waits for no man !!!

 

[GWDavis28]

Kevin, sounds very cool man, you have refinish the body as well, or leave it as it is for now?

Glenn |B)

 

[Spudmurphy]

Kevin, sounds very cool man, you have refinish the body as well, or leave it as it is for now?

Glenn |B)

No the plan is to leave the body as it is, as the pick guard will cover the mod.

 

[beej]

I'd go SSH

 

[MM90TB]

Are you planning on doing any of the routing yourself, or subbing it out to someone else? I ask because I've seen some nice bodies and finishes ruined over the years by home routing jobs gone awry as first projects.

 

[GWDavis28]

I'd go SSH

Pete will be crushed!!! Hahahahahahaha. Beej, do you have some inside info here?

Glenn |B)

 

[Spudmurphy]

Are you planning on doing any of the routing yourself, or subbing it out to someone else? I ask because I've seen some nice bodies and finishes ruined over the years by home routing jobs gone awry as first projects.

No - I won't do it. Like I said earlier in the thread my buddy builds guitars for a living - from "chunks of wood" - his guitars sell for $3500 +The guy who own Bareknuckle pickups bought 3 of them andf Dave Grohl has one too!!

He will do the routing but I have to speak with him tomorrow to talk this through.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I'd go SSH

Nah - It's looking like HHH.

Hey Beej, how did yor routing go! Did you have any problems like chipping the finish?