Colin
Well-known member
that's nice, everyone should own a Y2D
- Thread starter tvanveen
- Start date
SubMariner61
Active member
custom Koa Sub 1
As promised, here are better photos of my custom retopped Sub 1. I just got it back from my local guitar tech and the koa wood dot inlays turned out great.
An understated appearance that meshes nicely with the lighter chocolate striping of the rosewood fingerboard. A bit larger than the original tinier MM dots but the luthier did a great job of getting them matched up as good as I was hoping.
I'm waiting for some figured rosewood blanks to arrive at Rothesay Music (in the UK). They build exotic wood tuner buttons so I'll be replacing the pearl ones that came with the locking Schallers (another upgrade from the original locking tuners that were standard on trem-Subs) with rosewood buttons. I thought about koa buttons but when fiddling around with images, came to the conclusion that rosewood would be a nicer contrast to the koa on the headstock.
I also considered the placement of an Ernie Ball logo on the headstock but didn't want to get into any trademark issues with the company...even though it left California as a Sub 1, I suppose with this many modifications, it's gone far beyond that by now and I don't want to misrepresent this as some sort of one-off Music Man.
The satin black finish was removed from the neck and 'cept for the gloss black finish (to match the back of the body), it's down to the bare wood with just a hint of finish applied. It feels raw and is as smooth as a newborn's skin. The textured black finish on the body was shaved off and a gloss black finish was wonderfully applied by noted guitar finisher Marty Bell. No backplate or holes for one...don't use 'em, I lose 'em.
As for the top, about 1/8th of an inch was removed to make room for the flamed koa, which according to the original luthier....was hand selected from a small lot of slightly chevron-figured koa. I've owned koa guitars for years but rarely do I see chevron-figure in koa wood so that's kind of nice to have it on the Sub. It's a nice change from the usual bookmatched, straight-across pattern.
Larry Dimarzio was correct. The HOT Minibucker at the bridge simply roars. Good lord...what a great pickup. Can go from grindcore to quack with the turn of a knob. The normal minibucker in the neck is a perfect match for the bridge. With the treble rolled off, the tone is very jazz-esque, smooth and round and full-bodied...really great for sweep picking and fast legato style runs. Power-wise, it roars a bit less than the HOT mini but in the neck position, the balance is perfect.
The Creation Audio Labs Redeemer Circuit is astonishingly effective.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XidKuHTlHG8"]YouTube - Redeemer Circuit - The ultimate upgrade for guitars, basses[/ame]
Check it out...the tonal variations this tiny mod (buffer) creates really surprised me. With just minute adjustments of the tone and volume knob, there are perhaps as many as six or seven distinct tones available from this two pickup offering and that's with the pickup selector in a stationary position. As for rolling off the volume, the tone remains the same...no mud. Love it! Cost about $40 and runs off a 9v battery...which in this particular case, is housed in a custom compartment carved out of the back of the guitar.
Anyways, hope you enjoy the photos. I absolutely love the guitar and it plays as good as it looks, which is no surprise since the original DNA of the instrument is all Music Man!
As promised, here are better photos of my custom retopped Sub 1. I just got it back from my local guitar tech and the koa wood dot inlays turned out great.
An understated appearance that meshes nicely with the lighter chocolate striping of the rosewood fingerboard. A bit larger than the original tinier MM dots but the luthier did a great job of getting them matched up as good as I was hoping.
I'm waiting for some figured rosewood blanks to arrive at Rothesay Music (in the UK). They build exotic wood tuner buttons so I'll be replacing the pearl ones that came with the locking Schallers (another upgrade from the original locking tuners that were standard on trem-Subs) with rosewood buttons. I thought about koa buttons but when fiddling around with images, came to the conclusion that rosewood would be a nicer contrast to the koa on the headstock.
I also considered the placement of an Ernie Ball logo on the headstock but didn't want to get into any trademark issues with the company...even though it left California as a Sub 1, I suppose with this many modifications, it's gone far beyond that by now and I don't want to misrepresent this as some sort of one-off Music Man.
The satin black finish was removed from the neck and 'cept for the gloss black finish (to match the back of the body), it's down to the bare wood with just a hint of finish applied. It feels raw and is as smooth as a newborn's skin. The textured black finish on the body was shaved off and a gloss black finish was wonderfully applied by noted guitar finisher Marty Bell. No backplate or holes for one...don't use 'em, I lose 'em.
As for the top, about 1/8th of an inch was removed to make room for the flamed koa, which according to the original luthier....was hand selected from a small lot of slightly chevron-figured koa. I've owned koa guitars for years but rarely do I see chevron-figure in koa wood so that's kind of nice to have it on the Sub. It's a nice change from the usual bookmatched, straight-across pattern.
Larry Dimarzio was correct. The HOT Minibucker at the bridge simply roars. Good lord...what a great pickup. Can go from grindcore to quack with the turn of a knob. The normal minibucker in the neck is a perfect match for the bridge. With the treble rolled off, the tone is very jazz-esque, smooth and round and full-bodied...really great for sweep picking and fast legato style runs. Power-wise, it roars a bit less than the HOT mini but in the neck position, the balance is perfect.
The Creation Audio Labs Redeemer Circuit is astonishingly effective.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XidKuHTlHG8"]YouTube - Redeemer Circuit - The ultimate upgrade for guitars, basses[/ame]
Check it out...the tonal variations this tiny mod (buffer) creates really surprised me. With just minute adjustments of the tone and volume knob, there are perhaps as many as six or seven distinct tones available from this two pickup offering and that's with the pickup selector in a stationary position. As for rolling off the volume, the tone remains the same...no mud. Love it! Cost about $40 and runs off a 9v battery...which in this particular case, is housed in a custom compartment carved out of the back of the guitar.
Anyways, hope you enjoy the photos. I absolutely love the guitar and it plays as good as it looks, which is no surprise since the original DNA of the instrument is all Music Man!
Sterling_Bass
Well-known member
The Custom Koa Sub 1 is incredible. Hot damn.
Astrofreq
Well-known member
One of the best looking Ernie ball guitars ever!!
keko
Well-known member
Hi guys, I'm a bass player, but my buddy from a band plays John Petrucci Music Man guitar w/piezzo, so it's my pleasure to add a photo from a stage for you to see how it looks at the other side of the planet!
By the way, my friend bought this JP guitar allmost a year ago and did not register it online yet 'cause he is not a computer freak, but I'm gonna do it for him very soon, as soon as I collect all info from him!
By the way, my friend bought this JP guitar allmost a year ago and did not register it online yet
'cause he is not a computer freak, but I'm gonna do it for him very soon, as soon as I collect all info from him!
My 2001 EBMM Axis Super Sport
Trans Blue Quilt top, Birdseye Maple Neck with Rosewood Fretboard and Matching Headstock
Vintage MusicMan Tremolo
This one most accurately captures the True Color of the guitar.
I've read that the TransBlue fades to an Aqua like color over the years.
Something about using a flash always makes it look more Blue than it really is.
It looks to me more like a Terquoise to me.
But I love it just the same..
Trans Blue Quilt top, Birdseye Maple Neck with Rosewood Fretboard and Matching Headstock
Vintage MusicMan Tremolo
This one most accurately captures the True Color of the guitar.
I've read that the TransBlue fades to an Aqua like color over the years.
Something about using a flash always makes it look more Blue than it really is.
It looks to me more like a Terquoise to me.
But I love it just the same..
Last edited:
JP red
Member
Hi, greetings from Berlin/Germany.
My Petrucci radiance red which i bought back in 2004:
And Here's my Axis Sport in blue dawn which i bought used in 2008:
My Petrucci radiance red which i bought back in 2004:
And Here's my Axis Sport in blue dawn which i bought used in 2008:
morsecode
Well-known member
My Dargie JP7
Last edited:
73h Nils
Well-known member
*Drools. Do you have pics of your Koa? I don't think I've seen it.
morsecode
Well-known member
soon...I need to get around to taking some good pics of it.
InTheFlesh83
New member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2009
- Messages
- 2
hey guys, new to the forum. I just picked up this bad boy today: JP6 Sterling Silver. It rocks!!!
leftyguitarblue
Well-known member
Welcome! Sparkly! I love my sterling silver as well.
telecasterking
New member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1
I got my first Ernie Ball Music Man guitar today, a BFR Albert Lee signature model. As you can see, Albert has signed the back of the body as well as the headstock.
View attachment 5982
View attachment 5985
View attachment 5984
View attachment 5983
View attachment 5982
View attachment 5985
View attachment 5984
View attachment 5983
keko
Well-known member
Few more live shots of my guitarist from the band and his EB MM JP guitar:
Photos are pro-shots from a wedding party we've played on!
Photos are pro-shots from a wedding party we've played on!
mb99zz
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum! That's one heck of a first EBMM
Maybe you'll change your username to AL_King before long Hey all,
new to the forum. My first EBMM guitar, and it's a 25th! I love it, perfect neck & action, incredible sustain and killer looks. My first new electric since '91 or so (I mostly play the bass). Can't put the guitar off my hands, and the wife is getting frustrated with me...
new to the forum. My first EBMM guitar, and it's a 25th! I love it, perfect neck & action, incredible sustain and killer looks. My first new electric since '91 or so (I mostly play the bass). Can't put the guitar off my hands, and the wife is getting frustrated with me...
Last edited:
marduke
Well-known member
