PU routing on a benji

[brokenvail]

Ok guys I am wondering if anyone knows how a benji is routed under that pick guard? Is it a true singeHB route or is it a swimming pool? There is a cheap one on ebay and reguardless of what anyone thinks of him to have an USA made EBMM for a decent price that can be modded is a tempting thing.

 

[jamminjim]

single hummer rout sorry

 

[phatduckk]

Shouldn't be too hard to route it yourself. I have routed extra pickup cavities on project guitars using a handheld dremel. Since there's a pickguard on the Benji it'll cover up any routing imperfections.

What id do is:
1) buy a pickguard from EMBB w/ the pickup combo you want
2) install the PG and trace the cavity with a sharpie (marker/pencil, whatever)
3) take the PG off
4) have at it with a dremel using a routing bit

It might take about an hour or so but you should be able to do it... I have before. If there wasnt a PG to cover up the imperfections I wouldn't do it but w/ a PG nobody's gonna see crooked routes etc

You'll get the hang of it pretty quick and finish in no time. I say go for it!

 

[jamminjim]

hey Brokenvail - if its the black benjis - I dont see how those benjis are much better than a Sub 1. A tiny bit of body sculpting, locking tuners and an inlay is all they got over the Sub 1. And $700 bucks would buy you 2 Sub 1's and not have to rout a thing for two hummers. Or a simple rout in the middle for a Silo Spec guard.

~Jim

 

[zombi]

There is probably still a difference of tone. For $700 I'd look for some silos though... Pretty easy to find in that price range.

 

[DaPatrooch]

hey Brokenvail - if its the black benjis - I dont see how those benjis are much better than a Sub 1. A tiny bit of body sculpting, locking tuners and an inlay is all they got over the Sub 1. And $700 bucks would buy you 2 Sub 1's and not have to rout a thing for two hummers. Or a simple rout in the middle for a Silo Spec guard.

~Jim

And I'm pretty sure the Benji has the unfinished neck. That alone would be worth the extra couple hundred dollars. Plus all the other things you said.

 

[fbecir]

Don't forget to buy a new nut ... the Benji comes with heavy strings (the Benji is designed to be played down-tuned). Thus, if you play with common gauge (009 or 010) the nut slots are certainly too wide.

 

[the24thfret]

I'd recommend a Silo in that price range as well.

 

[jamminjim]

Benji has the unfinished neck - didn't think of that
nut slots are certainly too wide - I didn't know that good info

silo recommended - yup, good idea - they have the boat rout and all the other goodies

 

[brokenvail]

Thanks for the info guys. I was not thinking of getting that black benji but seeing it made me wondering about the routing because I get those can be scored for cheap. I am watching the Sub1 more and more especially now that I know the routing. I don't want to blow much because I am in need of a SS soon and Sub would just be to mess aroun with