Post by lesblues on Dec 17, 2009 13:07:48 GMT -5
Or as Happy Jack likes to call them "HillBilly guitars"
I recently acquired an old Hohner SE 35, Professional series, semi accoustic in sexy Black with nicely faded binding and gold hardware.
The idea was to see if I could mod her up to a better standard by replacing the stock pickups with Bare knuckle Stormy Mondays; changing the tuners to Tonepro Kluson ones and replacing the wiring harness or loom.
Now I have never attempted anything like this before and I had intended to have a guitar tech do it. However I got a bit of a fright when a very respected luthier in Glasgow told me that to do the wiring alone would cost circa £250. That's without taking into account buying and installing the pickups! So I may have to alter my strategy. I am Scottish after all, and we Scots are renowned for being canny (careful) with our money.
I would appreciate input from you all about whether this project is worthwhile in the first place. The guitar looks ok and seems to be in good shape for one that is almost 20 years old. But is it realistic to expect these upgrades to transform the guitar into something worth the extra £300 - £500 or so that the project could cost me if I pay someone to do it
The other area I would like help with, if you can and want to, is if I decide to do this myself what is the best way to do it and what do I need to know about the wires, capacitors, potentiometers and anything else I haven't mentioned that I will have to buy.
In fairness to the Glaswegian Luthier did suggest I bring the guitar in so that he could have a look at it as a proper set up and perhaps earthing the wiring may be all I need. However I would still welcome any advice you can offer
Lesblues
I recently acquired an old Hohner SE 35, Professional series, semi accoustic in sexy Black with nicely faded binding and gold hardware.
The idea was to see if I could mod her up to a better standard by replacing the stock pickups with Bare knuckle Stormy Mondays; changing the tuners to Tonepro Kluson ones and replacing the wiring harness or loom.
Now I have never attempted anything like this before and I had intended to have a guitar tech do it. However I got a bit of a fright when a very respected luthier in Glasgow told me that to do the wiring alone would cost circa £250. That's without taking into account buying and installing the pickups! So I may have to alter my strategy. I am Scottish after all, and we Scots are renowned for being canny (careful) with our money.
I would appreciate input from you all about whether this project is worthwhile in the first place. The guitar looks ok and seems to be in good shape for one that is almost 20 years old. But is it realistic to expect these upgrades to transform the guitar into something worth the extra £300 - £500 or so that the project could cost me if I pay someone to do it
The other area I would like help with, if you can and want to, is if I decide to do this myself what is the best way to do it and what do I need to know about the wires, capacitors, potentiometers and anything else I haven't mentioned that I will have to buy.
In fairness to the Glaswegian Luthier did suggest I bring the guitar in so that he could have a look at it as a proper set up and perhaps earthing the wiring may be all I need. However I would still welcome any advice you can offer
Lesblues