JJB Electronics pickup install :: 1951 Gibson SJ [3.8 lbs]

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This super killer, previously refinished '51 Gibson SJ is back in the shop for a pickup swap.  The old Fishman was giving the player trouble so he supplied a JJB Electronics pickup for me to install for him.  These pickups are pretty much identical to the K&K Pure Mini's.  Check the video below for the install.

Carvin Cobalt 750S [5.1 lbs] :: side preamp convert Fishman to Baggs Stagepro Anthem

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Carvin Cobalt 750S [5.1 lbs] :: side preamp convert Fishman to Baggs Stagepro Anthem

This player wanted to swap out a Fishman Prefix Plus-T to an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem.  The Fishman side-mounted preamp is considerably larger than the Baggs Stagepro preamp so a step-down conversion ring was fabricated.  The adapter was made from black / white / black pickguard stock for flexibility and durability and the edges were beveled for a nice clean look.  I used the original mounting holes in the side so the old Fishman preamp can be cleanly reinstalled if desired in the future (no extra holes).  The Baggs Anthem system combines an undersaddle pickup with an internal microphone (mounts to the bridge plate) and both sources can be mixed via the preamp.

1978 Guild D25M [5.5 lbs] :: new pickup for piece of mind at gigs

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1978 Guild D25M [5.5 lbs] :: new pickup for piece of mind at gigs

Lynn, MA performer Don White brought his old Guild by the shop to replace a pickup that had been giving him troubles recently at shows.  The pickup was an older Fishman Acoustic Matrix Natural I that had become intermittent.  I had worked on this pickup last year (along with other repairs) but the time had come to replace it for piece of mind on the road.  We decided to go with a D-TAR Wavelength undersaddle pickup with the optional sound hole-mounted volume / tone control.

Don bought this Guild new in 1978 and tours nationally with it.  This guitar sounds great and is one of the most stable road guitars I've come across.  The action and neck are solid (ie. no tweaking required). Learn more about Don White at www.donwhite.net

Oh, and make sure you call your Dad.

Note: Fishman makes great reliable pickups.  We decided to go with D-TAR just to try something different.

1962 Guild M-20 [3.7 lbs] :: bridge reglue & top touch up

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1962 Guild M-20 [3.7 lbs] :: bridge re-glue & top touch up

The combination of the Fishman magnetic sound hole pickup and drop DGDGBD, this guitar sounds incredible.  This player needed the bridge re-glue turned around quickly as he will be playing at a friend's wedding.

*Note the airplane in the photo.  My shop is south facing and right under Boston's Logan Airport flight path.  Sometimes when the sun is in the right position planes will eclipse the sun and almost blackout the shop.

Coincidentally the owner is stopping by tomorrow before he picks someone up at the airport.

Charvel 625C NAT :: new bridge, saddle, pins, endpin jack and fret end dress

Charvel 625C NAT :: new bridge, saddle, pins, endpin jack and fret end dress.

The original bridge was failing and warped to the point that it needed to be replaced.  A slightly larger bridge was fabricated to increase the gluing surface and to account for the wide saddle slot.  The older Fishman undersaddle pickup is wide and thick (3/16” wide x 3/32” thick), so the slot had to be deeply routed to give enough room for the new compensated bone saddle.  New slotted bone bridge pins replaced the broken / distorted plastic ones.  The old endpin jack was shorted out so it was replaced with a new Switchcraft jack.