veatch Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 So i really dug the Czech made Caddy i had, so i spent all sorts of $$ on upgrades: Lollar pups, Gotoh 510 Tuners, TonePros bridge, all new wiring, replaced the nut with a bone nut, etc. Even bought a new case... As time passes, the guitar is a monster, but the neck was just too thin. So i replaced all of the upgraded hardware with the original hardware and sold the guitar. While i was selling the Czaddy, up pops this little doggy, which just happened to have a nice fat neck. The guitar is great, seller represented it perfectly, and i'm really happy with the purchase. After a gig with it, i decide, yup, i wanna put the pups i had in the Czaddy in it. While i'm at it, let's give it the once over. So, step one: strip 'er down (it's amazing how light a guitar is without the hardware...): The frets were in good shape, but could use a little (not much) leveling. So a quick level/dress: I'm going to cut a new nut. The old one is pretty good, but i need the practice anyway. For how i wanted to do the frets, it was easier to knock the nut off anyways. Worst case, i put the old one back on. Next, the pups go in. Uh oh: Nowhere close to fitting. These Deans are obviously routed for uncovered pups. This won't be as easy as a quick file and scrape to get the size right. What i thought was going to be a one or two night effort just turned into a real project... :/ So, next step, make a paper template with the routes the size that i *think* would be right: Gah. The neck route is fine, it's just too small. The bridge route is not only too small, but also not centered with the screws. So, are the screw holes that far off, or is the pup route off? A quick copy of a bucker and tape it to the pup ring - yup, the screw holes are correct: The copy distorted the shape a little bit, but the screws are definitely centered. It's the bucker route that is off. :/ Either way, i need a template. First, i make a standard bucker template out of 1/4" plexi: Then a template specifically for this job: I had to glue two pieces of 1/4" plexi together to get enough height to clear the fretboard. Screw holes are recessed to keep the screws out of the way. So far, so good. Ran out of time last night: too late to be spinning up the router again. So the actual routing will have to wait for tonight. I'll post more as i go.
svl Posted February 2, 2011 Posted February 2, 2011 Great stuff, veatch.God, I want a Caddy, wish I had bought your Czech. Thin necks are for me....
veatch Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 Great stuff, veatch. God, I want a Caddy, wish I had bought your Czech. Thin necks are for me.... When you see a Czech Caddy, grab it. A lot of guitar for the money. The neck wasn't shredder thin, but more around 0.810" if i recall. Nice and wide, though.
Armitage Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Wow, lots of work... good for you!I'm just way too lazy now.
BTMN Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 IIRC, I had to squeeze these Duncans in my '96 Caddy. Looks like it's gonna be real sweet when you get finished.
specialk Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Go, Veatch! Keep us posted on the progress. Maybe you'll replace Feynman here as the resident luthier,
veatch Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 IIRC, I had to squeeze these Duncans in my '96 Caddy. Looks like it's gonna be real sweet when you get finished. Is that Korina? Very niiiice... It's good to know it's just not this one. I test fit a SD PG, and it would have gone in if i filed the pup ear down a notch, but the covered Lollars are too wide, obviously with the added cover. Even the pups that were in it were on the snug side. very impressive skills Nah - i just know how to use a router.... I'd love to be an apprentice at Mr. Greg's or Mr. Roy's shop. *They* have skills....
veatch Posted February 3, 2011 Author Posted February 3, 2011 Update: The patient is prepped and ready: Paint is scored to prevent chipping: First pass - so far so good: Even though the bottom of the route is a bit rough, i only wanted to kiss the bottom. I was going to clean up the portion of the neck route where the pup ears go down into, but with the cable channel for the pickup selector already coming through there, i opted to leave it be. Moment of truth: Houston, we have liftoff... Onto the next opportunity: I noticed the bridge volume control was butted up against the side of the control cavity (bottom left). The factory cut a notch to allow the pot to fit: The replacement pots i got are a hair bigger, enough to need to notch a bit more. Since the router was still warm, i made a makeshift template from some scrap and knocked 'er down. (This template took about 20 minutes to make as opposed to the last one...) Next step is to paint the cavities with conductive paint. This stuff takes 2 to 3 coats with 24 hours drying time between, so it doesn't look like the Caddy will be ready for a church gig this Sunday... What's left: 1> Paint the cavities 2> Polish the top 3> Rewire and install the hardware 4> Replace the nut Down to the easier stuff. I'll keep posting as i go...
veatch Posted February 5, 2011 Author Posted February 5, 2011 OK, the conductive paint is on. This stuff is really easy to work with. Came out good, but Stike don't have to worry 'bout losin' no business to me... (the blobs are from the factory routing work - not the paint...) I used copper tape on the back of the covers to complete the shield: Polished ol' greenie up a bit. All cleaned up for the dance - just needs some clothes: Next i started on the wiring. I usually do this right in the guitar, but since the paint was still wet, i made a board to get most of it ready: I really like the taper on the Hamer pots, but unfortunately, this guitar needed long-shaft pots. It gave me a good excuse to try out Roy's "SuperPot". While i was at it, i grabbed a couple Jensen caps from him. The red wire will go off to the toggle switch. I'm trying some Belden 83504 wire in this guitar. The shielding is a full braid and a foil (as opposed to a spiral) which makes it a lot more work, but much better shielding. The conductors are also bigger at 24 gauge instead of 28. The only downside is the outer jacket is very stiff. This will make it fun to maneuver... Anywho... I also got the most of the hardware on. The only things left are mounting the pups and wiring, replacing the nut, and setting it up. Still doubt it will be ready for Sunday... :/ More pics when it's done.
BTMN Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 WOW!! Love RS's big old Jensen caps. Are you gonna post this on the Dean board?
veatch Posted February 6, 2011 Author Posted February 6, 2011 Are you gonna post this on the Dean board? Now that you mention it, that does make a lot of sense. I'll put it up over there tonight...
veatch Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 The nut isn't finished, but i got a temporary one in to get an idea of how the guitar sounds. (I'm impatient...) Yeah baby! It kicks arse. In a serious way. Quick peek at the toggle switch. I was right - the Belden cable is pretty hard to manage. If i'd do it again, i'd cut the jacket off 1/2" into the cavity and replace the rest of the run with heat shrink. I was using the shrink already anyways... And the control cavity: Here's a first look at the nut in progress. Roughed in. Nice tight fit: And a not-a-very-good-pic of the new and improved Caddy with indoor lighting and a bad background color (never said i was a photographer...) Thar's GOLD in them thar hills! I'll post some glamor shots after the nut is done. In the mean time, i'm having a *really* hard time putting this guitar down. The pups bring out the sound of the guitar, and the cap choice was dead on. I went with a much smaller value as i really don't turn my tone controls down too much. (not a big fan of the "Woman" tone myself. I don't mind hearing Clapton use it, but i sound like mud when i try it...) With these caps, i can roll the tone pot all the down on the Bridge pup, and still have a very usable sound. It would be interesting to compare the Jensens to the standard Orange Drops given the same value, but that will wait for another time...
veatch Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 Great pics! You gots talent, Mr. Veatch. I gots a *mean* sounding Caddy.
BCR Greg Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Jef, you might impress me if you keep this shit up.
veatch Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 Jef, you might impress me if you keep this shit up. You would have done a better job.
Rocktuna Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Glad to see your liking it. Beautiful guitar but the neck was way huge for my little paws.So were those Dimarzio PAFs in it? That's what I was told it had when I bought it. Did you change all the hardware to gold?
veatch Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 Glad to see your liking it. Beautiful guitar but the neck was way huge for my little paws. So were those Dimarzio PAFs in it? That's what I was told it had when I bought it. Did you change all the hardware to gold? Yup - Dimarzio DP103 PAFs. The ears (legs) are much smaller, so they fit a bit easier. All the hardware has been changed to gold. Mostly because the pups i had from the Czaddy were gold, but gold does go well with green. (one of the few colors i would tolerate having gold hardware on... Thanks again. This guitar is a killer!
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