Tone caps...
- Thread starter Shodai
- Start date
Shodai
Blues Junior
Well, it's been an interesting afternoon.
I got all the electronics in.
As you can see, I put the 5 way switch in backwards. I ended up taking it apart, and rewiring it, with the switch in correctly. I also took out the grounding wire from the volume pot lug, and just soldered the lug to the case. Also shortened the jumper wire that goes from one end of the switch to the other, and redid the wire between the two tone pots. As you can see in the pic, the insulation got a little burned because I was trying to do it without my glasses and couldn't see a damned thing. So I redid that and it looks a lot better now. Unfortunately, I did not remember to take a picture of all those corrections, so you don't get to see the final wiring job.
I got all the electronics in.
As you can see, I put the 5 way switch in backwards. I ended up taking it apart, and rewiring it, with the switch in correctly. I also took out the grounding wire from the volume pot lug, and just soldered the lug to the case. Also shortened the jumper wire that goes from one end of the switch to the other, and redid the wire between the two tone pots. As you can see in the pic, the insulation got a little burned because I was trying to do it without my glasses and couldn't see a damned thing. So I redid that and it looks a lot better now. Unfortunately, I did not remember to take a picture of all those corrections, so you don't get to see the final wiring job.
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Shodai
Blues Junior
Once it was back together I found a couple more issues. The neck was bowed. Like a lot. It took 1 1/4 turns of the truss rod to get it back to where it should be. It's good now, but, still couldn't get the string height below 6/64
With the neck straight I found that the bass side bridge post bottomed out a lot shallower than the treble side, so...
Found out that there was a serious collection of gunk at the bottom of the hole, and the bridge post ferrule was rusted... a lot.
So, I cleaned it with a dental pick, some narrow wire brushes, and some gun cleaning products that I use to deal with rusty bits on guns that I work on. Took out about 1/8 inch of gunk from the bottom of the hole - dirt, rust, lint, just disgusting. To be sure, I did both sides.
Just wanted to point out that the screw wasn;t just cleaned and I took a pic. That is after threading it all the way in, and back out again. It's clean. Lubricated with some gun oil, and it works great now. Perfect 4/64 string height.
With the neck straight I found that the bass side bridge post bottomed out a lot shallower than the treble side, so...
Found out that there was a serious collection of gunk at the bottom of the hole, and the bridge post ferrule was rusted... a lot.
So, I cleaned it with a dental pick, some narrow wire brushes, and some gun cleaning products that I use to deal with rusty bits on guns that I work on. Took out about 1/8 inch of gunk from the bottom of the hole - dirt, rust, lint, just disgusting. To be sure, I did both sides.
Just wanted to point out that the screw wasn;t just cleaned and I took a pic. That is after threading it all the way in, and back out again. It's clean. Lubricated with some gun oil, and it works great now. Perfect 4/64 string height.
Shodai
Blues Junior
Put it all back together, adjusted the intonation, adjusted the floating bridge,
Perfect. Played a bit to stretch the strings, get them settled in, locked the nut, made final adjustments with the micro tuners, and it's holing pitch. Ran it through the amp. Sound like a strat. Imaging that.
Perfect. Played a bit to stretch the strings, get them settled in, locked the nut, made final adjustments with the micro tuners, and it's holing pitch. Ran it through the amp. Sound like a strat. Imaging that.
Shodai
Blues Junior
And... here it is. A vintage classic stratocaster, saved from the dump heap, and restored to a useful life:
Here it is next to my other '85 MIJ:
Restored one is on the left, with a black switch tip. The tip I ordered fits the narrower import switches, and didn't fit the CRL that I put in. But it's on the way, and I'll post a last and final when it gets here.
Overall, I'm very happy with this restoration. It's not all original, so a purist collector might snub their nose, but for me I think it's be a great blues machine!
Here it is next to my other '85 MIJ:
Restored one is on the left, with a black switch tip. The tip I ordered fits the narrower import switches, and didn't fit the CRL that I put in. But it's on the way, and I'll post a last and final when it gets here.
Overall, I'm very happy with this restoration. It's not all original, so a purist collector might snub their nose, but for me I think it's be a great blues machine!
Shodai
Blues Junior
Thank you for your very kind words. It was a fun project. I absolutely love the MIJ Contemporary series strats, and especially those with the system one tremolo. So happy to be able to return one to life. Kind of wish I understood the electronics as well as I know that bridge system. Could have saved me from puting in a switch backwards. But, all's well that ends well.
It went a little quicker than it normally would, owing to the working from home situation.
I will be posting audio this weekend.
It went a little quicker than it normally would, owing to the working from home situation.
I will be posting audio this weekend.
You have inspired me. Thanks to your photos, I think I'll tackle a project with an existing guitar.
Rancid Rumpboogie
Blues Mangler
GREAT JOB!
Shodai
Blues Junior
It's about the same as on my other MIJ. A little longer than my MIM and Squier.
Shodai
Blues Junior
Well, it is done. The restoration is complete, and as promised here is the last and final pic of the completed project, along with a sound sample.
The guitar was recorded without a backing track, and with no effects, so you can hear the guitar as-is, so to speak. It was also recorded without a click track, so some of my timing is a wee bit off, but you get to hear what it sounds like. I recorded 2 tracks; a rhythm part with the neck position pickup, and lead part from the bridge position pickup. Personally, I think it sounds as good as it looks, and definitely sounds a whole lot better than the dude playing it!
The guitar was recorded without a backing track, and with no effects, so you can hear the guitar as-is, so to speak. It was also recorded without a click track, so some of my timing is a wee bit off, but you get to hear what it sounds like. I recorded 2 tracks; a rhythm part with the neck position pickup, and lead part from the bridge position pickup. Personally, I think it sounds as good as it looks, and definitely sounds a whole lot better than the dude playing it!