tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202848912012-02-16T04:38:06.350-05:00Hot Rodding a Fender Squier Stagemaster GuitarCrispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.comBlogger481100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1143511317735654162006-03-27T20:33:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:49:55.143-05:00

I stated at the beginning of the Stagemaster Project that this blog would have a beginning and an end, and I guess this is the end. The Stagemaster is all back together and I have been playing the heck out of it. I have to say, without exaggeration, that it is the most beautiful sounding guitar I have ever owned.What did I learn? Lots, and a lot more than I cared to learn regarding electronics.

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1143509517254264672006-03-27T20:15:00.000-05:002006-03-27T20:31:58.910-05:00

Well I've collected all the receipts for the Stagemaster Project and it, of course, cost a lot more than I thought it was going to (the story of my life). Here is the breakdown:1 Fender 5-way Superswitch - $21.801 DiMarzio DP213F pickup - $59.991 DiMarzio DP103 pickup - $59.991 DiMarzio DP217 pickup - $59.991 Strat Knob Set (black) - $6.991 Strat Switch Knob (black) - $3.991 Fender Standard 5-way

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1142633394874536902006-03-17T16:40:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:47:42.243-05:00

I had some time today so I thought I would drop DiMarzio a line explaining the problem with their wiring diagram. Be aware that their web site is not very user-friendly regarding tech support. Here is the exchange:Me:For your information, the wiring diagram PDF you have on your web site for the humbucker-single-humbucker (hum canceling) set up, is wrong and cannot work per your instructions. I

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1142541458194183842006-03-16T15:11:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:42:51.462-05:00

As I explained in my previous post, there was one final headache involved in completing this project, and it is DiMarzio's fault. Please take a look at the 2 illustrations, and keep in mind I am no technical writer.The red box in Fig. 1 is an area I would like to bring your attention to and more specifically, to where the bridge pickup connects to the 5 way switch and volume pot.Fig. 2 is a "blow

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1142458517060415542006-03-15T16:01:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:40:55.952-05:00

The Stagemaster is finished, and here it is. Isn't she beautiful? I had time today to put it all back together and I'm happy to say it went off without a hitch--which is not to say that there wasn't a final hitch regarding the electronics. But please allow me to describe the bad parts in a later post.What I would like to do today is enjoy the moment. The Stagemaster is back together and it sounds

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1142046503265344682006-03-10T22:06:00.000-05:002006-03-10T22:10:42.690-05:00

A lot of new news coming soon regarding the Stagemaster project. DiMarzio's wiring diagram is wrong! Wrong I tell you! More on this soon.Crispy!

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1141531114596502462006-03-04T22:46:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:38:11.654-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of the color purple, but look what I found for sale on eBay. It is the Galactic Purple version of the Stagemaster and there are some good photos of it on eBay, just click on the photo to go to the sale (sale expired, link removed). Now this is purple!Please note that it is described on eBay as a "Squire Stagemaster Stratocaster by Fender," which is incorrect. For one, it is not

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1141526239220949452006-03-04T21:19:00.000-05:002006-03-04T22:08:12.253-05:00

I finally had some time this morning to take the Stagemaster back apart. I didn't want to trash the brand new set of strings I put on so I had to figure out a way to avoid taking them completely off, and this is what I came up with.All I did was unlock the "locking nut" and loosened the strings until they were real baggy. Then I taped them to the neck with some masking tape as shown where they

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1141131124421555122006-02-28T07:45:00.000-05:002006-06-05T02:16:15.430-04:00

Not much to report on the project right now. I've been very busy with work lately and have not had the time to take the Stagemaster back apart and swap out the pots. I am hoping to have some time maybe this afternoon or tomorrow perhaps. I am anxious to get on with this and get the guitar back in order.On another topic though, I found a photo of a "Galactic Purple" HSH Stagemaster. Along with the

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1140807978535723412006-02-24T13:24:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:32:58.209-05:00

Please take a look at the image to the left. This is, according to DiMarzio, how the volume pot in my "hum-canceling" pickup configuration should be wired up. They recommend 500K pots and a capacitor and resistor on the volume pot lugs as pictured. The recommended values for the capacitor and resistor are 560 pf and 300K respectively. The capacitor and resistor, according to DiMarzio, are

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1140737331018989412006-02-23T18:15:00.000-05:002006-02-23T19:31:21.256-05:00

I'm not happy. Well, I strung up the Stagemaster last night just for a test run, plugged her in, and didn't like what I heard. I'm not sure if it is the 250 k pots I used or what, but I don't like the way she sounds. Don't like it at all. It was said that the 250 k pots would produce a slightly warmer tone, but this is a little too warm . . . no, way too warm for my liking. Be prepared for a

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1140644309127248172006-02-22T16:08:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:29:50.960-05:00

Today I am happy to report that after installing the new Fender Superswitch I bought, all of the new pickups seem to be working in accordance with the switch settings. All 5 positions are working when the are supposed to be working, and not working when they are not supposed to be working.I took me at least an hour and a half to uninstall the standard 5-way switch I bought earlier and to install

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1140443843241793312006-02-20T08:49:00.001-05:002006-02-20T08:57:23.243-05:00

I received my Fender Superswitch Saturday so I should be able to continue on with the project very soon. This is the biggest switch I have ever seen for a guitar and I sure hope it fits in the electronics cavity. I haven't actually fitted it yet, but I can see where some guitars might require routing in order to fit this switch. Just eye-balling things the switch looks like it will fit, but

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1140091567494203462006-02-16T06:59:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:27:55.140-05:00

If you are interested, there is a red Stagemaster for sale on eBay right now. The person selling it obviously doesn't know anything about the guitar (or guitars in general for that matter). This Stagemaster certainly isn't one year old. If you are interested in a red HSS, here is your chance. I kind of like the red ones; however, the Arctic White Stagemaster is still my holy grail.CrispyP.S. I'm

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139714676141324642006-02-11T22:13:00.000-05:002006-02-12T09:04:44.246-05:00

I'm a new fan of the Stewart-MacDonald web site. I hadn't actually heard of these people until I started this project, but they have a remarkable web site that not only has any part you can think of, but what I really like, is they tell you how to use the parts.Furthermore, the design of their web site is excellent (take it from me, I was in the web design business for almost 10 years). It is

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139671083045974882006-02-11T09:50:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:25:11.768-05:00

After researching wiring information on the web until about about 1:00 am this morning, I have decided and ordered. In order to achieve this wiring configuration (pdf), I need a 5-way "Superswitch" (pictured left). Not a "Megaswitch" or any other kind of switch, a "Superswitch."To quote from the Stewart-MacDonald web site:"Unlike standard 2-pole lever switches, this 4-pole switch has 24 solder

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139573040238379722006-02-10T06:37:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:24:06.068-05:00

Well, I have found out why my current wiring set up doesn't work. It seems that the DiMarizio single coil (YJM) pickup I bought for the middle position is a 4 conductor, hum canceling pickup (pdf). Which isn't a bad thing, but I wasn't planning on the pickup having more than 2 wires. In this case, it has 5 (1 white, 1 black, 1 red, 1 green, 1 ground).The wiring diagram from DiMarzio that I was

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139484985575068912006-02-09T06:25:00.000-05:002006-02-09T06:36:25.910-05:00

Sigh . . . the rewiring job has turned into a nightmare. After wiring up the Stagemaster, I loosely attached the pickguard and plugged the guitar in to see if everything was working. I tested the pickups by simply tapping on them to see if they were all working. Wired up like the DiMarzio diagram, nothing happens when the 5 way switch is in position 4 or 5 (or the bottom two positions). It

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139422795767433962006-02-08T13:01:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:22:15.772-05:00

Okay then, with the exception of the 3 wires that are attached to the Stagmaster's body (the ground to the spring bridge and the 2 wires that come from the output jack), the wiring is done. Here is a photo of the finished product.After I found the wiring diagram on Dimarzio's web site, everything fell into place. Here is the most interesting thing of all, in my opinion (taken from DiMarzio's own

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139409892967828012006-02-08T09:31:00.000-05:002006-02-11T10:28:25.886-05:00

Much to my surprise, the wiring diagram for the Stagemaster which I downloaded from the Squier web site, does not match up with the way the guitar is actually wired. Furthermore, the DiMarzio pickups I bought have more wires than that original pickups. The original pickups have 3 wires, red/white/ground. The DiMarzios have 5 wires, red/white/black/green/ground.If this wasn't confusing enough, the

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139274408788043812006-02-06T19:34:00.002-05:002006-02-06T21:05:56.243-05:00

The new Fender pots arrived today and they, of course, fit the holes in the pickguard perfectly. I have attached all of the parts to the pickguard and here are a couple of photos of the progress. I haven't done any wiring yet as I ran out of time today to work on the project. Speaking of wiring, I guess I am going to have to refer to the Stagemaster wiring diagram from the Squier web site (pdf)

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139083953230701292006-02-04T15:06:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:18:56.861-05:00

I had no idea that there was a Wikipedia entry for Floyd Rose. Ever wondered how you would like a Floyd Rose tremolo? Check out this page for everything you ever wanted to know about Floyd Rose tremolos including how they work, how to adjust them, advantages, disadvantages, parts, etc. Since the Stagemaster employs a Floyd Rose, I thought this information might be appropriate here. The page also

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1139083522760829832006-02-04T14:54:00.000-05:002006-02-04T23:32:21.983-05:00

Remember in a way earlier post when I described the importance of having an f-spaced pickup at the bridge? Take a look at this photo which I found on the web somewhere--I believe it may have been a pawn shop web site or something. This is an HH Stagemaster and you can plainly see that the bridge pickup's pole pieces don't even come close to lining up under the strings. This is a much better

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1138887656961709422006-02-02T08:34:00.000-05:002006-02-02T08:40:56.980-05:00

While I am waiting for the Fender pots to get here, I went ahead and shielded the tortoise pickguard with the copper foil. As you can see, I added a generous amount of foil to completely cover all of the electronics cavities in the Stagemaster's body. The pickups, pots and other electronics will be completely encased in grounded copper foil. If all goes well, this guitar should produce no

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1138675662711680252006-01-30T21:25:00.000-05:002006-02-25T10:38:26.220-05:00

Because Guitar Center is about 35 miles from my house and so far they have had to order everything I've needed anyway, I decided to solve the "pots" issue by buying a set off of eBay. I ended up buying 2 Fender 250 k split shaft pots, which includes capacitors. With shipping they cost slightly more than the 2 Gibsons I was sold at Guitar Center, but who cares. I just want to get on with this.This

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1138668939656847242006-01-30T19:40:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:14:52.241-05:00

Crap! I finally got caught up with business matters and had an entire evening to myself to work on the Stagemaster. I get all of the stuff together, get my soldering iron hot and get comfy only to find out that the new pots don't fit through the pickguard! They are short, split shaft pots all right, but the threaded housing that fits through the pickguard is too big around.I even asked the doofus

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1138418688248088312006-01-27T21:59:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:12:49.560-05:00

I came home from St. Augustine today to find that the custom pickguard still hadn't arrived. I immediately got on the horn to Pickguards.com to find out what the hold up was. Of course no one picked up, so I steamed about it for a while then went about my business. About 7:30 tonight a UPS guy showed up at my door with a package and guess what it was?Here are a couple of photos of the pickguard,

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1138230959773844072006-01-25T18:07:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:10:58.717-05:00

Hello all, I'm posting this update from St. Augustine, FL. I've had some time to kill, so I started browsing the web for articles that describe how to post a video to a web site. I've never actually done it, but I have digital video camera and I've been giving some thought to posting a video of the finished guitar (complete with sound) to this blog when this project is completed.I thought it

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1137979846902027562006-01-22T20:19:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:09:53.042-05:00

Right now I am still waiting on the new pickguard so I have nothing new to post other than this status update. I had considered going ahead soldering all the electronic parts together, but I've decided that it would be simpler and they would be easier to manage if they were attached to and held in place by the pickguard. So now I wait.I will be in St. Augustine, FL from this Tuesday afternoon

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1137633400692350222006-01-18T19:55:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:04:29.103-05:00

Wow! What a great find! Here is the description of the New Squier Models for 1999, and here is the Stagemaster description from the same page:SQUIER STAGEMASTER MODELS"This entirely new Squier Stagemaster, is made explicitly with the young rocker in mind. With its sleek body design, reverse headstock and drive-bombing, double-locking tremolo, the new Squier Stagemaster spells "flash" with every

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1137619600338193282006-01-18T16:18:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:03:08.325-05:00

Here is another unusual find, for your interest. A red Stagemaster, although this time an HSS. Not as nice as the white one I posted earlier, but kind of sharp nonetheless. I don't know about the 2 single coil pickup arrangement though--it might sound too much like a Strat (not that there's anything wrong with that); however, if I wanted it to sound like a Strat, I would buy a Strat.I found

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1137531401320424212006-01-17T15:18:00.000-05:002007-01-29T14:00:07.923-05:00

Alrighty then! Back to the project after a slight pause to make a living. I received the copper foil sheets with which I am shielding the project guitar's electronics. Received was two 12x12 sheets of conductive, adhesive backed copper foil. This photo, after the application of the copper foil in the body cavities, should illustrate that this is going to be one well-shielded and hum-free

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1137180342592337822006-01-13T14:19:00.000-05:002007-01-29T13:57:16.156-05:00

Okay then, I now have all the parts right here on my desk. With the exception of the custom pickguard and the copper shielding foil, I am ready to start building. Wow! Do these new DiMarzio pickups look sweet! Just by looking at them, you can tell the quality is there--especially if you compare them to the junky original pickups that came out of the Stagemaster. I can't wait to hear what this new

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1137009149307974792006-01-11T14:43:00.000-05:002006-01-11T14:52:29.316-05:00

Great news! I just got the word from the Guitar Center that *all* of my parts are in and ready to be picked up. Again, the parts list includes 3 DiMarzio pickups (black), 1 volume and 1 tone pot, a set of Strat style knobs (black), 5 way pickup selector and a selector switch knob (also black). I hope to pick all of this stuff up tomorrow.Also, I was contacted by Pickguards.com this afternoon and

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136893891540586442006-01-10T06:47:00.000-05:002007-01-29T13:54:33.448-05:00

An excellent "how to" article on shielding from the Stewart-MacDonald web site where you can buy an entire shielding kit:"Shielding allows you to substantially reduce all unwanted interference and hum. This kit is even beneficial for most production instruments as it lets you completely encase all of the pickups and controls with a grounded foil. Also included is a special wire for shielding

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136744450655375872006-01-08T13:12:00.000-05:002006-01-08T13:20:50.666-05:00

Good news! Out of all the stuff for this project I ordered from Guitar Center (see earlier entry), I found out today that at least the pickups have came in. All 3 pickups have arrived so I think I'm going to go ahead and pick them up. I still haven't done the shielding yet as my work schedule hasn't permitted it.No word from pickguards.com yet on my special order. I'll post some pics of the new

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136561404604785112006-01-06T10:25:00.000-05:002007-01-29T13:52:56.098-05:00

I thought I would post this for general interest. This white Stagemaster is quite rare, I think. In fact, I have never seen one and didn't even know they existed until I found this photo by accident while looking for something else.I knew the old type Stagemaster came in red, black, white and purple, but I had never seen a white one until today. Do any of you know anyone who owns one of these?I

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136468864519067142006-01-05T08:22:00.000-05:002007-01-29T13:50:23.466-05:00

As you can see, the Stagemaster's electronics weren't shielded very well. In fact, other than the wimpy piece of aluminum foil stuck to the back of the pickguard (second photo), there is no shielding at all! Note the unshielded body cavities in the first photo.It's no wonder that this guitar made the most horrible feedback, screeching and hum you've ever heard when it was cranked up. With the

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136400560964804162006-01-04T13:06:00.000-05:002007-01-29T07:53:10.921-05:00

Someone just reminded me via e-mail that in a previous post I would disclose how I ended up with a Fender Squire after owning Stratocasters and Les Pauls.It is kind of a long story but I'll try to boil it down. First off let me say that I just turned 51 years old and I have been playing guitar since I was 15. This Silvertone (amp in case) was the first guitar I ever owned. By the time I was 17 I

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136384138722483392006-01-04T09:08:00.000-05:002006-01-05T11:54:39.766-05:00

After I removed the hardware from the old white pickguard, I made the tracing as specified by Pickguards.com. Here is a photo of the tracing that, amazingly, fit on a single sheet of 8.5x11 printer paper (but barely). I used a mechanical pencil with a very fine lead to trace the old pickguard as I wanted the new pickguard to be as precisely sized as possible. The tracing went in this morning's

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136383567491750212006-01-04T08:29:00.000-05:002007-01-29T07:48:41.008-05:00

I found some time last night to start taking the Stagemaster apart. Quite simple really, all I had to do was remove the strings then the 9 screws that holds the pickguard on. Here is picture of the bottom side of the pickguard with the electronics still attached. No surprises here; however, I'm almost sure I'm going to be using 250k pots instead of the 500k pots currently installed (the current

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136249374641811692006-01-02T19:21:00.000-05:002007-01-29T07:44:39.491-05:00

There ain't none! I can't find anyone who has a ready-made pickguard available for this guitar. So that means a custom job and the cost is an unknown right now. I have decided to go through Pickguards.com, but it depends on their price. I can see the finished Stagemaster in my mind, and what I am seeing is tortoise shell. That's right, tortoise shell.Fortunately for me, Pickguards.com has the

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136247431698459912006-01-02T18:57:00.000-05:002006-01-02T19:17:11.706-05:00

So, how much is all of this going to cost? Well, I went shopping the other day and here is the total so far:3 DiMarzio Pickups - $59.99 eachFender Strat Knob Set (Black) - $6.99Fender Pickup Selector Knob (Black) - $3.99Shipping - $8.00Total Including Sales Tax - $212.32I know, I know, I could have gotten this stuff cheaper if I had ordered it off the web; however, I had a gift certificate for

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136132937677091712006-01-01T11:13:00.000-05:002006-01-01T12:23:19.543-05:00

Remember the f-spacing issue I mentioned in an earlier entry? It is very important to get this right and I am surprised at the number of guitar players who don't even know what an f-spaced pickup is or why it is important. At any rate, I am posting a picture of my Squier's bridge pickup (please forgive the photo quality, my camera doesn't take very good closeups). You should be able to see that

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136131846556213432006-01-01T10:37:00.000-05:002007-01-29T13:51:16.818-05:00

After quite a bit of thought, I have decided to go with DiMarzio pickups for this project. I have used DiMarzios in the past (in my Les Paul Deluxe and my '73 Strat); however, I haven't used any of the models I have chosen for this project. Here are the pickups I am going with and some descriptions from the manufacturer:Neck position, the DiMarzio PAF DP103 (Black):Classic vintage tone without

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1136039305612421752005-12-31T09:24:00.000-05:002006-01-05T11:52:06.066-05:00

I just wanted you all to know that I turned off the feature that requires you to create an account to post comments. I don't know much about this blogging program and didn't know this feature was turned on. You should now be able to post comments without having to create an account and log in. Please let me know if you have any problems.Crispy

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1135904671838452852005-12-29T18:07:00.000-05:002007-01-29T07:34:43.187-05:00

This is a series of photos of the Stagemaster guitar that is the subject of this blog. I believe I bought it in 2000 sometime, and according to my research, it was also built in 2000. I have not pulled the neck off to see if there is a date stamp, which is where you can find the date on Fender guitars (or at least Strats).This model was built in a host of different countries including Japan,

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20284891.post-1135818730024425532005-12-28T20:11:00.000-05:002007-01-29T07:27:57.511-05:00

In the next few weeks (or months), I plan to hot rod a somewhat mediocre electric guitar and document the entire journey here in this blog. This will be a detailed step-by-step account of the modifications made to the guitar complete with photographs of the steps involved. It is my intention to turn this lackluster sounding guitar into something special. This blog will have a finite beginning and

Crispyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03715040950697675810noreply@blogger.com7