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tonequester here.
A while back I posted about a complete upgrade and modification to a Kramer Focus 111s. I got plenty of replies and opinions which I greatly appreciate. I have finished the upgrades to the guitar(acoustically), which include new tuners, fret-work,4x roller string trees, blocking of the tremelo, a new nut, and adding mass to the headstock and body. The sum total of that work has made a fine improvement in acoustic volume, tone, and sustain, at least in my opinion. Now I'm getting everything needed for a complete re-wiring with new pick-ups,pots,5-way, and a switchable Q-filter(also from Bill lawrence). I had considered using one pick-up, "hand wound" by me
for a "hoot" and perhaps a little extra tonal variety. However, after checking into winding my own on the beginner's "wind your own" section of the forum, I realized that
"hand wound" isn't what I thought that it was. Buying the supplies that I would need to build one using the STEW-MAC Strat kit would run me much more than the kit costs as the wire is not included, plus I'd have to buy the eyelet seating tool, a brass or plastic faced hammer, a drill bit that I don't have, as well as a better, slower cordless drill
to make a custom winder. It looks like a good winter project to me, and I'm already financially stretched thin with the upgrade. I've had experience with Bill Lawrence pick-ups in the distant past and was quite satisfied, so I am thinkint of using 2 different B.L. noisless single coils, and a B.L. humbucker(stacked) in the bridge position.
The humbucker wouldn't be much more than half the price of my winding my own. I'd appreciate any opinions on Bill Lawrence pick-ups, or any other tips ,suggestions,
etc. Also anything to do with the re-wire, shielding, anything really. Thanks in advance. Any reply is always appreciated. tonequester.
A while back I posted about a complete upgrade and modification to a Kramer Focus 111s. I got plenty of replies and opinions which I greatly appreciate. I have finished the upgrades to the guitar(acoustically), which include new tuners, fret-work,4x roller string trees, blocking of the tremelo, a new nut, and adding mass to the headstock and body. The sum total of that work has made a fine improvement in acoustic volume, tone, and sustain, at least in my opinion. Now I'm getting everything needed for a complete re-wiring with new pick-ups,pots,5-way, and a switchable Q-filter(also from Bill lawrence). I had considered using one pick-up, "hand wound" by me
for a "hoot" and perhaps a little extra tonal variety. However, after checking into winding my own on the beginner's "wind your own" section of the forum, I realized that
"hand wound" isn't what I thought that it was. Buying the supplies that I would need to build one using the STEW-MAC Strat kit would run me much more than the kit costs as the wire is not included, plus I'd have to buy the eyelet seating tool, a brass or plastic faced hammer, a drill bit that I don't have, as well as a better, slower cordless drill
to make a custom winder. It looks like a good winter project to me, and I'm already financially stretched thin with the upgrade. I've had experience with Bill Lawrence pick-ups in the distant past and was quite satisfied, so I am thinkint of using 2 different B.L. noisless single coils, and a B.L. humbucker(stacked) in the bridge position.
The humbucker wouldn't be much more than half the price of my winding my own. I'd appreciate any opinions on Bill Lawrence pick-ups, or any other tips ,suggestions,
etc. Also anything to do with the re-wire, shielding, anything really. Thanks in advance. Any reply is always appreciated. tonequester.