PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

[cjm]

Got it back from my luthier yesterday that is. Merry Christmas to me, I guess.

It has been an interesting experiment: To turn a very low end archtop into a competent budget gigging axe.

Step 1. A complete fret leveling and recrowning. One loose fret glued into place as part of the process.

Step 2. A new compensated rosewood bridge.

Step 3. Remove and discard fingerboard mounted pickup, along with the stock pickguard, pots, caps, jack and wiring.

Step 4. Rout hole in the top and install new Lollar Charlie Christian pickup (traditional 3 screw model), new pots, caps, jack, wiring and pickguard cut to match the pickup.

Now, I didn't do the work my self -- that's not what I do. I didn't pay anything out of pocket though. I traded a guitar I no longer wanted for the labor and parts. I estimate it could have easily cost $500~$600 if it had been a cash deal -- over and above the $300 "street" price for an HB-15C.

It turned out well. The HB-15C is parallel braced with sufficient space to use the 3 screw CC pickup without touching any bracing. Acoustic volume is only slightly reduced by the mass of the new pickup (although it wasn't loud with the original setup. The HB-15C is mahogany laminate and only 2.5 inches deep).

The amplified sound is excellent, provided you are looking for that original Gibson single coil sound from the days before the P90. I've long been an admirer of Barney Kessel and his sound with an ES-350 modified by the addition of the Charlie Christian pickup. I don't claim this "Washbin" or "Giburn" is the equal of his guitar -- but it's not as far from it as you might think.

The reason I decided on this guitar for the experiment -- aside from the fact that I had it gathering dust -- is that it has a comfortable 25.5 inch scale with a medium C profile neck, and the requisite parallel bracing.

The reason I posted this was to let others know of the potential to put together a somewhat unique hollowbody jazz box for well under a grand -- even a bit less for those with some luthier skills and tools -- and something a bit different than the usual humbucker or P90 fare.

[Secret2goodtoneispractice]

Nice project, CJM . . . I have often thought about a similar project, replacing a floating neck pup with cut-in HB, on a parallel-braced laminated archtop.

In my case, I concluded that it was a guitar sound issue, not a pickup sound issue. Case in point: I have heard great sounding GB10s and Gibson 175s with floating neck pickups. I once replaced what I thought was a bright sounding floating pup with a known warm sounding floating pup. There was no tonal difference! I ended up selling the guitar, as I never appreciated its tone.

The moral of the story for me? I only buy what I am happy with from the start. No more project guitars for now.

However, congratulations on the success of your endeavor! You took the chance, and were rewarded in a positive manner.
_________________
Beware of alliances that are formed by dividing relationships of others.
.
Trust your own opinion of a guitar or amp. Form your opinion from what you value. Your need, preference, circumstance, experience, and opportunity are the most important factors.

[cjm]