Thread: ES-335 Copy - Tassy Blackwood

I've just ordered replacement timber from guitarwoods, so I should be back in the "workshop" soon. All the hardware has arrived.

I compared the LP plans with the "reject" pieces from last attempt and I'll be able to get an LP out of them. I think I'll hollow the LP too to make it lighter - but that's for No.2. Back to the ES-335.

Got the new wood. I've glued the book match pieces together. Just need to find the time to get stuck into the jigsaw and routing again. I'm a little nervous, I don't want to stuff it up again.

I have all the parts now including a lovely custom-made pickguard with a black MOP finish to match the knobs I purchased. It's amazing what they can do at http://www.terrapinguitars.com

I haven't purchased the pots yet. I need to see how much space I have in the hollow body to see if I can fit the push-pulls in for the volume pots so I can switch between series and parallel on the humbuckers.

The humbuckers I have are four-wire but only have about 6" of unshielded wire exiting the humbuckers. I'm toying with the idea of putting a 4 pin mini DIN plug (S-VHS) on the end and mounting a matching socket in the pickup cavity. This would then allow me to run some better cable down to the pots/switch/jack and also allow the easy removal of the humbuckers later if required. What do you guys think?

Do you really need the plug and socket? Its one more thing to shake loose inside your instrument. If the pickup wires arent long enough id solder longer wires on same.

Just a thought from an acoustic maker.

...and on a similar tack.
I read in one of the guitar-making books I have that one way to "protect the inside of your hollow-body whilst finishing the outside is to blow up balloons in the f holes to block the holes (and you can jamb paper of similar between the balloon and f hole so you're not spraying shellac on the balloon).

What about if I do all the wiring for the pots, switch and jack (remember I'd have 2 leads running from miniature sockets mounted in the pickup cavities) and leave them (protected) inside the cavity before I glue the two halves together?

All I'd then have to worry about is popping the balloons and drawing the parts up through their mounting holes.....

Just a thought...

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Do you really need the plug and socket? Its one more thing to shake loose inside your instrument. If the pickup wires arent long enough id solder longer wires on same.

Just a thought from an acoustic maker.

The plug/socket fit would be firm or I could use a mini XLR plug and socket which uses a locking mechanism.

Originally Posted by GourmetSaint

...and on a similar tack.
I read in one of the guitar-making books I have that one way to "protect the inside of your hollow-body whilst finishing the outside is to blow up balloons in the f holes to block the holes (and you can jamb paper of similar between the balloon and f hole so you're not spraying shellac on the balloon).

What about if I do all the wiring for the pots, switch and jack (remember I'd have 2 leads running from miniature sockets mounted in the pickup cavities) and leave them (protected) inside the cavity before I glue the two halves together?

All I'd then have to worry about is popping the balloons and drawing the parts up through their mounting holes.....

Just a thought...

mmm it would be a little disappointing if you had to make changes and couldnt get into it

you could still access as normal via the f holes

Here are some pics from Gibsons hollowbody factory in Memphis. One is of ES175's wrapped up in binding tape and the other is the scraping room where the painted/laquered guitars go to have the excess scraped of the binding by a very patient group of ladies. Just though it might be interesting for you..... I have a heap more pics too.

Also as far as the electronics go, I have a ES335 clone made by Washburn and its quite easy to install all the pots etc though the f-holes.

Originally Posted by sundancewfs

I have a heap more pics too.

Go ahead and post them then! I'm always happy to look at 335 pics (I have an Epiphone Dot).

WRT the electronics, you are right, it's not hard to fish them out through the F holes, it's just fidley.

As requested....

Pretty cool seatbacks in the cart.

What happened to the 335 guy?

Anyway, here is the real deal. It even appears that the F holes are bound (I'm not a 335 expert). Anyway, be interesting to see what it goes for.

Will 6K get it? Lets see.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....link:middle:au

Shame the tuners and trem were replaced. A mate of mine's mother has a 335 from the 60's, the cherry red version you see in remakes these days - one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen, let alone played.

I feel like a heathen now thinking back to the gig I did with said mate in a band.. slayer/system of a down/staind on a classic 335