18V Mod x2 RG7421 + Damien Elite 8

[rekab]

Just a little how-to pic story on 18V modding an RG or Damien Elite

Step 1 Get supplies
2 Fresh 9V Batteries
1 Pack of 9V Snap Connectors ($3 at radioshack)
Soldering Iron/Solder
Wire Cutter
Screwdriver
Shrink Tube

Step 2 Installation



Remove Covers





Wire 3 Connectors together for the "reversible mod" red to black on all connectors



Solder them up and shrink tube



Snap them together, one to each battery and the other to your existing 9V Jack



STOP: Test this and make sure it actually works just in case your wiring skills are remedial I like to test them quickly before shrink tube/taping them to be sure I've got it right

It works? WHOA! Now just tape the batteries so they don't short anything out and slap them in and go shred!
NOTE: Make sure all wires are out of the way and not pinched or under pressure when making the VERY tight fit of 2 9V's in your control cavity. If they are pushing on anything disconnect it and resolder it in a direction that it is not under pressure with a battery next to/on it. I had to move the wires on my selector switch so they were not routed where I wanted the second battery. Look closely when installing and you'll have no trouble figuring out which wires to move and route them creatively to fit your needs.



BUT WAIT THERES MORE!!!
Have a Damien Elite? Or any other guitar with a seperate battery compartment and you want to do this?? You're in luck. It's just as easy or even easier. Same materials required, but this requires a semi permanent modification to the wiring. Still reversible but not as quickly.



Take the covers off



Find these, they go to your battery. Cut only the black one:



Wire in the extra snap connector like so:



Shrink tube your connections and tape that battery up so it doesnt touch your pots and short anything. Tidy up and go shred!



Your EMG Eighteen Volt Mod Is Now Complete!

[Crunchy]

What model is the RG?

[highlordmugfug]

Originally Posted by Crunchy

What model is the RG?

It's in the title: 7421

[rekab]

Originally Posted by Crunchy

What model is the RG?

Who's on first?

[wintersun]

I have a question: on Damien Elite you say only cut the black one, but on the next picture both red and black seem to be soldered together. I've never done this mod before, so could you please help a fellow noob here

[stevo1]

Originally Posted by wintersun

I have a question: on Damien Elite you say only cut the black one, but on the next picture both red and black seem to be soldered together. I've never done this mod before, so could you please help a fellow noob here

Basically, you take the old black wire from the old battery harness, and solder it to the red wire of the new harness. So the wiring will be like this. Battery wires from the pickup(s) -> red wire leading to first battery harness -> black wire leading from first harness soldered to the red wire of the second harness -> black wire leading from the second harness soldered to the correct tab on the stereo output jack.

[rekab]

Originally Posted by wintersun

I have a question: on Damien Elite you say only cut the black one, but on the next picture both red and black seem to be soldered together. I've never done this mod before, so could you please help a fellow noob here

What you are doing is wiring the second battery in series. You snip the black wire and connect one end of each side of the snap connector (one side black and of course the other red) to each end of the cut black wire. This creates a series connection and doubles the voltage to 18 volts.

[maxoom]

I`m going to do a 24V mod with two car batteries. Updates soon after I get in shape so I can lift it!

[mr coffee]

Has anyone considered using a bearing-guided router bit to deepen the battery compartment on a Damien?

-m

[Purelojik]

Originally Posted by maxoom

I`m going to do a 24V mod with two car batteries. Updates soon after I get in shape so I can lift it!

Baaahahahahahahahahhahaha

[rekab]

Originally Posted by mr coffee

Has anyone considered using a bearing-guided router bit to deepen the battery compartment on a Damien?

-m

I wouldn't bother. There's plenty of room for batteries without cutting the guitar. If you want to be the first, go for it and post pictures

[WarriorOfMetal]

Originally Posted by stevo1

Basically, you take the old black wire from the old battery harness, and solder it to the red wire of the new harness. So the wiring will be like this. Battery wires from the pickup(s) -> red wire leading to first battery harness -> black wire leading from first harness soldered to the red wire of the second harness -> black wire leading from the second harness soldered to the correct tab on the stereo output jack.

I did mine similarly, but I did it without cutting anything. I removed the heat-shrink from the existing solder joint, de-soldered the connection there, and then added in the second battery clip and put on some new heat-shrink. Nice and clean-looking mod.

[baconbag]

I was thinking about doing this, but with a switch (so I can switch from 9v to 18v). Where would I put the switch? Obviously between the 2 batteries, but what types of problems could arise?

[Dimensionator]

Cool, thanks for this, I plan on doing the mod to my Damien Elite when I receive it

[Kamikaze7]

Originally Posted by baconbag

I was thinking about doing this, but with a switch (so I can switch from 9v to 18v). Where would I put the switch? Obviously between the 2 batteries, but what types of problems could arise?

I tried doing this... I bought a pre-wired set-up and was putting it into my ESP 8. Problem #1 was that NONE of the connections were labeled as to what went where. Problem #2 was that when I flicked the switch to the opposite position, one of the batteries got really hot. Problem #3 was I fried the set of EMG's that was in the guitar because none of the connections were labeled as to what went where.

I would say that if your gonna do this mod, just do it and run it at an 18V.

[danny taylor]

I remember when my 7421 looked like that, many years of abuse. Best guitar I've owned so far though. I have the Damien 8 on it's way to my doorstep as well, if it's half as tough as the RG I'll never complain

[No2EMGs4Me]

Good quick simple work man!! I'm helping my buddy do this on his iceman right now.