[MerlinTKD]

So, I picked up a body on cheepBay that I'm planning to do as a complete project, but I'm having some trouble deciding some of the particulars. I know what I've got in mind, but I need some help figuring out how to get there.

I posted an initial question last week, but some of it got eaten in the rollback (np tho, better a working board, Chris=teh win ), but that was just about the neck... want to try and cover the whole deal here.

So here's the body:

Washburn WG587 - alder, routed for H-H and stopbar/ToM.


The project, hopefully, will be to turn this into a 27" or 28" bari, with a mahogany neck and ebony fretboard (to somewhat replicate my first guitar, an 84 Gibson Flying V, alder body/mahogany neck/ebony fretboard with Dirty Fingers pickups), finish TBD, hopefully with an inline reverse headstock (RH FTW! ). Locking tuners, med frets (a la my V, though I'm not wedded to that), likely a 3 or 4-way switch with push-pull pots, all the good stuff.

So here's the first question: I've talked to a couple folks about a bari conversion neck for this, and I'll have to start saving but I'd like opinions on the wood combo I'm planning on... will it sound as good on a 7 as I imagine? Do you have suggestions you think would work better?

Secondly, pickups. I'm in a real debate with myself... my LTD M-207 (basswood/maple/rosewood) has Duncan Designed JB/Jazz pickups, and I loooove the sound but I recognize I could definitely stand some tighter bass from the bridge... I'm considering getting different pickups for the LTD and transferring the Duncans to the new project. On the other hand, a new guitar should get the new pickups, right? (New being a relative term, aside from the neck everything will likely have to be used).

So, should I buy and switch, or buy and install? If the former, what pickups would give me a similar tone in basswood? If the latter, what should I put in the alder?

I know expertise and opinions are in never in short supply around here and I'd really appreciate some advice!

[ibznorange]

id get a 3 piece neck of 2 mahogany sides, and a maple stripe, like the old maple/bubinga/maple necks, just with the maple in the middle. just to add a little brightness to the guitar.
sounds good though.
id get something else for the pups though. jb/jazz type pups in general just do NOT sound good in basswood. flubflubflubflubflub

[MerlinTKD]

Thanks for the input!

Originally Posted by ibznorange

id get a 3 piece neck of 2 mahogany sides, and a maple stripe, like the old maple/bubinga/maple necks, just with the maple in the middle. just to add a little brightness to the guitar.

There's a thought... I hadn't considered a laminate neck! With an alder body though, will it necessarily need to be brighter? Should it be brighter, you think?

Originally Posted by ibznorange

id get something else for the pups though. jb/jazz type pups in general just do NOT sound good in basswood.

Yeah... I like the general tone of the JB in my LTD, but it's definitely lacking on the low string. Are you recommending moving those pickups to the alder project, then, and getting different for the LTD? I've read DiMarzio's are generally better in basswood, what DiMarzio's would give me the kind of tone I'm looking for, but the tightness and clarity I need?

[MerlinTKD]

So the body came from the seller today! It's nice... the finish is a lot better in person than in the pics! A dark charcoal sparkle...

So I'm still liking the idea of a mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, though ibzorange's idea of a laminate is a good one too... what would be a good combo with the alder body?

Still wondering what to do about the pickups... wondering of the JB/Jazz combo will sound better on the low end in the alder; and if so, what pickups should I put in the basswood, to give me a similar tone, but clearer? Blaze/AN? Evo/AN?

I'm going to have to keep costs down, so as to be able to afford the bari neck... maybe I should go with GuitarHeads?

So many options... help!

[Apophis]

JB/Jazz would be nice, but it's all matter of your taste and ears

[Xtremevillan]

If you're gonna put an ebony neck on there, tell me how it sounds. I want to know how alder+ebony sounds.

Originally Posted by ibznorange

id get something else for the pups though. jb/jazz type pups in general just do NOT sound good in basswood. flubflubflubflubflub

I enjoy my SD's in my 7621.


As for the pickups? I believe the master Schuldiner used alder/ebony and the famous X2N.

[djpharoah]

Originally Posted by Xtremevillan

I enjoy my SD's in my 7621.

Dont want to sound like an ass - but the reason you might not be playing/enjoying the rg7621 is due to the SDs in your RG7621. Duncans aren't really that good for basswood guitars. I had a Duncan JB 59 or whatever in the bridge of my RG7621 when I got it and it was horrible. Get an evolution in the bridge and an AN7 in the neck and I guarantee you you will be playing the RG7 a lot more often (unless you are just not wanting too).

To the op - check out the Dimarzio Evolution 7. Its the clearest and tightest pickup while still maintaining its high output that I have tried yet from the Dimarzio line. It just excels in basswood. As for neck pickup - you have a choice of AN7/Blaze Neck/D-activator Neck.

[MerlinTKD]

Thanks guys! That really helps!!

The only concern I have about putting my JB/Jazz in the project is I'm going bari scale, either 27" or 28"... I do so love the tone of those pickups (middle position with the Jazz tapped makes an incredible clean tone!!), I just worry about the JB's ability to keep that low string clear, tuned down to G or F.

Doesn't Eaolian (sp?) use a JB in the bridge of his alder Jackson?

Di, you've sold me on the Evo/AN... now to find used ones at a price I can afford!

[Shawn]

Nice. You should get it stripped and stained with a maple fretboard. That would be awesome.

[MerlinTKD]

Originally Posted by Shawn

Nice. You should get it stripped and stained with a maple fretboard. That would be awesome.

Thanks! That's a cool idea... though, once I saw it in person, I decided I reeaaly like the finish on it! And with that dark charcoal... well, if I had any doubts before, I'm definitely going with an ebony board now!

On the other hand, the long-range plan is to get this project finished, then dismantle the LTD, strip it to natural, clear-coat it, put some DiMarzio's in it, add a REAL Floyd, and it'll be good to go! I've seen a couple pics of basswood guitars stripped and left natural (Leon has one in his gallery, IIRC), and with the rosewood fretboard the LTD has... I think that'll be niiiiice!