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LerxstLuthier

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Posts posted by LerxstLuthier

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    Too bad about your experience with Bill & Becky's customer service, that was unfortunate to say the least. I think they must have realized they weren't doing their business any good because now they are right on top of it.

    I don't know about the internet shouting matches. What I do know is that the Lawrence USA pickups I have tried were dogs, just ...blah. Bill and Becky's L500's have a ferocious snarl and harmonic richness that brings me right back to the very first time I plugged the Hentor in and made me go "WOW"!

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    Reading my post now I see I should add a comment regarding the sustain block. In my experience the titanium will make the guitar very zingy and lively. The brass block, just more sustain without making it much brighter. Since the Hentor is already a bright guitar I'm going to try both the titanium and the brass blocks to see which suits the guitar more.

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted · Edited by LerxstLuthier

    QUOTE (tskidmore @ Aug 10 2012, 07:43 AM)
    QUOTE (LerxstLuthier @ Aug 2 2012, 09:04 AM)
    Oh boy!

    My apologies to everyone who has been following this. It must have appeared that I've been missing in action because I have stopped posting. The reality is that for some reason this forum has not been notifying me of new posts like any other forum does so I thought there were no new posts until I decided to check the thread today.

    Here's the latest.
    After speaking to Alex I'm going to upgrade some parts on the Hentor. We discussed a ghost loaded floyd but in the end it was decided that he didn't really need it. But I am going to install a titanium sustain block on the trem. We also discussed the single coil pickups, these are going to be replaced with Dimarzio FS-1, with the middle pup reverse polarity for true humbucking when in the middle and neck position.
    The single coil swap decision was made because although the stock pups sound just OK, the body and neck materials being so tight and dense make them sound particularly thin and small.
    The electronics (pots, switch ) will be replaced just due to age and wear and tear.
    One other notable modification that seems minor but will have a real impact on the tonality of the guitar will be the pickguard. At some point the original pickguard that had the humbucker/single coil/single coil was replaced with a pre-fabbed one. But, what happened was that the prefabbed one's humbucker cut out was closer to the bridge that the way Alex had it originally. This is why extra body wood was routed out of the HB cavity area, and why the bridge posts eventually broke out.
    Also, this is why the guitar is thinner and more shrill sounding in the humbucker position than it used to be. It's just too close to the bridge (not by a whole lot either...but a little goes a long way).

    So for those that are interested, I will be offering replicas of the 80s era with no fine tuners (depending on avaialability of the bridges) or the current set-up with the locking floyd. The upgrades that I will install now (titanium, Dimarzio FS-1) will be an option.

    Over the past few weeks I have been selecting wood from my private stockpile (most of which has been stickered and seasoning for 15+ years). Aside from the obvious (pickups etc.) the wood selection is critical in what makes this guitar sound the way it does.

    Mods, or anyone else in the know....is there a setting I have missed so that I can be sure I'm notified whenever there is a repsonse on this thread?
    Thanks,
    Freddy

    Hey Freddy, maybe I missed it, but what bridge pickup are you going to use in Alex's Hentor? I have not played with a titanium block for the floyd, there is a brass one in the AL Axcess, can you (or any other TRF'rs) comment on your experience with the titanium especially with tone and sustain?

     

    I have not heard of wiring the middle and neck pups this way, that sounds pretty cool. Can you still get the strat quack with this configuration if you want to break into some Gilmour territory?

     

    Anyone having any comments on the fine tuners or not, I would be interested. I have only played with newer floyds with the fine tuners, so I dont have a baseline for comparison. I think the fine tuners help a lot, but everything is usually a compromise, is there a downside?

     

    Thanks again for including the forum in this, this is a totally cool project! When is Alex going to get the original back (in the next couple of weeks maybe???)?

    The titanium block sounds more lively than the brass block. The same way the brass block gives more sustain and tonal range than the stock, the titanium give even more sustain and harmonic content.

    The pickup wiring in regards to reverse wound/reverse polarity does not change the tone at all. It just creates the humbucking effect and cancels the single coil hum when both pickup are selected. So yes, the strat quack is all still there, just no noise.

    Regarding the non fine tuner Floyd. There is a small difference in sustain...because there are fewer moving parts (pivoting saddles) the string's drive is more solidly transferred to the bridge. It's not like a night and day thing, but there is a bit of a difference. Some might say that the much better tuning stability of the fine tuner, locking nut Floyd negates the small sonic difference (obviously Alex did, and this guitar still sounds fantastic as it sits now). However I would urge anyone to go with locking machine heads if they go with the non fine tuner floyd.

    The guitar will be back in Alex's hands at the end of the month.

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    Oh boy!

     

    My apologies to everyone who has been following this. It must have appeared that I've been missing in action because I have stopped posting. The reality is that for some reason this forum has not been notifying me of new posts like any other forum does so I thought there were no new posts until I decided to check the thread today.

     

    Here's the latest.

    After speaking to Alex I'm going to upgrade some parts on the Hentor. We discussed a ghost loaded floyd but in the end it was decided that he didn't really need it. But I am going to install a titanium sustain block on the trem. We also discussed the single coil pickups, these are going to be replaced with Dimarzio FS-1, with the middle pup reverse polarity for true humbucking when in the middle and neck position.

    The single coil swap decision was made because although the stock pups sound just OK, the body and neck materials being so tight and dense make them sound particularly thin and small.

    The electronics (pots, switch ) will be replaced just due to age and wear and tear.

    One other notable modification that seems minor but will have a real impact on the tonality of the guitar will be the pickguard. At some point the original pickguard that had the humbucker/single coil/single coil was replaced with a pre-fabbed one. But, what happened was that the prefabbed one's humbucker cut out was closer to the bridge that the way Alex had it originally. This is why extra body wood was routed out of the HB cavity area, and why the bridge posts eventually broke out.

    Also, this is why the guitar is thinner and more shrill sounding in the humbucker position than it used to be. It's just too close to the bridge (not by a whole lot either...but a little goes a long way).

     

    So for those that are interested, I will be offering replicas of the 80s era with no fine tuners (depending on avaialability of the bridges) or the current set-up with the locking floyd. The upgrades that I will install now (titanium, Dimarzio FS-1) will be an option.

     

    Over the past few weeks I have been selecting wood from my private stockpile (most of which has been stickered and seasoning for 15+ years). Aside from the obvious (pickups etc.) the wood selection is critical in what makes this guitar sound the way it does.

     

    Mods, or anyone else in the know....is there a setting I have missed so that I can be sure I'm notified whenever there is a repsonse on this thread?

    Thanks,

    Freddy

    Am I the only one who feels somewhat underwhelmed?

    in Rush

    Posted

    QUOTE (losingit2k @ Jun 21 2012, 01:15 PM)
    QUOTE (LerxstLuthier @ Jun 21 2012, 01:10 PM)
    It's the mastering of this CD that's the problem. You want to hear it the way it should sound? Get the vinyl!

    Yeah, you missing alot of clicks and pops when you listen to the cd.

     

    tongue.gif

    I take care of my vinyl. No clicks and pops. My point was that not only does vinyl just sound way better, it's also not brickwall limited in the mastering.

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    QUOTE (elvtnedge @ Jun 20 2012, 11:45 AM)
    Any idea how much you'll be charging for these?

    I originally thought that I would try to keep the price point low by buying parts (neck, body etc) from one of the big parts manufacturers like Warmoth or Musikraft. But there is no chance of getting a neck like this from them. The neck is unique in many ways so I'm going to make them myself by hand, replicating them as exactly as possible. Many people don't realize that the neck contributes a great deal to the overall sound of the guitar.

    So, that being said these will essentially be premium handmade guitars. The simplest of my electrics (telecaster types) start at $2500 CAD and other models go up from there. Because this will be a limited production run I'd like to be able to offer the Hentors at that price point.

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    QUOTE (ridertoo98 @ Jun 20 2012, 11:25 AM)
    Doesnt look that bad, from your post it sounded like it was beat to death. tongue.gif
    Just needs a major tuneup Are the frets worn out?? We await with patience. new_thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

    No it doesn't look that bad. The biggest problem is that the cavity for the humbucker was routed very close to the floyd pivot posts. After the years of pressure the posts are beginning to give way, leaning towards the neck because the small wall of wood is busting out. The bridge is actually jammed into the pickguard plastic. I'm going to clean up the route nice and square and then graft a new piece of wood into the body and redrill for the floyd posts.

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    Thanks for your patience everyone. I know it must seem like a tease to have to wait for some pics. I have set up a session for Friday night to do a video shoot and photos of the Hentor. I just want to do it right. Really, I should have just done the photo and video shoot before even releasing the news that I have the guitar, then presented it all at once so nobody had to wait. But my own excitement overcame me! common001.gif

     

    But I'll tell you what, here's a couple of quick snaps :

     

    http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/FreddyGabs/Hentor1.jpg

     

    http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/FreddyGabs/hentor2.jpg

     

    As you will notice, the Bill Lawrence pickup has been swapped out for a Dimarzio. The first thing I did was plug into my Hiwatt and play a bit of Limelight. Yuk! The pickup sounded awful in this guitar...well, awful is too strong a word. The pole pieces didn't even line up with the strings and it just sounded dull and lifeless. So I immediately contacted Alex and asked if I could swap it out with a Bill Lawrence. A resounding "Yes!" was the answer.

     

     

     

    Regarding whether Alex will play this guitar on stage...we'll just have to wait and see!

     

    More later....

     

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    Pete,

     

    Yes, I'm the luthier that restored Alex's 355.

    I will document the guitar in pictures and video.

    Right now it needs a lot of work, it's been sadly neglected. So part of the deal is that I do whatever it takes to make the guitar a 100% performance machine again. I'm humbled to be entrusted with this task and I am so looking forward to working on this axe again and bringing her back to her former glory (or beyond!)

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    Hi Pete,

     

    I've seen the ones you put together and I'll say right now, you did a lovely job!

     

    No I just got the white one, it was the only one that interested me as the other two (I worked on those as well) were....meh.

    There is something very toneful and special about the white one. I remember the first time I plugged it in...it was like alarms went off! Unlike any other strat or so called "super-strat" I'd ever heard.

     

    Alex's Hentor Sportscaster

    in Making Modern Music

    Posted

    QUOTE
    Sign me up for ser# 001 of your replicas!!!!!

     

    There are already 2 orders in. But if you are serious I will ask them if they don't mind getting numbers 002 and 003.

     

     

    QUOTE
    OH MY GOD!!! How much will you be selling them for? I would love to buy one!! 1022.gif AlexFinal.gif AlexFinal.gif 2.gif How many will you be making cause I gotta get my hands on one!!

     

     

    I have a few details to work out before I can begin to put together a price. For instance, which era of the Hentor? There was the floyd with no fine tuners, the floyd with fine tuners, and perhaps the mods that I will be performing to it now. Once I get it in my hands my goal will be not only to blueprint it in every detail but also to get it back into performance shape and that might mean upgrades to certain things.

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