Guild B-302 Mod and Restoration

[shadowcastaz]

Amen!!

[Bass VI]

Minor update and really nothing special, but as it's been cold here ( as with most of the country ) not much painting to be done! I might add, the shop is heated but opening the door to help the exhaust fans a bit ( and since the paint room is next to the brass repairmans' shop ) is no fun when it's 20 degrees outside!

As is, been doing a little wiring. Guild really was thorough when shielding these things, I've done the same on my new pickguard.





Note the solder "pools" near the pickup openings, these match up to copper tape in the pickup cavities in the body ( which also have shielding paint in them ) I guess the solder helps connect the body and pickguard shields.



Just a closer view, I replaced all the pots, the switch and jack. The old ones seemed to work fine but had a lot of corrosion on them. I also had to enlarge the opening for the Model One, it now sits on the body and not on the 'guard.



Now if it will just warm up a bit!

Scott ( BassVI )

[shadowcastaz]

Id love to know the pot and  cap values.M

[Bass VI]

 The original pot values were 500k for the volumes and 200k(?) for the tones.
That's interesting since 250k is the norm for single coil pickups.
 I used 500k for all the pots on the rewire, which should result in a little more high-end getting through, that and the humbucking Model one would seem to call for 500s.
 I re-used the old caps which are .047+/-10%. That seems pretty standard.

This link has a good view of the wiring: ( scroll down )

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/guildB302.php

 Hope that helps, Have you been able to make any progress on yours' ?

 I may put mine together this evening, the weather is still quite cold and I'm anxious to check my mods before I get more of the finish on.

 Keep ya' posted,

Scott ( BassVI )

[hollowbody]

That looks great!  You really see the thought you put into your work.

I've been watching this with great interest, as I first played a B 302 when I was looking to upgrade from my first bass (a Bently Series 10).  Unfortunately it cost more than I was able to scrape up at the time so I had to pass on it.

I was browsing eBay and ended up BINing a B 301 F that had a P Bass pickup in the neck position.  I have Model One laying around so I may follow your lead and sink it in there!  Now I guess I'll be able to brush up on my electric fretless chops.



Isn't winter a pain?  All the time in the world to work on projects but it's too cold to spray and finish them up...

[Bass VI]

Thank you for the compliment, sometimes I wonder if I get too obsessive about these things , and the I think.......naw!

How does the P sound? DiMarzio I think ( cream covers )

Temporarily put mine together, the Model One sounds HUGE ! very nice fat low end, but more clarity that a Gibby Mudbucker. I'm glad I checked it out, because I've got the two pickups out of phase and will need to switch wires on one of them to get both pickups to sound right together. Simple enough, but better now than having to take it apart after the final coats are done! I also discovered I'll have to shorten the pickup height screws as the bridge single coil is too high........

Half-hour later.......

Switching the wires on the Model One did the trick, I think this will be a great sounding bass. Super fat neck, plenty of articulation in the bridge and my fave, both in the middle position.  All the nice copper tape seems to do its' job, no hum from the single coil when soloed, and that's without a proper bridge ground. I'll post a few pics of the trial-run as soon as Photobucket comes back online ( site maint. )

Cheers All!

Scott ( BassVI )

[Bass VI]

And through the magic of the internet......

Trial-run.....note that the Model One pole-pieces line up perfectly with the strings.





Nap Time! 

S.

[rockinrayduke]

note that the Model One pole-pieces line up perfectly with the strings.

This is real important to me. Not only soundwise but aesthetically.

[Dave W]

Aha... I figured the Model One spacing would work out better for you than the Will Power Neck version.

[SKATE RAT]

is the model one cover metal or black plastic ?

[hollowbody]

I haven't received the bass yet, but it should be here Friday.  I'll let you know how it sounds.  I can't say I've ever heard a P pickup that close to the neck before.

is the model one cover metal or black plastic ?

It's metal with a matte finish.

[Bass VI]

This is real important to me. Not only soundwise but aesthetically.

Me too!

Aha... I figured the Model One spacing would work out better for you than the Will Power Neck version.

Yes, and thank you again for finding the measurements.

is the model one cover metal or black plastic ?

It's metal, painted black sort of a textured finish. If it wasn't epoxied to the coils I could have it Chromed!

If I can run away from the family, I may do the color coats Christmas day!

Happy Holiday of your choice!

Scott ( BassVI )

[Bass VI]

I haven't received the bass yet, but it should be here Friday.  I'll let you know how it sounds.  I can't say I've ever heard a P pickup that close to the neck before.


It's metal with a matte finish.

Hollow,

We must have posted at the same time.
I did notice that the split-coil was up pretty close to the neck, should be interesting. As I said earlier the Model One sounds Huge, I like it!

 

[Bass VI]

I was able to escape some of the Chistmas cheer and get a few coats of black on the thing....

Hollow, did yours' arrive today?







Hope you all had a Happy Holiday!

Scott ( BassVI )

[hollowbody]

That looks nice!  How did you keep the stripe on the neck from getting color?

The holiday pushed delivery of the bass back until tomorrow.