Lowe Shop Notes

[BTL]

So, things have been busy this weekend.

I had been waiting for a few piece to get out of paint, and now that they have, I'm going full-tilt.

Here's the latest gallery shot, and please note the black LSP and tobacco burst Ridler are both 32" scale:

[Highlander]

Looking good...

[drbassman]

I agree.

[BTL]

Thanks...I'm having fun!

As I said, this last weekend was very productive.

First, I started with assembling some wiring harnesses.

The pre-drilled assembly blocks work equally well for P, J, and T-style harnesses.

The signal wires get laid out first, then the grounds:





I use mil-spec D sub mini pins for my quick connects, and color-code the wires to the pickup placement; Red = Neck, Blue = Bridge:

[BTL]

Then I install the harness to the pickguard and mount the pickup, or tape it in place in the case of a Thunderbird pickup:



Note the Lollar Thunderbird 5 pickup, I believe this is among the first ones made:

[BTL]

Flip it over, line everything up, and drill the pickguard screws.

I leave the plastic in place except for where the controls are mounted.

I hate it when the plastic is left under the controls because it is impossible to remove:

[BTL]

I'm a fan of finding elegant solutions to simple problems, and here are two little tricks I've developed using O-rings from the plumbing section of the hardware store.

A #41 works perfectly as a bushing to fit Hipshot Licensed tuners to an import headstock, and a #7 adapts the SG-style switch hole in my control plate to accept a third pot or a jack:







Nice and tidy:

[BTL]

Ridler #1 getting wired up with Fralin Big Singles in a P90 cover with no holes.

I solder brass nuts on the dog-ear base plate, so now it's height adjustable.

To my knowledge, these pickups are unique to my builds:



I lay the wires out within the cavity so friction keeps them in place.

On the LSP with Thunderbirds (P'Nobird?) I use a bit of electrical tape to hold the connection secure because the pickup gets moved around:





Ridler #2 getting wired up:

[BTL]

I use 8-32 EZ-Lok threaded inserts designed for metal to bolt my necks down.

Step one is marking the necks to be drilled.

I clamp the necks in place, mark with an awl, double-check the placement, then head to the drill press:





The clamp keeps the neck from rocking:

[BTL]

Once drilled, I tap the hole for a ¼-20 thread, then use a sacrificial insert to center a deeper hole into the maple for the bolts on my contour-heel necks.

Also, I clean the pink thread-lock off the insert and instead flood the hole in the neck with thin CA before inserting the sleeve:

[Nocturnal]

Looking good!! Always interesting to see how all of the builders here work their magic!

[BTL]

Absolutely, and thanks!

I've learned so much over the years by participating on forums like this one, and I like to "give back" as much as I can.

There are a number of little details and tweaks that are unique to my builds, so if others find them interesting or useful, so much the better!

[BTL]

Inspired by the legendary bassist's modifed Precision, with a little design input from ebassist's SmallEQ, behold the latest addition to the Lowe Guitars lineup, the CHIMERA Series LSP, or P'Nobird:

[drbassman]

Nicely done!  I love the Hipshots, they are my favorites.

[Rob]

Nice!