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SJ200 MC Pics


John Lee Walker

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As promised, here are a few pics of the work in progress, Only thing to be done is the gold engraved Waverlys and possibly a pickguard changeout.

 

Be patient, not too adept with my Canon Rebel XT digital camera, just learning how to use it. As suggested by someone here, I took a couple of pics with tissue over the flash to cut down the glare of the finish, but they came out a bit dark. Hope you can see them ok. Will post more when she is complete.

 

Only way I know how to do this is to post links to the photo page. Hope it works...

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/3095908165_cab202951b.jpg?v=0

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/3095908171_00a2aed848_m.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/3095908181_8164d30251.jpg?v=0

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/3095908191_62246187ec.jpg?v=0

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that's a great looking guitar JLW. I'd been envisioning what it would look like and thought it would probably be cool. i've got to say, i think it's way cooler after seeing the pictures! I'd think bozeman might be all over this!

 

Is that an inlay on the fretboard down around the 18th or 19th fret?

 

and man, those bridge pins are sweeeeeet!! [-o<

 

I'm definitely interested in seeing this guitar when you're done with it. tuners, pickups, strap, the whole deal! you're got to be very happy with it!!!

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beautiful. Gotta love those golden witch-hats! Are they fully functional as real-time tone and volume for the factory baggs element? Someone else mentioned here customizing a J160E with the tone converted to a blend pot, and something like a Fishman Ellipse blend mic/undersaddle combo fitted that could be blended with the P90. Sure would love to play that.

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Thanks y'all, I'm very pleased with it. The engraved Waverlys will be a nice final touch, I'm sure.

 

There are 2 pickups now, the original Element, and a custom 'hot dot' hidden transducer. The tone/volume knobs are for those, and the original thumbwheel inside the soundhole is overall master volume. The tone knob is crossed over for adjustment to tone (blend pot) for whichever pickup I use, or both at the same time. Very cool system developed by Ricky Tyler in Nashville. All LR Baggs with the Element, iBeam, iMix and Hot Dots. You gotta hear it live.

 

Like I said, just getting used to this cam, so the 'arty' shots are pure luck at this point. I just propped her up on the practice amp table and experimented with the tissue-filter process. The flash and glare doesn't really capture the subtleness of the smoky finish. Will take some more when the Waverlys get here.

 

Tried out the system here in my studio and was very pleased with it. Sounds fantastic thru the Acoustasonic, playing around with blending the tone and getting it right. Taking her to the Muddy Boots Cafe this weekend for her official debut:)

 

Yeah, the little crown with wings inlay at the 19th fret is a goofy sentimental thang. One of those 'ya had to be there' deals.

 

Overall, I am totally jazzed at how it turned out. As someone mentioned, it was a daring move to install pots/knobs on this fine instrument, but it's what I have had in mind for years - a SJ200 with my favorite J160E configuration. And then some. I am loving it.

 

As for the pickguard, I'm undecided. Sometimes I like the wheat scroll, other times I don't. Gibson referred me to a place called WD Music that makes replacement pickguards, and a couple of others. If I do change it, it will be basic black/white bound to match the binding on the body. Not sure about that yet.

 

Sully called last night, strap is already in the brown truck. More pics coming...

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She's a handsome beast indeed. When I read your previous posts concerning the volume and tone knobs on the top, I was not convinced at all. There's no way I would have let someone drill holes in that top!

 

But aesthetically, they really do work and don't look at all out of place. I really like them.

 

Congrats on a fabulous guitar and good luck with her debut gig. We'd love to hear how she performs - especially how the blending of the pickups work in a live setting.

 

Very jealous now!

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As for the pickguard' date=' I'm undecided. Sometimes I like the wheat scroll, other times I don't. Gibson referred me to a place called WD Music that makes replacement pickguards, and a couple of others. If I do change it, it will be basic black/white bound to match the binding on the body. Not sure about that yet.

 

Sully called last night, strap is already in the brown truck. More pics coming...

 

[/quote']

 

 

Hey John Lee,

 

I'd be curious to know who else Gibson mentioned for custom pickguards. I don't have one on my jumbo, but may want to put one on in the future and don't care for the stock one that came with the guitar. I've found a few places but have yet to see anything that wows me. I can dig up the links to them if you want. Let me know.

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Hey Jayla - Gibson referred me to WD Music Products - www.pickguards.com - and terrapin guitars - www.terrapinguitars.com. I think I've decided to replace mine since I took some close up shots of the front of the guitar. You can see the soundhole and rosette thru the pickguard and there seems to be something - bits of fiber or glue globs stuck to the underside. Looks very tacky. I contacted Bozeman about it and they are sending another to take care of it, and they said they will guarantee I won't be able to see thru it. If I don't like it, I've been talking today with Bill Nichols @ Nichols Guitars, and he said he could do an ebony pickguard with bound border, no problem, and I like his work. Might go that route, just waiting to see what their pickguard is gonna look like. I'll probably change it:)

 

Hey sub - Yep, Nashville, Indiana. We live in the country north of Lawrenceburg in rural Dearborn County, about an hour away from Nash, where we have a ranch with a couple few horses and some privacy. I drive into Nashville when I am here. Lots of good music there. Also play at the Pine Top on open mic nights. Keeps me out of trouble:)

 

Shameless Plug Alert:

 

Hey sub next time you're in Nashville, IN, stop in at The Weed Patch Music Shoppe there and check out Jeff Russell's mandolin factory. He's my guitar guy there. Very talented artist, builds awesome mandolins. His shop is a very cool place to hang during the day - he likes impromptu jams that draw the tourists into his store:)

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Yeah, Terrapin was one of the ones I was looking at. Also, Greven has some interesting materials, which you can see here. And I really like the firestripe material that Smoky Mountain Guitars uses on some of their guits, for example this one. I'm even considering going with a smaller size for mine. I like the look of an OM style guard on a jumbo, like here. I'm considering all this for now...

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Experimenting with the camera. Set the guitar on the floor a little farther from overhead light. The dark shot is regular tissue, Kleenex, held over the flash. The lighter shot is with Charmin. Yeah, I squeezed it. Looking for something a little bit thinner. I'll get it down...

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/3097865035_7b5512a3d9.jpg?v=0

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/3097865051_5b6187f6b8.jpg?v=0

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3097865067_d03b404118.jpg?v=0

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Experimenting with the camera. Set the guitar on the floor a little farther from overhead light. The dark shot is regular tissue' date=' Kleenex, held over the flash. The lighter shot is with Charmin. Yeah, I squeezed it. Looking for something a little bit thinner. I'll get it down...

 

[img']http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/3097865035_7b5512a3d9.jpg[/img]

 

3097865051_5b6187f6b8.jpg

 

3097865067_d03b404118.jpg

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