GUITAR RECONSTRUCTION

Michael C. wellsEKU, Dept. of Technology, CEN

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OUTLINE Topics to be covered:

Motivation behind Guitar Reconstruction

Background Design of Guitar Design of Effects Assembly Troubleshooting (Mostly the Effects) Final Result

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MOTIVATION Obvious

Motivation Guitarist for nearly

9 years No pre-existing

knowledge of guitar electronics

Future Applications

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MOTIVATION Computer

Science Major Programming Computer

Systems CSC 370 and

400 Web Project

CSC 440

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INTRODUCTION Never worked with Guitar

Electronics Familiar with the very basic

guitar electronics. Guitar draws power from amp Effects are powered separately Guitar pickups are magnets Potentiometers used for

volume/tone

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INTRODUCTION Research definitely required

Lutherie – Building Electric Guitars by Martin Koch

Covers full guitar construction. Choosing Wood to Choosing Strings.

Fairly light electronics section. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3

gkVmVYujs Video showing the reconstruction of the

same type of Guitar used in Project.

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INTRODUCTION www.tonepad.com

Ideal resource for FX Projects The actual guitar

Electronics were not working Not even sure the exact type

(squier?) Tuning Pegs damaged eBay Purchase, unsure the actual

value. Missing several pieces of hardware

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PROBLEM STATEMENT Rebuilding an Electric Guitar

and including additional functionality. Guitar Effects crafted onboard is

an obvious choice for functionality.

Which Effect? Additional Functionality?

(Killswitch, etc.)

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Which effect to create?

Original Idea: Wah-Wah Pedal Pros/Cons

Second Idea: Fuzz Pedal (old distortion)

Pros/Cons Finalized Idea: MXR Distortion+

Pros/Cons Guitar Needs

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Guitar in

decent shape Needed to

solder a select few wires

Electronics replacement too expensive

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Guitar finished

early on Tuning pegs

and other hardware replacement simple

Block off tremolo system.

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Tonepad.com

Multiple Layouts for MXR Distortion Plus

Parts Recommend http://www.smallb

earelec.com

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PROPOSED SOLUTION The MXR

Distortion Plus Well Known

Distortion Unit Used by Randy

Rhodes, Jerry Garcia, and others

Easily Available Schematics

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PROPOSED SOLUTIONMXR Distortion Plus w/ 741 IC

MXR Distortion Plus w/ 4558 IC

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Purchased all

parts for MXR Distortion Plus w/ 4558 IC

Purchased the pre-made PCB for the unit with a 741 IC.

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PROPOSED SOLUTIONLayout with IC 741 Layout with IC 4558

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Breadboard

Failures, starting with 4558.

Signal not being sent.

True Bypass (DTDP Switch) works with interference

Frustration

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Late nights

thinking only about electronics.

Perhaps the Grounds

What is a “Jack Shield Connector”?

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Research

through Google led me to Wikipedia

Picture led to understanding

Further research explained what I was missing.

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PROPOSED SOLUTIONMono Jack on Guitar

Purchased “Stereo” Jack

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Stereo Jacks

require Tip-Ring-Sleeve. Label from

SmallBearElec My

Understanding Replace with

Mono Jacks.

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Distortion Unit

worked after second rebuild

Unit has very “basic” distortion sound

Video will help in explanation.

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PROPOSED SOLUTION Conversion to

PCB? Simple, but

space limitations in guitar.

Unit small; pots and off-board components large

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RESULTS Working

Electric Guitar Working

Distortion Pedal Include lots of

images & relevant multimedia on (no dancing pink elephants)

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CONCLUSIONS Project and my workplace

No relationship expect Project and my hobby

Very close relationship Will definitely use in the future Save a lot of money So many more effects

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FUTURE WORK Incorporate other guitar effects,

or build a multi-effect pedal. Implement more digital

applications Completely make a new

instrument

Email: lzmw@hotmail.com

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REFERENCES Koch, Martin. Lutherie – Building Electric Guitars.

Available from http://www.buildyourguitar.com/books/ebooks/index.htm

Axh6877. (2010, January 25). Strat Rebuild for Under $500.mov. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gkVmVYujs

Wikipedia. TRS connector. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector

Pedalarea. MXR – Distortion+. Available from http://www.pedalarea.com/mxr_distortion.htm

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All photos and videos provided by

presenter except where noted. Slide 12: Photo from

http://www.pedalarea.com/mxr_distortion.htm

Slide 14, 16, 18: All Photos from http://www.tonepad.com

Slide 19: Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jack_plug.png