Convert a Fender Strat S-1 to Lollar Specials Pickups

That's right, I did it and I ain't sorry.

I had those Samarium Cobalt pickups long enough. Firstly, Samarium as an element reminds me too much of the movie called, The Ring. That friggin' movie creeped me out and after a while those S-1 didn't do anything for me except not hum. To me, the S-1 sounded too much like a humbucker without being a humbucker. So fuck that ambivalent sound.

Enter Lollar, and I'll be the first to admit that I am a Jason Lollar fan. He could probably wire a turd and I'd extol the virtues of that turdy sound. Nevertheless, I want my cake and eat it, too, and what I mean is that even though I am converting my 50th Anniversary Deluxe Strat, I still want to keep all the parts intact so that I can swap back or sell the instrument and not suffer any loss of value. Granted, this isn't a vintage '62 but it's a nice guitar that is worthy of gigging and thus will probably last long beyond my time so it deserves proper care. I gave it that care...

First step, I capo'd the strings and removed the guitar neck. This allows me to not have to put on new strings, especially since I've done that recently.  Also, if it was a customer's guitar, they might not appreciate having to pay for new strings due to the fact that their service person lacks imagination.

My second step was to wire up my new replacement pickguard independent of the stratocaster body. I chose a mint green pickguard, cream knobs and pickup covers. This sounds easy and is for the most part, but you want to make sure you are careful not to screw something up. If you are counting time, it probably took me about 3 hours to complete this job and that time included doing the dishes (got to maintain the relationship - I ain't stupid!) and collecting my tools which I managed to scatter all over the friggin' place. I put all that stuff together and then I soldered the wire for the pickup to the 5-way selector switch. Therefore, the pickups, pots and selector switch were installed on the back of the mint green pickguard. Next...

I removed the S-1 system as a whole. This meant that I only had to unsolder the ground wires and the jack in order to remove the assembly which included the pickups, pots, and knobs. I placed the assembly in a ziplock bag for storage after un-soldering the wires.

Now that the body is free of pickguards and a jack, I gave the instrument a wipe down to remove some of that food, sweat, and incidental beverages that may have crept underneath my old pickguard. Use water and a soft towel, and only use some other agent to clean if necessary. While you have the guitar apart, check to make certain the ground wires to the tremolo are still attached, and that the shielding ground is making good contact.

Okay, it's go time! I've got my new pickguard wired up using 250K pots, 5-way switch, Emerson 0.015MFD 300V cap, cloth wire, new jack, and a resistor. AlsIgottado now is attach the ground wire and the hot wire from the jack. Remember that when you install the jack, that the contact point for the jack must face away from the sides of the jack cut-out and also away from the pickguard; otherwise the contact point will come into contract with the body or the pickguard, and not allow you to put the jack in thus leaving everybody unsatisfied. After installing the jack, TEST YOUR SET-UP before you bolt it all back together. If it works;

• Put the pickguard on, but don't secure it completely. 
• Install the neck and tune it to pitch. 
• Upon installing the neck, fasten the pickguard securely.
• Set the pickup height - I rough it in while pressing the E strings at the highest fret: 1/8" (or 4mm) at the bass side, 3/32" (2mm) treble side. Too close is worse than too far in my estimation. Don't fuck up!
• Go back and loosen your neck screws a few turns, and use the string tension to help seat the neck. Now, secure your guitar neck well.
• As long as you didn't do some bone head adjustment that you forgot about prior to final assembly, then you should be able to play your guitar now.
• If something doesn't work - quit. Find a new hobby! And....
• Check over all of your adjustments and screws, etc....
• Put that thing through an amp - What are you waiting for???

Now that I have completed the conversion from the S-1 to (insert your favorite pickup here) I love my new Lollar specials and Emerson Cap setup. The guitar sounded filtered and muffled to me before, and now it's a raging beast capable of ripping the flesh off your body and blood flowing from your ears. Perfect. Why didn't I do this sooner; oh yeah, I have other things to do - like dishes and raking leaves......

I should have done some sound files to show the difference before and after, but I have found that tone is subjective and it's all a giant bullshit festival when it comes to the forums and guitar coffee klatches. Indeed, scientifically speaking, the sum total makes a huge difference because you have the guitar, strings, pickups, fingers, amps, and room that comprise your sound, so fuck those sound files. The damn guitar sounds better, and I am not going out and blowing $1200 bucks or whatever the cost when I can make myself happy doing the work myself and chucking $300 in parts to make my day -- pretty!

Thanks go out to James Hingston and Brian Michael who told me to do this long ago, but I thought they were full of shit (just kidding!).

D'Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap review

I recently picked up a new guitar strap to add to my collection of way too many guitar straps. I am sort of the Imelda Marcos of guitar straps (that's a joke! Imelda was a despots wife who collected expensive shoes) and I've found that there are all sorts of straps for any occasion. Maybe you have a gig on the shady side of an iceberg or maybe your ass is playing in the Gobi desert, regardless of the weather or the fashion - There is a strap for you.

So, in this case the strap is a new release from our friends at D'addario. I had to buy this strap after I saw a friend get a free sample. The Auto lock straps have some cool features and I will list them in an easy to read bullet format:

• The lock simple clicks on with one hand by simply pressing the end against your strap button. To remove you lift the Gray lock away from the guitar.

• The locks work well with most stock strap buttons and I've used them on Schaller button as well.
• The strap can be installed or removed with one hand. The old Schaller locks required a special technique but were very sturdy (whoops off-topic!).
• The strap clicks on quickly and stays put.
• The strap is made in Canada!
• The belt style material breaths thus inhibiting sweat.
• The cost is less than $30.00 USD. 
• The plastic hasp is sturdy.
• Will fit most common instruments strap buttons.

There are some things about the strap that worry me though I don't think they are deal breakers or at least they were not deal busters for me:

• There is a small spring that holds the lock against the belt hasp and I bet the spring will be the first part to fail and die a miserable death.
• The hasp is made of durable plastic and that piece could possibly damage the surface finish of a fancy guitar. I do not recommend this for a collector guitar (you know who you are - play that damn thing!).
• The strap itself is prone to creasing when I tossed it in my gig bag. So there are some temporary creases from storage and that could be fixed by using a material closer to seatbelt like material. This material uses a heavier weave while seatbelts have much high thread count.
• May not fit all strap buttons (see below *).

These straps are the best integrated strap locks I've ever seen. The Auto Lock system works well, the strap is strong, the hasps are rugged enough to hold my Les Paul, and the cost saves me money to pay my medical bills due to lugging my heavy Les Paul.........

*Addendum
Further on up the road there were a few things I learned about the D'Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap. They will not fit all instruments strap buttons and that isn't too much of a big deal but I was a little disappointed.

I found the strap wouldn't fit the standard strap button on Gibson Archtop. See pictured below.

Then I found that the Auto Lock didn't work for a strap button that is placed on an common acoustic guitar neck near the body. See below.

Also guitars with Strap-pin jacks will not work! Again, more pictures below!

Be warned that this strap will not work for the aforementioned strap buttons. Nevertheless, this strap is still one of my favorite seat belt style straps for around the house practice. If you are looking for a secure strap that installs quickly and doesn't require guitar modification then you should consider the D'addario Auto-lock guitar strap.

How Gibson can rise from the ashes!

There are several things that would help the Gibson brand. The first thing is to scale back the depth in model lines and use the "In and Out Burger "style menu, i.e., less is more. Too many choices leads to confusion. Also, start being nicer to Local Ma and Pa stores allowing them to sell and advertise product. Get out of the other hokus pokus businesses that are not making musical instruments.

Limit the line card. Les Paul for example; make historic models that actually existed and do away with the Purple '59 reissues. Once again, make Standards, Deluxes, and Customs and allow for one off custom models ordered via shops. I believe there are almost twenty Les Paul's to choose from and that doesn't include color schemes.

Bring back all the archtop and hollowbody guitars that are well made and what the industry finds worthy of admiration. I never see Gibson L5's for sale because they are sold the day they go up.

Hello, knock, knock..... Make Mandolins again. Lemme see, I cannot buy a Loar F5 Gibson but I sure can buy a nice Collings MT O, MF and a find Northfield. If those instruments are too costly then buying an Eastman Mandolin isn't a bad option. Regardless, there isn't an option to buy a quality Mandolin from Gibson and that is a crime.

Some of the best Banjos ever made had the Gibson brand on them. You know what I see a lot of people buying? You better have guessed Banjo's because contrary to all the jokes that people make about these instruments, Banjos are in fact very popular. Another huge market share that GibStone seemed to ignore. That's right, GibStone, hell, it seems like the only good instruments they made where prior to the Flintstones!

Furthermore, keep Epiphone making quality student guitars. Well, not just student guitars.... Some of the Epiphones play better than pricey Gibsons.  Frankly, my guess is that Epiphone is probably the only division of Gibson making money.

To Gibson, ever hear of a Fender Musical Corp employee named Abigail Ybarra? Abigail is the undisputed purveyor of pickups. Certainly you've heard of Lloyd Loar!? Emphasize the people who make your instruments. Personalize them! In a new robotic world I find that people seek a personal connection to the manufacturer or craftsmen/craftswomen. If the Corporation is leary that people will train and move on then understand that you might need a workplace environment that fosters loyalty. Comprendo?

Finally, don't fire the workers in the USA. Reinvest in those people, tools and training instead of consumer electronic companies.

I am the proud owner of a few Gibson guitars. I'd like to buy a Gibson but I have to earn my money too and the money goes farther when I put it into a many other brands. Let's get crackin' Gibson!!!

That is my two cents............

Michael Schenker Fest in San Jose City National Civic

Michael Schenker was in San Jose, California on 03/24/18. I was there and enjoyed the show it was a great experience! I've seen UFO, Scorpions, and MSG but this show topped them all. The crowd was receptive but I don't think they were ready for a show that was more like a three band show instead of just one. The songs kept coming and didn't stop until 30 songs rocked the crowd into submission.

The band is good and the set was tight. We were treated to all of Michael's popular tunes and some new tunes as well. The close knit band had 4 singers: Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley, and Doogie White and my personal favorite was Bonnet. Picking a favorite isn't easy but Bonnet's vocals are were pitch perfect and fierce and forceful in their delivery. But don't get me wrong, all of the singers were superb tonight. Steve Mann on guitar and keyboards is super talented and often fooled the big screen camera person who trained the lens on Michael when it was indeed Steve Mann playing the smoldering riffs. Chris Glen on bass held down the fort along with Ted McKenna on drums and both exhibited the brilliance that is raw talent and rendered an exuberant performance.

Michael was on fire and after a while I felt badly for his guitars because they were definately under an Assault Attack. My fretting hand was feeling an empathetic pain just watching Michael's left hand adeptly running up and down the guitar neck while simultaneously his right hand plucked the strings with the virtuosity that makes it all look so easy - But it's not! I am certain Michael wears guitars down due to sheer playing attrition. Honestly, I thought this date was one of the first of the tour and that accounted for the stamina and accuracy of the way each song was played but in reality this tour is half over.

If I was forced to pick a favorite song played at this show it would probably be the Desert Song. However, just about every song that was played was second. Rock bottom has been one of my favorite songs ever and Michael and Co. decimated the crowd in San Jose with a never ending version of the song that had a solo that would put any wannabe Schenker guitarist into a frenzy.

I could go on but who cares what I have to say? Go for yourself and see for yourself. Michael rocks hard and deserves every bit of the title Guitar God.

Lastly, Michael's newest album is out - Link>> - Resurrection 

Michael Schenker Setlist:

City National Civic, San Jose, CA, USA

1. Into the Arena (Michael Schenker Group song)
2. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Michael Schenker Group song)
3. Cry for the Nations (Michael Schenker Group song)
4. Attack of the Mad Axeman (Michael Schenker Group song)
5. Messin' Around (Michael Schenker Fest song)
6. Armed and Ready (Michael Schenker Group song)
7. Coast to Coast (Scorpions song)
8. Desert Song (Michael Schenker Group song)
9. Dancer (Michael Schenker Group song)
10. Night Moods (Michael Schenker Fest song)
11. Searching for a Reason (Michael Schenker Group song)
12. Assault Attack (Michael Schenker Group song)
13. Captain Nemo (Michael Schenker Group song)
14. Bad Boys (McAuley-Schenker Group song)
15. Save Yourself (McAuley-Schenker Group song)
16. Anytime (McAuley-Schenker Group song)
17. Heart and Soul (Michael Schenker Fest song)
18. Love Is Not a Game (McAuley-Schenker Group song)
19. Searching for Freedom (Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock cover)
20. Live and Let Live (Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock cover)
21. Vigilante Man (Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock cover)
22. Lord of the Lost and Lonely (Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock cover)
23. Take Me to the Church (Michael Schenker Fest song)
24. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - (Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock cover)
25. Warrior (Michael Schenker Fest song)
26. Rock Bottom (UFO song)

Encore:

1. Doctor Doctor (UFO song)
2. Shoot Shoot (UFO song)
3. Natural Thing (UFO song)
4. Lights Out (UFO song)

Video link David Reed's Youtube video link for the SJ Show