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=t3gkVmVYujs

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