Updated PSVI mods including Conversion Guard, bridge, mute

[mcjt]

awesome! thanks, Sneaky! i have a black PSVI that i would like to modify. i'll be in touch.

[SneakyT]

sounds good

[SneakyT]

New camera new pics of parchment guard


And one of the F neck plate.

[bassVIst]

just beautiful...
really loving all these mods to these!
whether it's making it look *right*, like this...
or taking it even further out there!

[MurrySandstorm]

Whoa! Your bass looks amazing with those mods! Absolutely stunning! I also have a PS VI in candy apple red but the high shine on yours is killer. I love my bass vi but the addition of the control plate and the single coil bridge pick up really improves the overall look. Kind of surprising how much of an impact those 2 changes make. Never mind the new bridge and cool foam mute! You did a great job! Congrats!

[Sidus]

First of all, welcome everyone, this is my first post here.

SneakyT, is there a possibility you could record how the PSBVI sounds with the mute engaged? I'd really love to hear how it sounds in action.
Also, you have flatwounds installed, right?

Cheers.

[SneakyT]

Whoa! Your bass looks amazing with those mods! Absolutely stunning! I also have a PS VI in candy apple red but the high shine on yours is killer. I love my bass vi but the addition of the control plate and the single coil bridge pick up really improves the overall look. Kind of surprising how much of an impact those 2 changes make. Never mind the new bridge and cool foam mute! You did a great job! Congrats!

Thanks man!

SneakyT, is there a possibility you could record how the PSBVI sounds with the mute engaged? I'd really love to hear how it sounds in action.

I'm not sure when I'll have time to record any demos. Though not the greatest demo this guy uses the mute at about 1:06. I'd stop watching the demo after that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciZgPK4fsHA

Also, you have flatwounds installed, right?

No, I find flats very limiting especially on the Bass VI. I use Circle K strings on both of my VI's. DR sunbeams on most all other basses. I do have one Pbass that lives with flats in case I need that tone in the studio.

[SneakyT]

Have had a few questions about which pickups I'm using in this so I thought I'd post it to make it more clear. I kept the original neck and middle pickups but moved the neck to the bridge position. I installed an AVRI Jag pickup in the neck. The original neck PU in the bridge works very well due to it being hotter than the new one. I'm very happy with the neck and bridge though I may get an AVRI for the middle as they seem to be a little more open sounding.

[mtwtrf]

I'm building a bass VI right now. Being able to simply pick up a mustang bridge for it makes the trickiest part easy.
Thanks a bunch!

Is the mustang bridge wider? I'm having trouble intonating my low E... joining the club.

[SneakyT]

I'm building a bass VI right now. Being able to simply pick up a mustang bridge for it makes the trickiest part easy.
Thanks a bunch!

Is the mustang bridge wider? I'm having trouble intonating my low E... joining the club.

The mustang bridge is the same as the pawnshop bridge. In this order I would try these things when trying to intonate a Bass VI with the smaller 3/4" bridge. First turn the bridge upside down with the adjustment screws towards the pickup rather than the trem. If that doesn't work then try shimming the neck which through the new geometry will add a small amount to the overall length to the total scale thus helping intonation. Lastly the mod that I did to the original bridge will add another small amount to total length. I am currently using a 3/4" Staytrem bridge upside down that has no problem intonating after a shim to the neck.

[kenstee]

So, all in all, what did the mod cost in total? Parts, etc.

[SneakyT]

So, all in all, what did the mod cost in total? Parts, etc.

Around $165 not including bridge and mute

Pickguard $60
Plates $50
Pickup $40
Switches and pot around $15



Total
Bridge $100
Mute $40

[SneakyT]

So recently I changed the volume pot out to a 1 meg and it really showed how limiting middle and bridge (original neck) pickup are. I decided to take some measurements on them to see why they were lacking in the high end. The AVRI that I have in the neck position was 6.8k and it sounds great. The middle was 14k and the bridge was 12.8k. So I decided to change that and got to work unraveling the middle pickup. I unwound it to right at 8k. It now matches the tone of the AVRI really well. Much more chime and shimmer. The bridge will be next. I'm thinking of starting at 8.5k and seeing if it needs any more removed.

[Marc]

Hi as this thread is a little old can I confirm that I approach Rutter Guitars to order the two chrome plates and Mr Sneaky for a PS VI conversion pickguard? Is this still correct?

[zip73]

Yep, just did mine a little over a month ago. Both Rutters and SneakyT are great guys to deal with.