Yamaha SG-3 & SG-2 replicas - SG-2 Finished p15/18

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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theworkoffire
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Tue Feb 15, 2011 5:39 pm

I'm just discussing pickups for this with Curtis Novak.

In the bridge I'm going for two of his 'Narrow Range' pickups (half a WRHB) that will combine to approximate a WRHB when the second one is blended in.

For the neck, I've asked for a hybrid Jag/JM pickup - basically a slightly lower, fatter Jag pickup with a steel base plate instead of the claw.

Any suggestions or other recommendations on that, I'm all ears. It's a bit of an experiment, so I'm open to ideas. The bobbins can be up to 7/8" wide: wider than a Jag but narrower than a P90 or a JM pickup.

If I make the SG-2 at the same time (which is looking very likely), I'll do it with Jag pickups in modified covers, as per the original plan. I still have one left from the original three I had Peter Leonard make for me - the other two went into the second Motorik.

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chase
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by chase » Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:54 pm

theworkoffire wrote:For the neck, I've asked for a hybrid Jag/JM pickup - basically a slightly lower, fatter Jag pickup with a steel base plate instead of the claw.

Any suggestions or other recommendations on that, I'm all ears. It's a bit of an experiment, so I'm open to ideas. The bobbins can be up to 7/8" wide: wider than a Jag but narrower than a P90 or a JM pickup.
Cool. I'm very curious to hear how these'll turn out. How hot are you winding them? And have you thought about tapping them? Might be an interesting way to shift between thinner/thicker sounds...

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noisepunk
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by noisepunk » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:15 pm

If the placement of these [pickups] were switched, you'd basically be building my dream guitar.

That sounds awesome to say they least, I can't wait to hear how they all sound; the Jag-master especially.
Last edited by noisepunk on Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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surfin_bird
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by surfin_bird » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:05 am

For 680 euro's I would definatly buy it, in europe there hard to get

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theworkoffire
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Sun Feb 20, 2011 1:58 pm

My templates all arrived by Friday - fantastic service from RazorLAB (Ponoko's UK franchise), given that I only ordered them on Monday morning.

Image

I've wangled a day without the kids on Wednesday to go wood shopping with a luthier friend - hoping to come back with enough for three projects 8)

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chase
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by chase » Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:33 pm

Really love the lines on that guitar. The pointy headstock works perfectly with the pointy horns.

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shanetram
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by shanetram » Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:28 am

That's going to look/sound killer when it's done. I've lusted after an sgv for a while but I'm not sure I can handle the tiny neck.

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druunkonego
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by druunkonego » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:04 pm

I came across this today and thought of your build here. I guess its not exactly the same but it's close and pritty interesting.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-VINTAGE-YAMAHA ... 1e61afa256" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cool build btw. You've always got some unique stuff cooking.

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theworkoffire
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:29 pm

druunkonego wrote:I came across this today and thought of your build here.
That's a Norma I think. They look great in sunburst.


The results of my timber shopping today:

Image

I found a nice one-piece swamp ash blank that was just the right size. It's not particularly light, but it felt right. Also, a nice big neck blank and a rosewood board that will do me for two. Bought lots of other wood for other projects, too.

While I was there (David Dykes Luthier's Supplies) I saw some of the tuners I thought I was going to use for this (Gotoh 510s) and they looked completely wrong in the flesh. Much smaller than I wanted, so it's back to square one on that. If anyone can suggest some individual tuners that have large oval heads I'm all ears.

Also, I just dug out the bridge I bought (thanks to Luau) a while ago with this build in mind. It's a more modern Yamaha one from an SGV300, . The radius is far too flat, but the look is just about right. I'm going to have a good think about how I can modify it. I don't want to shim it, but I'm pretty sure I can just grind down the outer four saddles slightly and elongate the intonation screw holes downwards enough to make it 9.5, if not 7.25". Either would be fine by me.

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And the meatier original:

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theworkoffire
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:27 pm

Hmmm. I've just measured the bridge and the radius is 9.5", but the string spacing is a bit too narrow - 51mm.

Looks like I'll need to make, or preferably find someone who can make me a new base with a slightly wider intonation screw hole spacing.

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Britfingers
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by Britfingers » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:44 am

What's the purpose of the 4 phillip head screws on the original base Ben?

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theworkoffire
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:05 am

Britfingers wrote:What's the purpose of the 4 phillip head screws on the original base Ben?
They hold down little L brackets either side of the saddles to hold them all tight together.

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frelonvert
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by frelonvert » Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:17 am

theworkoffire wrote:Hmmm. I've just measured the bridge and the radius is 9.5", but the string spacing is a bit too narrow - 51mm.

Looks like I'll need to make, or preferably find someone who can make me a new base with a slightly wider intonation screw hole spacing.

I love those sg-2/sg-3 yamaha's, I can't wait to see your build going on ! it's gonna be a killer axe.
They are so rare in Europe.
I have a sgv300 and I'm looking after a saddle replacement, so if one day, you deceide to let go your sgv bridge, please let me know.
Take care the skons is evrywhere !

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Pacafeliz
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by Pacafeliz » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:33 am

http://cgi.ebay.com/1966-ORIGINAL-YAMAH ... 45f8d9129a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

oh wow people are insane... :whistle:
but a very lovely guitar, fer sure!

Pat.
i love delay SO much ...that i procrastinate all the time.

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ludobag1
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by ludobag1 » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:47 am

i don't know if it the same guitar but on surf guitar 101 you can have one for 750 bucks ;) more realist for me

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