Ken Bonfield’s 1995 Alan Carruth OM #45 :: K&K Pure 12 String pickup install, Nashville high-strung tuning

Ken Bonfield’s 1995 Alan Carruth OM #45 :: K&K Pure 12 String pickup install, Nashville high-strung tuning.

Ken and I have tried two other times to install a K&K Pure Mini in this guitar (his preferred pickup used in all of his Carruth’s).  Both times the output was very subdued and lacked the response compared to his other guitars.  Ken talked with K&K and they recommended trying the Pure 12 String (since this was tuned Nashville high strung - the high strings from a 12 string set).  Wow, what a difference!  Third times a charm.

1974 (June) Rickenbacker 4001 :: reglued loose binding, replaced broken “wavy” Grover tuners

1974 (June) Rickenbacker 4001 :: reglued loose binding, replaced broken “wavy” Grover tuners with Hipshot HB5’s, installed Schaller strap locks, dressed the worn saddle slots, new Bakelite nut, new string damper pad and a push-pull pot for the bridge pickup.

The 4001 has a 0.0047 µƒ capacitor (not your standard 0.047 µƒ value found connected to the tone pot) in the bridge circuit that cuts bass frequencies and the overall output.  The push-pull pot gives the option of removing the cap from the circuit for increased volume and fuller tone.  I highly recommend this mod as it gives you a lot of tonal options.

Note:  Those looking to do this bridge cap bypass mod - Rickenbacker sells a shorter 330kΩ push-pull pot that they use on the 4003.  Other push-pull pots (Alpha, etc)  are often too tall to fit in the control cavity without modifications.  Always think twice before permanently altering your vintage instruments!

Gitane DG-455 thinline acoustic-electric :: set up, fingerboard crack and fingerboard extension crack in the top along the bass side

Gitane DG-455 thinline acoustic-electric :: set up, fingerboard crack and fingerboard extension crack in the top along the bass side.

This has a Fishman Aura pickup built into the bridge, so raising the action involved disconnecting the pickup lead from the side mounted preamp.  Then Indian rosewood shims were glued and trimmed to the bridge foot, dyed black and fit to the top.  The pickup was reconnected after the action was set.  Putty was used to originally affix the bridge wings, so they were removed, better fit to the top and attached with pickguard adhesive.  I have worked on gypsy jazz guitars before, but the bridge-integrated pickup certainly complicates minor action adjustments.  Super fun guitar to play though!

1969 Guild D35 NT :: set up

1969 Guild D35 NT :: set up.

The bridge on this has been previously planed down (7/32”) to delay the need for a neck reset.  The saddle is as low as it can go, so a neck reset along with a new taller bridge will be necessary to drop the action any further.  The increased neck angle of a reset would allow the strings to drive the top harder and yield more volume - but it sounds and plays pretty damn good as it is!

2013 Martin D-28 :: fingerboard crack in the extension repaired and fret ends dressed

2013 Martin D-28 :: fingerboard crack in the extension repaired and fret ends dressed.