Muff's Modules & More

bleeps · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:50 pm Post subject: Found an old electric guitar...

I was clearing out my parents' garage and I found a Japanese Cimar electric that I have no idea where it came from. I don't currently play guitar but I've been looking to buy something to learn on with the intention of running through fx and pedals for textures and manipulation in my DAW. The pickups are rusted and look shitty. Is it worth trying to replace them or should I just buy something used in better condition?

jenamu6 · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject:

Don't think the rust will matter, since your going for sound....not guitarsound

Tombola · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:29 pm Post subject:

Use it, great to have a beat up guitar to experiment on - put in piezo mics, kill switches, use a screwdriver as mobile extra bridge, play behind it. Plenty of fun.

dkcg · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:09 pm Post subject:

Should be fine for prepared guitar a'la Sonic Youth.

But if it's warped at all, it probably would not be good for learning on and could make it harder to learn if it doesn't stay in tune, or if the neck is warped. If you want to learn normal guitar playing, might be better off to buy a used made in mexico squire, or epiphone, or something along those lines.

Look down the neck to see if it's warped/bowed at all, then try some new strings and see if it stays in tune.

bleeps · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:31 pm Post subject:

Neck looks fine. I'll find an amp and string it up. Thanks, people!

Morley · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 2:45 am Post subject:

Cimar was I believe a sub label of Ibanez. Not bad instruments some of them.
If the pickups are not quite doing what they should, I'd certainly put some new ones in. GFS make pretty cheap decent pups.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Strat-Vintage-Alnico-Stagger-Pickup-Set_p_ 717.html

$45 a set.

bleeps · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:27 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind, amp arrives tomorrow. The one thing I wish this guitar had is a tremolo arm. But, from what I've read, it's a costly mod.

dkcg · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject:

JRock · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 2:26 pm Post subject:

Way better to learn Guitar 101 on a fixed bridge. Whammy's awesome when you know what you want it for and have the basics under your belt... But it makes the guitar a whole different animal and has it's own learning curve and frustrations.

My main Axe is Fixed bridge.

bleeps · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 4:27 pm Post subject:

Yeah, not in any hurry to get a whammy, just would have been nice. I'm just stoked I got a free guitar!

JRock · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:24 pm Post subject:

That is a Sweet find SlayerBadger!

Demi Jon · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:50 pm Post subject:

photo, please? would love to see this!

bleeps · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:35 am Post subject:

Here she is:

I'm really excited to hear just how damaged the tone will be with those pickups. Also, two of the bridge screws are missing springs.

Demi Jon · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:44 am Post subject:

Aw, she's a beaut! Gorgeous colour -- I'm imagining dark chocolatey (and fugged) sounds. Great find!

I don't "play" guitar either, but I've been using the guitar for 15 years through effects. Try an ebow if you don't want to learn traditional guitar styleez. They can do magic (or shite, depending).

dkcg · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 6:50 pm Post subject:

The bridge might need replacing. Maybe the nut too, can't see it in the pics. The pickups could probably just be cleaned off with some steel wool, but I don't see why they wouldn't work as long as the wiring is intact.

You might wanna take off the pickguard (being careful about the out jack wires) and take a look to see if there's rust inside. The switches and pots will probably crackle, but get some deox in there and twist it around a bunch. Looks like it could be up and running with a little work.

bleeps · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:52 pm Post subject:

Alright, I brought it to a local luthier (new word for me!), Andy at El Rayo Guitar Repair in San Diego, and he took a look at it. He said he could give it the once over, get it cleaned up and do a set up for $85 but I'd have to leave it with him for two weeks since he's backed up. He saw the look on my face and said I could string it myself and spend a little time with it to see if there's anything major that needs to be done and bring it back when I'm ready. He also gave me some replacement springs and a little allen wrench to adjust the saddle heights. Upstanding guy, that Andy. Great little shop too.

Being my first time stringing a guitar, I screwed up stringing the guitar and lost strings 3 and 4. Good thing I have some more coming to me from Amazon. I plugged it into a small powered monitor and overall it sounds just fine. Andy was afraid the inside of the jack might be oxidized but it's not. Yes, there's a tiny bit of crackle when I turn the knobs and flip the selector but it stops when they're not being touched. Right now I'm just waiting for UPS to get here so I can put in the last two strings and fire up the amp that's coming. These pedals aren't just for drum machines anymore!

dkcg · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject:

Next step, get an ebow, and you'll have a free oscillator with timbre controls based on physical placement. hihi

http://www.ebow.com/home.php

Ebow and delay go hand in hand. Rockin' Banana!

bleeps · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject:

I was looking at that earlier when Demi Jon mentioned it. Crazy, I had always seen references to them but never looked it up before. I'll get one at some point. I imagine an Ebow and a Pitchfactor must be a good way get lost in sound.

Just me · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:58 pm Post subject:

Listen to the demo tape from Heet sound. What you can do with an ebow is wild!

Just me · Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject:

E-Bow's are $88 today on HelloMusic. As a heads up. (SPAM ALERT)