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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive through November 11, 2010 » Archive: 2008 » Archive through April 27, 2008 » Washburn Falcon in need of repair « Previous Next »

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jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 32
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 5:59 am:   Edit Post

So I just bought a Washburn Falcon off ebay and it just came in the mail. It is a neck through, string through body design, with two humbuckers, an ebony fingerboard, Indian Rosewood top and back, countinuous wood backplates. Thr problem I have with it is that someone took off the original stop tail piece, routed out the body, and inserted a Kahler tremelo on top of a brass plate. I really would prefer to have a tone pros tail piece and saddle for it. Does Alembic do repair on non-Alembics? I have a good acoustic luthier, but I have never had an elevtric worked on. Anybody have any advice? Feel free to email me. Pics soon to follow. Colin
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1357
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 6:14 am:   Edit Post

I'm sure Mica will chime in here soon..

I don't believe Alembic does work on other instruments, except on an extremely case-by-case basis and only as time allows..

My inclination would be to install a brass block (or some hardwood) where the Kahler is now and drill/tap it for the TonePros bridge and tailpiece mounting studs.

I always liked Washburns..

John
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 33
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 6:58 am:   Edit Post

I talked to a guitar tech who is one of the better tech people in Ky, but he is not a luthier. His response was that he would not want to pull out the Kahler tremelo because any work would eventually show seperation from the wood and look bad. I do not believe this to be the case. I would think a nice piece of wood could be glued in and then the stop tail piece and saddle mounted to that, but I don't do any fine woodworking, only hack and hammer.
Front of Falcon Depicting Stupid Brass Plate and Stupid Kahler Tremelo
Back of Washburn Falcon

(Message edited by davehouck on March 10, 2008)
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1359
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 7:13 am:   Edit Post

It would be difficult to not have a visible seam, and my thoughts would be to screw it in as well as glue (or instead of). If you look at the brass sustain block on an Alembic, there is a slight gap/seam visible, as the block is screwed-in and isn't affected by temp/humidity in the same way(s) the wood is. So, yes, it would show, but I don't think that means it wouldn't be a reasonable solution. That brass plate sure is big though...

John
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 34
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 7:56 am:   Edit Post

I know. It really sucks. If anyone who reads this could recomend someone who could do this type of work would be appreciated. I paid $355 for the guitar, and I am willing to spend about that to have it fixed. I am also going to put some new pu's in it, anybody have some suggestions? It has push pull pots so they would have to be coil tapped. Colin
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1787
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 8:06 am:   Edit Post

Nice looking axe though Colin.

Looks similar to another brand I've seen, doesn't it Bill.

Olie
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 35
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 9:48 am:   Edit Post

It looks a lot bigger in the picture than it does in real life. It is actually dimension wise more the size of a Gibson SG than a Les Paul. I have not even played it yet. It came yesterday and I gave it to this guitar tech to clean the pots, run through the wiring, etc. The Indian Rosewood looks pretty cool in both the lams and the top and back. Has anyone had experience with Lollar Pick ups? They are a little expensive @$100 a piece but from the recordings I have heard they sound pretty cool. Colin
http://www.lollarguitars.com/Pickups.htm
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2967
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 2:20 pm:   Edit Post

Yes it does, Olie. If you could look at other pics of these guitars, you would also see that the fret markers are little brass donuts, again a lot like the Daion. I've seen some info that Daions were made at the Matsumoku factory, and some info claiming they were made at Yamaki. Bruce Diamond's site contends both Daions and these Washburns were Matsumoku. Either way, the similarities are so significant - especally the brass fret markers and non-continuous wood backplates - that I strongly suspect common parentage. That said, I'm now on the lookout for one of these Washburns.

Bill, tgo
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 214
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 5:15 pm:   Edit Post

I've removed kahler's from a couple mid 80's G&L's...put in a block of coco-bolo sanded her smooth and put in a stars guitars brass hardtail on one and an alembic type bridge on another...both sustain forever and are amazing guitars now.


Bill I have one of those and might part with her.

The only reason I don't play it more is the low e wants to be a hair longer than the bridge adjustments will allow...I think the spring behind the saddle peice could be cut in half to allow for proper intonation...seems like alot of fenders need that too.
I can send you pictures if you like.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 2968
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 7:43 am:   Edit Post

Elwoodblue:

I like.

Bill, tgo
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 215
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 8:37 am:   Edit Post

cool...
my first guitar in high school was a white eagle...my reason for buying the falcon, and she's a good one.
I only wish I knew about intonation/setup back then...I'll post pics later tonight if all goes well; I'm trying to figure out a persistant tightness in my chest( if only these doctors were as attentive as the folks in santa rosa are :-)....could be a dental thing as that affects the bod in strange ways...all the docs around here are in such a hurry...wait four hours to be seen and they give you four minutes to explain EvErYtHiNg...my apologies for digression)



healing thoughts to all,
kris
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 36
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 10:45 am:   Edit Post

Hope ya feel better Elwood. I am bound and determined to make this guitar sing. I may start looking for a nice big block of ebony, brazilian rosewood, or coco bolo to put in that space that will be left from the Kahler when I rip it out. That is a next fall project though.
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 216
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 4:13 pm:   Edit Post

got me some penicillin...thanks for the good vibes,

I can post some pics of my post kahler mods here for you...
I remember I spent a while making sure it was a tight tight fit.I also learned then how hard it is to get gorilla glue off ones hands.
I had to put a little slab of rock maple over the new bridge block to raise the bridge.
...the coolest thing is I bought her for about 180.00 and now she is a one of a kind lovely beast.

I know that when you are done you will have a better guitar than stock.

smiles
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 37
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 - 5:34 pm:   Edit Post

I would love to see the pictures of the mods you did. I am going to play the guitar as is for a while, but by fall of next year I hope to have it refinished with some kind bridge system that will allow to sustain like I think it can. I wish I knew about the fabrication of a bridge, as I know a few machinists who could make a brass bridge.
gtrguy
Intermediate Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 127
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Thursday, March 06, 2008 - 9:45 am:   Edit Post

Good pickups are PRS #6 (or is it #7) which sound great and are wired already for coil split or tap.
Around $85 each street price.
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 225
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 12:11 am:   Edit Post

Here's what I did with a couple of my guitars after removing the kahler...the rock maple slabs let my hand rest just over the bridge... the more carved piece wasn't really necessary ; it adds to the artsy-ness of it all and the little ball shape is great for my pinky much like a banjo player uses the pinky to stabilize the right hand.









(Message edited by davehouck on March 10, 2008)
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 41
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 5:19 am:   Edit Post

That is wood? It kind of looks like epoxy. Is it smooth to the touch? Thanks for posting the pictures, Colin
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1823
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 6:17 am:   Edit Post

The one on the left looks a lot like a map of the USA.
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 226
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 10:11 am:   Edit Post

Both are from the same piece of maple...rubbed out poly if I remember right.
jerryme
Junior
Username: jerryme

Post Number: 44
Registered: 1-2008
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 3:07 pm:   Edit Post

Well I just got my guitar back from the guitar tech. He set the intonation, rewired the jack (it was wired backwards, set the action, which is a little low but I can live with it.
I really like the guitar, though it is a little heavy. The other problem is that the weight is not distributed well and it is hard to play sitting down. Colin`
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 228
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2008 - 5:48 pm:   Edit Post

My falcon is body heavy even without kahler...maybe a groovetubes Fathead type of headstock addition would help.
elwoodblue
Advanced Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 250
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:06 pm:   Edit Post

Bill,
I sent ya a l'il email

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