Those strap buttons look like the Dunlop strap buttons I put on all my stuff. Kind of refreshing seeing a Les Paul of this vintage getting treated like a guitar and not some crazy museum piece.
The original quality of manufacture was good, so good that you are able to restore this to a full functioning tool for yet another generation of use! And hopefully will be restored again as needed. Really enjoy this series. Thank you for bringing us along, can’t wait to hear your play it when it’s done!
Don, to be vintage correct you should do 50's wiring on the electronics. It does make a difference, and personally I like it a lot better than the modern wiring with a Les Paul type guitar.
Looking good, Don! Thanks for the control cavity shots! Yes, the cavities were a two step machining process. The first step did the basic overall shape of the cavity in the mahogany, and the second was to roughly match the angle of the underside to the carve of the top, so they could use short shaft pots, and the sleeves of the pots wouldn't be pushed at two different angles, resulting in excessive friction. It was that secondary routing that leaves the "eyebrows" over the neck volume and tone pots, and the chew mark on the edge by the bridge volume. I've never seen a 52/53 up close, and I was very curious what that second wiring channel was. A run to the tailpiece makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks Don. Enjoying your take on this great guitar. I dressed up my 2010 Tribute with speed knobs and brown back cover plates, to give it a relatively original appearance…
This is totally not something that I would normally split hairs about with someone else's build, but since you asked: the strap buttons are not factory for a '53, but probably came off of the same donor guitar as the pot's, which date to '76 and the reflector knobs, which first came out in 1960 and were still being used in the late '70s (in '53 the original knobs would have been amber tops). Looking great; I hope to see and hear it played in a club in the near future.
Thanks, the busted knobs that were on it were the reflector type but the aluminum discs were gone of course. I should have the OEM strap buttons off of the 62 melody maker around here somewhere.
Those strap buttons are not like the ones on my 1952; the tops should have a distinct ring on the rim and be essentially flush with the countersunk Phillips oval head screw. But they shouldn’t hurt the sound very much…
And no, those are Dunlop Strap lock buttons. I have a few guitars that have those same buttons on them. Makes it very easy to switch guitars and not worry too much about dropping an expensive instrument.
Oh I love the ibanez “rubber tire” knobs! They are the best. Your melody maker is very cool. Not original strap buttons fyi…That goldtop is going to be fantastic!
@@PhoenixGuitars - Cool, I’ll look at that. Since these are not oem I guess I’ll install Schaller strap locks which I like. I thought about trying the strap locks that snap onto the oem buttons, made by Dunlop I think. Have you tried those?
Hard to be sure but the ones you have look an awful lot like one of the versions of the Dunlop strap lock buttons. Is there a little ring on the inside where the ball bearings would lock in? If so, bingo. I personally prefer them to the Schallers but to each their own.
This build series has become part of my Monday morning coffee routine. Also, Don, if you want vintage correct parts, in the future, I would recommend you check out Realistic Relics. They’re based here in Canada.
@ me neither, I’m new to the matching game but learning is fun. And I’m pretty ocd when it comes to matching parts. Even if it means ordering a screw from Florida …. :)
Those strap buttons look like the Dunlop strap buttons I put on all my stuff. Kind of refreshing seeing a Les Paul of this vintage getting treated like a guitar and not some crazy museum piece.
Well, I do plan to play it until my fingers quit. Ya know that makes sense. My friend Doug used Dunlop Straploks on every guitar he played live.
The original quality of manufacture was good, so good that you are able to restore this to a full functioning tool for yet another generation of use! And hopefully will be restored again as needed. Really enjoy this series. Thank you for bringing us along, can’t wait to hear your play it when it’s done!
Thanks, I too am anxious to play it.
Don, to be vintage correct you should do 50's wiring on the electronics. It does make a difference, and personally I like it a lot better than the modern wiring with a Les Paul type guitar.
I plan to. Thanks Also thinking I might try adding some epoxy to the carbon tracks in the tone pots so they go open when turned all the way up.
Looking good, Don! Thanks for the control cavity shots! Yes, the cavities were a two step machining process. The first step did the basic overall shape of the cavity in the mahogany, and the second was to roughly match the angle of the underside to the carve of the top, so they could use short shaft pots, and the sleeves of the pots wouldn't be pushed at two different angles, resulting in excessive friction. It was that secondary routing that leaves the "eyebrows" over the neck volume and tone pots, and the chew mark on the edge by the bridge volume. I've never seen a 52/53 up close, and I was very curious what that second wiring channel was. A run to the tailpiece makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing!!!
You are welcome Mr Flap.
Thanks Don. Enjoying your take on this great guitar. I dressed up my 2010 Tribute with speed knobs and brown back cover plates, to give it a relatively original appearance…
You are welcome. I guess I like to fiddle with them until they fit my needs perfectly.
This is totally not something that I would normally split hairs about with someone else's build, but since you asked: the strap buttons are not factory for a '53, but probably came off of the same donor guitar as the pot's, which date to '76 and the reflector knobs, which first came out in 1960 and were still being used in the late '70s (in '53 the original knobs would have been amber tops).
Looking great; I hope to see and hear it played in a club in the near future.
Thanks, the busted knobs that were on it were the reflector type but the aluminum discs were gone of course.
I should have the OEM strap buttons off of the 62 melody maker around here somewhere.
Those Centralab pots, (1347641) were made in 41st week of 1976. It's a shame they're not the original pots. The top refinish work looks excellent!
Thanks, maybe the original pots didn’t survive the face plant / neck break episode.
Those strap buttons are not like the ones on my 1952; the tops should have a distinct ring on the rim and be essentially flush with the countersunk Phillips oval head screw. But they shouldn’t hurt the sound very much…
Thanks 😂
I’ve actually really liked watching this series. At first I was like how can you actually improve this that much? But it definitely looks better.
And no, those are Dunlop Strap lock buttons. I have a few guitars that have those same buttons on them. Makes it very easy to switch guitars and not worry too much about dropping an expensive instrument.
Thanks
Oh I love the ibanez “rubber tire” knobs! They are the best. Your melody maker is very cool.
Not original strap buttons fyi…That goldtop is going to be fantastic!
I have no idea what the strap buttons look like. Have to do some sleuthing on the interwebs.
I have a 53 review on my channel. You can take a look at those. They are small.
@@PhoenixGuitars - Cool, I’ll look at that. Since these are not oem I guess I’ll install Schaller strap locks which I like.
I thought about trying the strap locks that snap onto the oem buttons, made by Dunlop I think. Have you tried those?
Hard to be sure but the ones you have look an awful lot like one of the versions of the Dunlop strap lock buttons. Is there a little ring on the inside where the ball bearings would lock in? If so, bingo. I personally prefer them to the Schallers but to each their own.
Dunlop sls1035vn
This build series has become part of my Monday morning coffee routine. Also, Don, if you want vintage correct parts, in the future, I would recommend you check out Realistic Relics. They’re based here in Canada.
Ok thanks, I’ll check them out. I’m definitely not an expert on the minutiae of hardware changes.
@ me neither, I’m new to the matching game but learning is fun. And I’m pretty ocd when it comes to matching parts. Even if it means ordering a screw from Florida …. :)
Goodmourning
Good morning.
@donsmanufactory sorry I was watching our new POTUS regain office
So interesting guitars wouldn’t get recommended though I’m subscribed. I think this is what happens when I make motorcycle videos.
Your motorcycle videos get recommended to me. Maybe because I watch motorcycle and auto racing.
Does the MM have a carved mahogany top?
It has a carved maple top with mahogany body and maple 3 piece neck. Just a lot thinner than a Les Paul. Bridge pots just clear the rear cavity cover.
Thank you