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(almost) NGD! Metal guitar content
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 2:54 am
by wilrecar77
The Mako Exotec XK-4.
It's from the local craigslist, I'm getting it in trade for a big muff, dano cool cat vibe and 20$.
It needs a little wiring work (the bridge pickup position on the switch doesnt produce sound) but I can fix it. What little information I could find about it seems to point to it being made in Japan from 84-89 in the same factory as the "good" (RE: mojo-years) Epiphone's and Hondo's. Also, only one shop imported them to America. I know for most of shortcale it will seem like metal wankery, but the combination of being odd-ball shaped and designed (strat trem and 2 single coil pickups) made me want to post it.
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 5:16 am
by Rox
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 6:35 am
by JJLipton
Interesting piece. I don't think it would work too great for metal though, aside from the body shape.
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 10:54 am
by wilrecar77
JJLipton wrote:Interesting piece. I don't think it would work too great for metal though, aside from the body shape.
Yeah, I will be modding it though. First off is to make middle position on the switch parallel instead of series, then to put a rail humbucker pickup into the bridge slot, then to do some routing and put my Ibanez Edge trem into it. (with a locking nut of course)
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 11:13 am
by timhulio
You swapped two pedals AND some money for that???
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 11:51 am
by Nick
JJLipton wrote:Interesting piece. I don't think it would work too great for metal though, aside from the body shape.
Enough metal players DO use single coils.....I knew a guy in my friend's hardcore band that actually used a mostly stock (I think) mustang.
That thing looks absolutely horrible....somewhere in between "wow that is the epitome of 80s cheesiness and it would be fun to play ironically" and "AHHHHGGGGHHHH MY EYES MY EYES!!!!!!!!!"
Either way in my opinion you spent less than $100 on it (for what your trades were worth) and it doesn't seem to me like a bad deal.
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 1:19 pm
by ekwatts
timhulio wrote:You swapped two pedals some money AND some dignity for that???
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 2:34 pm
by endsjustifymeans
that's really something...
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 3:27 pm
by hotrodperlmutter
timhulio wrote:You swapped two pedals AND some money for that???
my sentiments exactly.
Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 3:35 pm
by JJLipton
wilrecar77 wrote:JJLipton wrote:Interesting piece. I don't think it would work too great for metal though, aside from the body shape.
Yeah, I will be modding it though. First off is to make middle position on the switch parallel instead of series, then to put a rail humbucker pickup into the bridge slot, then to do some routing and put my Ibanez Edge trem into it. (with a locking nut of course)
that'ssssss the ticket!
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 9:28 pm
by wilrecar77
So it turns out the non-functioning bridge pickup is a replacement, and all it does is make a loud 60hz hum when touched (quieter when left alone). Does this mean a broken coil or shoddy wiring? I'm thinking if there was a short in the coil it would just have less output, but I could be wrong.
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 9:34 pm
by Gabriel
wilrecar77 wrote:So it turns out the non-functioning bridge pickup is a replacement, and all it does is make a loud 60hz hum when touched (quieter when left alone). Does this mean a broken coil or shoddy wiring? I'm thinking if there was a short in the coil it would just have less output, but I could be wrong.
I don't know but as for the hum it sounds like its not grounded
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 9:39 pm
by wilrecar77
mrperson wrote:wilrecar77 wrote:So it turns out the non-functioning bridge pickup is a replacement, and all it does is make a loud 60hz hum when touched (quieter when left alone). Does this mean a broken coil or shoddy wiring? I'm thinking if there was a short in the coil it would just have less output, but I could be wrong.
I don't know but as for the hum it sounds like its not grounded
I'm pretty sure it's grounded because the neck pickup works perfectly, and the bridge pickup lead looks like it is grounded. I could be wrong though, I'll check.
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 9:45 pm
by Gabriel
wilrecar77 wrote: I'm pretty sure it's grounded because the neck pickup works perfectly, and the bridge pickup lead looks like it is grounded. I could be wrong though, I'll check.
Thats odd then :S it sounds like the kind of noise I used to get on my first guitar when the grounding cable on the trem claw broke. I was too much of a noob to learn to use a soldering iron. Although in fairness I was 8
Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 9:51 pm
by wilrecar77
mrperson wrote:wilrecar77 wrote: I'm pretty sure it's grounded because the neck pickup works perfectly, and the bridge pickup lead looks like it is grounded. I could be wrong though, I'll check.
Thats odd then :S it sounds like the kind of noise I used to get on my first guitar when the grounding cable on the trem claw broke. I was too much of a noob to learn to use a soldering iron. Although in fairness I was 8
Yeah, I know of that noise from trem grounding cables not being attached. If the pickup is actually broken, I'll swap out the neck and middle single coils from my Ibanez to the Mako to get everything balanced.
Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 12:27 pm
by Fran
Rox wrote: