GUITAR RECONSTRUCTION Michael C. wells EKU, Dept. of Technology, CEN

2 OUTLINE Topics to be covered: Motivation behind Guitar Reconstruction Background Design of Guitar Design of Effects Assembly Troubleshooting (Mostly the Effects) Final Result

3 MOTIVATION Obvious Motivation Guitarist for nearly 9 years No pre-existing knowledge of guitar electronics Future Applications

MOTIVATION Computer Science Major Programming Computer Systems CSC 370 and 400 Web Project CSC 440 4

5 INTRODUCTION Never worked with Guitar Electronics Familiar with the very basic guitar electronics. Guitar draws power from amp Effects are powered separately Guitar pickups are magnets Potentiometers used for volume/tone

INTRODUCTION Research definitely required Lutherie – Building Electric Guitars by Martin Koch Covers full guitar construction. Choosing Wood to Choosing Strings. Fairly light electronics section. VYujs VYujs Video showing the reconstruction of the same type of Guitar used in Project. 6

INTRODUCTION Ideal resource for FX Projects The actual guitar Electronics were not working Not even sure the exact type (squier?) Tuning Pegs damaged eBay Purchase, unsure the actual value. Missing several pieces of hardware 7

8 PROBLEM STATEMENT Rebuilding an Electric Guitar and including additional functionality. Guitar Effects crafted onboard is an obvious choice for functionality. Which Effect? Additional Functionality? (Killswitch, etc.)

9 PROPOSED SOLUTION Which effect to create? Original Idea: Wah-Wah Pedal Pros/Cons Second Idea: Fuzz Pedal (old distortion) Pros/Cons Finalized Idea: MXR Distortion+ Pros/Cons Guitar Needs

PROPOSED SOLUTION Guitar in decent shape Needed to solder a select few wires Electronics replacement too expensive 10

PROPOSED SOLUTION Guitar finished early on Tuning pegs and other hardware replacement simple Block off tremolo system. 11

PROPOSED SOLUTION Tonepad.com Multiple Layouts for MXR Distortion Plus Parts Recommend relec.com relec.com 12

PROPOSED SOLUTION The MXR Distortion Plus Well Known Distortion Unit Used by Randy Rhodes, Jerry Garcia, and others Easily Available Schematics 13

PROPOSED SOLUTION MXR Distortion Plus w/ 741 IC MXR Distortion Plus w/ 4558 IC 14

PROPOSED SOLUTION Purchased all parts for MXR Distortion Plus w/ 4558 IC Purchased the pre-made PCB for the unit with a 741 IC. 15

PROPOSED SOLUTION Layout with IC 741Layout with IC

PROPOSED SOLUTION Breadboard Failures, starting with Signal not being sent. True Bypass (DTDP Switch) works with interference Frustration 17

PROPOSED SOLUTION Late nights thinking only about electronics. Perhaps the Grounds What is a “Jack Shield Connector”? 18

PROPOSED SOLUTION Research through Google led me to Wikipedia Picture led to understanding Further research explained what I was missing. 19

PROPOSED SOLUTION Mono Jack on GuitarPurchased “Stereo” Jack 20

PROPOSED SOLUTION Stereo Jacks require Tip-Ring- Sleeve. Label from SmallBearElec My Understanding Replace with Mono Jacks. 21

PROPOSED SOLUTION Distortion Unit worked after second rebuild Unit has very “basic” distortion sound Video will help in explanation. 22

PROPOSED SOLUTION Conversion to PCB? Simple, but space limitations in guitar. Unit small; pots and off-board components large 23

RESULTS Working Electric Guitar Working Distortion Pedal Include lots of images & relevant multimedia on (no dancing pink elephants) 24

25 CONCLUSIONS Project and my workplace No relationship expect Project and my hobby Very close relationship Will definitely use in the future Save a lot of money So many more effects

26 FUTURE WORK Incorporate other guitar effects, or build a multi-effect pedal. Implement more digital applications Completely make a new instrument

REFERENCES Koch, Martin. Lutherie – Building Electric Guitars. Available from htm htm Axh6877. (2010, January 25). Strat Rebuild for Under $500.mov. Video posted to Wikipedia. TRS connector. Available from Pedalarea. MXR – Distortion+. Available from

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All photos and videos provided by presenter except where noted. Slide 12: Photo from Slide 14, 16, 18: All Photos from Slide 19: Photo from