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

2. 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. 3 MOTIVATION Obvious Motivation Guitarist for nearly 9 years No pre-existing knowledge of guitar electronics Future Applications

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

5. 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

6. INTRODUCTION Research definitely required Lutherie – Building Electric Guitars by Martin Koch Covers full guitar construction. Choosing Wood to Choosing Strings. Fairly light electronics section. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gkVm VYujs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gkVm VYujs Video showing the reconstruction of the same type of Guitar used in Project. 6

7. INTRODUCTION www.tonepad.com 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. 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. 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

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

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

12. PROPOSED SOLUTION Tonepad.com Multiple Layouts for MXR Distortion Plus Parts Recommend http://www.smallbea relec.com http://www.smallbea relec.com 12

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

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

15. 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

16. PROPOSED SOLUTION Layout with IC 741Layout with IC 4558 16

17. PROPOSED SOLUTION Breadboard Failures, starting with 4558. Signal not being sent. True Bypass (DTDP Switch) works with interference Frustration 17

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

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

20. PROPOSED SOLUTION Mono Jack on GuitarPurchased “Stereo” Jack 20

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

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

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

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

25. 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. 26 FUTURE WORK Incorporate other guitar effects, or build a multi-effect pedal. Implement more digital applications Completely make a new instrument Email: lzmw@hotmail.com

27. REFERENCES Koch, Martin. Lutherie – Building Electric Guitars. Available from http://www.buildyourguitar.com/books/ebooks/index. htm http://www.buildyourguitar.com/books/ebooks/index. htm Axh6877. (2010, January 25). Strat Rebuild for Under $500.mov. Video posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gkVmVYujs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3gkVmVYujs Wikipedia. TRS connector. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector Pedalarea. MXR – Distortion+. Available from http://www.pedalarea.com/mxr_distortion.htm http://www.pedalarea.com/mxr_distortion.htm 27

28. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All photos and videos provided by presenter except where noted. Slide 12: Photo from http://www.pedalarea.com/mxr_distortion.htm http://www.pedalarea.com/mxr_distortion.htm Slide 14, 16, 18: All Photos from http://www.tonepad.com http://www.tonepad.com Slide 19: Photo from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jack_plug.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jack_plug.png 28