'66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
- Sonichris
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'66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
I bought this '66 Yamaha SG-3 last year, because, frankly, it had the coolest flame neck I'd seen! I disregarded the poor previous refinish, and lack of pickups, and hardtail Leo Quan Badass bridge, and wrong tuners, and missing pickups, and bought it.
Once I received it, I was shocked at just how bad it was - the body had been totally overhanded in every way, and it had huge dips in the top, and the back. The headstock had been oversanded, and was less than 1/2" thick. It had been routed and chiseled (to fit what I later learned were D'Marzio Super Distortion HB's.) The tremolo had a piece of felt jammed in it so it wouldn't rattle. The guitar was a mess.
I'm no good a taking pictures during the process, but the rundown of stuff I did -
1. Make a really good set of templates - 1 to 1 using our pin router.
2. flatten the top and back, and put on new top/back and then used my cool new templates to re-rout the body.
3. veneer the headstock to a proper thickness
4. new frets -
5 new pickguard - using the original pickguard as a template.
6. new pickups - Jaguar pickups with The Pear Dreams cool Yamaha inspired covers
7. Paint - Tahitian Coral
8. Decal from Rothko and Frost - I sent them detailed pics and measurements and they recreated it perfectly. they have them available now if you need them.
9. new tuners (hipshot, because I like them) new wiring, some new tremolo parts, a Mustang bridge,
10. new metal string guide- these are a huge pain in the butt to make.
11. lots of little parts for the trem, and other misc stuff.
I spent WAY too much time on this guitar - they aren't all that expensive to start with. and this one was a total mess - but I'm really happy with the finished product. I even like the color - which was risk.
(Yamaha SG-2 I made at the same time - another story for another day, but the same basic process.
Once I received it, I was shocked at just how bad it was - the body had been totally overhanded in every way, and it had huge dips in the top, and the back. The headstock had been oversanded, and was less than 1/2" thick. It had been routed and chiseled (to fit what I later learned were D'Marzio Super Distortion HB's.) The tremolo had a piece of felt jammed in it so it wouldn't rattle. The guitar was a mess.
I'm no good a taking pictures during the process, but the rundown of stuff I did -
1. Make a really good set of templates - 1 to 1 using our pin router.
2. flatten the top and back, and put on new top/back and then used my cool new templates to re-rout the body.
3. veneer the headstock to a proper thickness
4. new frets -
5 new pickguard - using the original pickguard as a template.
6. new pickups - Jaguar pickups with The Pear Dreams cool Yamaha inspired covers
7. Paint - Tahitian Coral
8. Decal from Rothko and Frost - I sent them detailed pics and measurements and they recreated it perfectly. they have them available now if you need them.
9. new tuners (hipshot, because I like them) new wiring, some new tremolo parts, a Mustang bridge,
10. new metal string guide- these are a huge pain in the butt to make.
11. lots of little parts for the trem, and other misc stuff.
I spent WAY too much time on this guitar - they aren't all that expensive to start with. and this one was a total mess - but I'm really happy with the finished product. I even like the color - which was risk.
(Yamaha SG-2 I made at the same time - another story for another day, but the same basic process.
- Fiddy
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
That looks great. Congrats.
Did the Mustang bridge just drop right in?
Did the Mustang bridge just drop right in?
- antisymmetric
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
That looks fantastic! "Too much" work, but no regrets, yes? I'd have gone down the slippery slope for that neck too. The non-standard bits you've used look like they belong there. Nice colour choice too. Awesome all round.
Watching the corners turn corners
- Steadyriot.
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
That's really rad! Totally worth the investment.
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing!
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing!
"If someone duetted with a Bald Eagle, they could rule the Country charts from here to eternity." ~shadowplay
- joeSG100
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
looks amazing, great work
- joeSG100
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
By the way, what are those tuners like?
- OffYourFace
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
Wow holy shit. Incredible.
I love those hipshot tuners, they're so smooth.
I love those hipshot tuners, they're so smooth.
- ThePearDream
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
Wow! Gorgeous all around. That neck makes me feel "funny" and the coral color is super cool. Those pickup covers are pretty neat too .
Doug
@dpcannafax
@dpcannafax
- BoringPostcards
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
Phenomenal!!!
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.
- Amon 7.L
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
This is nothing short of magnificent.
Fucking hell, I'm in love with the colour.
Fucking hell, I'm in love with the colour.
- sam
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
That colour + flame = perfection.
- Scout
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
Had to be worth the finished product, looks amazing.
- CorporateDisguise
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- Jaguar018
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Re: '66 Yamaha SG-3 - the project I shouldn't have taken on!
Man, I want a build of one of those so bad. Looks great!
- Fiddy
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