u/GrippyEd

Thought you perverts might be into this.

Made about 17 years ago. Body and neck from the excellent but now defunct USACG.

I liked the idea of a Telemaster, but never liked just slapping the ruggedly utilitarian (ugly) face of the Telecaster onto the body of a Jazzmaster. I always felt such a guitar, had it existed, would be more stylish. So there’s more Mustang influence here.

Wilde L200TL bridge, Oil City something or other strat pickup in the neck, kindly string wound by Ash since it’s coverless. 25” conversion scale. Stainless steel scratch plate from a catering fabricator offcut. Knobs from an x-ray viewer.

I had in mind the vibe of an Elvis Costello JM but a bit more like a well-worn table in an old man pub.

The big wood grain “eye” near the arm contour used to bother me but now it’s all part of the personality. It sounds good an’ all.

I’m down an Electra rabbit hole. The EQD Special Cranker https://effectslayouts.blogspot.com/2022/05/earthquaker-devices-special-cranker.html?m=1

has a BAT41 diode going from the emitter to the base of Q1. I haven’t seen this before - is it adding feedback distortion?

I haven’t made a pedal in maybe 15 years. I suddenly got the urge, and had a rummage in the box to see what I had. I found a TL074 (no idea what I might have bought that for 15 years ago) and after some googling, came across the Rotten Apple. I’ve always wanted to try an IC Big Muff, so it seemed like the perfect project. PCB from Fuzzdog - they call it the Manky Fruit Fuzz. I tried it before I boxed it and it seems cool. I love a Muff and the mids switch is useful. It gets way more fuzzy at full steam than my old Blackout Effectors Musket transistor Muff ever did.

My eyesight for small soldering has got *considerably* worse.

Diodes are a clear red LED, and a very old infra red LED - socketed of course, in case I want to make it more asymmetrical later.

The knobs are just for the photoshoot - I robbed them from my guitar (I originally robbed them from some x-ray viewer light boxes in a disused hospital). I like the Daft Punk /T-800 core aesthetic though!

“Where’s the indicator LED?” Fuck ‘em. I’ll know if it’s on.