H Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 I've just snagged a pair of nickel SD Phat Cats that I'm planning to load up in the 535. I like them so much in the 150 I just have to try them in place of the 535's Schallers. Now to buy the aquarium tubing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eljay Posted August 11, 2011 Share Posted August 11, 2011 Phat cats r good! I have two Logan tells with them. Great pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulk1 Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Sounds perfectly normal to me. Got 'em in the Custom Prospect and loves 'em right there!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 If you like Phat Cats in your solid body 150, you'll LOVE'em in your semi-535. My 535 came with Phats in it and they sounded wonderful. However, after scoring a 530 with P90's, I pulled the Phats out in exchange for Seths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Pickups arrived at home today, all the way from Tenerife in Spain The aquarium tubing is somewhere in the post system as I write. Looks like I'm on for the weekend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hfan Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Looking forward to the details of your next project Howard. Another pair of lowly Schallers ready to bite the dust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 Sounds like you've got it all planned out! I'd hang on to those humbuckers though just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 The Schallers will go in the guitar case pocket along with the Schaller TOM, tailpiece and Grover tuners. You never know when they might be necessary again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 Looking forward to the details of your next project Howard. Another pair of lowly Schallers ready to bite the dust. I'll post up a project on it with lots of pics. I've never done this with a semi-hollow before.... *gulp* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalismanRich Posted August 18, 2011 Share Posted August 18, 2011 I'll post up a project on it with lots of pics. I've never done this with a semi-hollow before.... *gulp* You are in for some FUN now!!! Just make sure you have a good flashlight and some fishing line, in case the tubing slips off, and put some easy release painters masking tape around the holes, especially if you feed any of it through the f holes. (voice of experience!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 18, 2011 Author Share Posted August 18, 2011 You are in for some FUN now!!! Yup, I think you're right Thanks for the tips, especially the masking tape bit. I won't be doing the conversion this weekend as I found out this evening that the neck pickup has a 3 inch confuctor wire with a crappy extension out to 12 inches. I've got some new braided wire on the way and I'll be putting that on this weekend. Still, they were cheap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Flying Bird Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I really like the phat cats in my 357. I wouldn't think twice about putting them in another guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 ...3 inch confuctor wire Oops - Freudian slip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnie Posted August 19, 2011 Share Posted August 19, 2011 I really like the phat cats in my 357. I wouldn't think twice about putting them in another guitar. Hope it's not too OT, but how close do they sound to "real" P-90's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 19, 2011 Author Share Posted August 19, 2011 Hope it's not too OT, but how close do they sound to "real" P-90's? More than close enough for me, considering they drop straight into a humbucker route. How close are Fralin P-90s to the original Gibson items, to Bare Knuckle Mississippi Queens, and so on? They're relatively cheap to buy and try. If you don't like them, you'll always find a buyer on the HOC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I got some time today to load up the Phat Cats into the 535. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 As the bridge and tailpiece are locking TonePros items, I left them on after removing the strings, knobs and mounting ring screws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I used aquarium tubing to help relocate the pots and jack. I fished (did you see what I did there? ) the wiring loom out through the bridge pickup rout. There was a decent amount of room but it was still a struggle as I didn't want to break anything so went carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I unsoldered the Schallers and the original Heritage yellow caps, then added some Sprague Orange Drops (.22 - but may change to .33 later) and the bridge Phat Cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I had to solder in about 8in of conductor wire to the neck Phat Cat as it came with about 3in. Then I soldered that in to the pot. I had some trouble getting the braid soldered to the back of the pot but it finally stuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I pulled everything back into place with the tubing. That took a LONG time and I managed to yank a wire off one of the pots doing it. Everything out again, resoldered and pushed the pots, etc, through the bridge rout. Again. This time successfully. Put the nuts and washers back on and gave it a polish and a fretboard clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Now I needed to answer the question that had been playing on my mind all the way through: reload the black mounting rings or switch to cream? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 I switched to cream Stringed up, tuned up and took a couple of outdoor shots as it was still sunny. Haven't had a real go plugged in so far as it getting late now but she sounds pretty good. I may play around with different cap values next time I'm feeling brave. I have a lot of respect for those that work on semi-hollows frequently as I found it a major pain in the backside. All done now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hfan Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Another job well done Howard, good work. Did you have to shape the new rings? That is a sweet 535. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg32 Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Excellent work Howard!! Your projects always seem to be very well thought out and carefully executed. I hope they sound really good!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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