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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | Tomorrow I install an OpPro with 1/4" & XLR in my '97 Collectors.
Anyone with experience in this sort of thing who wants to give me words of encouragement? :( |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I have experience with the XLR-1/4" part. Did you get a template for the OP-PRO? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | No.
Stop.
Don't!
Take a lot of pictures please! |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | BHB - I just did that with a custom Balladeer. I used modeling clay to make a mold off of a 2005 collectors. As soon as it hardened, I just moved it around on the CB until I found the exact spot where it fit. If you need it, I can ship it to you (the mold that is). |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I have my 6778 LX with OpPro and dual-output. I was gonna take them out and put a piece of stiff paper in the bowl so I can mark from the outside with a marker. That would be my template.
Sound OK?
I'll take pics. |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Let us know how it works out.
I have a 97 Collectors and would be interested in updating mine. Will the OpPro work with the thinline saddle pickup? |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | bauer - the problem I had was knowing exactly where to cut the hole - it's pretty much got to be exact, otherwise there will be a gap between the can and the bowl. There's no gasket or anything else to compensate. That's why I made up the clay mold. I'll take a couple of pics so you can see what I'm talking about. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Uh, John... I'm not sure (never having owned one), but isn't the '97 bowl different from the standard bowl? I'm just thinking the sides may have different contours than what the preamp was designed for, so it may not sit properly in the same place as the 6778.
I think CL has the right idea, but make a reverse mold of the preamp can where it contacts the outer surface of the bowl, then use that to find the right spot to place it so it fits flush. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Wabbit - I used the '05 as a guide - which is a contour bowl - and traced it onto a Custom Balladeer, which is a deep bowl. The match was pretty close to 100%.
Here are the pics:
The first pic shows the mold being made on the '05 and the second one shows the finished mold against the balladeer. Basically you find the spot on the guitar you want to make the hole in and trace around the inside of the mold.
Like I said, I can send you mold if you like. I don't think I'll be doing this again for awhile.
Wabbit - I did try the reverse mold first, but there wasn't really enough surface area to work with. I also tried one of those tools that they use to trace the shape of moldings but that was only 2 dimensional. |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I DO have a guitar woth an OpPro hole in it already. If I can trace that hole onto a template I'll have the exact shape to transfer.
As for the bowls being different, I think I can view the flange on the front of the can as I place it along the top of the guitar. If I'm a little bit off it can't be that bad.
Haven't done anything yet. We'll see. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | That looks good, but the only difference between the '05 and the Balladeer bowls (AFAIK) is the bowl depth and the back contours.
The potential difference I was talking about is the actual body shape, the curve of the lower bout coming out of the waist. The '97 appears to have a narrower lower bout than a standard bowl (of any depth). This could make the angle that the lower bout comes out of the waist shallower than a normal bowl. As the preamp fits into that curve, it may not match the angle on the '97.
'97 on the left with photoshopped preamp...
Or I could be wrong. I'm sure someone will let me know. Form a line, form a line!!! |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Of course, at the worst one of two things... either you'll have a gap in the middle, or at the ends. If it's at the ends, don't snug the can down to correct it or you may crack the bowl. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Wabbit - you're probably right. The good thing about the mold though is that you can see right away if you have a snug fit.
If the gap is large enough, the you have the added bonus of a sound port! |
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I think I'd find some sort of black "gasket" material. |
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August 2005
Posts: 616
Location: cincinnati, ohio | I think I'd find somebody to DO it for me! I don't have the guts for that kind of stuff anymore. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by bauerhillboy:
I think I'd find some sort of black "gasket" material. Good idea. Maybe one of those thin, black rubber mouse pads might be good material.
I forgot why you were doing this - didn't you like the original preamp, or did it stop working? |
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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | It stopped working. I called Kim and we discussed fixing it...then I realized I don't like the setup anyway. At that very moment...I saw an OpPro module on ebay.
That's how it went. It happened pretty quickly. I may be de-valuing the "Collectors' " aspect of the guitar a little, but I want to keep it and this will make it a much more valuable piece to ME.
I have to deal with the battery-holding screw, and I have to glass-over the switch jack hole so I can install a straplock button. So given that I don't have a lot of confidence and am moving slowly...cautiously, I should have it done in time for the tour. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Cool, can't wait to see it! |
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Tuesday, March 27: Day of Fear