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Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | For the more technical among us...
I recently bought a trashed UKII on Ebay and would like to try swapping out the Preacher style thumbsuckers in my Bluebird 6-string for the UKII's.
Is it a direct swap or is there some obstacles to be aware of? I know there are coiltap switches on the surrounds of the UKII pickups but these should be easy enough to bypass.
Anything else?
Also, these are gold plated...is this plating over top of chrome? If so, would it be a simple matter to buff the gold off so it will match the rest of the chrome hardware on the Bluebird?
Thanks!
Wayne
Wayne |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Wayne:
I think those gold pickups would look much better still gold, but on my Viper Deluxe.
Just a thought. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | straight fit. Just figure out if you want them locked in series or parallel, Paul T can explain that I'm sure. Leave the gold, there's no chrome under it. It should wear off soon anyway!! |
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Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Hey, if you want to get rid of some parts off the UK-II, let me know. I'm looking for a bridge. The one I have, the brass screw that runs through the body and the threaded rod it attaches to on my UK-II are stripped.
Bradley |
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Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Wayne, as Bill said the switches are series/parralel rather than coil taps. It's a similar, though far more subtle effect. If you were to have one or the other I'd go for series. Series has a higher output & is less prone to noise. If you wanted both options you could do it by using push/pull volume & tone pots, which means you can keep the guitar looking original, without adding extra switches.
Paul
[ November 24, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | There is already an extra mini toggle switch on the 'bird. I'm not sure what it does but it gives a slightly "fatter" sound when switched. It gives an effect when the pickup selector is in the neck or middle position but there is no change when sellector in the bridge position. I may be able to utilize this for "series/parrallel" application on the new pickups.
As a side note, the electronics on this guitar are totally different from the 12-string Bluebirds which were setup exactly like the Deacon 12's. My six has a passive/stereo/two knob/extra switch setup which is as far as I know, unique to this guitar.
Perhabs when I get the parts and get this under way, I can post a pic of the insides and someone will know what this switch does.
Wayne |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Sounds like the extra switch could be a coil-tap for the neck pickup.
On the UK2 each pair of coils can be connected either in series or parallel & in order to do this you need 2 switches in addition to the pickup toggle. A single switch would allow the pickup mix, or the coils of either the bridge or neck pickup to be series or parallel.
There's a book called "Customising Your Electric Guitar" by Ovation endorsee Adrian Legg. Written in the early 80's when he was the guitar tech for Ovation's then UK distributor, I beleive it's still in print in the USA and can be had via Amazon. In the book he customises the shit out of a Preacher, and covers loads of topics like coil-tapping, series/parralel, onboard preamps etc. He even puts a mercury tilt-switch in the guitar so that when it's set down on a stand the battery automatically switches off. He's ever so slightly mad, but very, very clever. If you can find the book it's a great investment if you're into guitar electronics.
[ November 24, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Hi, just firing up this thread once again to find how to properly test the UK2 pickups I have aquired, for output. I don't want to install them just to find out they are weak. I have a digital ohm meter. There are two sets of leads coming from each pickup.
Also, were the bridge and neck pickup designed to have equal output or was the bridge pickup wound to have a higher output as with some guitars?
Wayne |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Hey Wayne:
I've got pics of your BB12, but have you ever posted pics of your Bluebird 6? I'd love to see them. Feel free to shoot them to my email at moody.pi@cox.net
Thanks |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | Hi Paul, here are a couple of pics.
Thanks!
Wayne
Bluebird 6-String
Blurbird 6 Body |
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Location: SoCal | What a beautiful guitar! You've told the story of your 12 string, but how did you aquire the 6? I'm almost envious of you. |
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Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | "I'm almost envious..."
The scourge known as G.A.S. is never sated for long, is it Paul? :)
Thanks for the kind words! I got this one from Sam (thanks again, Sam!) who got it from Bill.
I suspect that this was the first Bluebird. It has a very early sin # (E 5999), and as I recall (my memory is not a great thing to depend on), there is a 1975 inspection stamp on the heal of the neck and the pots are date coded around the third or fourth week of 1975. They were definitely in the first half of '75. By the way, although it is not clear in the picture, it has a Glen Campbell signature truss rod cover. It is original to the guitar because the Ovation electric solid TR covers were about 3/16" longer than the acoustic version. The screw holes at the tip don't line up and therefore, they are not interchangable.
It is a great git and gets about 80% of the 'out-of-house' playing that I do.
Wayne |
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Swaping Preacher pickups for UKII Type
