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Location: NC | I just purchased a early 80's model Viper solidbody that I want to go ahead and restring. The serial is E20082...........is the last two digits the year made?
2nd- How difficult is restringing a Viper?
Will post pics. of it as soon as possible. It was said to be brick red......to me it's a chestnut brown. Maybe I am colorblind!
Any help with serial # as far as finding out year would be appreciated. I checked our site here but gives a broad range of 75-80's.
:D |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Elite LX:
How difficult is restringing a Viper? No different than any other solidbody. I never really thought about it (I've owned vipers), so it must not be an issue. Dave |
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Location: Upper Left USA | String it with mediums and instead of the 30 year old sponge that the bridge rests on replace it with a newer variety of resiliant material such as rubber snubber hose (tackle store). Have some tweezers or a small screwdriver to pull up on the string when you feed it through the back of the bridge. If you want to adjust the bridge height loosen the GBE high end strings a little before raising.
Replace the springs on the pick ups with small rubber hose (see Stewmac!) so they will rest flat and limit buzz sounds.
Then turn it up and go for every Santana lick you can conger up! |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Well, there you have the difference between a master (Mike) and a hacker (me). I just cut the old ones off and slap the new ones on. Kind of like changing my shoes. Woody washes his feet and goes for a pedicure in between. I actually admire his attention to detail. Dave |
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Location: NJ | Note to Self:
. . . don't let Witko wear my shoes. |
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Location: SoCal | ... or use your bathroom. |
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Location: NJ | That's a "given". . . |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Don't worry Cliff, my feet are way too big for your shoes. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | And this from the pair that went from Black Polane repair to flaming-dress-up-nail-polish-night-on-the-town-wreck-my-one-on-topic-post?
Did you know that a little Listerine on the nails can hold off nail fungus? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Guilty as charged ... |
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Location: Fayetteville, NC | And there you have it folks, Straight from the mouth of Dr. Michael..Lets take another caller..Hello You're on the air with Dr.Michael Whats your question...
Yes Dr. Mike, Would that be regular Listerine or Coolmint? :eek: |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Hey Matt!
Need another Clinician? |
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Location: San Bernardino, California | On the Ovation bridge (there is also a Schaller bridge), I always bend the first inch end of the string at about a 15 degree angle. Makes it a lot easier to thread over the saddles. |
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Location: SoCal | What I'd like tips on is restringing a solid body 12 string with the original bridge. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Paul,
take a Valium, have a beer and it goes just fine! |
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Location: Birmingham. U.K. | what is the function of the foam pad under the bridge? all that is left on mine is an adhesive strip and a lot of dust! should i put a new one on and if so,anyone know what size it was ? |
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Location: NC | Thanks guys for the input...........any clue as to year as stated earlier, E20082 serial # and was wondering if the last two digits were the year? |
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Location: SoCal | I think the serial numbers are sequentional unless it's a prototype. Your serial number would probably indicate 1980 or later. |
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Location: NC | Thanks Moody.................guess no real way of knowing exact year unless the previous owner knows. He only suspected early 80's since he has had it he said it has been cased up for last 17 years. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | "what is the function of the foam pad under the bridge?"
Vibration I believe. Under full tension it is moot though.
W2?? |
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Location: Tennessee | Elite ... your Viper is one of the last in the series. Anything over 20000 is right near the end. Perhaps '82 or more likely '83. You probably also have the Shaller (all chrome) bridge. I have a Viper of nearly the same vintage (19984). Restringing is a breeze ... of course I don't go through all the gyrations that mWoody listed but I'm a hack. Just take off the old strings, clean the guitar, condition the ebony fretboard with lemon oil, and the restring by putting the ball end of the string in the appropriate slot and wind 'er up!
For strings, I like DR Pure Blues .011 the best. They are pure nickel and really bring out the tone from the single coils.
FWIW, I don't think I have a foam pad under my bridge. I'll have to look when I get home. |
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| Foam pad is gone on both my viper and preacher deluxe and I don't think either are affected by it's absence. both have the ovation bridge(if that is the one w/plastic cover and brass saddles). re: serial #'s and dating early solid's where(approximately) would series E12794 place my pd? other than the broad range on the site? I know the Viper is older than the preacher just want to get a ballpark on the pd.
Congrats on your new Viper.
first time I restrung the pd (still had very vintage big ball ends on) had a rough time getting em to fish out between the body and the bridge the bridge was dialed in really low on the treb side and not much higher on the bass....then feeding the new strings in was another adventure.
but it was a learning experience.
God Bless,
Glenn |
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Location: Tennessee | I'm no expert on this, but I believe the Preacher predated the Viper in the solid body line. Someone here can confirm I'm sure. |
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Location: SoCal | I think both came out at about the same time, 1974? |
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Location: NC | Thanks stonebobbo and Glenn I have the foam under mine but I will probably break it down to do an extreme clean up job.
Just need a amp now to make this puppy sing.
I was told that they thought it was maybe an 83' model. |
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Stringing a Viper solidbody early 80's
