Below you'll find a photo album, of a 1979 Ibanez MC200 Jeremy sent to me for new electronics and an entire facelift...
I've installed a combination of Jerry Garcia inspired electronics. The design includes a Stratoblaster clone like Jerry had in the Wolf, and the Unity Gain Buffer that came in Jerry's later guitars, as well as the Dimarzio SD2 Humbuckers. Each pickup has it's own Parallel/Series/Split Coil switch, chosen with a Fender style 5 way switch, as well as the typical tone and volume controls. Switches determine either Stratoblaster (including adjustable gain or unity switch), Unity Gain Buffer (designed and built by Mike Wald) or passive pickup/preamp bypass configuration. It also has an Onboard Effects Loop which sends the pickup signal at full strength to the effects and back to the guitar before the Master Volume. The pickguard and switch-plate are made of stainless steel.
Jeremy wanted the 'Leaf' and 'Lightning Bolt" inlaid; I don't make inlay so I suggested he could provide the actual piece and I did the routing and placing in the guitar. Cliff at www.SharkInlay.com made the pieces. I'd be happy to do any sorts of Ibanez modifications; if you are interested please email me to discuss the particulars. brian@9mileskid.com
Thanks Jeremy, for graciously agreeing to let me publish pics of your Leaf!
Brian
Letter from Jeremy November 4, 2011
Brian, I got leaf today, and you have done an amazing job.I haven't been able to put leaf down, and my fingers are now sore.it is the best guitar i have ever played, hands down. i would say its as good as any alembic, moriarity, or any of the other jerry clone guitars out there.Whatever you did to the nut seems to have cleared up the problem with the frets too, i think the old nut was too high off the fretboard, and when i put the kung fu grip on it, it stays close to in tune. When I grip an open chord normally, it stays right there in tune.I don't think i am going to have the fretwork done unless i notice any problems with the intonation.I definitely like the set up and the new nut a ton. i didn't like the brass nut because it was too icepicky and out of control, but the biggest problem was the open e a and d chords going out of tune if you grabbed them too hard. The rest of it, the electronics and finish, are unbelievable.I feel like i have figured out where everything is, and it is super great to use and play, a ton of different tones.I definitely like the bridge humbucker, too, but i like the single coil settings the best.the 2 and 4 position are very cool and strat esque.i have never played with a preamp before and it really articulates the notes and makes them clearer and bell like.It has such a pretty ring to it now.It is all sparkly and chimey.smooth even tones everywhere.it is not icepicky and harsh at all, and the tone knob can stay up all the way without getting the icepicky highs.that was definitely not the case before.it sounds great passive, too. one of the best parts of the guitar for me is setting and forgetting my effects and being able to actually use my volume knob now, instead of just having it cranked all the time and using a boost.it will allow me to really work on dynamics more, and use the volume knob during songs. I can't believe i play such a great axe now.it will be my number one and i will never sell it unless i have to feed myself and my family.the only thing i'm bummed out about is that i have an acoustic gig tomorrow and i won't get to bust it out.thanks again.if you want to use me as a reference or pics of leaf for your business, feel free. you did some great work!
Image:
Ibanez MC200 Radical Makeover for Tom Bennett
Below you'll find a photo album, and audio examples, of an Ibanez Tom sent me for some new electronics... however when I got the guitar, I couldn't help but suggest an entire facelift... and Tom agreed.
Tom wanted the same electronics as Jerry Garcia's Wolf guitar, however, I suggested he might like a combination of Garcia's electronics, to which he agreed... The design includes a Stratoblaster clone like Jerry had in the Wolf, and the Unity Gain Buffer that came in Jerry's later guitars, as well as the Dimarzio SD1 Humbuckers and Dimarzio Single Coil pickups used throughout. Each pickup has it's own Parallel/Series/Split Coil switch, chosen with a Fender style 5 way switch, as well as the typical tone and volume controls. Switches determine either Stratoblaster (including adjustable gain or unity switch), Unity Gain Buffer (designed and built by Mike Wald) or passive pickup/preamp bypass configuration. It also has an Onboard Effects Loop which sends the pickup signal at full strength to the effects and back to the guitar before the Master Volume. The pickguard and switch-plate are made of stainless steel.
Tom also wanted the 'Wolf' inlaid, but since I don't make inlay I asked him to provide the actual piece and I did the routing and placing in the guitar. There was also an eagle piece intended for the peg-head inlay, but unfortunately it was a bit too big, so it was decided the head will wait for a future inlay job....
I'd be happy to do any sorts of Ibanez modifications; if you are interested please email me to discuss the particulars.
Thanks Tom, for graciously agreeing to let me publish pics of your 'Franken Wolf'!
Brian
Unfortunately I was so eager to get rid of the existing finish and damage (the back literally looked like a golf ball, it had so many dings and dents in it) I forgot to get a good "before" photo, but as you can see, I did manage to show some of the existing finish.
