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Post subject: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:08 pm
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Roadie
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Hello all!

This is the guitar I took my user name here from... the MacGyvercaster!

It's an old beat up Bullet Series Squier strat I got for $20, and decided to "relic" as a joke, in parody of the high dollar "reliced models" on the market. I actually ended up liking the guitar far more after I did...

Here's the original post I made on it over at the PRS forum I post on:

Quote:
Definitely relic'd, beyond the point of return... with some interesting mods as well. :D

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This is an OLD Squier Bullet strat I bought from a guy for $20. It was left unstrung in a garage for probably 15 years or so, so it was quite weathered... the body didn't look "cool" beat up, it just looked like poorly painted plywood, since that's what it was. I decided to go over-the-top Ghetto Relic on it. Most of the work was done with a brick and a flathead screwdriver, although I did use an old used 40 grit belt sander belt for some of the fine detail. A nearly empty can of metallic silver paint inspired the "partial silverburst" finish... the big raw spots on the body were done with the brick mostly, and "smoothed down" afterwards with the 40 grit belt. The deep ridges in a few spots were dug in with the screwdriver, for "texture". I took a butane torch to the body in a few spots for the burned look... where the paint bubbled up too bad, I hit it with the brick to get rid of the loose burnt flakes. I decided to try stringing it up as a baritone, but forgot to widen the nut slots, so the bass side of the nut cracked off... luckily, it was still intact UNDER the string, it broke off just on one side, so a strategically placed screw holds the low E string in place, keeping me from having to hassle with replacing the otherwise perfect (if a bit mildewed) nut. The saddle for the low E was vibrating pretty bad too, so a well placed folded chunk of business card under the saddle height screw alleviates the buzz. All the water discoloration in the neck around the tuners and at the neck joint is original, so that is ACTUAL relic. Three layers of business card made a perfect shim to level out the neck angle to a "playable" action... just over 1/16" at the first fret, and around 3/16" at the 12th. That's strung to standard pitch with 10's, it's actually not too bad with 9's at Drop C. The wiring was shot, so the output jack is a spare stereo jack I had in the parts bin... the third conductor is just not wired to anything. The top screw hole for the jackplate was threaded out, so a 1" drywall screw did the trick. Pickups are stock Epiphone Les Paul pickups. The uncovered one in the bridge position is the bridge pickup from an Epi Baritone LP, and it is actually a pretty bad a** pickup. Really hot, not too far off in tone from a Duncan JB. The neck pickup is out of one of the man standard Epi LPs I've owned... not sure if it was originally a bridge or neck pickup, but it works. Doesn't sound horrible, considering what it's in. I did have to replace the E string tuner too, as the original was bent pretty badly. The non-matching replacement came off another Squier I had a while back, which I bought just to smash on stage at the end of the last song, just to say I did it, LOL... And to finish off the ghetto-relic process, I decided to enact the stereotypical "relic" argument in reality... I actually tied the guitar by the neck to the bumper of my truck, and drove it to the end of my block. That accounts for the scratches and "road rash" on the back of the body.

Wiring is pretty simple, aside from an added mod I came up with and have never seen on an other guitars yet. Knobs are individual volumes with no tone control. (That's kinda become my trademark these days...) The mini-toggle activates the "reverse killswitch", a schematic I designed personally. Instead of the standard killswitch, I have a momentary on switch wired in parallel with the mini-toggle. With the toggle in the "down" position (where it is less likely to be accidentally switched during playing) the guitar functions as normal. When you switch the toggle up toward you, it kills the output of the guitar, enabling the button... pressing the button restores the signal. This is much easier to do rhythmic things with than a standard killswitch button, because the sound begins when you touch the button, not when you let it go... so timing is more intuitive. This was really meant as the prototype vessel for this particular mod, but I actually like having a guitar I can throw around wherever, and it is a bit fun to play for short periods.

The only money I spent on the guitar other than the initial $20 purchase was $6 for the 3 way blade switch, and I think $30 for the pickguard, which I purposely left in pristine condition, in case I ever decide to transplant it onto a decent guitar in the future.

All in all, a fun little inexpensive project I threw together a few years back... this is the guitar I just toss in the back of the truck to roll around with the gear, as a backup, or mainly as a conversation piece. One more silhouette on the guitar rack, you know? But, it did actually get some stage time one night when I broke a string on the SCT before I had the CU22... I hadn't taken the LP copy out of the case, and the MacGyvercaster was the only guitar in arms reach, so I grabbed it to finish the song. Surprisingly, it didn't sound bad at all!

More detail pics to follow in next post... enjoy!


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:13 pm
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Roadie
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I had to borrow a cigarette to create the traditional headstock burn-in... :mrgreen:

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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:18 pm
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Roadie
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The MacGyvercaster is currently being shipped around the country to various members of the PRS forum, being randomly modded by each recipient. I will post some photos and videos of it's travels so far here too, for your enjoyment. If anyone is interested in joining in the fun, shoot me a private message! The more, the merrier!

The following posts will be directly cut & pasted from the original thread, so pardon the occasional non-compatible smiley code or in-joke...


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:21 pm
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Roadie
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Quote:
:D

This should be super fun! I'm sending my MacGyvercaster (see the link in my sig, or my avatar) to Chris (crgtr) so he can make a shootout vid up against his best weapon of his choice...

The plan though, is after he makes the vid, he is to make some sort of mod to the guitar, and then send it on to the next person who wants to play. Anyone interested should post in this thread, and you will go on the list to recieve the guitar. The person before you will ship it to you after making thier mod. Each person, if able, should make and post before and after vids, and/or photos if the mod is purely cosmetic. Your mod can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish... my ONLY rule is that the guitar is still playable when you're done. I don't care about the tonal impact, visual impact, whatever... If you just want to write your name on the neck in sharpie, or if you want to custom build a new body or neck for it, it's all up to you. Pickup swap, make a custom pickguard for it out of a cereal box, I don't care. Give it charachter, put a little bit of "you" into it. You just need to be willing to cover whatever you put into the guitar, and shipping to the next participant. With that in mind, I'd prefer if you used scrap material and/or spare parts from your junk bin, as opposed to spending money on nice new parts... unless you want to, that's on you. With the shipping in mind, it's probably best to keep it in the US, unless someone outside the country really wants to play, then we can work out something fair on shipping. Once it's made all the rounds, the last person should ship it back to Chris, at which point he will make a new shootout vid, putting it up against the footage from the first vid, before the journey. Then it will finally come back home to me... :D

So, anybody want on the list? You know you're curious to play the MacGyvercaster... and to put your own stamp on it! I'd love for some of our resident luthiers to take a whack at it, but even if you just have a spare knob you want to swap out for one that's on it... change out one tuning peg, seriously... do WHATEVER you want to this thing.

It leaves for Chris's house saturday... where's it going next?


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:26 pm
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Roadie
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Arrival post at the first stop: (All of these quotes reference the name of the poster at the original forum...)
crgtr wrote:
The "Guyver" has entered the building......Man, this one is a dog!! Gonna be fun. Can't wait to see what all the switches do!
ImageImageImageImage


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:35 pm
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crgtr's as-is arrival vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9w4SOSDaOs

crgtr wrote:
I did a little neck work last night. We have naked neck now. Also found some tuna's that won't cause tetnus!
And I HAD to add a decal...
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Also had some spare paint so......
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Of course, the rules state, do anything as long as it's playable......
So if you get it next & hate the paint.....KILL IT!!!


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:41 pm
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generation zero (me) wrote:
:o That's awesome! Love the decal, and the paint is great too! Hope you didn't censor the decal on my behalf, I'd have been fine with a "u" in place of the first "e"... but "Fecker" is kinda funny too! I love it! :D



crgtr wrote:
That's the way the sticker came. I can't even remember where I got that one. Had it a long time. I was really only going to work on the neck. Steel wool all the finish off, get it nice & fast & pop the decal on there. Then I found some tuna's & then VH came on the radio & I had to slap a quick coat of white on there. It's still all beat up. I did no sanding at all. The lines you see are the the blue/silver/barewood from before. If someone wants to trash it you won't offend me. I was just havin' some fun with it. I'll shoot a little nitro on the headstock tonight. By the time my beater case makes it here everything should be back together & playable.



generation zero wrote:
That's awesome... the fact you just happened to have a "Fecker" sticker for it, that says it has a "bastardized tremolo"... I guess the crappy trem-style hardtail it has would count as "bastardized", right? :P I think it's great. It'e even cooler knowing that you didn't order the sticker or anything, that you just had it laying around... that's the true spirit of this guitar! As is the paint... spray over the old, no prep... that's where it's at! :D



crgtr wrote:
Well...that old Fecker sticker didn't like the nitro too much.... Had a little bit of melting, but it kinda adds character. The paint on the body is another story. It rejected the white BIG-TIME! Flaking off like crazy! Will need to let it sit for a few days & probably throw some stripper on it. It got ugly real quick over night! Maybe lighter-fluid?..........



generation zero wrote:
:o

How can you tease me so, with descriptions of such wonderful devastation and no accompanying pics to laugh at? :wacko:

It's a shame, it was looking pretty sweet. So, the white flaked off the original paint, or did you try spraying nitro over the body and that caused the reaction? What kind of paint was the white? The silver was just run-of-the-mill metallic silver Krylon, and it had no adverse reaction to the factory paint. Odd that the white would react thusly, unless it was lacquer or something else. The sticker really surprises me though, aren't they designed to be sprayed over? :blink:

Oh well... that's half the fun in a project like this anyway. Maybe you should have sanded it with a brick first like I did... :lol:



crgtr wrote:
THe decal was pretty old & I've seen that happen before. It's still looks cool. I'll take pics tomorrow. I used nitro on both neck & body. I stuck real well over the silver, just not so good over the factory finish. I'll figure something cool to do before it leaves here. I have lots of stuff lying around.



generation zero wrote:
No worries man, no worries... I have nothing but faith in your creativity! Once you get it back together, you'll have to get a pic of your daughter posing with it for the photo compilation... I think I'm going to get prints of a bunch of the photos from all the stops on it's journey, and put together a scrap book or a photo album of the whole ordeal, start to finish. B)


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:48 pm
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Boogie wrote:
Feckin' awesome! Did you have any thoughts about getting rid of the screw and foo'ed up nut, or is that considered 'character'? Or did they get dumped while the refinishing/tuners? Oh, and your video was coolio too. B) Great first steps on a long journey.

As for the next stop, is Al expecting this package at some point. Berto's comment is valid, but I don't think there will be much price difference if it goes to Gulf Shores before heading back this direction. Otherwise, I'm between Chris and Berto. But whatever and whenever is fine with me.



crgtr wrote:
I left the nut in place along w/ the screw. I looked for a nut. If I'd found one, I still would've left the screw!!
Al isn't getting the gtr, but he IS sending me something.... :ph34r: I'll take care of that when it makes it's way back to me.
So, whoever wants it next, just let me know.
Here's what happened today...
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crgtr wrote:
The body is fine. The original paint stayed intact. I used a little filler & took care of the huge cut & shot a single coat of white on it. Of course I have 3 dogs & a cat & some hair got into the finish. It should be dry tonight or in the morning. I'll do a "relic" on the white, slap the neck back on & it'll be ready for it's next stop.
So, I took most of the finish off the neck, oiled it up and it's nice & smooth & fast. You all saw the decal. I also added some tuners that shouldn't cause any infections if touched! I will take some more pics when it's back together & shoot a final "before" video. Then it's out 'da door. Did y'all decide where it goes next?


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:56 pm
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I hope this post continues I for one am going to look forward to seeing updates! Cool idea!

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"Music is What Feelings Sound like"


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:56 pm
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crgtr wrote:
Y'all make up my mind PLEASE. 1st one to send an address gets it next!
Here's the latest.
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crgtr wrote:
Mo...
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generation zero wrote:
Lookin' pretty sweet, Chris! I see you killed the switch... Can't say I didn't see that one coming, lol! The white looks much better this time around, without the cake look... :)



crgtr wrote:
Well......I need to crack it open again. Ended up with a bad ground hum. Will take a look tomorrow & try & kill it. There is some crazy wiring going on inside this gtr!!!!



peter_s wrote:
Chris, what have you done?? It almost looks restored! Somebody better relic it again :D You could send it to me, I have an angle grinder in my garage, but it would probably be easier for me to just send the grinder to the next person instead ;)



crgtr wrote:
At closer inspection you will see it is far from restored. THere is a very thin coat of white on there. Also, the tuna's I put on are for a lefty, so remember to tune backwards!! Post video tomorrow!! Ship out on Tuesday.


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:58 pm
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Monalst wrote:
I hope this post continues I for one am going to look forward to seeing updates! Cool idea!

I've still got a fair amount of summarizing to do from the original thread, I'll try to keep updates copied here as they happen there too. :D

It's pretty exciting watching other people hack away at my guitar... I can't imagine what I'll end up with by the time it's done! :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:02 pm
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crgtr's second, "after" video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E9_mYgUCtU

And the requested photos with his daughter: (His avatar there is his daughter holding one of his PRS guitars... I had my daughter pose with the MacGyvercaster in parody once, so it's a running theme...)

crgtr wrote:
ImageImageImageImage


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:12 pm
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markie wrote:
The MacGyvercaster has landed......................... :D
CR must have sprinkled some magic dust on it! Plays better than I expected. String spacing is a little different than what I am used to though :P Dunno what to do with the volume cut button, except piss the [s]Ole Lady[/s] Lovely Bride off with it ^_^ Forgot how the Tuners worked....... :wacko:

Good times :) :)
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t.shamone wrote:
It definitely looks "out of place" in your basement Markie but, don't judge by looks right?

Can't wait to see what mods you do to the specimen. B)



markie wrote:
I'm not a modder T.................. I wouldn't even know where to start :blush:

I do intend to add a little something to her though :)



markie wrote:
She has been duly named.............. :)
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markie wrote:
The Mac Caster is going to Boogie tomorrow :)



'Boogie wrote:
The seedy hand-off has occurred successfully. B)


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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:17 pm
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Boogie wrote:
The MacG took a little trip this weekend...
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With the help of a kindly PRS gig bag, it traveled to Bloomington, Indiana where my oldest son, Drew, lives. My youngest son Taylor took it down since he was off to have a weekend filled with frivolity and debauchery. :rolleyes: My wife and I were headed down there, too, yesterday for a local festival where we found the MacG being passed around like the cheap tramp she is. :blush: Everyone had a turn and when I tried to walk inside the door of Drew's house, I found this going on...
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Then Drew sent me the preliminary art concept for the back of Dirty MacG...a little Rock Zombie action. :o Not sure where he'll take it, but this is the beginning. B)
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Boogie wrote:
Sorry for the late update. The McG-Caster is still in Bloomington getting inked. Drew is almost done but has been working double shifts almost every day with the 2nd one ending at 4:00am. :blink: He's somewhat of a perfectionist so he wouldn't let me take as is. But I was assured that it would be done soon, then he'll shoot a layer of sealer. Next stop...??? :unsure:



Boogie wrote:
Lots of updates!

The artwork on the MacG's back is not complete, but good enough for the MacG project. I all but had to rip it from Drew's hands because he's a perfectionist and erased and restarted 3 times. We don't have time for that. So little shading is complete but it's pretty cool, regardless.

Next, it was time to sit down with it and video a little run thru the Boogie rig. EPIC FAIL. :angry: When Chris eluded to a "little ground problem" he wasn't kidding. Try, NO output from the bridge pup. :o So I've torn it down to get it basically functional. And since I hear there's a major upgrade in the waiting, no major work is occurring...except to appease my anal retentive nature. *rant mode* The result is that the guitar is now 1 pound lighter now that all the extra solder is removed from everything. I could have wired 4 guitars with the excess I sucked off of the lugs and back of the pots. */rant mode* :P Once the pot is replaced today, it will be buttoned up, recorded for posterity purposes (sorry, another video) and packed up for shipment.

I've been swamped with work this last couple of weeks so I'm sorry things stagnated here. In the mean time, this guitar has been well loved and played often. :wub:

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Post subject: Re: Wanted to show you guys the MacGyvercaster...
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:25 pm
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generation zero wrote:
LOLZ!!! It's been so long since I had it cracked open, I don't even know if I'm to blame for that or not. <_<

Excited to hear it's back in action... There's a few guys now interested in this project over on the Fender forum too, at least from a spectator's point of view... I think I'm going to compile the pics from this thread and repost them over there, since I really can't just direct them to this thread for Fender's forum rules reasons... :ph34r:



And here's Boogie's video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElF3Gxppq4c&feature=plcp

Boogie wrote:

Work done:
1.) artwork by Drew
2.) strap lock button screw fixed
3.) electronics completely rewired to function
4.) new old case to protect this beauty


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