NS Starfire V Mod Idea

GSFV

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So there are two mods I have in mind, both of which are quite reversible if necessary. But does anyone have any experience with a Treble Bleed Circuit (supposedly keeps the highs in when you roll off the volume) with a Starfire? Does anyone have any experience with Out of Phase with a Starfire?

My concern on the out of phase is being able to put in a push-pull in without routing, and still being able to use the Guild knob covers.


I saw a few posts similar to this, but they were scattered, and not quite exactly what I'm looking for. If this is already covered and I've missed it, please post a link for my reading pleasure.
 

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IIRC, you need a four wire pickup to have out of phase pickups. The small humbuckers never had four leads to my knowledge.
 

GAD

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Nah - phase is just a reversal of the leads from one pickup. For example old HB1s don't have four wires. The bridge has an extra tab on it but it's still only a two-wire setup.

I've seen a Westerly Starfire VI with a factory phase switch but I don't know how it would sound with the LB1s, though.

I have no experience that I know of with treble bleed on a Starfire, but I have to wonder if my X170 has it because it has the most usable controls I've ever experienced on a Guild. One of these days I need to pull the harness and look because it's quite noticeable.
 

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Can you photograph it with your MACRO camera?

Then we can go get some spasghetties and meballs...
 

GAD

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Can you photograph it with your MACRO camera?

Then we can go get some spasghetties and meballs...


LOL.

You should see me at Starbucks when I order a cappuccino and they give me a latte!
 

dougdnh

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I made both of these mods on my US made Bluesbird. I did have to replace the stock pot with a push-pull pot - no problems. The out of phase is a killer sound, especially if you play blues.
 

Quantum Strummer

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I've put temporary treble bleed cap/resistor combos (via alligator clips) in a handful of guitars. They work really well. One issue, if you like plugging directly into old fuzz/overdrive pedals with low-impedance inputs and then regulating breakup as well as volume from the guitar, is your clean sound can end up very wiry.

Another option is a volume pedal with a treble bleed network built in.

Out of phase sounds are kinda my thing these days. Besides my NB S-100 I've got a pair of old Gibsons with the bridge pickup magnets reversed, one by mistake but the other on purpose. A few others do OOP sounds too.

-Dave-
 
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GSFV

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Putting it in a volume pedal is a brilliant idea!! Not sure why I hadn't considered it before... it would honestly probably work a little better that way anyway, and I wouldn’t have to rework multiple guitars. Which is great!

If I replace the pot with a push-pull for OOP, would I be able to use the same guild knobs? I’ve got a NS Starfire. It’s weird, but being able to use a guild knob is very important to me.
 

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If I replace the pot with a push-pull for OOP, would I be able to use the same guild knobs? I’ve got a NS Starfire. It’s weird, but being able to use a guild knob is very important to me.

Kudos for wanting to use the Guild knobs. :encouragement:

The trick is to just get the same spec shaft when ordering.
 

GSFV

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Gotcha. So just order a metric shift with Push-Pull and I should be good to go?
 

GSFV

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Metric knurled split-shaft. Got it!! :encouragement:

Thank you!! Any other cool options to drop in a with a push-pull? I know coil splits aren't doable because of the 2 wire vs 4 wire. But any other cool options or ideas?
 

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Metric knurled split-shaft. Got it!! :encouragement:

Thank you!! Any other cool options to drop in a with a push-pull? I know coil splits aren't doable because of the 2 wire vs 4 wire. But any other cool options or ideas?

At least someone listens to me. :chuncky:


  • You can do things like the Gretsch mud switch by injecting caps into the signal
  • You could rig up a series/parallel switch

If the pickups were 4-wire you could add coil-split and then it would all be so complicated you'd never know what was going on. This is called the Jimmy Page mod. :encouragement: Seriously, though, aside from the mud switch thing, being able to split the coils and then change from parallel to series gives a pile of options.
 

Nuuska

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Hello

Slight veer - but still wiring option. Have any of you done the Tone-Control-Special - TCS - where a aplit coil humbucker is wired to tone pot so, that in Tone 0 position it acts like normal humbucker with tone on 0 - and when you turn it up it first becomes humbucker with bright tone - eventually transferring into single-coil w full brightness.

This is a straightforward reversible wiring, if you have split coil - or even 3-wire humbucker. Coil tap :watermelon:

I have known of this wiring since decades - but never actually tried it or know of anyone using it.
 

GSFV

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I love the versatility of the Jimmy Page wiring, but can't because the Reissue LB-1s are only 2 wire. Plus I'm not sure a pickup that small would split well... I've toyed with the idea of putting in full size Humbuckers (or even some reissue HB1's) but don't want to route that guitar. I'd have to pick up another one to route that. Which...I don't think is an option with the first kiddo being born any day now. Lol. Maybe a first father's day gift? :tongue: Just kidding....sort of...

I'm not sure I know the difference between OOP and Series/Parallel wiring. So help me out. I'm familiar with it on single coils, but not humbuckers. Probably similar I'd imagine...?

I know a coil split is from humbuckers to single coil (oversimplification), but what is a coil tap?
 

GSFV

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I'm also not familiar with the TCS thing. Sounds interesting. Kind of like a Strat blender Mod? (being able to add in the bridge pickup on any setting little by little) That might be cool...
 

Quantum Strummer

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Slight veer - but still wiring option. Have any of you done the Tone-Control-Special - TCS - where a aplit coil humbucker is wired to tone pot so, that in Tone 0 position it acts like normal humbucker with tone on 0 - and when you turn it up it first becomes humbucker with bright tone - eventually transferring into single-coil w full brightness.

This is a straightforward reversible wiring, if you have split coil - or even 3-wire humbucker. Coil tap :watermelon:

I have known of this wiring since decades - but never actually tried it or know of anyone using it.

This is how Peavey wired up the HBs on their T-60. My first guitar with humbuckers. :)

-Dave-
 
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