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Graphtech Ghost install - RG7421

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strat bridge vintage trem
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16K views 18 replies 8 participants last post by  Crazy_Guitar  
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#1 · (Edited)
OK, as promised, here is how I did it. I was inspired by this thread on sevenstring.org:
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sevenstring-org-workbench/7162-tech-rg7321-piezo-install.html
but I did things a little differently. I also learned a lot, and would change a few things next time, so hopefully if any of you are thinking about doing this project you can learn from my errors.

First up, the new toys:

Image

Graphtech support is really good, they gave me great advice about precisely what to buy.

Next up, mask off the area round the bridge:

Image

At this point I also test fitted the low B to ensure it would intonate. It was close! You can see the piezzo wire sticking out of the new saddle.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Next up, remove the strings and mark up where I need to drill the bridge for the piezzo wires to go through - we've all seen some of the photos of some otherwise lovely LACS ruined by having wires hanging over the bridge.
Image


Unlike the sevenstring thread, I purposefully made the holes a few mm further in front of the bridge than then needed to be. I wanted to ensure that the part of the bridge where the saddles made contact remained over solid wood.

I also averaged out the positions a little so that they were smarter looking.

Next up, drill holes in the bridge:

Image

My first mistake was here. I made holes big enough for the plugs on the cables to go through. I then found out that it isn't that difficult to remove the plugs so these holes could have been way smaller. With the plugs removed you could also put some heat shrinking tubing over the cables to help hide them and protect them. Also, metal hard - wood soft. I should have removed the bridge first as I ended up having a hard time keeping the holes in the wood shallow.
 
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#3 · (Edited)
This is the point where I changed things a bit. There is a perfectly good hole under the bridge going to the control cavity that allows the bridge to be earthed. I wanted to use that to run the piezzo cables through. So, off comes the bridge and I joined up all the holes in the wood where I had drilled through the bridge, using the earth wire hole as the centre, to make a channel:

Image


Next learning point: I wanted to make sure that there was enough space for all the cables in this channel. I over estimated how much space I would need. This channel could have been shallower.

At this point, with a very long drill, I made the hole for the earth wire big enough to take all the extra cables.
 
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#5 · (Edited)
You can see here where all the piezzo cables enter the control cavity:
Image

Now, lots of wiring up, including fitting a new volume pot in the cavity where the jack plug sits, and fitting a selector switch between the existing vol and tone pots, and we are nearly there!

Some cleaning up and here's the finished product:
Image


I did slightly feck up when I drilled the hole for the switch as I cracked the finish on the front of the guitar slightly. Meh, it was a beater anyway!
 
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#6 · (Edited)
So there you are: RG7421 with piezzo, and optional vol pot. The mini switch allows mag, piezzo, or blend, and it sounds fantastic.
Image


I've concentrated mainly on the variations from the excellent sevenstring thread, and my errors, so if you want to do this refer to both threads. Hopefully this is useful to someone.
 
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#7 ·
You'll notice that the mini switch isn't central. It nearly was until I realised that it would make using the vol and tone pots awkward. (there is method in my madness)
I played about with a few options before deciding that was the best spot. A few months later, I'm sure I got it right.
 
S
#13 ·
Nicely done sir! I like the fact that you are humble about your mistakes.

I'd rep you but I have no idea how to on jemsite - I'll do it over at ss.org.

Nice 7421 too - is that cherry fudge? Was that a limited run for GC or something? Looks great. :)
 
M
#15 ·
Hey man, nice thread, lol, love the LACS comment ;)


Coulpe questions, do those saddles work with standard strat bridges? How much was the pack? saddles, preamp, and the 3rd lil pack i cant quite make out (dunno if its the pot or the switch)
 
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#16 ·
There is a set for US strats, the ones I used were for an import strat. With a vintage tremolo you have to route the cables differently though. Graphtech's website has an online store where you can get all the prices - I really can't remember how much I spent. The 3rd pack is the switch as I already had a spare pot to use.
 
S
#18 ·
This is a great thread. Thanks for all the info and pics. I'll definitely be in touch as I move forward with my RGT42fx transformation/mod into the piezo realm ;)
 
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