The Electra Forums

So, I got another MPC project.. An x-610 bass (thanks drdave!!)

it appears to have led an interesting life...
the disparity between the pickguard wear and the fretboard leads me to believe it got a refret at one time, along with a new truss rod and string nut.

the electronics had been cut completely out, but then resoldered sort of, but there was still wiring that had come apart, and the electrical tape wasn't holding in the MPC cavity or the 5-way cavity. and the screws to hold down the mpc connectors were gone... and batwing tips for mps toggles are gone.

has a new replacement bridge from all-parts (RIC style)

so, no pictures yet , but the re-wire joints have been re-done, and shrink tubing installed at the 5-way switch.
I've replaced the yellow wire that ties the 2 slots together, and soldered in new wire extensions on the mpc pot wires and input wires, and removed the output wires from the mps toggles...
replaced the ground wire to the plate under the P style pups...

started the shrink tubing of the new wires in the mpc cavity, but I've run out of the little stuff, and I need more... pretty sure walmart doesn't have what I need, as it's the only thing open right now

also put in a new battery connector through the holes, but it's not soldered in yet...

not too much left really, then to see if the truss rod works to hold the neck straight...

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Another worthy mcbrat project. I appreciate your willingness to take on the MPC projects, and an X610 brought back to life is a thing of beauty. That wiring can be intimidating. In reality it's not too bad but it's painstaking work and takes patience. Not to mention it can be tough getting parts. I don't mind saying mcbrat and ozarkcannons restorations are an inspiration to me. Thanks! Looking forward to pictures.

well, the wiring is complete, but I still need to try and get the neck bow out...

from research, I have about 1 option before taking it to a pro:

1. refret with frets with slightly larger tangs

... so here I go!

I pulled and replaced the first fret... wasn't too bad.

my next move is to provide a little backward flex with a ratchet strap while I replace the rest of the frets and see how it turns out...

The other issue is that it looks like the truss rod is pulling out of it's captive area, so I may also need to do this...
http://www.rvguitars.co.uk/news.php

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

At this point it may be simpler to put a new fretboard on. Good luck.

Well this looks like a challenge for certain but you have the talent to make it happen as you have with so many others you have brought back to life. Keep us posted.

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Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

well, it's refretted now and may have helped a little, but it still has a bit of bow, so it's undergoing some intense therapy at the moment

also, I actually found a post on another forum from a guy who had this long ago... he described the neck as "bowed to hell and back" but I've seen lots worse.... at least it's not twisted... I may put a double ended truss rod in yet, if I can get the neck sorted...

I've seen a post on one of these before where a question was asked about cutting off the neck, and routing out for a bolt on, which is a thought, but the way the back of the heel is smoothed out with the neck-thru design pretty much puts a stop to those thoughts....

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

so here's the "anchor" end of the truss rod...



it wasn't quite large enough, and with enough twisting force, it started to pull it up into the channel and dug into the wood...
glad I could remove it without messing with the fingerboard....

I'm gonna weld on some more metal there to make sure it can't fit inside the channel. that'll take care of that...

now I just hope my bend therapy on the neck is working....

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

How are you going to get it back in with extra metal on it? Do those feed up from the pickup side?

yes, I pulled it out from the pickup side... there is a groove already there, so it was just a matter of tapping it back out....

it will be enough metal to lock it in place, but not enough it can't go back in...

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

truss rod is back in and snugged up... I still haven't released it from the ratchet strap yet though... waiting until I get my new strings... plus I still have to do a bit of filing on the frets....

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

well, decided to release it from it's bondage

with the fixed truss rod, and neck persuasion, it looks like it's fixed. neck stayed straight! now to finish the frets and make a TRC for it...

still wondering if I should find a brass nut for it to. the plastic one looks usable, but just seems wrong.....

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

There are several on ebay for bass guitars;

What I found so far:

http://www.allparts.com/Les-Paul-Adjustable-Brass-Nut-p/BN-0888-008.htm?click=19167

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/guitar_nutsbrass.htm

http://www.buzzardsbass.com/parts/string-nuts/brass.html

Maybe one of these will work.

RCSBlues

I think the gibson style one is the correct dimensions...

I've put on an adjustable type one before, but the strings didn't seem to sit right. you need to line the screw up with the string to get a little bit of groove to sit in, which sometimes isn't enough for the D and G strings if you play gressively... the string can move inside the screw slot...

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My Electra Pages
I have too many projects!

Take a shot at making a bone one. I think it would go nicely with the natural look.