Rewiring a 335 - ughhhh

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:39 pm

Putting RS pots and caps and Duncans in my Epi 335. What a fucking PITA working through that little cutout. I've had the controls in and out 3 times now. But I think I'm getting the idea. It's like building a ship in a bottle.

JD · Post by JD » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:54 pm

Tie and tape fishing line around the pots before you remove them, then remove and tie onto the new pots to pull them back in. Yes, it is easier said than done. I always tape around the treble F-hole and lay some towels on the guitar's face to prevent any chance of cosmetic damage.

philmanatee · Post by **philmanatee** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:20 am

When I put lollars in my dot reissue they went right in the first time. I tested it out and the tone control didn't work on the neck pickup, and I use that one a lot. I pulled everything out and the factory solder joint on the cap had broke loose. The next three tries were not as quick or easy as the first! I want to change the caps to bumblebees, but I've been putting that job off for a while now.

Phil

Post by **Scumback Speakers** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:51 am

This is exactly why I bought a 333 model, they have a control panel plate on the back for easy access. Otherwise it'd be off to my luthier for this crap!

JD · Post by JD » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:54 am

Fortunately I like the stock '57 Classics on the ES

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:26 am

You are all right on all counts, guys. I've done the fishing line thing, used a modified 1/4" male jack to pull the female through, taped off the body around the F holes, got it installed to find a cap lead broke off

, the first time was the easiest, etc.

I wired the mess up like a string of christmas lights so I can feed the parts in a straight line. I'm concerned about the extra lead length and potential hum/buzz. As I was installing for the third time I found another cap lead broken off. I quit for the night. Back at it tonight. The thin wire on the Hovlands is not very robust when it comes to manhandling the assemby through a tiny hole.

No wonder Epi used mini pots originally...

JD · Post by JD » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:11 pm

Another good idea is to use a piece of cardboard with the *exact* pot hole pattern to solder everything up, then remove and install it as a unit (through the f-hole). I use a tinned ground buss around the pot casings to give 'em some rigidity as well.

Yep, even when using all the "tricks" they are still a PITA.

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:55 pm

JD wrote:Another good idea is to use a piece of cardboard with the *exact* pot hole pattern to solder everything up, then remove and install it as a unit (through the f-hole). I use a tinned ground buss around the pot casings to give 'em some rigidity as well.

Yep, even when using all the "tricks" they are still a PITA.

Did that, too! I first used solid buss for the same reason but found that it was too rigid so I removed the center conductor from some shieled cable and used the braid for as a flexible ground buss.

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:05 am

Chief,sound like you enjoy tormenting yourself with what little free time you have as well!!My personal torture was the attempts at capturing same quality VHS prerecorded music tapes tp dvd format,what a sea of misinformation and foolishness,but I have lot's of DVD+R coasters,sorry for off topicness,but I couldn't resist!
Tis a tricky task at best what you are doing and you are indeed a brave man!

yngwie308

MacGaden · Post by **MacGaden** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:17 am

Hi Chief:

What year is your Epi 335 ?
How

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:07 pm

[quote="MacGaden"]Hi Chief:

What year is your Epi 335 ?
How

JD · Post by JD » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:05 pm

That Sheraton is a good guitar, don't let the Epiphone headstock logo mislead anyone.

A Seymour Duncan tip is to use a standard pencil with the eraser removed to sorta catch the pot shaft and pull it back through. I might try that one next ES I rewire.

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:01 pm

JD wrote:That Sheraton is a good guitar, don't let the Epiphone headstock logo mislead anyone.

A Seymour Duncan tip is to use a standard pencil with the eraser removed to sorta catch the pot shaft and pull it back through. I might try that one next ES I rewire.

Will try that , too.

I'm geting the pots in OK. It'a the female jack that is a bitch but I caught a tip somewhere to use an old male tip in the jack to fich and pull it through. Where I'm f'n up is getting the mess in there without breaking a lead or solder joint.

JD · Post by JD » Tue Feb 20, 2007 7:38 pm

Hmmm. Never had nearly this much trouble. Are the pickup leads long enough for you to work comfortably outside the guitar?

Generally I wire the 4 pots and all outside the guitar, yes, use an old 1/4" male jack with a wire, the whole fishing line on the pots thing, often mount everything to solder on a piece of cardboard, and just sorta pull all of the components through to the appropriate holes. I agree, it's easier said than done but certainly not like putting a cat in a bathtub.

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 12:58 pm

Well, got 'em all in. Testing every inch of the way. Final test after everything bolted up? I lost the neck tone pot

I'm not knocked out with the tones either.

Flat out the JB seems like a LOT of high end and the JM is mud. The volumes drop off a LOT from 10 down to 8-9 then more linear from there.
Don't know if I like this set up or not yet.