[Jon S.]

Over the past year, I've rebuilt my rig from the ground up & I'm achieving the sounds I've been chasing for so long in theory finally now in the real world. Thought I'd share a couple of pics. Please feel free to throw in a description of your own experiences with rig rebuilding (w/ or w/o pics). And special thanks to Waldo, strumminsix, Brad Sarno, Godfrey Daniels, Phil Jacoby, Tracy "Scaper," and many others for your appreciated advice & inspiration.





Guitar: Philtone Jerrycaster

On-Board Effects Loop Junction Box: Godfrey Daniels Guitarworks Hub Bub

Effects: Line 6 M13

Rack: Gator GR-6S

Top - Furman P1800 AR Voltage Regulator/Conditioner
Middle - Sarno Music Solutions Classic Preamp w/Jerry Garcia Mods
Bottom - Rocktron Velocity 300 power amp

Cabinet: Sound Scaper Productions Jerry 2X12 w/Jensen Neo 12-100 & Weber Neomag wired in stereo

[JonnyBoy]

Looks great Jon. I have myself built mine from the ground up over the past year, through a few trials and errors and now a huge arsenal of gear my band fellows call "The Borg" ....as in a cyborg.



Now it has morphed into a world of options from this old picture 6 months ago. I have added a GCX under the SYF sticker/wood to control the Qtron, POG, Super OD with a GE7 added, Fuzz, Compressor, Phase, Chorus then routes to my guitar in OBEL, the mono line and non OBEL then goes through LPB1, reverb and a Delay, Out of Delay into twin reverb pre out to MC50 which all sit on top of the effects cab. I will use 1x12 black widdow cab, 2x10 JBL K-110 cab, or 2x12 eminence Commonwealth's depending on volume needs or desired tones. I can also use the SS part of the tube works 100 watt mono or throw the tubes back in the twin and use it, but It needs new power tubes to run the twin right now.

The effects cab "Locks in" the 2x12 cab like leggos, so even a good nudge won't knock it off or over. It all attaches to a custom made dolly with good wheels that rolls the monster where I want it easily. Most gigs I can stack whatever I am using on top of the dolly out of the truck, lock it in, roll it on stage or wherever. Its funny people at first glance thinks its gonna fall off or slide off, they are always amazed at its stability in motion. It has become quite over the top monster rig. But it is versatile and sounds killer, PLUS I LIKE IT. If I remember my camera next time I go to practice, its time for a final picture...


Peace Jon, ---- JB

[Jon S.]

"I LIKE IT" - truly the bottom line. Would love to see an updated final pic some time.

[czyfingers]

Nice rigs guys. I too have pretty much rebuilt my rig in the past year and I'm very pleased with it now. It's been a long road and a lot of tinkering but I now get sounds that used to seem unattainable. My guitar is a Schecter C1 with 2 super 2's tapped and an sds-1 in the neck, EMG buffer. See pic for effects. Amp is a 72 Dual Showman Reverb(with lots of updates/upgrades-see pics) preamped>Mcintosh 2120>2 E120's. I also sometimes use the DSR for power amp instead of the Mac, which also sounds really good.





Here's the before and after of the changes inside of the DSR- It started out as 100%stock. I've changed a slu of caps and resistors, including the filter caps not shown, added the preamp tap per Waldo's specs., disabled the vibrato, and changed the bias balance pot to a true bias adjustment pot. All of this has made a huge difference in getting closer to "the sound".

[aiq]

Wow...

Jon, I live in DC. I hope to hear that rig one of these days!

[JonnyBoy]

DSC02511.JPG

I had to crop the Hell out of it to get it to fit 250KB, here is the rig on stage, I have it sitting on the 2x12 speakers like the other picture above. I have some wire issues, too long is the biggest problem I have. The GCX ate up all my short cables. I will still try to get a better pic though..

[tcsned]

JB - I love the cabinet for you twin - very cool!

[JonnyBoy]

DSC02474.JPG

Here is one, I thought I had one from our practice space... It is again a cropped under 250KB version. It has the 1x12 on top to keep stray feet from popping the dust cap. that's the 1x12 widdow, which is surprisingly loud itself. Everyone keeps saying if I add more to it I will be touching the roof. It is the Borg. No one can deny its superior tone, I would love to get some ideas on how to cut back on cable runs, how to get it assembled most efficient, I think it is already as short of a signal run as I can make it. With a buffer though it shouldn't matter, right?

[FretWilkes]

DSC02474.JPG

How about a shot of your guitar?

[JonnyBoy]

Sure Fret... Her ya go. It is an early 80's Hohner professional les paul copy, and it is a fantastic guitar and my first "real" guitar. I have recently rediscovered how much I enjoy playing it. My Dad bought me this guitar (I was 13) and I wanted a Gibson, but he said I still had years to go until I deserved one with my ability. He had one and an old strat, at that age I couldn't use them. I have played many Les Paul's and I like this one especially since the Frets aren't like speed bumps, it plays fast, clean and its light. The action is low and plays better than some of the $2k guitars I was playing just last week at the store. It has more sentimental value more than anything, I thought I would take something old my dad, (RIP), gave me and make something new. I had some reservations cutting it up, but I wouldn't have used it otherwise. I put 36th annv. Dmarz. PAF's in the neck/bridge, and a Super II in the middle. All split coiled with an OBEL. I brought it to the music store I frequent, and I still have to say I am partial to this guitar and its tone. I also have a Fender Showmaster with dimarzzio area 58's (see first pic) flamed maple top, and a natural strat I made an alligator replica out of, I never play it, and I think it may go on the auction block soon to get something I will play. I like the sound of the showmaster better, and the neck too, very fast also.

[paulinnc]

I'll bite. I have posted this pic before but here it is again in case anyone is interested. This rig is entirely put together by hand. The strat is something I assembled from parts and it plays and sounds amazing!!! Plays and sounds just as good or better than any Fender custom shop guitar I have ever heard. The amp is a 1955 Motorola Hifi amp from and old stereo system. I got it for 25$ on craigslist and brought it to an amp guy to make it guitar ready, it still has the original tubes in it too. The effects are BYOC Wah, BYOC Arbiter Fuzz, GGG TS 7, GGG Orange squeezer compressor. The cabinet is made by our very own, Mike Hogan and outfitted with 2 Weber California's. Aside from a little amp noise, it sounds AWESOME!!! I had the amp converted into a Tweed Deluxe style circuit which is great for good Rock n roll and a real nice bluesy tone. When I saw the title of this thread I could really relate to actually building the rig. It's great to see everyone elses stuff too, it makes reading the thread more fun. Keep it up.

[FretWilkes]

Sure Fret... Her ya go. It is an early 80's Hohner professional les paul copy, and it is a fantastic guitar and my first "real" guitar. I have recently rediscovered how much I enjoy playing it. My Dad bought me this guitar (I was 13) and I wanted a Gibson, but he said I still had years to go until I deserved one with my ability. He had one and an old strat, at that age I couldn't use them. I have played many Les Paul's and I like this one especially since the Frets aren't like speed bumps, it plays fast, clean and its light. The action is low and plays better than some of the $2k guitars I was playing just last week at the store. It has more sentimental value more than anything, I thought I would take something old my dad, (RIP), gave me and make something new. I had some reservations cutting it up, but I wouldn't have used it otherwise. I put 36th annv. Dmarz. PAF's in the neck/bridge, and a Super II in the middle. All split coiled with an OBEL. I brought it to the music store I frequent, and I still have to say I am partial to this guitar and its tone. I also have a Fender Showmaster with dimarzzio area 58's (see first pic) flamed maple top, and a natural strat I made an alligator replica out of, I never play it, and I think it may go on the auction block soon to get something I will play. I like the sound of the showmaster better, and the neck too, very fast also.

Hey thanks JohnnyBoy...real nice.

I've got an Alpine White Epi LP Custom that I never play and now you've got my mind reeling.

I love the connection to your Dad too. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. My LP was my sons and would be a similar tribute.

Thanks again and all the best.

[czyfingers]

Very cool Paul. I dig the old amp. What made you think to go that route? I love how we make great use of old stuff with these rigs.
This is a great thread. It's cool to see everyone else's stuff and ideas. I love it here....I'd never be where I'm at with my rig and playing without all the invaluable info I've gotten from you all here. I encourage others to post.

JB- I like the twin head cab.....Do you have a reverb tank squeezed in there?

[keirweir]

I hope that Shecter is working out for ya!

[czyfingers]

Hey Keir, The Shecter has become my main Jerry axe. I've done a few little things to it...I've been using 11's on it because the neck is very flat, even with the truss rod as loose as it can be. I think thats by design because Schecter used to kinda tailor to the shredder crowd, who prefer flatter necks. Anyway, the 11's give it a little relief and keep string buzz to a minimum when I'm plunking away Jerry style.
I replaced that missing front ferrule on the D string, I switched the pickup wiring so that in the neck position, it's neck pickup alone (it was wired to be neck/briddge) and I changed the .1 tone cap to a .022.
It's a cool guitar, I like it a lot and I get a lot of compliments/interest on it too. It does the Jerry thing quite well in an affordable package. I was using my super 2/buffer modded strat for Jerry stuff, but the Schecter gets the sound better. I love your new guitar, it does the Jerry thing even better, but it doesn't come with the affordable package part. Maybe some day I'll sell off some crap I barely use and get something custom made like that, but for now that Schecter suits my needs very well.