Squier California Series J Bass - Electronics Overhaul

As received, the control plate on this Squier California Series J Bass was crudely attached to the body with masking tape, the bridge volume and master tone controls were stuck, and only the neck pickup made a sound. Further examination revealed stripped screw holes, disconnected wires, and widespread corrosion. To get the bass sounding as it should, a full rewire was carried out with Alpha A250K pots, a 0.047uf tone cap, and generic output jack.     

Squier California Series J Bass

Control Plate Attached With Masking Tape

Masking Tape Removed

Stripped Screw Holes - 1

Stripped Screw Holes - 2

Underside of Control Plate

Neck Volume Pot

Bridge Volume Pot

Master Tone Pot

Output Jack

Disconnected Wires

New Pots, Tone Cap and Output Jack

Control Plate Rewired

Pickup and Ground Wires Prepped for Resoldering

Screw Holes Plugged and Redrilled - 1

Screw Holes Plugged and Redrilled - 2

Rewiring Completed

Control Plate Reinstalled

Lace Alumitone Demo - Awal RF

It's 10:57 PM on July 4, 2026 at RF MusicWorks Kuantan. The guitar Awal RF is trying out features two newly-installed Lace Alumitone Humbuckers.

Installing and Testing Lace Alumitone Humbuckers

So, the owner of this Destroyer replica managed to get hold of two used Lace Alumitone Humbuckers (Chrome/Neck, Gold/Bridge) and wanted them installed. He also requested an electronics upgrade. A routine check revealed that both Alumitones were in working condition, as were the three-way toggle switch and output jack. Thus said, the only parts replaced were the stock pickups, mini pots and tone capacitor. Once all components had been wired in, a pickup tap test was carried out, and everything was found to be working as it should.

Guitar as Received

Pickup Cavities

Control Cavity / Mini Pots

Toggle Switch (Retained)

Parts Replaced

Alpha A250K Pots / 0.022uf Tone Cap

Alumitone Wiring (Normal Operation)

Alumitone Neck Humbucker (Underside)

Alumitone Neck Humbucker (Side View)

Alumitone Neck Humbucker (Top)

Alumitone Bridge Humbucker (Underside)

Alumitone Bridge Humbucker (Side View)

Alumitone Bridge Humbucker (Top)

Rewiring in Progress

Rewiring Completed

Taylor BT2 - Lifting Bridge - Part 1

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

This Baby Mahogany (BT2) Layered Sapele Acoustic Guitar was sent in on June 20. Among the issues detected were a slight belly bulge, lifting bridge, and grimy fretboard. The frets, meanwhile, were in no better shape. Besides being badly tarnished, quite a number were visibly marred by divots.

Taylor BT2 Headstock Face

Ebony Bridge

Bridge - Right Side

Bridge - Back - Image 1

Bridge - Back - Image 2

Bridge - Back - Image 3

Bridge - Back - Image 4

Bridge - Left Side - Image 1

Bridge - Left Side - Image 2

Soundhole

Soundhole Label

Bolt-On Neck Joint

Fretboard and Frets

Visible Divots

Friends Through Time

Met up with my ex-SAHC schoolmate and Taman Lam Sun (Alor Setar) neighbor Ir. Harjit Singh Dhillon today (June 19, 2026). It's wonderful to still be in touch with someone you grew up with way back in the '70s.

Friends Through Time