Krait HSH Gets Some Help

Folks, what we have here is a typical fabriqué en Chine electric guitar. It's a Krait HSH, and advertised as a "beginner electric guitar" on the Coupang website. This Krait is in the shop for servicing, electronics work, restring, and setup.

We'll start with the electronics, then. These comprise a single-coil flanked by two humbuckers, unshielded body cavities, a five-way PCB blade switch, master volume and tone mini pots, a generic output jack, and unshielded wiring. Of particular interest is the tremolo claw ground wire. It's soldered to the uppermost of the five spring anchors instead of the center of the claw.

Control Cavity Electronics

Stock Output Jack

Existing Trem Claw Ground

Sadly, even after repeated servicing, the only reusable components are the pickups. The pots and switch remain scratchy and crackly, and the output jack still suffers from intermittent contact. That's it, then. Time to be put to pasture. The replacements are two full sized Alpha Korea A500K pots, a poly tone cap, a brand new PCB blade switch, and an MIJ output jack. Wiring wise, a length of coaxial cable will connect the master volume to the output jack. I'll also be soldering a new ground to the center of the tremolo claw, the way Leo intended it to be.

Stock Electronics Desoldered

Replacement Pots and Switch Wired In

MIJ Output Jack Wired In

Electronics Work Completed

Output Jack and Jack Plate

New Trem Claw Ground

The job's done, and I'm ending this post with a few choice pics of this Krait HSH. As his daddy's currently in Borneo, it might be some time before this guitar gets to go home. In the meantime, I've given him a final polish and zipped him up nice and cozy in his gig bag.

Krait HSH - Front View

Headstock Face

Sharktooth Inlays

Body - Front View

Krait HSH - Back View

Back of Headstock

Neck - Scarf Joint

Body - Back View

Neck Attachment Bolts and Ferrules