Which guitar parts would you like to have available locally?

tonerider

I am about to expand The Custom Shop's inventory with a more comprehensive catalog of high quality guitar parts from Japan and the US (CTS) and would like to get an idea of which parts Guitar Forum's knowledgeable members would most like to have readily available locally.

Hope I'm not infringing on the forum's rules here. ?

Manfred-Klose

some quality pots would be cool and 3dpdt switches for pedals

dee

Yeah, electronic parts would be nice. Switches, wiring, pots and some conductive shielding paint definitely!

Are you looking at things like tuners and bridges as well? Or will you be staying with pickups and electronics?

tonerider

So far I'm working on scratchplates (Tele and Strat), Tele and Strat bridges, bodies & necks (WD - USA, initially on order only), CTS pots, high quality low friction pots, pickup rings, screws, switches, 3-way toggle switches, 5-way selector switches, bridges, nuts, knobs, capacitors, resistors, wiring, etc. All quality stuff from Japan.

What else would a guitar enthusiast want?

tonerider

Manfred Klose wrote some quality pots would be cool and 3dpdt switches for pedals

You probably mean 3pdt!
3 rows of independent 3 poles (9 lugs), off position in the middle, right?

chris77

Thank you! If you get quality stuff you will have my custom for sure.
I am actually looking for some screws for a set of Rocksongs I want to fit to my As-73. It will be brilliant if you stock spares as well.

tonerider

chris77 wrote Thank you! If you get quality stuff you will have my custom for sure.
I am actually looking for some screws for a set of Rocksongs I want to fit to my As-73. It will be brilliant if you stock spares as well.

PM me!

AlanRatcliffe

Depends on what you want to get into - just electronics or also hardware and plastic parts too (things can get a bit frightening when you look at the variety of knobs alone).

ELECTRONICS:
Switchcraft Jacks, 3-way toggles
CRL: 3-way, 5-way lever switches
CTS Series 450 pots - 250K, 500K, Audio taper, brass shaft, diecast bushing
Gotoh/Miyami (?) 2-way and 3-way DP mini toggles with flat (not bat) actuators
22 AWG pushback cloth insulated wire
2" wide adhesive copper tape (conductive glue) and sheets big enough for pickguards
Stainless screws: pickup (pan and oval head); switch (pan and oval head); pickguard (1/2" Fender and 3/8" Gibson)

Manfred-Klose

AndreM wrote
Manfred Klose wrote some quality pots would be cool and 3dpdt switches for pedals
You probably mean 3pdt!
3 rows of independent 3 poles (9 lugs), off position in the middle, right?

yeah thats what i was meaning, sorry typo

chris77

Thanks Andre. I want to order pups as well, so will send you a pm when I do. Will probably only be next week though.

tonerider

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Depends on what you want to get into - just electronics or also hardware and plastic parts too (things can get a bit frightening when you look at the variety of knobs alone).

ELECTRONICS:
Switchcraft Jacks, 3-way toggles
CRL: 3-way, 5-way lever switches
CTS Series 450 pots - 250K, 500K, Audio taper, brass shaft, diecast bushing
Gotoh/Miyami (?) 2-way and 3-way DP mini toggles with flat (not bat) actuators
22 AWG pushback cloth insulated wire
2" wide adhesive copper tape (conductive glue) and sheets big enough for pickguards
Stainless screws: pickup (pan and oval head); switch (pan and oval head); pickguard (1/2" Fender and 3/8" Gibson)

I hear you!
Switchcraft is a difficult decision since they seem to make that particular 3-way toggle switch as found on a Gibson only for Gibson (not in their export catalog they sent me), the type where the locknut on the front of the guitar goes down over the thread somewhat differently. All of their other toggle switches are exactly the same quality as the samples that I have here. The switches that I'm planning on importing are high quality from Japan, not the marginal Chinese Mighty Mite stuff you see in shops locally. It's the same stuff as what's used on high-end Ibanez guitars.

All the other stuff is no problem!

AlanRatcliffe

Yeah the Gotoh branded mini toggles are the Japanese made ones (I think the company is Miyami, but I could be wrong). Nice quality.
I usually buy the Switchcraft 3-way toggles, but the recessed ring nuts are separate from somewhere else.

Almost forgot - Oak Grigsby 5-way Super Switches.

Don't forget that if you are selling CTS pots, you'll need knobs for 1/4" shafts - the Japanese knobs are 6mm and do not fit.

Last time I looked the WD necks and bodies were good, but way overpriced...

tonerider

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Yeah the Gotoh branded mini toggles are the Japanese made ones (I think the company is Miyami, but I could be wrong). Nice quality.
I usually buy the Switchcraft 3-way toggles, but the recessed ring nuts are separate from somewhere else.

Almost forgot - Oak Grigsby 5-way Super Switches.

Don't forget that if you are selling CTS pots, you'll need knobs for 1/4" shafts - the Japanese knobs are 6mm and do not fit.

Last time I looked the WD necks and bodies were good, but way overpriced...

Yip, Gotoh is part of the plan!
WD is very expensive, but high quality and fully licensed. I'm one of their distributors and I can supply their stuff locally for less than what they sell online to the world.
5-way Super Switches - done!
CTS pots - I'm topping and tailing about it - expensive even to import, and they're full of it! If communication with them improves I might give it a shot! Otherwise all the short and long taper pots that I will stock will match my knobs and so on. I like metric stuff, knurled with fine spline.

tonerider

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Don't forget that if you are selling CTS pots, you'll need knobs for 1/4" shafts - the Japanese knobs are 6mm and do not fit.

Incidentally, if you have knowledge of this, which is more popular in the greater context of the SA market, fine spine or course spline pots and knobs? I suppose I'll have to stock both if they're equally used!

Reinhard

Tonepros bridges.

IceCreamMan

AndreM wrote So far I'm working on scratchplates (Tele and Strat), Tele and Strat bridges, bodies & necks (WD - USA, initially on order only), CTS pots, high quality low friction pots, pickup rings, screws, switches, 3-way toggle switches, 5-way selector switches, bridges, nuts, knobs, capacitors, resistors, wiring, etc. All quality stuff from Japan.

What else would a guitar enthusiast want?

left handed?

AlanRatcliffe

AndreM wrote CTS pots - I'm topping and tailing about it - expensive even to import, and they're full of it! If communication with them improves I might give it a shot!

Bourns make some fine pots too, usually with a bit more of a positive feel underhand.

AndreM wrote Incidentally, if you have knowledge of this, which is more popular in the greater context of the SA market, fine spine or course spline pots and knobs?

Irrelevant as far as most knobs go - the hole in the knob is usually smooth. Coarse spline are more common, but replacements (particularly brass shaft ones) are fine.

BTW - solid shaft you need only worry about 250K for Teles and Fender basses.

Mr-M

How about Graphtec? Andy McGibbon's obviously can't do their products anymore. I'm sure there is a need for TUSQ nuts and String Saver saddles in SA.

Wizard

Been covered already, but:

--> Complete quality Strat wiring kits, which are designed to work together at consistent quality.
Nice to just get the whole packet and reinstall the lot as part of an electronics upgrade.
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Wiring-Kit-Fender-Stratocaster-Modern-5-Way-P1167C153.aspx

--> Locking tuners
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Fender-Tuners-Locking-Chrome-Set-P319C201.aspx

--> Strap-locks
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Fender-Strap-Lock-Set-Chrome-P395C201.aspx

--> LP cover plates & bridges

--> Graphtec pre-slotted nuts & string trees

--> Shielding paint and/or tape

--> Not sure if you should stock high end strat tremolo bridges, as demand would be low & opinions regarding make and cost/benefit vary quite greatly.

AlanRatcliffe

Mr T wrote How about Graphtec? Andy McGibbon's obviously can't do their products anymore. I'm sure there is a need for TUSQ nuts and String Saver saddles in SA.

Marshall Cape have had Graph Tech for a while now.