Things have been rather slow at the shop of late so I have been bringing in many of my own guitars for some routine maintenance.
In the process, I realized that I hadn't done much with the Urchin in "awhile". Because it's in a big rectangular case it was put at the rear of a corner rack and too awkward to get at easily.
But I finally did pull it out to have a look. To my horror, it had been 4 years since I had "finished" this gal and the original strings were still on it!
Bad guitar owner!
BRIDGE REDUXWhat actually prompted me to look was that I found a brand new Strat trem bar in the gig bag which came with the Vantage that I just picked up just recently. Obviously it wasn't for that guitar, so maybe the seller gave me the wrong bag or summit. I scratched my head as to where I could use it, then I remembered that the bridge I put in the Urchin did not come with one and I just hard tailed it. Well, it fit perfectly!
I brought her into the shop for a restring, and setup the bridge to float. Wow! Really nice. Even though I seldom use it, it makes a nice option to have. And the tuning is nice and solid, so I have no idea what the previous moron owner was thinking by trying to install all that FR/locking bar rubbish.
PICKUP REDUXI am now revisiting the question of that neck pickup which still has me wondering what it is. I don't think there's any question as to whether it's original, but I'd really like to know what it is. With a 7.5'sh resistance it's in PAF territory, not MMK45 like the bridge. Now I'm thinking it may be Alnico.
Since getting that Vantage VP710 with the 61/53 combo and the bone nut and steel bridge, I'm seeing many similarities now in this Urchin and scratching me noggin'. Anyone have anything definitive? Curious minds want to know.
I played her for the first time in a long while, and quickly forgot about all the pain and misery it took to get her to this stage. This is a first rate guitar with a lot of tonal range. Despite its odd shape it's nicely balanced and surprisingly light. Love it!