Rainbow 1: Which mikes?

[criss]

Hello, I would like to change the mikes of my Rainbow 1 because the original ones sound a bit blurry. I wonder if I must put Classic 57 or something else (What?). Has somebody here already changed his Rainbow's mikes? Does this guitar deserve it?
Thanks.
Criss

[colt933]

I have thought about changing the pickups in my Rainbow II as well, but have not done so because I am so unfamiliar with hollow body electric guitars. I believe the labor will be difficult - much more so than with a solid body electric. But again, I do not know for sure. How do you get to the back of the pots to do the soldering?

My choice would be either Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, 59, or Jazz. I bet any of these would sound great in this guitar.

[criss]

Hi Colt. Thanks for your answer.
I've been told it could be possible to unsolder the wire end on the original mike when removing it, then re-solder this wire end on the new mike so that it is no use trying to reach the pots. But I'm not sure and I'll ask the technician. (I'll post his answer here.)
About the new mike, I just intend to change the neck one as long as I rarely use the bridge one. Do you think the Seymour could make not only a more precise clear sound, but thicker too? And what about the Gibson Classic 57?
What kind of music do you play on your Rainbow 2?

[Westbone]

criss, If you want to sell on your rainbow's pickups, I'll be more than interested.

[criss]

Sorry Westbone, but I'll keep those pickups. It would be a shame to be unable to put this guitar back on. I'd like to know some more about it: Were those "Super Twin 2" made by Matsumoku?
I wish you'll find your pickups very soon.
Criss

[normarker]

I've just picked up a Rainbow 11, it's an '82 one in pretty good condition for £50 except I need to get at the electrics. I can't see a way to get the knobs off, do I use force? One of the tone controls doesn't turn and I don't have an output from the bridge pickup as a result. I also need to sort out the jack socket. I gather you do all this via the bridge pickup cutout.
Any advice gratefully recieved.

[Westbone]

Firstly, that's a bloody good price you paid for that.
How's about some photo's.

Take 2 teaspoons, place some protection either side of the knob on the guitar and lever away.

Try some switch cleaner(not WD40) down the shaft of the control. Spray it on a couple/good few times and leave for an hour, let it penetrate. You might need a pair of vise grips to 'gently' persuade it and loads more cleaner.

Possible your pickup selector switch might need the same. Spray down the toggle and switch like there's no tomorrow.
Worth a try first.
Get some very fine wet+dry roll it up and slide in + out your jack, Sounds like this guitars been stored in aloft or changeable conditions

If for any reason your pickup doesn't work at all, ie. no readings. I give us a shout. It is repairable. Take it your in the UK?

[corsair]

Sweet Jeebus..... £50!! Good for you!!!

[normarker]

Last week I saw a Hohner copy in Cash Converters (don't laugh) for £100, I went home and thought about it until Saturday, decided to buy it and it had gone. I was in the area this pm so I stuck my head in to see if they had anything else worth seeing while I was pondering if the Ibanez JS100 in CashGenerator was worth the £120 they had it in for. A guy was there with a gig bag and I got chatting, turns out he was trying to sell them this Rainbow11. The silly buggers couldn't find it on their database so they said they weren't interested, we carried on chatting outside, he said he'd had it for 15 years and just wanted to fet rid, I asked him how much and he said £50 would be enough, wallet out, deal done.
I was not familiar with the model anymore than the twit in the shop was but I could see it was a decent Japanese one, no body chips, two chips at the back of the headstock, chrome not too bad given it's age, just the electrics to sort out. I've got the knobs off and applied WD40 so fingers crossed.....

[Westbone]

DONT use WD It'll F**k the controls up

[normarker]

Ah, yes, well, I'd already done it when I saw that.
It worked though, it also worked on the jack socket.
I now have both pups working.
I can see how to get the socket out but how the hell do you get it back in?

[normarker]

So how much should I have given this guy? We have friends in common apparently!
....and yes, i am in the UK, Southampton in fact.

[Westbone]

Tie a piece of string/wire to the socket and pull it back through.

Now your pots are free, give them a real good shot of switch cleaner, available from Maplins shops.

Treble your £50. and a bit. Nice score.

How's about some pictures,,,drool,,,

[Barry]

...How do you get to the back of the pots to do the soldering?

The quick and dirty way is to simply cut the wire inside the pickup cavity leaving enough attached to the original pickup so you can reverse the wiring. Make your connections inside the cavity. Just take care that the joint is well covered and that the new pickup does not rest directly on it when installing.

Not too elegant but it works. The alternative is to tie string (dental floss works very well) or wire to the pots and pull them out. But that's a bugger, and life's too short.

[Westbone]

Cut the wires Barry your a butcher!

[Barry]

Cut the wires Barry your a butcher!

I know, I know, just call me The Barber of Seville!

[Iceman]

£50.00?!?!?!?!?

{GASP}

Seriously? ???????????

Wow, that's just....... WOW.

Pictures please. Why can't I seem to meet these blokes hanging around the local pawn shops here?

A GREAT stroke of luck. Good for you sir!

[normarker]

Only just registered so I can't post links for another 6 days, pics are on photobucket, I will post when they let me. Also will include the Indei Tribal I got with a hard case post paid for £215 last year.

[normarker]

Now this is going to really piss someone off.
I checked last night to see how much an Ibanez Joe Satriani JS100 is worth.
I got up really early by my standards this morning and was the first one outside Cash Generator.
£120, result or what?
This one was originally sold by the shop round the corner who currently do them new for £675.
So that's two guitars on consecutive days for £170, this is turning into quite a good week.

[bowenjaybee]

you are one lucky fella normarker getting that Rainbow II for £50 , I check Cash converters & cash generator every week but have only ever seen one Westone, A Spectrum series II bass which I bought..... I'm still waiting for the day that I walk in and there looking at me amongst the usual crappy Strat copies is a Westone Concord III for £39.99 It's gotta happen one day