345 rewire

ollychilton

I’m looking at having the varitone taken out of my ‘68 345. It’s currently got wired mono so the original loom is long gone.

My question is, can I cut out the varitone without removing the whole loom?

Thanks!

ICBM

Being wired mono doesn’t mean the original loom has to have been taken out, only the jack needs to be rewired - so it may or may not be. No need to replace it to remove the Varitone either.

ollychilton

ICBM said:

Being wired mono doesn’t mean the original loom has to have been taken out, only the jack needs to be rewired - so it may or may not be. No need to replace it to remove the Varitone either.

I spoke to the previous owner who said he changed the whole loom when it was rewired. Thanks for the info on the varitone! 

Stratavarious

Why?  It can be wired into bypass and mono so it has zero effect on the tone.

ollychilton

Stratavarious said:

Why?  It can be wired into bypass and mono so it has zero effect on the tone.

I never use the varitone! It’s a lot of dead weight for something not in use to me! 

Stratavarious

Mine is similar vintage. It might depend on how it was rewired.  Mine had a proper mono rewire which changed the position of the choke/varitone after the pots but the original wiring used both sides of the choke and came earlier.  Might be safer to pull lot and put standard 335 wiring in.  Some mono rewires just changed the socket to mono but that caused a loading which kills some top end on an original wired varitone.  Like a half job.  Be good to know what the current wiring is.

Penn

I know I’m controversial but I like the varitone. It does the BB king sound well obviously but it’s quite good fun to play with and use for other sounds. It even sort of does the thin tele sound if you play about enough. 

Penn

Also - show us your 345 

guitars4you

ollychilton said:

Stratavarious said:

Why?  It can be wired into bypass and mono so it has zero effect on the tone.

I never use the varitone! It’s a lot of dead weight for something not in use to me! 

Bypass it - Even when it is on position 1 (the zero bypass mode) it is still in the loop - The bypass is not a true bypass - When you actually 'take it out of the circuit' you'll instantly know and hear what I'm saying - So much more clarity and life

I did a restoration a few years ago, on an early 60's ES345 and actually took it off altogether and just put a 'dummy' pot + knob in the hole to cover it up  

I know a next potential buyer of a 68 ES345 might be more interested in it still been part of the guitar - But as you don't have an original loom etc then I wouldn't get hung up about it - I'd rather buy a good player grade 68 ES345 than an all original but 'poor' example with regards to its feel/tone/playability etc 

ollychilton

Thanks for all the info guys! 

Here’s a link to a pic of the 345 with a 67 smuggler tele. Sorry I’m not sure how to embed pics! 

https://imgur.com/a/Ud4Pce7

Stratavarious

ollychilton said:

Thanks for all the info guys! 

Here’s a link to a pic of the 345 with a 67 smuggler tele. Sorry I’m not sure how to embed pics! 

https://imgur.com/a/Ud4Pce7

Nice… Snap.. like mine but no Bigsby

Penn

Pure filth. 

Basher

ollychilton said:

Stratavarious said:

Why?  It can be wired into bypass and mono so it has zero effect on the tone.

I never use the varitone! It’s a lot of dead weight for something not in use to me! 

I believe they're quite heavy, any idea of the actual weight of the varitone assembly?

Also, and sorry for a mild hijack, do modern varitones weigh as much as the vintage ones?

I have a 2015 '64 345 reissue and, while I don't mind the varitone, it would be interesting if it would make the guitar a bit lighter without it. It still has the chunky, metal block component attached to the back of the guitar (is this the choke?) that looks like it might weigh quite a bit.

57Deluxe

Varitone discuss on TPS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nHwoIgysnQ

ollychilton

Basher said:

ollychilton said:

Stratavarious said:

Why?  It can be wired into bypass and mono so it has zero effect on the tone.

I never use the varitone! It’s a lot of dead weight for something not in use to me! 

I believe they're quite heavy, any idea of the actual weight of the varitone assembly?

Also, and sorry for a mild hijack, do modern varitones weigh as much as the vintage ones?

I have a 2015 '64 345 reissue and, while I don't mind the varitone, it would be interesting if it would make the guitar a bit lighter without it. It still has the chunky, metal block component attached to the back of the guitar (is this the choke?) that looks like it might weigh quite a bit.

Not sure if modern ones are much different in weight. But they can add about a pound onto the weight! The modern ones are different in that position 1 is true bypass, so you just get the sound of the actual guitar open! The vintage ones are always in the circuit.

ollychilton

Penn said:

Pure filth. 

Thank you sir!! 

elstoof

The varitone switch, choke and shielding cans on the old ones altogether weighs about 3/4lb, like putting an extra Bigsby on the guitar basically. Not sure how heavy the newer ones are

Kurtis

Cool guitars ^^ ! 

ollychilton

elstoof said:

The varitone switch, choke and shielding cans on the old ones altogether weighs about 3/4lb, like putting an extra Bigsby on the guitar basically. Not sure how heavy the newer ones are

That’s crazy! I’m looking forward to getting this one out, it’ll be way more usable for me! 

ollychilton

Kurtis said:

Cool guitars ^^ ! 

Thanks a lot!