NGD Update: The Parker p38 is back.

skunkwerx

The big bends sleeves arrived today, along with the roller string tree. 

Roller tree would have been too high so just decided to keep the current one. But as it was loose in its hole I plugged the hole with a cocktail stick and wood glue and tightened it down. 

Same for the bottom strap pin, kept working loose so fixed that at the same time.

As I was re-stringing and adding the sleeves (pain in the ass tbh), I gave the rear cavity a clean.. and as I had some new gotoh springs laying about I swapped them over.

I do have the back plate.. but just going to leave it off tbh. 

Then properly cleaned the rest of it! 

Its come a long way tbh from how I received it! 

I still intend to correct the paintwork, I just havent had the time or patience yet. 

Annoyingly I havent had time to play it to test if the sleeves have made any difference in regard a couple strings returning sharp after trem use. But I'll report back. 

I've found a source for the saddles, a shop in the US who seem to specialise in parker parts or repairs.. but would end up costing about £40+ for one.. I'll likely pick one up, but I have no idea where to solder it to.. or if it will fix the issue. 

The other option is I could just long off the entire piezo system like so many other Parkers and add a killswitch or some other whatsit in its place, but I'd be a shame as I'd like to keep it original and working.. 

The hipshot locking tuners, luckily the mounting plate is dead flush with the carve, so whilst it doesnt look it, you cant feel the edge at all up there. 

And a little nod to the late Heistercamp.

ICBM

You could replace the saddles with a set of GraphTech Ghost ones - same basic technology, but the GraphTech ones don’t have the same construction which allows moisture in, and are more reliable. Not cheap though.

DefaultM

Kittyfrisk said:

DefaultM said:

Yeah you should have raised it sooner, but don't feel too bad cos I've had the same situation and did raise it sooner and they still didn't give a shit haha.

Whoa! You both bought the same unsorted guitar from the same dealer? Awesome! 

No I bought one off them probably over 10 years ago and it had a massive undisclosed Guns n Roses sticker on the back like you'd get out of Kerrang.
They said something like they put it was in used condition and feel this fits that description.
Well yeah I suppose it does, but quite unexpected.

Logie

So… two names on my list of never buy/ buy from. Looks like an awful lot of hassle just to be able to play a D chord

jca74

I normally leave back plates off as well, but in this case I would be worried about the rather flappy looking ground wire to the trem claw. Looks like it could easily get caught on a belt buckle. I would either replace the back plate or shorten the ground so it is less likely to get snagged.

skunkwerx

jca74 said:

I normally leave back plates off as well, but in this case I would be worried about the rather flappy looking ground wire to the trem claw. Looks like it could easily get caught on a belt buckle. I would either replace the back plate or shorten the ground so it is less likely to get snagged.

It is indeed a bit slack, its on my to do list  

Though I'm not sure which direction to go in with the electronics yet.. but if replacing the saddles/piezos, I'll do it all at the same time.