Tom's FrankenFender / Marauder VI project!

[FuzzHugger]

I got one of these new for $300.
Not my first choice of odd Fenders, but I'm gonna turn it into a super Weirdcaster.

mar1.jpg (192.32 KiB) Viewed 2862 times

Actually a pretty great guitar in a lot of ways. For $300, I'm thrilled. It's made in China, but it has a slight edge on the Squiers I've tried (in overall quality, detail, plus, no sharp fret ends, where the Squiers I've tried all had sharp frets).

The pickups are hot. They sound great with fuzz/distortion...but cleans are harsh. I've seen people complaining about the Triplebucker being too dark, but I don't like bright bridge pickups, so it's pretty awesome--for fuzz. For cleans, it sounds turdy.

So.

STEP #1: The neck's great, but I prefer a shorter scale...might convert to 24" scale or 24.75". Experimenting with necks this weekend. Got a Jaguar neck to try.

STEP #2: Pickups. I'm pulling both.

I'm gonna do lipsticks. Yep.
I have a handful of Seymour Duncan lipstick pickups (strat-mount). Two bridge lipsticks, a RWRP Duncan middle, and a neck.

I'm going to put the two bridge lipsticks in the humbucker ring in the bridge. The RWRP middle and neck lipsticks in the neck position, probably cutting slots in a Jazzmaster cover to expose them a bit.

So what's the coolest way to wire them?

I'm thinking:
1 - Both bridge lipsticks.
2 - Inside bridge lipstick.
3 - Inside bridge lipstick + RWRP in neck position.
4 - RWRP in neck, other neck-position lipstick.
5 - Single neck-position lipstick.
Never wired a 5-way...I assume that's ^ possible.

Progress pics soon!

[skullservant]

AWESOME GO TOM!!

[FuzzHugger]

So what's the coolest way to wire them?

I'm thinking:
1 - Both bridge lipsticks.
2 - Inside bridge lipstick.
3 - Inside bridge lipstick + RWRP in neck position.
4 - RWRP in neck, other neck-position lipstick.
5 - Single neck-position lipstick.

Never wired a 5-way...I assume that's ^ possible.

Anyone know if that's ^ possible?
Wired a couple thousand guitar pedals, never wired pickups with a 5-way switch.

[skullservant]

Yeah, I definitely think it would be possible. Have you looked into Strat wiring techniques? I bet that would be your best bet into finding different options. I'm curious to see what you find!

[Obulus]

Looks like an interesting project!
Are you selling the triplebucker?

[FuzzHugger]

I haven't looked at wiring diagrams yet. But I'll post sketches of the switch wiring once I figure it out.

I'm tempted to keep the triple-bucker for a fuzz/distortion-only guitar....it might be the first bridge pickup I've really liked! Otherwise, I'll ebay it...same with the neck if I replace that

[Mudfuzz]

I got all excited... I thought.. Marauder.....



Still... I would like to see one of those without the weird pickups combo Fender used..

[Obulus]

That's what I thought too!

Anyway, I was also looking at the triplebucker because I never like bridge pickups too. I figured this could be something I like. It doesn't look like Fender is selling them separately though?

[Mudfuzz]

I was also looking at the triplebucker because I never like bridge pickups too. I figured this could be something I like. It doesn't look like Fender is selling them separately though?

Ibanez did the first Icemen with triples.. actually the pickup in ^^^ guitar looks like a Ibanez ATK bass pickup... things sound like a Musicman Stingray... MLC has a Hamer with a triple coil so he might have some insight into how they sound... you want a think bridge pickup though... Rio Grande Muy Grande is pretty huge... I'm the opposite though so... I dislike most neck pickups and it takes me for ever to find ones I like..

[Obulus]

Some cool suggestions, I'll check them out for sure. Fender triplebucker is still at the top of my list though, as it still fits in a humbucker slot and id' really like to check out the triple coil stuff

[Greenfuz]

make a sextuple humbucker

[FuzzHugger]

Saying "ugly Marauder with weird pickups" just doesn't narrow it down enough, huh?

Though imo, Gibson's Marauder is unredeemably gross. To me, ugly Fenders are cool, and ugly Gibsons are ugly.

And if what I've heard about it is true, it's a good thing Gibson buried it. Just from seeing them around myself: ugly finishes (except that red wine one on eBay), the way they show off that they have 3+ piece bodies, 3-piece necks, 5-piece headstocks.

[FuzzHugger]

Gibson Marauder sidebar.





At the time they came out, they were 4 times cheaper than a Les Paul. And Gibson was cutting corners on those too. So I guess at the time, this would've been the smarter choice, but Marauder bodies are going for over $300, and assembled ones are topping $1000.

[FuzzHugger]

Speaking of ugly Gibsons being just ugly...their design department has an amazing legacy of crack use.








Damn, the Gibson Marauder's starting to look good!

[Haki]

Damn, the Gibson Marauder's starting to look good!

The Marauder has the only type of pickguard I like on a LP style body. And that reverse flying V still has something, maybe it's because it seems useful for those post show stabbing urges.