Kentucky 300e

[Ken Olmstead]

The thread that keeps coming up like a bad meal!!

I have threatened to do some modifications to this instrument since I got it. Well its done and man was it totally worth it!!! The volume and tone controls are positioned much better now and it is running quality Fender CTS pots. The new Dimarzio Pro-track pickup is nestled in it's custom made pick-guard. The sound is to die for! Thicker bolder tone, perfect for the smooth jazz that I want to play on it! COMPLETELY NOISE FREE!! How much you may ask?? $250 for the mods. For me it was completely worth the expense. Now a guy like Andrew can build you a beautiful custom made mando with these features for close to what these cost new and the mods but this allowed me to experiment and see if it was for me. I "shoe-horned" in so to speak.

It is now a professional level instrument with nicer tortis guard, reliable electronics, bolder, jazzier voice, noise free and better positioned controls for me. I am very happy with it and it will of course be featured in my next video!!

[mando.player]

Nice work Ken. Did you wire the ProTrack with a push/pull pot or is it wired as just a humbucker?

My Mann has the push/pull pot. On my current amp (Peavey Royal 8) it acts more like a boost than anything else.

[Ken Olmstead]

I wired it strait humbucking. I live near a noisey power line and I can not stand 60 cycle hum so I just went humbucking. I could easily add a switch latter if I had to have single coil sounds.

I played it for about 2 hours last night and it is such an improvement! I am thrilled!!

[mandroid]

FWIW ,when around neon ballasts, like the many Beer Brand signs in the nearby Tavern ,
Even Humbuckers Hum.

[Ken Olmstead]

Yeah, I have played electric guitars for 20+ years and humbuckers or noiseless SC are the only thing I can handle. Your right, any electronics can make noise caused by electrical interference but I want as little as possible. But, it sounds fabulous with the humbucker in there! I could not be more pleased with this rig now!!

[mandroid]

Made My FM61 a nicer instrument with a stacked humbucker,
and really like the one in the 4 string Dola conversion in an A50

holding the thing overhead., closer to the sign is a Wah-wah like effect ,
just can't figure out how to make it work in the song .. maybe fill during the Drum solo ..

[Ken Olmstead]

[Ken Olmstead]

I think that this will be the last time that I post to this thread but you can hear this mando in action with the changes here. Hope you like!

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG_RMarWYxA