Resurrection of a VVV

[Genebaby]

This is going to be interesting. Many years ago, two Vinnie boards ago in fact, I purchased a VVV guitar from a member here, Trev, from the UK.

It was a Monster VVV, a very early one, as Trev commissioned it since he had trouble getting a VVV guitar any other way.

In time he found a Jackson VVV from a collector and bought that one, prompting him to sell the Monster.

I saw Trev's ad one lazy afternoon when I checked in on the very quiet board and decided I'd buy it. At least it was a VVV, right?

I remember it did play pretty good when I got it, but it was a bit rough around the edges. This was fine as I fully intended to one day get it rebuilt, and the majority of the hard work was done.

It has a genuine Floyd, one EMG pickup and was silver/black. I don't have many pictures of it actually, but I do have the build pics that TJ sent Trev, and a pic of Trev playing it.

TJ Monster went on to have his section on the board, but let's not go there!

I didn't do much with the guitar for years, but I did get in touch with a builder/repair guy in 2012. By this time when I looked at the guitar, the finish was cracking for some reason and the fretboard was lifting from the back of the neck. No worries, repainting was in the cards, and the fretboard can be glued back down.

Nothing did happen back then, but it is now!!!

I've sent the guitar to Cam at Custom Guitar Works in Melbourne. Well, almost sent. I had a friend take it back to Melbourne with him, but no real urgency in getting the guitar to Cam. Well, what do we have now? Quarantine and lockdown situation like we've never seen before.

So this may take a while longer than even I anticipated to get started, or Cam may come and pick the guitar up, as for him it's work related, which is obviously good for him. We shall see.

Anyhow, I had to decide what to do with this guitar. First things first, is the headstock needs to be adjusted to be like a Jackson. TJ did not do a full copy of the Jackson headstock at that time.

The big thing was the colour. What to do? Well, it wasn't that hard, red was the answer!!!

Back in 2003, I think it was, I tried to buy a Red/Silver Jackson VVV on Ebay but the AU$ was low (lower than it even is now) and someone in Amercia had more buying power so it went back across the ocean. I've always remembered it and it was an almost perfect VVV for me. The only thing I would have done different, which I'll be doing now, is having the headstock red with a silver logo. This one had a silver headstock with red logo. Or should I keep it the same?

I've come to realise I'll need to get a gold Floyd and gold tuners now, but I'll talk with Cam about that once he finally gets the guitar.

Here are some pics of the Monster VVV that TJ build and the look it will eventually have.

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[tukoztukoz]

Resurrection time! Yes! Even for PS-10’s!
Cool story!
Purple instead of black would be nice!

[Genebaby]

For me it will be red/silver. I guess Trev chose the black colour.

[tukoztukoz]

Red/silver: great!
Remember that grey/black Jackson VV custom shop we saw here and on eBay a few years back?

[Genebaby]

Yes, I remember that one. Hopefully I can get this one looking and playing fantastic and then I'll be happy.

[Slayer]

Red, of course Vic

Dino's will be mahogany with pine fins LOL

[Genebaby]

Happy to finally post a bit of an update on this, it's been slow going, cause that's how these things go, plus bloody Covid on top.

The guitar is almost done, there is just a couple of things that need sorting, so I'll post a teaser pic of the body I have.

I will now source the new hardware that is needed in Gold, so hopefully we can get this done by Xmas.

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[shramiac]

Red face with a silver logo on the headstock would look better.


Tuko, there are actually TWO silver/black VVVs that were built at the same time, in 1997. One of them, the owner took the EMG out and fitted a Duncan.

Kev, your descriptions of what Vic and Dino would want are spot on!

[pullitt]

Cool. I love seeing VV-related stuff that is real.

[Slayer]

THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT - Is the red metal flake?

Brown with Pine wings LOL! Love myself some Dino!

[Genebaby]

It's metal flake all over Kev!!! Is there any other way?

I'm getting excited about this build now and can't wait to share the finished result with you guys.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I chose Cam at Custom Guitar Works as he used to play bass in a Van Halen Tribute that I saw back in 2007.

Check out the show that I saw:



I found out later that both the bass and guitar used that night were made by Cam, and that Cam was on the bass.

Then over the years I would see Charvel guitars, that Cam had spruced up, for sale on Ebay and realised he had a shop and all that. At one time i think he even had a line of guitars made overseas for himself. I think I remember that.

So Cam was the natural choice to tackle this guitar, and he's also worked on another guys VVV already, though it looks like a simpler build and from memory it was a generic Jackson neck and Cam may have made the body for it and then painted and assembled.

It's pictured on the front page, but there aren't any other photos anymore that I could find. https://customguitarworks.com.au/

[shramiac]

Here's the link for the VVV Cam built with the genuine Jackson neck fitted and filled in to look like a neck through.....sadly all the pics are unavailable.
Probably uploaded to the turds at Photobucket, who now block everything.

https://www.vvforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6906

[Genebaby]

Oh wow, I'd forgotten about that thread and that we knew that guitar, very cool. I also forgot it became a set neck guitar, with neck through feel, like the 750XL's. I hope he's still enjoying it.

All the pics are working for me btw.

[shramiac]

Aaaaaand....magically the images appear on my browser now too!

Can't believe that thread is 6 years old!!!!!!!

[Genebaby]

The time, she flies!!!

Hopefully not that much longer for my VVV transformation. I'm not sure on a timeframe, just hopefully this year.

[Slayer]

Very cool, what a happy time for you Vic!

[Genebaby]

It is exciting Kev, it's been a long wait but I'm glad I got off my butt and got the project started.

The new gold hardware is on the way from the other side of the world, so that will come in handy when it's time to get the strings back on.

[Genebaby]

Here's a teaser shot in the case with the new fitted interior.

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[Slayer]

[metatron]

My pear VVV is getting adjusted by Charles Cilia.

Charles builds guitars for the likes of Finbar O'Hanlon (Custom Cilia Thylacine 7 "Mathemagician")

[metatron]

Charles Cilia also builds Michael Dolce of Delta Goodrem and Australia's The Voice

[Genebaby]

I've heard of Charles through my guitar guy here in town.

What's he doing to your VVV?

[metatron]

Small chip in the head-stock, the intonation and possibly hi E piezo pickup needs adjust or replacement. Also the pickup switching has never been been a straight forward process. So getting that looked at also.

[Genebaby]

Sounds good! That's a beast of a guitar man.

[shramiac]

Sounds good! That's a beast of a guitar man.

It suuuure is!

Love that quilt top 7 string! Love me a 27 fretter! Easier to get my big fingers up to the 24th fret!

Will have a look at his site now....not that I need any new guitars! Barely playing as it is!

Thanks Dannii.

[Genebaby]

I was talking about Dannii's Pear VVV, not any of Charle's guitars!!

[shramiac]

I was talking about Dannii's Pear VVV, not any of Charle's guitars!!

So was I!

"It suuuuuure is" was in reference to the multi coloured mofo!

[Genebaby]

Ah, sounded like the whole post was about the other guitar.

Dannii's guitar is incredible though, that is for sure.

[birnie]

Sounds good! That's a beast of a guitar man.

It suuuure is!

Love that quilt top 7 string! Love me a 27 fretter! Easier to get my big fingers up to the 24th fret!

Will have a look at his site now....not that I need any new guitars! Barely playing as it is!

Thanks Dannii.

Pffft, 27 fretta, 'siff

[shramiac]

You loved my 27 fretter so much, you went and bought your own!!!!

[birnie]

You loved my 27 fretter so much, you went and bought your own!!!!

[Genebaby]

Ok, it's big news time. The guitar is actually pretty much finished!

Check it out!

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[birnie]

Ooo la la !
Looks..slippery
I forgot it was a Monster too.
Do we get a video demo of the Animal solo ?

[Genebaby]

There will be no demo video of the Animal solo.

Maybe there will be something if I play it onstage with the band at some point. It would be cool to take it out and see what people think of it.

[metatron]

Very nice Vic, Congratulations. looks great

[Genebaby]

Thanks man, it's been a long wait. Sending it to Melbourne just as COVID was starting, then having Melbourne lockdowns impede the delivery to the guitar builder. Then more COVID, while the builder has his own stuff going on as well, yadda, yadda, yadda.

It will be good to see it in it's new glory and have a play and see what the locals think of it. I think it will certainly stand out.

[Slayer]

Outstanding and congratulations! Now we all have one of these guitars!

[Genebaby]

Ha ha, yes. I have had this for about 16 years I think!! But it wasn't the guitar I wanted it to be, until now. Now it can come out to play and dazzle other people as I play it.

I am really looking forward to getting it home, hopefully next week it will be here. I had it set up in E flat as I use that for gigs and I would like it to be an option, though I'm more of a strat guy these days. I will give it a go however. Even maybe for a song or two, I just want this to be seen.