Hmi Wilkinson mte 22 mm User manual

Set the action at the nut.

Set the action at the bridge

Adjust the pickup height

The last step is intonating the guitar by adjusting the string lengths

at the bridge so the guitar plays in tune all the way up the neck.

Your Kit model TE52 and TE 60 have WTB bridges with three

saddles (two per string) these are pre-intonated per pair. Setting the

Low E string will compensate for the A setting, the G string intona-

tion will compensate for the D string. The HIgh E string when into-

nated will compensate for the B string. Using a strobe or other

accurate tuner ...First tune the strings to pitch. Then, press the high

E string lightly at the 12th fret using just enough pressure to sound

the note. Check it with your tuner. If the note reads flat, the saddle

needs to be adjusted forward towards the nut, shortening the length

of the string If the note reads sharp, the saddle needs to be adjusted

back away from the nut, increasing the string length.to set the into-

nation. Repeat this process for the G string and the Low E string

Bridges supplied with the MTE kits are “Wilkinson” WTB “DUPLO”

style. These are also a three saddle bridge but with the added

feature of each saddle having a choice of intonation offsets per set

of strings. These off sets are accessed by rotating the saddle on the

intonation screw. Offset 1 is full travel. Off set 2 will redice this offset

by 50%.this can help when using mixed or custom string guages.

Adjust the action at the bridge by raising or

lowering the string saddles. Measure string height over the 12th fret

between the bottom of the string and the top of the fret.

A good starting point is: High (unwound) E string: 1/16" at the 12th

fret..Low (wound) E string: 5/64" at the 12th fret.

You can always go lower or higher depending on your playing style.

After setting the two E strings, dial in the remaining strings to match

the curve of the fretboard. Stew Mac 10” Radius guage included in

the set # 0353 is ideal for this ..

Holding down the low E and high E strings at the 22nd fret, adjust

the bass side of the pickups to 5/64" from the top of the pickup pole

to the bottom of the low E string. Adjust the treble side to 1/16".

Now Re-tune your guitar and check the action. Sight down the neck

and check for any “overbow” (bending backwards) causing string

buzz on an open string or Under bow on the neck causing a higher

than necessary action in the middle of the neck when playing. Adjust

the optimum action with the truss rod.

Set the intonation

Lower your string nut slots for better playability using

gauged nut files. Measure string height over the 1st

fret, between the bottom of the string and the top of the

fret. A comfortable medium action is: Unwound strings

(G, B, E): 0.012" at the 1st fret, Wound strings (E,A,D):

0.020" at the 1st fret Use feeler gauges to measure the

gap, or use guitar strings whose gauges match the

measurement you’re after. Stop when the string sits on

your feeler gauge. Go slow and check your work

frequently—it’s easy to go too far in this step and ruin

the nut.

Your guitar is now be ready to play and ENJOY !!

Assembly Instructions

MTE 22 MM / MR models

Welcome to the wonderful world of guitar building!

These are the tools and supplies we recommend for assembling this kit.

(Stew Mac item numbers are included where applicable.)

Nut-slotting files

0.010" width(#0821)

0.013" width (#0823)

0.020" width (#0828)

0.035" width (#0832)

0.042" width (#0833)

0.046” width (#5313

Electric hand drill or Bench Drill press

Small Hammer # 4895

ESP Multi Spanner # 1344

Phillips screwdrivers, size #1 & #2 (#3000)

Understring radius guages Item # 0353

Center punch or awl (#3000)

Clamp (#3721)

Soldering iron

Drill bits: 1/16” 5/64“ 3/32” 7/64“ 1/8” 11/64“

Whether you are a first time builder or Professional Luthier this kit will

give you a top quality "Custom Shop Grade"

Great sounding, Great playing instrument.

This Kit Features Genuine Wilkinson Hardware,

Tuners and Pickups. CTS pots and CRL switches.

Neck relief refers to adjusting a neck so that it has a very slight upbow, rather than being

perfectly straight. This relief allows a little more room for string vibration, reducing the

chance of hitting the lower frets and causing fret buzz. Depending on your playing style, and

how perfectly level your fret tops are, a neck should be anywhere from perfectly straight to

having 0.012" of relief. This measurement refers to additional string height over the 12th fret,

compared to a perfectly straight neck. A straight neck tends to play and sound better, but

very few guitars end up with no relief at all, and several thousandths of an inch or more is

perfectly normal.

Install the strings

Classic "Tele style" unfinished

fine sanded body in 2 piece

centre jointed American Alder Wilkinson WTN

alnico"V" single

coil pickup.

Parts included in your KIT

Install the bridge with pickup

Straight neck, or a little relief?

Adjusting the Truss rod

Truss rod

Headstock adjuster

Increase relief

Decrease relief

Aged white pickguard

MTE 22 MM with 22 Medium Jumbo frets modern 12” radius

one piece maple neck with headstock truss rod adjuster

Wilkinson WJ05 sealed geared tuners

Wilkinson WTB

“Duplo” bridge

with Cold roll

steel plate and

brass

pre-intonated

reversible saddles

MTE 22 R with 22 Medium Jumbo frets modern 12” radius rosewood

fingerboard with headstock truss rod adjuster

Aged white pickguard

Wilkinson WVTB

alnico “V” raised

pole piece

Bridge pickup

Neck shown with optional shaped Headstock

Neck shown with Paddle Headstock

CTS potentiometers and CRL lever switch,

cloth covered push back hook up wire.

Wilkinson WJ05 sealed geared tuners

Drill the 4 bridge mounting holes deeper to accomodate the screws using a 1/8” drill . Mark the

depth of the screw with tape on the drill after comparing the screw length. Countersink the hole

slightly to avoid tearout when fitting the screws. Mount the pickup in the bridge and attach the

assembly to the guitar. Lubricatring the screw with a small amount of Slipstick will make the

assembly easier

String up your guitar with the strings supplied (or a set of you choice). I ususally install the

supplied set first and do all the setup and adjustments, tuning etc...then when this is complete,

re-string with a new set as this will give you the best sound as tuning and re-tuning stings many

times can affect their tone.

After tuning to pitch adjust the truss rod before making the final adjustments to Saddle and nut

height etc.. explained later in these instructions

Assembling your guitar

During assembly, use a padded surface to protect the

finish from scratches and dents.

Installing the tuners.

Lay out the tuners, using a ruler to make sure they’re in line with one another

and square to the edge of the peghead.

Mark out your mounting holes with a scribe or punch. Tuner mounting screws

are very delicate, and will break off if forced into hard maple. Use a 5/64" drill

bit to make pilot holes for the screws; if these holes are any smaller you risk

shearing off the screw heads.

Lubricate the screw threads with the Wilkinson Slipstick provided in the kit.

With the tuners in place, install the screws in the pilot holes with a #1 Phillips.

Whenever you drill a hole be sure to countersink slightly larger than the screw

diameter. this will reduce wood tearout and make for a clean assembly.

Neck pickup white wire

to this switch terminal

Bridge pickup yellow wire

to this switch terminal

Your body has already been drilled for the correct locations of these buttons. Use the screws provided

with the kit. A little Wilkinson "Slipstick" on the screws will make installing these a breeze.

Always countersink drilled holes slightly to stop any grain lift when installing screws.

The remaining black lead wire is for the string

ground. Feed this wire through the hole from the

control cavity into the bridge pickup cavity. Remove

about 3 inches of insulation and allow it to exit the

back pof the pickup rout and on to the face of the

guitar contacting the underside of the bridge. After

installing the Bridge this wire will be trapped under

the bridge plate grounding the electronics. install the

jack Socket in the hole in the side of the guitar using

the 2 screws provided with the socket

The two-strand hookup wire from the

volume pot goes to the output jack.

Thread the wire through

the hole from pickup cavity into the

jack cavity. Solder the white insu-

lated wire to the jack’s tip

lug (the rounded lug).

Solder the bare ground wire to the

jack’s sleeve lug (the square lug).

Install the Strap Buttons.

Install the neck.

Enlarge the 4 screw holes in the body with 11/64" drill bit. The body holes are drilled intentionally

small to allow the neck holes to be perfectly aligned. Before installing the neck it is essential that

these body holes have clearance for the neck bolt/screws to pass through the body un-hindered.

This is essential in order to facilitate a truly tight neck to body joint for maximum transfer of string

resonance from the neck to the body. I also find that countersinking these holes slightly

(under the neck plate) also helps provide the tightest neck to body joint as the countersunk

screw head can be deeper than the countersinks of the neck plate. Use a #2 Phillips screwdriver

to install the neck mounting screws through the neck mounting plate. Lubricate the 4 neck

mounting screws with "Slipstick" Dry Lube. Tighten the screws to hold the neck in place.

Solder the output jack.

Soldering the string ground.

Wiring the pickups

Hot White wire from

neck pickup Hot Yellow wire from

Bridge pickup

Pickp grounding wires

to back of pot