Note: Hardware letter will be used in steps below.
Attach the Left Rail and Right Rail to the Core using QNTY 4 "A" screws per side.
Caution: Do not over-tighten to prevent stripping.
Attach the Whammy Bar to the Bridge.
Flip the Core over.
Hook the loop end of the tremolo Spring around the center hook of the Claw.
Carefully use needle nose plyers to stretch the spring and press the other end into the associated hole in the tremolo block.
Repeat for the other QNTY 2 springs.
Note: The 3 springs should look as shown. The outer 2 tremolo block hook positions should not be used.
Align the hole in the Latch with the hole in the Backplate as shown.
Locate the Latch Screw "C".
Insert the Latch Screw "B" through the Latch and fasten the Latch to the Backplate.
Caution: Do not over-tighten.
Note: Screw can be loosened / tightened to adjust how freely the Latch rotates.
The Pickups come with pre-soldered electrical contacts.
Caution: Handle the pickup wires carefully to prevent damaging the solder joints or breaking the electrical contacts free from the wires.
Using a screwdriver, remove the 2 springs and screws from the Pickups.
Insert the screws through the holes in the 3D printed Pickup Mount, flip the subassembly, and then add the springs over the screw posts as shown.
Mount the Neck and Bridge Pickups to the Pickup Mount using a screwdriver.
Note: The 'notch' in the Pickup Mount points towards the Neck.
Note: The Pickups are labeled Neck and Bridge on the back of the pickup, denoting their proper installation position.
The screws can be tightened / loosened to adjust the height of the Pickup relative to the strings (during guitar Setup at the end of the Core assembly).
Feed the pickup wire electrical contact ends through the hole in the bridge pickup cavity in the Core.
Ensure the Neck Pickup wire routes through the slot running between the pickup cavities and place the Pickup Subassembly onto the Core being careful not to pinch any of the wires.
Fasten the Pickup Subassembly to the Core using QNTY 8 "B" screws.
Note: The Neck Pickup wires have a Red protector on them.
Clip the electrical contacts onto the Backplate Subassembly following the wiring diagram below.
Route the wires through the slot in the Backplate. Make sure the wires are fully seated in the track and not sticking above the 3D printed walls.
Optional: Use a piece of electrical tape to hold the wires down.
Tuck and excess wires back through the hole in the Core into the pickup cavity to remove slack.
Place the Backplate Subassembly onto the Core.
Caution: Be careful not to pinch any wires.
Fasten the Backplate Subassembly to the Core using QNTY 4 "B" screws.
Place the Neck into the neck pocket in the Core.
Holding the Neck and Core together, flip the assembly and position the Neck Plate.
Insert the QNTY 4 Neck Screws "D" through the Neck Plate and Core, then fasten them using a screwdriver.
Caution: Screws should be tight to fully secure Neck to the Core, but over-tightening can strip the wooden Neck.
It's recommended to use some towels / cloths during the setup to elevate the headstock and protect the components.
You will need a Body, Amp, and Cable for the Core setup.
Slide a Body onto the Core while holding the Whammy Bard down. Fully insert the Core, and then you can release the Whammy Bar.
Press the Whammy Bar down and insert a rigid stop under the bridge. A hex key works well for this.
Note: You want to use something rigid to resist the tremolo spring force.
The goal is to position the Bridge in a relatively flat state relative to the body.
Now we can add strings.
Remove the QNTY 3 Locking Nut clamps from the Locking Nut.
Feed the wire through the tuning peg hole.
Loosen the saddle string blocks on the bridge, insert the end of the string, and tighten to secure the string.
Rotate the tuning peg to wind the string around the post.
Note: An Ernie Ball Power Peg String Winder (affiliate link) can help you save a lot of time here.
Repeat for all 6 strings.
Cut the excess wire using wire snips / cutters.
Add the Locking Nut clamps back to the Locking Nut, but do not tighten them all the way. Keep them loose.
Tune the string to pitch using a tuner.
Note: If you don't have a tuner, there are many tuner apps available for your phone.
Slowly remove the Bridge block (hex key).
Check up and down the fretboard to see if there are any dead notes / buzzing.
If so, you can adjust the 2 V-posts to raise/lower the Bridge for more/less string action.
You may also need to make small truss rod adjustments if there is any bow in the neck.
The Bridge may now be tilted slightly up or down. You can adjust this tilt be tightening / loosening the tremolo claw screws in the rear cavity of the Core. This will increase/decrease tension on the tremolo springs to balance against the string tension.
The tremolo claw should remain relatively parallel to the wood Core to evenly apply tension to the tremolo block.
Re-install the Backplate.
Check to see the Bridge is now balanced and sitting relatively flat.
Note: You may need to repeat the previous balancing steps a few times to dial it in correctly. This is an iterative process.
Intonate the guitar by adjusting the saddles forward / backwards so that the string note is 1 octave higher on the 12th fret. Slide the saddle forward if the pitch is flat, backwards if it's sharp.
Tighten the Locking Nut clamps.
Note: This will make the string pitch sharp, so you can tune slightly flat prior to tightening.
Adjust the fine tuners on the Bridge to re-tune the string to pitch.
Hold the strings down towards the end of the fret board and adjust the pickup screws to set the height of the pickups.
