Stratocaster assembly

Ray

Well an assembly because I'm not cutting the shape or routing the cavities or carving the neck. I will do that in a later exercise but I want to dip the toes with a less ambitious project to check wot's wot first.

So, I have to start somewhere and I bought a body from Warmoth. I looked all over but honestly they seemed about the best option. Not that there arent any negs but with all the sums and considerations they just gave me the warmest feeling. Not the cheapest. In fact, I ordered this neck Christmas day (because I was really not happy with the presents I got). I received it two Saturdays back. That's good hey? The same day I ordered a bunch of stuff from Stewmac and nothing yet. But I have got stuff from Stewmac quite quick in the past as well. Just pointing out that these guys do jump to it.

The neck I'll show you later becasue there is all sorts of thinking on the go. I'm wanting a 1 3/4" nut width but also a fatback profile. the width becasue I'm clumsy and the fatback becasue it's fat.

Back to the body. I chose it from their instock showcase and there were quite a few that I was considering and I didnt even know what finish I wanted. (Just a quick ref to the neck again that it will take longer to deliver becasue they will have to put it ogether first). And actually I have some ideas now but still not 100% certain. And today I'm going to Wayne and we are gonna start and I just know we're going to cry while I try and makeup my mind. I'm thinking a tobacco burst maybe. Or a two tone. I want it transparent but I really dont like the loud reds and so forth. Pretty dramatic and all but you will get bored of it I promise.

I told them to put in a swimming pool rout becasue I had a bit of an argument on another forum with some people and we arrived at a conclusion that with future possibilities, this may be the best way to go. You will see that I got them to install the studs as well. You pay someone to wash your car. You pay someone to carry your clubs. For what you want to install your own studs?

Some pics:

the back

some fronts

Later maybe some more or tomorrow.

Gearhead

Nice project Ray. And, you have made up your mind about the Ash body and the 2-point tremolo. Curious about the neck...

Ray

The neck will be 1 3/4 and fatback. And it will be one piece maple. I actually wanted to get their Pro series neck but then again that has a separate fingerboard and so there is no skunk stripe and you know what? I like a skunk stripe. I just think it's nice. And it's probably stupid as well but I like it.

But there is a bit of a holdup here because I live just about the most miserable life you can imagine. I have issues on some systems that cropped up. So, we'll start working on this thing another time.

AlanRatcliffe

Perfect weight and nice grain - should be a killer when you're done. ?

MikeM

How much does it weigh? Sorry scanned the post a few times and still can't find it ?

Really nice grain. My vote is a burst!

Also Ray, about the whole one piece neck, they also usually sound better than 2 piece necks ?

AlanRatcliffe

4lbs 0 oz - Warmoth always write it in the neck pocket and you can see it if you view the second pic at full size.

I like the added stiffness/brightness a two-piece maple neck gives - but each to his own. ?

MikeM

Ahhhh, silly me, forget the pics are shrunk on here.

Yes Alan, but we all know you love super bright guitars ?

Keira-WitherKay

Hey ray When we last spoke i could have sworn blind you said you ordered a tele body ? or is this just one of the many arriving from wammoth ? looks way cool , your rig is growing with some very nice toys peace k

Ray

Keira - I did order a telecaster body. And it is in my garage somewhere along with some other bits and pices. And I will get that sorted and assembled as soon as I'm finished with this little exercise. And another one in fact. I'll tell you what that is - I saw one of the guitars someone made was a banjitar with a hollowed out electric body and other bits that he bought from GoldTone. When I saw that my eyes lit up hey.

Yip Mike a burst it will be. I'm wanting tobacco burst but a bit lighter round the edges because I quite like the grain and want as much of it as possible. And as I say I dont think reds becasue I had a red car once at university and I got bored of it. But that's just me. Anyway, the finishing was to start today and then I got asked to sort out some poofies on some systems.

As for the weight, I looked and waited becasue the extra light swamp ash bodies have a bit of a cost attached to them that I think is a scam but anyway I told them that and they ignored me and I kept quiet and waited. So I could have had it chambered at a cost as well but I wanted it to be solid. And then I saw this one and as you can see, I got them to do a swimming pool rout. Not that significant but maybe that will take a little bit of weight off as well.

I was going to go for a two piece neck. With the double action trus rod. But then I was told that the double action truss rod is a bit heavier and also I'm putting the Schaller locking tuners on which I understand are a bit heavier as well. And then the skunk stripe. I must have it. Maybe I could just put a decorative one in on another purchase sometime.

Anyway, we'll see.

AlanRatcliffe

MikeM wrote Yes Alan, but we all know you love super bright guitars ?

You say that like it's a bad thing. ?

Ray wrote As for the weight, I looked and waited becasue the extra light swamp ash bodies have a bit of a cost attached to them

Yeah - amazing how the price jumps from 3lbs 15oz to 4lbs. But 4lbs is considered by many to be the perfect weight for an ash body. I usually go a bit lighter (3lbs 6 oz - 3lbs 10oz) to compensate for the brighter necks I prefer.

But then I was told that the double action truss rod is a bit heavier

Good choice. Never liked the sound of them either. Not really needed in a good neck anyway.

makepeace

Cool project! Good luck with it ?

Ray

Anyway, went to Wayne's possie today and here is the body after the first selaer coat:

He reckons now he does a whole lot of stuff to it and then some more coats or whatever.
Now what I think is I'll have a sort of amber in the middle going darker toward the outside but not so dark that you dont see the wood. I've looked at so many pictures of Fenders and other guitars and I sort of think I like something and then change my mind.

makepeace

lekker man!

Ray

I think I've got just about everything for this thing. Tremelo, electronics, pickups. But what I havent thopught about is strap buttons. Give me some ideas please. Do I need to get anything other than the normal ones you just screw into the wood?

I must say that I'm having some reservation about the swimming pool rout. Anyway, there you have it.

AlanRatcliffe

Lookin' good so far!

Dunlop Strap Locks - no need to look at anything else.

My favourite Strat has a swimming pool and sounds great, Plus if I ever get the yen to pop in a bucker at the bridge, I can just change the pickguard.

makepeace

IMO, I've always thought that's heresy, but 1000s would disagree. That said, I guess its a good option.. BTW, and off topic (sorry :-[), has anyone ever tried 3x P90's in a Strat?

AlanRatcliffe

So did I, until I got this body.

Interestingly enough the previous owner of this body had P90s in it. Said it was "a real screamer" in that config.

Here's some clips of a P90-S-P90 Strat with a player who can actually play (Mark Mitchell). All Kinman noiseless pups:

=

Ray

So a bit of amber tint done this morning.

racman

Looking good Ray!

costafonix

this has a beautiful grain.
Are you going to make this one 'bullet proof' Ray? ?