Partscaster Project... Almost Complete!!

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RoxRox Frets: 2147
edited August 2017 in Making & Modding
...and I'm starting with literally nothing.  No parts, no funds, no nothing.  So this could be a long, laborious process.

I've had three projects in mind; a Bolan style LP (Standard body, Ebony neck) but getting the parts is beyond my scope right now.  Second was a LP DC kit like @eSully is doing over on his thread, or one that has been bubbling away in my bonce for some years...

I saw a photo of a strat some years ago, and managed to conflate it with another one.  So in my head I thought it was either a mahogany or rosewood strat, with a large CBS headstock and gold hardware.

Unfortunately I couldn't find a reference picture except for the famous Jimi Hendrix all-rosewood strat.  But I knew it wasn't that because the guitar I'd seen had gold hardware, all black plastics.  But the large colour-matched headstock was there, so it must have been something similar.

Here's the Hendrix Strat:

https://martindevore.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/rosewood-strat-1.jpg

So I kept searching.  And I realised it wasn't mahogany or rosewood, but Walnut.  I'd mixed up some features of the Hendrix Strat with a Walnut "THE STRAT"

http://rogerfilgate.com.hostbaby.com/img/Walnut_Strat.jpg

But because I'd got it in my head it had a large headstock, there's no point trying to do a walnut THE STRAT replica, it's going to be what my brain THOUGHT I was looking for...

So my project is an amalgam of the two; large CBS headstock, rosewood board, walnut stained body, black plastics, gold hardware.  Whether the headstock matches the body or not isn't too much of a worry, I can see the benefits of both so easy on that one.

Which is odd.  I used to hate the big headstock.  Loathe gold hardware.  Not keen on dark wood colours for a strat body.  Not a fan of black plastics on a strat.

But all together?

What's wrong with me?!

So I need to find parts, and I've got plenty of bits and bobs for trade, which might be my best bet at this stage if anyone is interested... 

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/84961/fs-ft-epiphone-335pro-washburn-wi-66proe-trade-for-guitar-project-parts-read-on#latest

(More stuff listed in the last post)





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Comments

  • eSullyeSully Frets: 981
    Sounds fantastic, look forward to see how you do! Whats the plan, are you going to veneer the body and headstock of kit?




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  • paulnb57paulnb57 Frets: 3044
    My advice, after many a Partscasterr build, would be to save your pennies and get a Walnut body from Guitarbuild or similar, staining wood to look like Walnut, in my opinion wouldn't look right. You could spray the head of the neck black.......I really like what you hope to achieve.....Good luck, it aint too difficult....
    Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll

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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    This will be my second partscaster, the first was this beauty: the Custardcaster.

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/Custardcaster02.jpg

    All Fender parts, except the trem block which was swapped out for a steel block.

    It has a Japanese Fender neck (though no idea what it was originally from; it's got Fender stamped Gotoh logo tuners) beautifully dark rosewood fretboard and very comfy to play.  Mexican body in the Blond colour that you can just see the dark grain through (it's got a name but I'll be darned if I can remember it), Fender Japan scratchplate and pickups, and then Fender stamped bridge saddles, neckplate etc.

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  • paulnb57paulnb57 Frets: 3044
    Niiiiice!
    Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole - Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n' roll

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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    edited March 2017
    @paulnb57 ; I need to take better pics of the Custardcaster really.  The photo doesn't do it much justice!

    I see what you're saying about the body really needing to be walnut to be convincing, according to the guitar build site, a 2 piece walnut body would be £130.

    Having said that, I'm also curious about getting a body with a distinctive grain, dyeing it black, sanding back then dyeing deep brown.  Then finish with an oil to give something inbetween the rosewood and walnut look.

    I really fancy one finished as lightly as possible, as I love light finishes, and think the bare wood and visible imperfections (ie, no grain filler) are underrated!


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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    The grain on some Paulownia for example is pretty lovely, but is apparently quite a soft and light wood.

    So really the Hendrix and Walnut strats are a jumping off point for the overall look.
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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    So, there's a neck on it's way. 

    I remember why I love making up guitars from pieces; you get the spec and look you want and the search is fun... but the drawbacks!!

    Now I'm seeing so many other shiny things.  Suddenly I also want a traditional 50's strat which looks like it's been to the moon and back.  I mean, for a modded Squier, this is a thing of beauty:

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squire-Stratocaster-60-Style-Vintage-Surf-Green-Relic-Guitar-/122388379510?hash=item1c7eea7776:g:JOkAAOSwx6pYsx5g

    The bridge looks out of place, but easily remedied...

    Which brings me on to a bone of contention; a touchy subject: The Headstock Logo.

    The Custardcaster already had a logo, and as it was a Fender with Fender Gotoh stamped tuners, there's no harm.  It's clearly a mismatch of parts.

    For this project, I'm getting a large headstock Squier neck - I've never met a Squier neck that wasn't comfy.  I was looking at full fat Fender large headstock necks, but the Squier rosewood just looked nicer, darker and a tenth of the price if I messed up.  ;)  But I do want that large 70's Fender logo on it, suitable for a dark background finish.

    But to remove any doubt as to it's provenance, I want a custom logo which says FENDER PARTSCASTER, or FENDER STRATOCASTER with PARTSCASTER and the number where the PAT. number goes.  Or perhaps "With Genuine Partscaster Parts" where the contour body logo usually goes.  Lots of subtle options.

    Definitely won't be trying to pass it off as anything it isn't!

    But you can either buy exact replicas or the fun pretend ones, not found someone who can do a custom one so far... anyone have any recommendations?
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  • SargeSarge Frets: 2370
    Look at this on eBay  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401286807885

    If you can deal with small irregularities then Booboo guitars sell rejected Guitarbuild bodies, I think my one piece ash body was £80 which only had a router mark in the trem cavity. 
    Always worth a look. 
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  • usedtobeusedtobe Frets: 3841
    http://www.guitardecals.co.uk/
    or
    rothko and frost
    migh be worth asking..
     so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.

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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    edited March 2017
    Cheers chaps.  Thanks @usedtobe - I'll check that out.

    Neck has arrived safe and sound.  Lovely dark fretboard - plug - skunk stripe - just the ticket.

    So, as itemised in my wanted gubbins over in the classifieds, I'm looking for the following items:

    Gold Boat Jack, tarnished and worn is fine.

    Strat Trem system:  I already have the claw and (two!) springs, but would prefer gold saddles.  Where the heck did the other springs go?  I was sure I had loads of 'em around.

    Anyway, I'm okay with either the vintage or more modern styles of saddle, fine with the rest - ie the plate being nickel or chrome.  Steel block preferred or I'll get a block separately.  Therefore I'm fine getting all these bits from different people.

    I do have a Fender MiM zinc block, but won't be using that.  So if I get the block separate, I'll get the arm with it.

    Black Scratchplate - S S S is always my favourite - to me, that's strat.  I'm looking for B/W/B.  Again, fine with this looking worn.

    Wiring and Pickups - S S S, obvs.    At this stage, I'm fine with something just to install for testing, and replace later with better quality gubbins.

    Body - still on the lookout for a strat body if there's anything around... keeping an eye on the body @Sarge spotted and a few other options.

    So if you spot any decent deals or have anything in a parts draw, give us a yell!
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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    edited March 2017
    So, here we go!

    Neck arrived, like I say a lovely dark rosewood fretboard:

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Headstock-00.jpg

    First job, remove the existing logo:

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Headstock-01.jpg

    So I used some nail polish remover, and tested it on the Affinity logo:

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Headstock-02.jpg

    Gone! 

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Headstock-03.jpg

    Just needs a light sanding and...

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Headstock-04.jpg

    The headstock has a lovely grain to it, and so will look great if I can get a good enough stain on it.  Looking very promising so far.

    I might use a proper logo on the front, depending on what I can get to show up against the dark stain, BUT my compromise is that I'm not removing the serial, wording and logo on the back of the neck.  :)
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  • Jez6345789Jez6345789 Frets: 1756
    This is a cheap one from Guitarbuilds Booboo few flaws but nothing to difficult to fix.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SC-GUITAR-BODY-2-5KG-3PC-Walnut-REJECT-626163-/401286807885?hash=item5d6e8ec14d:g:IpEAAOSwol5YvczR
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  • Jez6345789Jez6345789 Frets: 1756
    Have a listen to a few of the videos of Walnut Strast they can be very bright sounding not everyones taste. Would look for some darker perhaps over wound pickups and no cold rolled trem block, will all sweeten it up. 

    But with some rich staining and a nice finish they do look good. 

    Jez


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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    Well, the walnut will end up being the colour rather than the material, @lonestar provided a deal too good to refuse on a body or two... or three...!

    This is definitely an "inspired by..." build rather than replica if that makes sense...  :)
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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    Is there anything more annoying than a courier who can't be arsed to deliver?  Card in the postbox, but no attempt to actually come and knock on the door.  A card left suspiciously without the attempted time of delivery on it.  :p
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  • usedtobeusedtobe Frets: 3841
    Rox said:
    Is there anything more annoying than a courier who can't be arsed to deliver?  Card in the postbox, but no attempt to actually come and knock on the door.  A card left suspiciously without the attempted time of delivery on it.  :p
    I've had that. SO annoying. Actually heard the guy putting the card through the letterbox once. Was expecting him, so was listening for a knock. Looked out the window to see him running up the path. By the time I got to the door, he was away in the van. I wonder if the guitar was even in the van, or back at the depot...
     so if you fancy a reissue of a guitar they never made in a colour they never used then it probably isn't too overpriced.

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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    edited March 2017
    Doesn't surprise me @usedtobe .  I once had a courier's office ring me to say "the driver can't deliver to you as he doesn't have your contact phone number".

    "So how have you just called me?"

    *silence*
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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    Finally got to the Post Office, and I have some strat bodies to play with - two swamp ash and one alder.  Pics to follow...  ;)
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  • RoxRox Frets: 2147
    edited March 2017
    Bodies, courtesy of @lonestar !

    Alder:

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Body01.jpg

    Swamp Ash:

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Body02.jpg

    Swamp Ash:

    http://inspireyourdog.com/misc/pp/Body03.jpg

    So plenty of sanding ahead of me here! 

    I would never have considered shell pink guitar colour, but I kind of like it.  It's making me want to make a second partscaster with a Surf twang.  Having more guitars is no problem, right?

    Almost tempted to sand the shell pink one down to leave the pink partially in the grain... but I probably would just go through the whole lot.

    Anyway, anyone have any tips to removing these finishes?

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