Most unexpected - was perusing around the web, noticed that Northwest Guitars have some finished strat bodies in at the moment. Kind of liked the daphne blue, but then noticed this one
http://www.northwestguitars.co.uk/vintage-gold-stratocaster-electric-guitar-body-2-piece-american-alder/ - I think that was yesterday. Anyhow, this morning I stupidly google image "gold strat" and come across this image, of what to me is about the prettiest guitar I've ever seen...
and now I've ordered the Northwest gold body, eek! Planning to follow the look above, pretty much, so next job is to source a nice rosewood board neck. Didn't think I was going to do any more partscasters, especially strats, since I've done 2 that I like. Thought I had enough guitars in general really, but...
Comments
Though you could have saved yourself a potential headache by getting a Northwest neck too, my all maple one is superb!
following!
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
The body has arrived this afternoon - I'll have to get some pictures done but it does seem excellent - nice and light, the finish is fairly thin for a poly, and well done, and it has a nice hollow resonance when tapped. Also got an ivory pearl pickguard and backplate on their way, and will have to look at what else I'm going to need, not least the pickups.
Just a few pics anyhow, the neck has a bit of birdseye figuring on it, which is a nice bonus, plus I like the colour and grain on the rosewood. If I was being picky, I'd have gone for a headstock truss adjust, possibly 10mm holes for modern tuning machines, but all the other boxes are ticked for what I prefer - 12" radius, 22 jumbo frets, nice fairly slim C profile, and general good quality.
Have ivory pearl pickguard and backplate in the post, and still loads of other bits to source of course. Will be all straight chrome for the metal hardware. Was thinking I'd widen the holes on the headstock to take modern sealed machine heads, but now I'm reconsidering, and may go for some Wilkinson vintage Kluson style - they keep the weight a bit lower for one thing, and perhaps a bit more elegant.
Wiring - I'm liking this one, that someone posted in another thread a few days ago:
This will be my 5th parts build - I've done 2 strats, a tele, and a guitar of my own design using a neck I had spare - previously, I used guitarbuild.co.uk for the bodies, and finished them with Tru Oil or Wudtone. So it's a first to have bought a pre-finished body, but it's kind of nice to make life easy, plus I couldn't resist that gold. Like you, I built up experience modding guitars and fixing things, learnt about the electrics/wiring, and taught myself how to level/dress the frets and do the nuts. At some point I realised I knew enough to be able to do a good job putting a guitar together from parts, and that was that. It's great fun - give it a go if you fancy the idea.
Things purchased:
-strap buttons/screws
-black strat knobs & switch tip, trem arm tip, spare black pickup covers (don't need it all, but cheaper as a bundle so may as well)
-CRL 5-way switch
-chrome strat jack plate and socket
-Wilkinson WVPC trem bridge - I've already got a nice cold-rolled steel block to fit this (Vanson Guitars) so I just bought the cheaper zinc block version
-copper foil for shielding
-6 chrome pickup screws and springs
-Set of Vanson Classic Pro Alnico V strat pickups, flat poles i.e. no stagger, which fits what I wanted. Will see how these go anyhow, they are made with fibre bobbins, cloth wire etc. like pricier pickups, so I'm optimistic.
-Set of Wilkinson WJ07 EZ lok chrome machine heads - have used these before and like them. This means I will have the job of enlarging the holes in the headstock to 10mm.
-chrome pickguard screws (already have a few spares, so just needed to buy 12)
Amazing how it all adds up. Haven't forgotten the string tree - already got a unused modern Fender-style spare one. Also haven't forgotten the nut - I will be making one from a bone blank I got previously and never used. Already have suitable pots, capacitors and wire for the circuitry. Already have an unused neck plate and fixing screws.
Bye bye to 400 quid anyway!
EDIT - just realised I'm cheating on the spend, as I've already ordered the pickguard and back plate - another £18, so in fact I'm just under £420 for the build, still not too shocking.