Albert Lee Body Shape?

Creed_Clicks

Really fancy the look of these guitars, but never gone on the headstock shape. I have seen some free templates online, as well as some guy on ebay in Italy selling a few bodies already made. (hard to know what these might be like).
I have seen free templates and templates for sale, so wouldn't know where to start in theory.
This body with a strat heel would be what I am getting at.
I assume strat necks wouldn't fit on the stock body based on the photos of current models...

Winny_Pooh

Necks are 56.7mm at the body end and use an offset 5 bolt system. You could ask Italy guy if bodies are made for regular necks. 

Creed_Clicks

Winny_Pooh said:

Necks are 56.7mm at the body end and use an offset 5 bolt system. You could ask Italy guy if bodies are made for regular necks. 

The ones advertised have regular strat heels.

ICBM

Like the St. Vincent, it's an unusual and elegant non-traditional body design, ruined by a dull and inappropriate headstock which belongs on other body shapes.

I don't like the Strat-style pickup layout ones either, it's equally wrong with the body shape.

Creed_Clicks

@ICBM yeah the body has potential with the right headstock ! I saw a build with an aluminium neck / different headstock which looked really really cool. A bit different. Wondering how a strat neck might look. Better I think.

Kebabkid

 Depending on how much the 'Italian AL bodies' are, have you considered getting a used Sterling AL (I've seen them around £300), providing they fit the neck you may have in mind? You could keep what you wanted and sell on the other bits.

BTW, I have an EBMM AL (HH) and so if you need any measurements or pics of anything, just let me know and they're fabulous guitars.

Creed_Clicks

Kebabkid said:

 Depending on how much the 'Italian AL bodies' are, have you considered getting a used Sterling AL (I've seen them around £300), providing they fit the neck you may have in mind? You could keep what you wanted and sell on the other bits.

BTW, I have an EBMM AL (HH) and so if you need any measurements or pics of anything, just let me know and they're fabulous guitars.

There are 2 on ebay, both made out of Nyangon (Niangon?) wood, so no idea what that's like. Lightweight from what I have read. Both with strat neck routes.

Body 1 here 

Body 2 here

I had thought of the cheaper model, but no clue what neck with a 6 in line would fit. From what I can see just based on photos, none would...

Creed_Clicks

And here is the pic that gave me the original idea. While I could go either way on the headstock in this pic, it does look pretty good, though this one has a 28" conversion neck and is based of the bass AL body, but still pretty good looking. 

ICBM

I think they would look brilliant with something more like the Fender Swinger headstock.

Creed_Clicks

Yes that would look cool alright

Hootsmon

Give the guy a break he's a pensioner FFS!

GSPBASSES

I make those, although I have not made them for several years now. I've most likely still got the jigs for them stored away somewhere. I used to do a twin HB version, hardtail or tremolo. Plus the TC version that used standard TC hardware. The neck pocket on all the versions were standard Fender shape but 1mm wider, the nut were 43.5 mm. I did offer the standard MM headstock shape 4 and 2 but most people went for either a Fender type shape or slightly modified Ibanez shape.

Creed_Clicks

@GSPBASSES possible to PM?

DrBob

GSPBASSES said:

I make those, although I have not made them for several years now. I've most likely still got the jigs for them stored away somewhere. I used to do a twin HB version, hardtail or tremolo. Plus the TC version that used standard TC hardware. The neck pocket on all the versions were standard Fender shape but 1mm wider, the nut were 43.5 mm. I did offer the standard MM headstock shape 4 and 2 but most people went for either a Fender type shape or slightly modified Ibanez shape.

I’ve just seen a guy in the US offering templates for the  one that uses standard Tele hardware & neck pocket. I’ve still got the last Tele neck that I bought from you with the beak headstock. That would look amazing on an Albert Lee/Tele..
Wish I had known you did these, or in fact that they even existed at all. I would’ve ordered one from you

GSPBASSES

Sorry should've mentioned I'm not taking on new commissions for the foreseeable future, as most members already know. I'm closing my workshop December 1st until mid January, I'm hoping to finish any work that's on the bench now before December 1st. 
 I'm having a small Black Friday sale starting sometime next week, not very much in the sale this time I'm afraid.

DrBob

@GSPBASSES I actually quite fancy having a go at making a body myself so if you want to sell on the templates I’d be interested

Creed_Clicks

@DrBob curious as to how the beak headstock looks!
Where did you see the American guy online?
Have you checked out the ebay links I posted? They seem to do custom specs.

DrBob

Creed_Clicks said:

@DrBob curious as to how the beak headstock looks!
Where did you see the American guy online?
Have you checked out the ebay links I posted? They seem to do custom specs.

It’s basically the same as a Suhr headstock. I’ll get pics tomorrow

Creed_Clicks

I plumped for the one from Italy. Unfinished, and will look at it as some kind of semi long term project. My aim is to try and buy all the parts for it used.
Not sure if I should keep it as some kind of natural finish, e.g. tru oil etc, or a gold or butterscotch type finish. 
Not sure on neck yet, strat or some other kind of headstock, but looking forward to this!

Creed_Clicks

This is what I have gone for so far. Any input on what colour body might go well with the gold pickguard?

DrBob

Burgundy Mist ?