...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.jpgSo 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.jpgBut 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)
Comments
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.
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!
So really the Hendrix and Walnut strats are a jumping off point for the overall look.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRISTINE-FENDER-MIJ-FSR-71-Reissue-Stratocaster-Walnut-Rosewood-2014-/132095338953?hash=item1ec17ee9c9:g:cvMAAOSwx6pYocYs
It's an ash body finished in walnut...
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?
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.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
or
rothko and frost
migh be worth asking..
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!
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.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SC-GUITAR-BODY-2-5KG-3PC-Walnut-REJECT-626163-/401286807885?hash=item5d6e8ec14d:g:IpEAAOSwol5YvczR
But with some rich staining and a nice finish they do look good.
Jez
This is definitely an "inspired by..." build rather than replica if that makes sense...
"So how have you just called me?"
*silence*
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?