I want a single coil strat and over the past month or so have come to the conclusion that I want it to be a Nitro finish with a little bit of wear. I think this limits my off the peg options to Custom Shop Fenders which is just not realistic, an Andertons FSR is possible but meh and a Golden Era is just stunning but might be something more for the future.
So that leads me to looking at making my own, I do love a project from campervans to push bikes, to guitar pedal kits etc. I'm thinking a vintage vibe with Gotoh aged hardware, a loaded pickguard with tonerider blues and a roasted maple neck. Then with the body put some small chips in and try for some checking.
What I'm struggling on is bodies. When I read up people state 1.8kg is the right weight of a body and I see unfinished Hosco's in this range. But that would mean filler, sealer, coat and lacquer plus a ton of time and right conditions to do to hopefully get a decent finish to then start building up. Another alternative would be a pre-painted nitro body, I've seen these at Northwest guitars, Alegree and Guitar Anatomy but they state weight is 2.5kg.
Is this too heavy a body to build up? I'm used to heavy guitars but would something a bit more svelte if possible.
Comments
You can get a good enough guitar for around 1k, or you can get a completely zero-compromise instrument for under 2k that’ll knock spots off anything from Fender
For the latter you do need to know what works for your in terms of specs, and how to put together, and - crucially - how to fettle it (or who to send to for that bit) but the Tele I put together last year is genuinely right up there with my Danocaster Strat and honestly the best T style I’ve ever played by miles.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Guitarbuild list all their bodies by weight. My experience was that the actual finish (sealer, primer, colour and clear) added very little to the weight of the finished body. I did spend 2 days sanding and polishing it mind!
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
What I mean is, if your offering klarna, PayPal credit.. might as well offer the full suite.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Sweepy's road warn option was the catalyst a few months back. The 70's olympic white just looked cool with a big headstock. The fender uniformed method does kinda bug me though (10 dinks by the jack), I get why it's done that way and appreciate it's a starting point on the guitars journey.
Having got engrossed into YouTube, manc guitar and costing things up (Inc time) it certainly shows that Golden Era guitars seem good value for money.
So I'm leaning to going full hog and getting an unfinished body. Need a bit of help.
Body type: reissue HSS seems to cover all bases for future parting about. Deeper router depth and I can start with a 3 single pickguard?
How many parts should the body be in? 2 or 3? Is this largely down to whether I'm going full paint or translucent?
The guitar build site seems a bit weird, what's the difference choosing from 'in stock' Vs the build standard and selecting from 3 photos?
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Guitarbuild have lots of bodies in stock and ready to ship or you can spec your own and they’ll make it for you which obviously takes longer. I’ve always bought in stock bodies from them.
https://youtu.be/W7g1zw8qcdc?si=KPiBmvh30qi08Tnt
Two questions:
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