Stratocaster Project

[NKBassman]

No reason why you couldn't enter this into the "unfinished business" category of the winter build off....

The only reason (i.e. excuse) I can come up with to not join the build-off is that I'm also busy on a basement renovation project and don't want to commit myself to a deadline and "accidently" make this "distraction" into a priority .

Forgot to post pics of the nut re-work yesterday, so here ya go.
The stock nut pictured is one of two I have on hand, but they both fit the new slot perfectly. This one is a little oversized and would need to be shaped to fit the neck if I decide to use it.

Thankfully I saved my fretboard scraps:

Should have fixed those chip-outs at the same time while I was at it, but I was fixated on the nut. Maybe later...

The fretboard/headstock transition line leaves much to be desired, but at least the nut slot is fixed now .

 

[NKBassman]

And, because I can't leave well enough alone, I just decided to order myself a few boards from KJP Select Hardwoods for more future projects. I've got two pre-radiused bass fretboards from LMII that I bought when they were going out of business, and figured that would be a great place to start my next build.

The Strat project will continue crawling along, though... Next step is to investigate the neck pocket on the body and try to see if I can wrap my head around why the whole dang thing seems crooked before I do anything else on this neck. I bought a Strat body template from Solo Music, same place I got the neck template I used for this, to try to see where things aren't lining up.

 

[Passinwind]

Here she is as of the latest iteration. SD Lil 59 in the bridge and a SD Duckbucker in the neck. Both great sounding pickups, but I'm just not feeling it anymore. I have some nice (I assume, lol) Firebird-style mini-humbuckers from a local builder here in Winnipeg just sitting in the drawer, so we're going to use those. I bought the Decoboom pickguard to try to dress it up a little bit, but never really liked the stark white on aged white look. It's also kinda flimsy, and the screw holes aren't a good fit either. So everything you see is on its way out!

View attachment 7118734

I went back and forth a lot on what colour of pickguard to get, and eventually settled on dark red Tort. I ordered this blank Strat guard from Musiclily and LOVE the look against the aged white body. I got started on the layout a few nights ago, tracing the pickups and control layout off the original pg from this guitar, and the string paths using a straight edge along the neck, which will be used to determine the centerline for routing.

View attachment 7118745

I'll be installing the Firebird pickups in roughly the existing Strat neck and bridge pickup locations, if anything just to minimize routing on the body. I haven't settled on a control layout or switch style yet, but I'm thinking it'll be best to keep in simple with Volume, Tone, and a 3-way switch, which also matches my Revstar.

I went with a JB Jr. pickup in the neck and then the middle position in my somewhat Strat-ish H-S-S Heritage guitar. Just never could get it to do the right things, and finally punted in favor of stacked bucker ("noiseless Strat") pickups in both positions. I like where you're going with your format, but in my case there's no pickguard and it's a pretty rare guitar, and it does sound great now, but just nothing like the singlecut body shape makes one expect it to.

 

[NKBassman]

I went with a JB Jr. pickup in the neck and then the middle position in my somewhat Strat-ish H-S-S Heritage guitar. Just never could get it to do the right things, and finally punted in favor of stacked bucker ("noiseless Strat") pickups in both positions. I like where you're going with your format, but in my case there's no pickguard and it's a pretty rare guitar, and it does sound great now, but just nothing like the singlecut body shape makes one expect it to.

Thanks Charlie!
I really like the Firebird pickup in the neck position, but I think I am jonesing for a crunchier full-sized humbucker sound in the bridge position. But I'm not going to get into the wiring again until the wood stuff is settled. One problem at a time...

In the meantime, I picked up this absolutely spotless used EVH Wolfgang Standard on Boxing Day and it's now my second fiddle. Which means I can completely disassemble the Strat without worrying about putting it all back together again next time I have to gig somewhere.

 

[Passinwind]

Thanks Charlie!
I really like the Firebird pickup in the neck position, but I think I am jonesing for a crunchier full-sized humbucker sound in the bridge position. But I'm not going to get into the wiring again until the wood stuff is settled. One problem at a time...

In the meantime, I picked up this absolutely spotless used EVH Wolfgang Standard on Boxing Day and it's now my second fiddle. Which means I can completely disassemble the Strat without worrying about putting it all back together again next time I have to gig somewhere.
View attachment 7414544

Super nice! I've always loved Les Pauls and really wanted that sweet neck humbucker lead thing going on for the Heritage, but it's just not going to happen. It's a real oddball, 25 1/2" scale with this layout:

After many iterations I stumbled on doing a series/parallel coil switch for the bridge bucker, which balances pup volumes better and adds some more convincing Strat and Tele vibes. All the original nickel Schaller hardware was pretty corroded and grody, and I didn't really dig the bulky fine tuner tail and roller bridge, so I finally went all in on a Kluson-ish black out look, with the side benefit of the new Grover drop in replacement tuners having a higher ratio and a much nicer play feel.

 

[NKBassman]

I do love the black hardware!

 

[Passinwind]

I do love the black hardware!

Yeah, it aways should have been that way IMO. This guitar came to me in a crazy low dollar trade with a broken headstock and I really didn't want to drill new tuner holes, so I was super happy when Grover finally came out with drop-ins in black a year or two ago. I'll do black switches eventually too, I reckon. It took me many years to finally get this guitar to where it belongs sonically, but I did quite a few rock and fusion gigs with it in other versions and it was still a pretty decent #1 during all that time.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Super nice! I've always loved Les Pauls and really wanted that sweet neck humbucker lead thing going on for the Heritage, but it's just not going to happen. It's a real oddball, 25 1/2" scale with this layout:

View attachment 7414546

After many iterations I stumbled on doing a series/parallel coil switch for the bridge bucker, which balances pup volumes better and adds some more convincing Strat and Tele vibes. All the original nickel Schaller hardware was pretty corroded and grody, and I didn't really dig the bulky fine tuner tail and roller bridge, so I finally went all in on a Kluson-ish black out look, with the side benefit of the new Grover drop in replacement tuners having a higher ratio and a much nicer play feel.

That’s what I thought you ment by Heritage. Very nice. That’s the Heritage that bought out the Kalamazoo plant when Gibson moved? I have a first or second year double cut. It’s quite nice. I ended up installing a Duncan Pearly Gates set. I even rehooked up all the split and out of phase switches (it was built in the 80s) when I installed the new pickups although I mostly don’t use that.

 

[NKBassman]

That’s what I thought you ment by Heritage. Very nice. That’s the Heritage that bought out the Kalamazoo plant when Gibson moved? I have a first or second year double cut. It’s quite nice. I ended up installing a Duncan Pearly Gates set. I even rehooked up all the split and out of phase switches (it was built in the 80s) when I installed the new pickups although I mostly don’t use that.

Ohhh how do you like the Pearly Gates? Those are kind of on the short'ish list for consideration.

 

[Passinwind]

That’s what I thought you meant by Heritage. Very nice. That’s the Heritage that bought out the Kalamazoo plant when Gibson moved? I have a first or second year double cut. It’s quite nice. I ended up installing a Duncan Pearly Gates set. I even rehooked up all the split and out of phase switches (it was built in the 80s) when I installed the new pickups although I mostly don’t use that.

Cool! There was also a very rare double cut version of my H204, the H207. A few have 3+3 headstocks too. And yeah, built by former Gibson luthiers using the old tooling, in the same building, in the first year or two Heritage existed.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Ohhh how do you like the Pearly Gates? Those are kind of on the short'ish list for consideration.

I like them. It’s actually been a little while since it’s been out as I’m mostly playing bass right now. I mean there’s only so many variations on a PAF but they’re nominally copies / versions of the ones Billy likes so there’s that.

 

[NKBassman]

I like them. It’s actually been a little while since it’s been out as I’m mostly playing bass right now. I mean there’s only so many variations on a PAF but they’re nominally copies / versions of the ones Billy likes so there’s that.

lol yeah I get that. I was taking a serious look at the Suhr Thornbucker, but flinched at the price tag. Any sort of mid-hot PAF would do, I think. SD has a bunch, Dimarzio too. Almost too many to choose from.

 

[Passinwind]

lol yeah I get that. I was taking a serious look at the Suhr Thornbucker, but flinched at the price tag. Any sort of mid-hot PAF would do, I think. SD has a bunch, Dimarzio too. Almost too many to choose from.

The one in my Heritage is an SD SH-11 trembucker, aka custom-custom. IIRC the Pearly Gates is a little less hot up high, it's been a long time since I heard one though.

 

[NKBassman]

Just visualizing some aesthetics options for the bridge pickup change.

All opinions are welcome and encouraged! Design by committee!

Currently has a Firebird style mini humbucker in both positions. Love the look, but the bridge PU sound isn't doing it for me.


So I'm considering a change to a hotter, crunchier, full sized humbucker. Maybe a Duncan 59, JB, or 59/Custom.

Aged Nickel cover, to stay on theme:


Black, for the Hotrod chop shop vibe:


and Zebra is always on the short list:

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I think visually I’d say both pickups covered but whichever sounds best takes precedence.

 

[NKBassman]

Not destined for anything on this build, but I got the makings for a couple of necks and a body in the mail today from KJP Hardwood in Ontario.

From top to bottom it's a big ol' hunk of 8/4 Cherry, roasted birdseye maple, and flame maple. The cherry was on sale and Google told me the density was somewhere between ash and maple.

Might be a while till I get to cutting these, but I'm always rolling some plans around in my head.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Punk Zebra - Magenta and Neon Green. But follow the "whatever sounds best" rule first.

 

[1n3]

Just visualizing some aesthetics options for the bridge pickup change.

All opinions are welcome and encouraged! Design by committee!

Currently has a Firebird style mini humbucker in both positions. Love the look, but the bridge PU sound isn't doing it for me.

I'm here for the Doug Fir , but since you asked... The two Firebird pickups look so "right" to my eye. So I wonder if there's anything you could do with that bridge pickup to make the sound more to your liking.

 

[NKBassman]

Punk Zebra - Magenta and Neon Green. But follow the "whatever sounds best" rule first.

Magenta and Green doesn't sound best to me

 

[NKBassman]

The one in my Heritage is an SD SH-11 trembucker, aka custom-custom. IIRC the Pearly Gates is a little less hot up high, it's been a long time since I heard one though.

I'm liking the marketing malarky for the SD SH-16 (59/Custom Hybrid), Pearly Gates, and Saturday Night Specials.

I'm here for the Doug Fir , but since you asked... The two Firebird pickups look so "right" to my eye. So I wonder if there's anything you could do with that bridge pickup to make the sound more to your liking.

I've also been doing a little bit of reading about capacitive loading, and might try adding a capacitor across one coil of the pickup to shift the resonant peak lower on half of the pickup, similar to the G&L OMG mode. That might be just the trick.