Building a Strat

[Chrisb]

Re: Building a Strat

A couple additional things about Warmoth that may help you figure out what you want to do. Warmoth is very cheap if you are getting a unfinished body. They do your choice of routing and I think will drill holes for trem of your choice and knobs/switch too if memory serves. They do awesome paint work but that brings the cost up alot. Their prices on top woods are also good. The warmoth body I have is solid one piece mahogany and a 1/8th quilt cap (looks like AAAA but its probably just a really nice AAA). finished in Cherry Sunburst.

If your getting a warmoth neck go with the warmoth construction necks, no skunk stripe but they are really durable. With Warmoth you can customize just about everything, neck back shape, nut width, tuner holes. Some have upcharges, alot don't. Check out the website though, see if its for you. I was intimidated by their site because its so customizable I didn't understand what alot of stuff did/meant at the time.

For an example, this body here all you need to do it put i nthe bridge and drop in your pickguard/humbucker setup and the body is done. And for less than 500 bucks your not likely to find a top that looks like this one anytime soon.
Crazy Strat body

[thebisch]

Re: Building a Strat

[ QUOTE ]
Well, not wanting to copy Shawn, I went with another option on the body color. It's going to look something like this:



Now I must begin my search for a neck, Floyd, pickup, etc.. FUN!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

That's not a Strat! That's a Charvel with a Fender logo!

[Chrisb]

Re: Building a Strat

[ QUOTE ]
That's not a Strat! That's a Charvel with a Fender logo!

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Oh and I talk about crazy tops, this may be the most unusual I have ever seen... How about a little Spalted Flame Maple?!

[Chuckracer]

Re: Building a Strat

Once you start getting into these figured tops from Warmoth, the cost of the project spirals right through the ceiling.
If you want a cheap builder strat to have around, I would look for good deals on second hand Mexican Fender bodies and necks and go from there. It's good parts and often sells really cheap.
Find a pre-wired pickguard/pickups assembly, a bridge and tuner, and whatnot...you'd be done for maybe $400 tops.

[Chuckracer]

Re: Building a Strat

Hell, for that matter...here ya go:

http://www.chrisguitars.com/fen99strat60s-lpb.jpg

"1999 Fender 60’s Reissue Stratocaster, - if you're not a fan of the small vintage frets which are stock on these - this one has a super pro-refret with jumbo frets. Refret was by owner's preference and obviously not due to wear as this Lake Placid Blue beauty has seen little playing time and other than light scratches on the pickguard, it's pretty much flawless. Frets are like new. Other features are stock including "aged" plastic parts, comfortable U-shaped maple neck with vintage tint and '62 spaghetti logo, smooth Kluson style vintage tuners, and cast "Fender" vintage saddles. I don't know why somebody would sink $175 into refretting a $629 guitar but if jumbo frets are your preference, here's a free refret, $499."

That's a smoker of a deal!

[data187]

Re: Building a Strat

i think you should check this guy out:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZluchi68

i just bought a body from him, it hasn;t arrived yet, but from the pix and description, the bodies look awesome. the shipping is kinda pricey, but for under $100, i don;t think you can get a body with that type of wood figuring anywhere else.

warmoth's figured woods cost twice as much.

[Chrisb]

Re: Building a Strat

[ QUOTE ]
Once you start getting into these figured tops from Warmoth, the cost of the project spirals right through the ceiling.


[/ QUOTE ]
True, although Chuck the price for that quilt top I posted up there is not bad at all. But if your trying to do a whole project for less than 600 bucks, Warmoth is probably not what your looking for, as I said upthread.

[eddie_van_earache]

Re: Building a Strat

you can beat a warmoth neck and body combo PERIOD. they fit so well its amazing. best Guitar I have is the warmoth i built. That includes many jacksons and Charvels and Gmw.

cant seem to find a pic of it......

[Chrisb]

Re: Building a Strat

[ QUOTE ]
i just bought a body from him, it hasn;t arrived yet, but from the pix and description, the bodies look awesome. the shipping is kinda pricey, but for under $100, i don;t think you can get a body with that type of wood figuring anywhere else.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd be really careful there, that price seems way to low for that kind of top (looks to be a 4A at least). Could be its just a killer deal, and if so post here when you get the body, but I'm always leary about stuff like this. Warmoth has a established rep and their prices are very reasonable. If you build a full guitar with the best woods and inlays and all that stuff you are still looking at a custom made guitar for 1200-1500 (including parts). Thats a hell of a good price. Of course thats on the top end, you can spend alot less but Warmoth is not really for a simple mutt strat.

[zeegler]

Re: Building a Strat

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, not wanting to copy Shawn, I went with another option on the body color. It's going to look something like this:



Now I must begin my search for a neck, Floyd, pickup, etc.. FUN!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

That's not a Strat! That's a Charvel with a Fender logo!

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't say! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[BallsOnParade]

Re: Building a Strat

Is Chandler still in business? They used to have some awesome parts as well, i used to own a neck by them, wish i had never gotten rid of it, either! I put it on an old Ibanez Roadstar body, and that guitar was the badass SHIT!!!!

[sully]

Re: Building a Strat

they are in business, but not for parts anymore.

[BallsOnParade]

Re: Building a Strat

what are they doing now, then?

[sully]

Re: Building a Strat

http://www.chandlerguitars.com/ [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[jim777]

Re: Building a Strat

I got a Mexican strat for 200 on the bay, Charvel model 1 neck and plate for 110, Carvin pickguard and pickups for 100, Earvana nut for 35. Oh, and a big steel sustain block for the trem, another 10 bucks. It looks like it needs a paint job but but plays like butter [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
(what it needs is a new hardtail body, then it will be done)