How about a "do-it-yourself" Yngwie Strat?

[PowerTube]

Here's an idea I'm getting and it doesn't have to be a top-notch instrument, but acceptable; take a Squier Strat of some flavor, in blonde with a maple neck, and "convert" it into an Yngwie Strat. Maybe scallop the fretboard and add the DiMarzio stacked humbucker in the bridge (or an EMG as an alternative).

Have any of you guys done this or know anyone who has?

Also, what's a very accurate and fast way to scallop? I did a Hondo years ago and pretty much butchered it.

[mrrs]

I did just that.
87' Squire body, Mighty Mite rosewood scalloped neck, brass nut, Wilkinson trem & tuners, Dimarzios throughout, and 8-48 strings like the man.

It turned out great.
It does take a while to get used to the scallop and lighter strings on top.

[Rupe]

For Yngwie's sound, the neck pickup is just as important as the bridge...even moreso for the solos.

[PowerTube]

For Yngwie's sound, the neck pickup is just as important as the bridge...even moreso for the solos.

Really? Interesting. For some reason, I never thought of him as a neck-pickup type. Does he also have the stacked bucker in the neck?

[Hellbat]

Bridge is a Dimarzio HS-3 stack and neck and middle are Dimarzio YJM pickups. And Yngwie uses his neck pickup a LOT in solos. He actually switches pickups quite a bit throughout songs from what I have seen/heard.

[PowerTube]

Have any of you ever scalloped your own neck? If so, what was your procedure?

[Bengal65]

Yep several of them myself using these tools and method.

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/scal1.htm

You can also get necks already scalloped, but this is a nice way to go. The Dremel contour sander is nice and works fast. It helps doing graduated type scallops like the Blackmore style and does the YJM pretty quickly. Key is to check your work often as you sand.

[CharvelRocker]

Scalloping itself isn't hard, but you need to be sure to get the scallops level and equal to each other in terms of size/depth. This is even more important if you plan to go with progressive scalloping. The other thing to be careful not to eat up your frets in doing, as accidents can happen.

[PowerTube]

I stopped by a pawn shop after work today and picked up a Squier Bullet Strat, blonde with rosewood board. They had another one, black, with the oversized headstock. I like the looks of the oversized headstock but this particular guitar didn't have as nice a feel as Blondie. So Blondie it was.

I was a bit surprised by two things: it actually sounded half decent across my Vetta, plus the single-coil hum was nowhere near what I thought it would be. Of course, I have the noise gate running on the Vetta.

It's in desperate need of a setup, which I'll handle pretty soon. The action is too high, but I think the truss rod is set okay and I can just lower each individual string. Intonation is actually in the ballpark. The frets are in dire need of a polish, which is no biggie.

Next step is hotter pickups, at least in the bridge for now.

[MetalHeadMat]

Really? Interesting. For some reason, I never thought of him as a neck-pickup type. Does he also have the stacked bucker in the neck?

Me neither, until I saw a video of him playing a song, and he switches pickups a lot, if you do change the pups, you might want to consider doing tham all at the same time or something.

[Dred]

Bridge is a Dimarzio HS-3 stack and neck and middle are Dimarzio YJM pickups. And Yngwie uses his neck pickup a LOT in solos. He actually switches pickups quite a bit throughout songs from what I have seen/heard.

Yngwie doesn't even touch the middle pup.He has that lowered down as far as it goes, and only uses either the neck or the bridge. The man said so himself.

Don't bother changing the middle, if you want an Yngwie strat. The man doesn't use it, but if you're a middle pup type of guy, go for it!

[PowerTube]

Yngwie doesn't even touch the middle pup.He has that lowered down as far as it goes, and only uses either the neck or the bridge. The man said so himself.

Don't bother changing the middle, if you want an Yngwie strat. The man doesn't use it, but if you're a middle pup type of guy, go for it!

I personally hate middle pups. They don't normally get in my way because of my picking style, but on the rare occasion I want to play some softer stuff, then I'm constantly whacking it.

I'm still amazed by the ZERO hum from this guitar, but the bridge needs to be hotter for my taste. I might pick up an HS-2 or HS-3 used somewhere.

But the first thing to be replaced is the string guides on the headstock. It's that retarded "sharp sheet metal" design that keeps making the strings go sharp after a bend. I'll replace them with the round or, even better, the roller type.

[Leo Chang]

Not really what the original poster was asking, but in the same vein...

Several years ago I picked up a guitar on eBay that was advertised as being a real YJM neck stuck on to a cheap import Fender strat body (mostly likely Mexican)... at $200 USD. Candy Apple Red finish.

At that price, I thought what the heck... the real YJM neck itself is worth it.

Been very happy with it

Right away I upgraded all the pickups to the ones Malmsteen uses. And just last week, I upgraded all the pots and switches as well (RS Guitarworks upgrade kit for vintage strat). So now it sounds even better.

- Leo.