My new Strat build

LeftyBlake · November 21st, 2009, 03:47 AM

Long story short: I decided to buy a new body for a guitar that really needed it. Warmoth had a deal for a poplar body, $115 shipped, so I picked it up. I probably should've gone with alder, but it was a good price.

I am going to tung oil or tru oil the body (still haven't decided) and put a Callaham vintage trem assembly on it. I'll post some pics up tomorrow of the pickguard with pickups and the neck. The body is in transit as we speak.

AllroyPA · November 21st, 2009, 04:13 AM

Cool, cant wait to see it.

LeftyBlake · November 22nd, 2009, 12:52 AM

I'll get some pictures of the neck posted up here in a few minutes.

The Strat is going to have a natural look to it since I'm going to oil the body. The neck is a right handed neck with a rosewood board. I think I am going to put a black pickguard on it with either aged white knobs and covers or regular white knobs and covers.

Edit for pictures.

The neck is a '98 MIM right handed neck. It's pretty comfortable and I like the ultra smooth finish on the back caused by years of playing. It's got some of the nicer grain I've seen on MIM necks too. I installed a second string tree to help a bit with a buzz I had with the D string. Pics of the body will be up in a couple days. It's in a UPS truck somewhere in California.

sarNz · November 22nd, 2009, 01:15 AM

that will look sweet. always wanted a guitar with an upside down headstock. like an upside down strat headstock on a tele body... mmm

LeftyBlake · November 22nd, 2009, 03:58 AM

Alright, so this is what it's gonna look like, one way or the other.

OR

I'm leaning towards the black pickguard. The body is also going to be a little bit darker than that.

thaus · November 22nd, 2009, 06:15 AM

That's going to look good and personally I stay away from anything that resembles tortoise-shell!!

LeftyBlake · November 22nd, 2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaus

That's going to look good and personally I stay away from anything that resembles tortoise-shell!!

Why is that? Are you just not a fan of tortoise shell?

I'm buying two pickguards - one black, one tortoise - to see how I like it on the body after it's finished.

Poseidon9447 · November 22nd, 2009, 02:31 PM

If you like pearl I think the green and the red look nice on a natural body.

This is a mock up I did to give you an idea

LeftyBlake · November 22nd, 2009, 02:36 PM

Oooooooh, that does look pretty cool. I bet red would look sick too.

What kind of finish is on that body? And what kind of wood is it?

Squier?!? · November 22nd, 2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftyBlake

I'm leaning towards the black pickguard.

Keep leaning, brother!
That Black guard is killer
against the Natural look!

LeftyBlake · November 22nd, 2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squier?!?

Keep leaning, brother!
That Black guard is killer
against the Natural look!

Someone on another forum just said the same thing. I'm fairly certain I'm going with black.

LeftyBlake · November 22nd, 2009, 10:27 PM

EDIT: Post moved.

Check this thread for more info on my build.

Tru-oil vs. Tung-oil for a body.

LeftyBlake · November 23rd, 2009, 10:01 PM

Alright, so I've decided that when I get the body, I am going to put a thin coat of wood conditioner on it. Then I am going to apply a very thin coat of a fairly dark stain. Once the stain sets and dries, I will fine sand it to remove and build up. Then the body will be tru-oiled with a few coats and buffed with 0000 steel wool to give it a nice sheen. I have everything I need for the build except for the body, which will be here Wednesday, and the tremolo system which I am currently saving for. Pics will be up as soon as the body arrives.

LeftyBlake · November 24th, 2009, 11:52 PM

So I have been told that if the wood under the pickguard is exposed, it can improve the guitars tone and make it louder. Is this a bunch of bologna or does it have some validity?

The reason I ask is because my Warmoth body comes tomorrow and I am going to start applying wood conditioner and stain.

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 02:42 PM

Time for an update, with pics. Is there anyone here interested in the build process at all? If this post doesn't get any replies I'll just drop it I suppose. Anyways.... The body has a lot nicer grain than I thought it would. One question I have. Should I drill the holes for the pickguard and jack plate prior to starting on the finishing? What size should I drill the holes?

Here are some photos.

peskypesky · November 25th, 2009, 02:46 PM

i'd love to see your build process. from start to finish.

but i have to vote against the black and pearl pickguards. i'd go with white.

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 02:47 PM

I am either going with black or white. I haven't decided yet.

Would you happen to know what size holes I should drill for the pickguard and jack plate screws? Do you know where I can get that information?

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 02:57 PM

I just screwed the neck onto the body. Perfect fit!

I was just told on another forum that the holes are around 1/16". I am going to test drill into some junk wood till I find the right size.

peskypesky · November 25th, 2009, 03:05 PM

glad to hear the neck fit so easily.

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 03:20 PM

I marked up the holes for the pickguard and the jack plate. I figured out that a 5/64" hole works perfect. 1/16" was way too tight and caused the wood to crack when being drilled in and 1/8" was too big; the screw dropped right in. Don't worry, I tried this all on a spare piece of wood!

I have to go get masking tape and mail something. More pics in an hour or so!

peskypesky · November 25th, 2009, 03:41 PM

very cool. thanks for posting!

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 05:11 PM

Alrighty, I got all of the holes drilled and got the area under the pickguard taped off. I have heard that it makes the guitar more resonant if there is bare wood under the pickguard. Whether it's true or not, I have no clue. However, taping it off makes less staining, steel wool'ing, and less oiling.

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 05:54 PM

Bumping with more pictures. I decided to remove the tape and just finish the entire body. Since it's my first time I figured I might as well go all out. Here are pictures with one, fresh coat of wood conditioner. The instructions say to let the conditioner dry for 5-15 minutes and then apply stain within two hours. As soon as the conditioner dries, I am going to put one coat of stain on it.

LeftyBlake · November 25th, 2009, 06:32 PM

Here's what it looks like with one coat of stain. As soon as the stain dries and sets, I am going to steel wool it then decide whether or not I want another coat.

Wayne D. · November 29th, 2009, 04:30 PM

Hi Blake, I see now where you're going with it. With a rosewood neck it'll look better if the body is a little darker. Now I can't wait buddy!! Let's go!! lol Just kidding take your time, you can't rush success.

LeftyBlake · November 29th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Thanks for your emails Wayne. It was cool to see that guitar!

Anyways, I just let the fifth coat of tru oil dry and I took the 0000 steel wool to it once again. It's as shiny and as smooth as I want it to be, so I think I'm done with the tru oil. I still need to order my Callaham trem assembly and I am waiting for a treble bleed kit and a cap to come in the mail.

guitargeekaz · November 29th, 2009, 05:46 PM

It's lookin really good man!

Suthrn_BLU_Sman · November 29th, 2009, 08:50 PM

I like the natural and black pg or white pg. I think the grain looks great to. Keep posting pics, I love following these builds and wishing I could do one myself.

Cyrex · November 29th, 2009, 11:57 PM

Thanks for taking the time to post your build. Really enjoying (and learning) this thread. Looks great!!

tonyw · November 30th, 2009, 12:21 AM

Coming along nice mate.

I was the opposite i had the HW1 body and then the Warmoth neck and that fit like a glove also.

T-Bodz Terry B. · November 30th, 2009, 10:43 AM

Very nice.... Moving a long Bro!

Wayne D. · November 30th, 2009, 05:08 PM

Good job so far Blake! Also what is really neat about these grain body strats is every one is different and unique. It's yours and no one will ever have one exactly like yours. I like that.

parrish · December 1st, 2009, 10:09 AM

That finish sure looks great with that grain! I am curious how poplar will sound compared to alder or ash.

vaughndrix · December 1st, 2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftyBlake

Alright, so this is what it's gonna look like, one way or the other.

OR

I'm leaning towards the black pickguard. The body is also going to be a little bit darker than that.

Go With The Black

LeftyBlake · December 3rd, 2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrish

That finish sure looks great with that grain! I am curious how poplar will sound compared to alder or ash.

Thanks! It turned out better than I thought it would. I am also curious to know how it sounds.

I ordered my Callaham trem system yesterday and I got an email today saying that it was shipped! I dropped my pickguard off at my tech's shop and he's wiring it up with a treble bleed kit and a 0.022 PIO cap. As usual, I will have the bridge pickup controlled by the bottom tone pot.

I decided on the black pickguard. The tortoise just didn't look right IMO. Maybe if the grain was darker? Hopefully I will have it all up and running by next week. I'm excited!

LeftyBlake · January 28th, 2010, 02:14 PM

Well, after several weeks of waiting, I finally got this guitar all finished. Here's what it looks like all done.

There is a cap on each tone pot and a treble bleed on the volume. The neck pickup is a Highway 1 neck pickup, the middle is a Texas Special bridge pickup, and the bridge is a Highway 1 bridge pickup. There's no hum canceling in positions two and four, but it doesn't bother me. Sounds pretty neat. I need to do a minor set up on it tonight.

Mech · January 28th, 2010, 02:32 PM

Man, that is niiice. Did you add the additional string tree to the neck? First time I've seen 2 (original) trees on a '98. But I can vouch for the craftmanship of them, and I'll put mine against any CS out there......it's that good. I have a strat in mind (I'm no builder, just enjoy the time and effort of others work) since I can't build it, maybe someday it will be a color option. One piece maple neck, HSS body, 3tsb but instead of having black as the outer color I want it to be Daphne blue with the remaining colors staying the same. I wouldn't call it a sunburst because it's more of a sunrise.

A few weeks ago I witnessed one of the most incredible sunrises, all the colors were there and I started thinking guitars. Again, great job Lefty!

Goodkat · January 28th, 2010, 03:37 PM

Excellent!

strat.tenor · January 28th, 2010, 05:22 PM

Congrats ... I, too, as a lefty, am going down the Partscaster road ... I bought my body off of eBay, can't wait to receive it.

Are you open to a suggestion?

Well done, looks like a professionally built guitar.

LeftyBlake · January 28th, 2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strat.tenor

Are you open to a suggestion?

Well done, looks like a professionally built guitar.

Absolutely. And thank you!