| Strat Restore ... Interested in it ? |
I am doing a Strat restore upgrade.. I have a lotus strat ,, The body is EDIT: mohagany and is fine. I will be restoring and upgrading the guitar. I am taking pics of the step by step procedure. If any one is interested I will post the pics here. in this thread.. It will include the full shielding pics ect. I am on a tight budget so it will show how you can build a very nice playing and sounding strat , for way less $$$$ than buying that fancy one in the store.
parts purchased so far................................2008 EDIT: mistake Fender mexican standard deluxe neck 91/2 radius stock jumbo frets.
the cost on the neck was including shipping .................$150.00 ( I would of went with Warmoth but the neck I wanted was twice as much).
Noiseless "Hots" pups .... with upgraded switches and EDIT 500k changed from 250k tone pots.. and caps 0.22uf $119.00
new graphtech 8000 saddles $40.00 EDIT: not using the graphtechs going with originals -40.00
Trem block upgrade to steel. $0.00 (had one)
EDIT: sold old tuners and bought new ones cost about sell 30.00
Aluminum foil $1.50
Total Cost $310.50 EDIT: NEW COST IS $270.00 + 30.00 for better tuners. so new cost is $300.00
Total Cost $300.00
American Standard Strat (the one I wanted to buy) $999.99 discount $835.00 Yikes still too high.
American Standard Strat... alder body , cheaper trem, cheaper saddles, Alnico V pups (very nice sounding but noisy, and same sound from noiseless, plus a little hotter pups). single coils use 250k tone pots (I'll be using 500k with the humbucker stacks(noiseless).
If everything works out right I will end up with a very nice playing and great sounding "strat" .
pics of the almost stripped down (parts only) guitar and
pics of the homemade but very effective guitar shielding.
guitar will also have upgraded wiring with a single point ground source and no ground loops (unlike stock fenders)
Edit:guitar is in holding pattern till the neck and pups arrive. should be here Monday.
Here are some links that might help
http://www.mightymite.com/index.html
http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/stratocaster-discussion-forum/760-lets-build-one.html
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
parts purchased so far................................2008 EDIT: mistake Fender mexican standard deluxe neck 91/2 radius stock jumbo frets.
the cost on the neck was including shipping .................$150.00 ( I would of went with Warmoth but the neck I wanted was twice as much).
Noiseless "Hots" pups .... with upgraded switches and EDIT 500k changed from 250k tone pots.. and caps 0.22uf $119.00
new graphtech 8000 saddles $40.00 EDIT: not using the graphtechs going with originals -40.00
Trem block upgrade to steel. $0.00 (had one)
EDIT: sold old tuners and bought new ones cost about sell 30.00
Aluminum foil $1.50
Total Cost $310.50 EDIT: NEW COST IS $270.00 + 30.00 for better tuners. so new cost is $300.00
Total Cost $300.00
American Standard Strat (the one I wanted to buy) $999.99 discount $835.00 Yikes still too high.
American Standard Strat... alder body , cheaper trem, cheaper saddles, Alnico V pups (very nice sounding but noisy, and same sound from noiseless, plus a little hotter pups). single coils use 250k tone pots (I'll be using 500k with the humbucker stacks(noiseless).
If everything works out right I will end up with a very nice playing and great sounding "strat" .
pics of the almost stripped down (parts only) guitar and
pics of the homemade but very effective guitar shielding.
guitar will also have upgraded wiring with a single point ground source and no ground loops (unlike stock fenders)
Edit:guitar is in holding pattern till the neck and pups arrive. should be here Monday.
Here are some links that might help
http://www.mightymite.com/index.html
http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/stratocaster-discussion-forum/760-lets-build-one.html
http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php
woah sweet man! im totally interested!!!
Im gonna check out that site...ive always wanted to build my custom guitar.
Im gonna check out that site...ive always wanted to build my custom guitar.
For the shielding , I just used the old aluminum foil and contact cement. It takes a bit more work than the copper tape, but it works fine and is LOTs Cheaper.. all you need to do is seal the body cavities completely with foil leaving a small thin edge for the pick guard to sit on. The back of the pic guard needs to be shielded to.. I do all of it (back of pick guard) cause it is easier for me and the way I shield out to the body it gives better contact throughout the body cavity .
ok... i was thinking of doing this myself....
make sure to remember helpful hints man!!
make sure to remember helpful hints man!!
Wow Goat, I didn't know you were a craftsman too, superb stuff, looks like your an expert.
Would be way cool if you could video it and put up on youtube.
One of my first Guitars which I still have is a left-handed less paul copy, I would love to someday restore it to
Gibson standard, do you think that is possible?
Cheers
Denis
Would be way cool if you could video it and put up on youtube.
One of my first Guitars which I still have is a left-handed less paul copy, I would love to someday restore it to
Gibson standard, do you think that is possible?
Cheers
Denis
yes it is possible, is it is neck thru guitar or bolt on neck, most Les Paul guitars are neck thru or glued on. If it need a new neck ,s that is a lot more work. Still doable but more work and a little more cost. It all depends on what you want to do to it. I wouldn't have replaced the neck on the lotus but the frets are gone, It is a nice maple neck, one day I will tackle the job of replacing the frets on it..
toastedgoat wrote…
yes it is possible, is it is neck thru guitar or bolt on neck, most Les Paul guitars are neck thru or glued on. If it need a new neck ,s that is a lot more work. Still doable but more work and a little more cost. It all depends on what you want to do to it. I wouldn't have replaced the neck on the lotus but the frets are gone, It is a nice maple neck, one day I will tackle the job of replacing the frets on it..
The neck seems OK, I think it's a bolt on, I'll have to check.
I'm no expert, but I suppose put some quality pick ups and a quality bridge set, the aim being to get the best quality sound, they would obviously need to be left handed? currently they are gold, which must of been sprayed on as it's coming off in some places.
Cheers
Denis
I had on old Gibson ES 345 it had gold hardware on it that wore off.. I am not sure if there is any gold hardware out there that doesn't eventually have the gold come off of it.
So now I have hit my first snag, The noiseless pickups are just a fraction to big for the pick guard holes....
solution 1). modern,.... use dremmel tool to lengthen holes (I have no dremmel tools) or 2). Small rat tail file (which I do have. 3). Go buy another pick guard... since I am trying to not spend anymore money I will opt out for #2.
EDIT: picks added of filing the pickguard
regarding pickguards..... I found out that Guitar Center and Musicians Friend have pick guards that are fine for $6.99 .. I still filed mine down, but it is pretty scratched up (before I started filing on it), I may go get one of these.
p.s. I don't own a video camera or I would video it. So pics it is.
So now I have hit my first snag, The noiseless pickups are just a fraction to big for the pick guard holes....
solution 1). modern,.... use dremmel tool to lengthen holes (I have no dremmel tools) or 2). Small rat tail file (which I do have. 3). Go buy another pick guard... since I am trying to not spend anymore money I will opt out for #2.
EDIT: picks added of filing the pickguard
regarding pickguards..... I found out that Guitar Center and Musicians Friend have pick guards that are fine for $6.99 .. I still filed mine down, but it is pretty scratched up (before I started filing on it), I may go get one of these.
p.s. I don't own a video camera or I would video it. So pics it is.
I'm not so concerned that the gold hardware has come off, just weather replacing the pick ups would improve
the sound quality. got porbs with my car at the moment, engine management light, it's been to the garage three times, it's still not fixed and I've spent £700.00, plus It's my wife's birthday next month and guess what, getting her a second hand car about three years old, plus business is down like most places. I'm managing OK just, but have to be wise and not spend money unnecessarily.
At the end of the day I own a US '78 Strat which meets all my needs, so if I did change anything on the Les paul copy it would be a bonus.
Go easy with that file!!
Look forward to seeing/hearing what you do on your Strat
Cheers
Denis
the sound quality. got porbs with my car at the moment, engine management light, it's been to the garage three times, it's still not fixed and I've spent £700.00, plus It's my wife's birthday next month and guess what, getting her a second hand car about three years old, plus business is down like most places. I'm managing OK just, but have to be wise and not spend money unnecessarily.
At the end of the day I own a US '78 Strat which meets all my needs, so if I did change anything on the Les paul copy it would be a bonus.
Go easy with that file!!
Look forward to seeing/hearing what you do on your Strat
Cheers
Denis
Hey TG! I have always been interested in doing the Eddie Van Halen thing and building my own guitar from varied components....right now, however, I'm thinking of taking my own Epiphone Les Paul copy and throwing in some really nice electronics (I'm looking at some of Wagner's hand-wound pickups, to get that "old-school" sound...some better pots and a better switch....anyway, one can dream, can't one?)
battlecat wrote…
Hey TG! I have always been interested in doing the Eddie Van Halen thing and building my own guitar from varied components....right now, however, I'm thinking of taking my own Epiphone Les Paul copy and throwing in some really nice electronics (I'm looking at some of Wagner's hand-wound pickups, to get that "old-school" sound...some better pots and a better switch....anyway, one can dream, can't one?)
I would say go for it. changing a few things on a guitar can really make the difference. When you get the right combination of electronics and neck/string set up, it can make the guitar just come alive, the notes just want to jump out at you. The guitar becomes so easy to play.
I had a cheap squire strat once that I put texas specials in and really did a good fret job on it. It became a great sounding and playing guitar., better than the american standard I had at the time. I like trying to take cheaper guitars and doing the upgrades needed to get a fine players guitar out of it.
When attaching the neck to the body...do you have to do anything special to make sure its perfectly centered or how does that whole process work?
im not so sure i understand some other things...but ill ask later
im not so sure i understand some other things...but ill ask later
TheKunadiun wrote…
When attaching the neck to the body...do you have to do anything special to make sure its perfectly centered or how does that whole process work?
im not so sure i understand some other things...but ill ask later
www.guitarbuildingtemplates.com
When cutting from blanks (raw wood) most guitar makers (not using CNC machines) use layout templates with the routing alignments set up already. The templates have the neck pocket already in it. The back template also has the holes in it for the neck screws........
and on that note.
The new neck arrived today and another snag, the neck pocket on the lotus wasn't routed out correctly at the factory. So I am going over to my friend Dennis The Drummer and he is going to route the correct dimensions out for the neck pocket. 2 1/2" width X 3" length X 5/8" deep. I measured mine and it is correct except for some extra wood left in the middle on the length route. I just need to cut out 1/16" about 1" wide. While I am at it I will double check the depth at 5/8 inches.
ok neck pocket depth was fine we removed the wood left in the pocket, the neck fit perfectly after that.
Pics of the neck mounted on the guitar body
Tomorrow I will do the wiring and mount the pick guard and input jack.
battlecat wrote…
Hey TG! I have always been interested in doing the Eddie Van Halen thing and building my own guitar from varied components....right now, however, I'm thinking of taking my own Epiphone Les Paul copy and throwing in some really nice electronics (I'm looking at some of Wagner's hand-wound pickups, to get that "old-school" sound...some better pots and a better switch....anyway, one can dream, can't one?)
Look around on different guitar sites, I have found a bunch of stuff for sale for cheap, I bought new " noiseless hots" $119.00 and then found a set that had never been installed for $60.00 on craiglist, then just to make it worse, I found a guy with pre-wired pickguard nice tortoise shell for less than I paid for just the pups. @
http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/misc-other-sale-trade-wanted/7188-pickguard-loaded-fender-noiseless-pups.html
ok mock-up is working looking good, everything seems to be working out so far.
| mock-up doing fine |
ok I have the pups in the pick guard , the filed out area at the neck pocket is looking good, everything is lining up nicely.
I'll finish the wiring tomorrow and get everything set in, then I just have to wait for the machine heads (tuners).
I ordered the fender deluxe locking tuners for it. I heard they work pretty good.
fyi the junk on the floor is stuff I am working on , a bad cable I am chopping down to make several smaller cables and , the wrapping from the neck I put back over the neck to keep it safe.
I'll finish the wiring tomorrow and get everything set in, then I just have to wait for the machine heads (tuners).
I ordered the fender deluxe locking tuners for it. I heard they work pretty good.
fyi the junk on the floor is stuff I am working on , a bad cable I am chopping down to make several smaller cables and , the wrapping from the neck I put back over the neck to keep it safe.
Did you say that body is mahogany? A mahogany strat...I'd be interested in how it sounds. Did the body come painted like that? That's going to be a pretty guitar!
and is that neck finished? or are you going to leave it natural wood? (Maybe sealed/oiled, etc?) I understand natural wood actually plays faster....
and is that neck finished? or are you going to leave it natural wood? (Maybe sealed/oiled, etc?) I understand natural wood actually plays faster....
dude totally awesome.
your really good at this!
your really good at this!
battlecat wrote…
Did you say that body is mahogany? A mahogany strat...I'd be interested in how it sounds. Did the body come painted like that? That's going to be a pretty guitar!
and is that neck finished? or are you going to leave it natural wood? (Maybe sealed/oiled, etc?) I understand natural wood actually plays faster....
yes it is ahogany, the first guy I took it too told me it was alder, but I took it to my friend Dennis The Drummer (plays in a talented classic rock band) he owns his on cabinet production and installation business.
He know his woods. he looked at it after the router hit it, he said it was definitely mahogany.
http://www.myspace.com/rehabaneros
The body is an from an old lotus guitar that someone gave me. it is the original paint.
The neck is a satin light satin sealer finish, stock on fenders deluxe mim guitars.
I will leave it as is.
I too am gonna be curious as to the tone of the guitar , mahogany is used more for Les Pauls than strats.
I am thinking that I might move up to the 1 meg pots, and no capacitor. just let the pups run full throttle.
kunadian wrote…
dude totally awesome.
your really good at this!
Thanks , it comes from lots of years being tight on the money, had to learn to do things on my own. This one is not a "perfect" build, kind of winging it on some things.
i cant wait till i start doing this kind of stuff!!!!
| Pictures Are great |
Wow Greg, with the new pics, this is turning to be a great tutorial, I'm sure it will influence a few Ampers to try it out, most of us out their don't have the cash.
Oh and those links a amazing too, so much intricate work on building a guitar, it's a work of art.
Hmm... Mahogany wood that will be really interesting how that sounds, I love wood..lol.. especially a bit of untreated Mahogany.
The guitar is shaping up nice.
I recently bought some new saddles for my Strat, which are fender originals, I read somewhere that it can improve the sustain. I only bought them beacause the original scews that adjust the height of the strings have frozen up on three. I haven't put them on yet. I'm not going to throw the old ones away, cause it would effect the value of the guitar.
Keep it up!!!
Oh and those links a amazing too, so much intricate work on building a guitar, it's a work of art.
Hmm... Mahogany wood that will be really interesting how that sounds, I love wood..lol.. especially a bit of untreated Mahogany.
The guitar is shaping up nice.
I recently bought some new saddles for my Strat, which are fender originals, I read somewhere that it can improve the sustain. I only bought them beacause the original scews that adjust the height of the strings have frozen up on three. I haven't put them on yet. I'm not going to throw the old ones away, cause it would effect the value of the guitar.
Keep it up!!!
denis wrote…
I recently bought some new saddles for my Strat, which are fender originals, I read somewhere that it can improve the sustain. I only bought them beacause the original scews that adjust the height of the strings have frozen up on three. I haven't put them on yet. I'm not going to throw the old ones away, cause it would effect the value of the guitar.
The saddles I have look just like fender saddles.. except they have more smooth finish and slight grooves for the string to ride in.. they look better than the allpro replacements. I think someone before me upgraded the saddles.
The pics are the same I just took the resizing code out of the link.
toastedgoat wrote…
denis wrote…
I recently bought some new saddles for my Strat, which are fender originals, I read somewhere that it can improve the sustain. I only bought them beacause the original scews that adjust the height of the strings have frozen up on three. I haven't put them on yet. I'm not going to throw the old ones away, cause it would effect the value of the guitar.
The saddles I have look just like fender saddles.. except they have more smooth finish and slight grooves for the string to ride in.. they look better than the allpro replacements. I think someone before me upgraded the saddles.
The pics are the same I just took the resizing code out of the link.
Yeah..You can see in much more detail now, the exposure setting is good too, thank goodness for digital cameras!!
The new saddles I bought don't have grooves, I contacted the supplier who said that they are designed that way, the strings will eventually create their own groove, I suppose if there is no groove the strings would vibrate more, thus more sustain. I must admit my Strat with it's original saddles, which have grooves does appear to lack sustain when playing clean, I've just got used to it.
Cheers
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
i cant remember
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
It's on the body/bridge of the guitar where they sit on each individual string, that can be raised or lowered effecting the height of the strings.
| saddles |
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
Since I am trying to be very visual on this thread I thought I would play with photoshop a bit.
here is a pic of the fender style saddles on a fender styles tremolo bridge.
| re: saddles |
toastedgoat wrote…
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
Since I am trying to be very visual on this thread I thought I would play with photoshop a bit.
here is a pic of the fender style saddles on a fender styles tremolo bridge.
Cool goat, they look just like the ones on my Stat, hence as I mentioned earlier the ones I recently bought have no grooves.
OHHHH ok!!
Thanks so much for the pic goat.
I have those on my Floyd Rose bridge but I think they have grooves...
Thanks so much for the pic goat.
I have those on my Floyd Rose bridge but I think they have grooves...
| re: re: saddles |
Denis wrote…
toastedgoat wrote…
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
Since I am trying to be very visual on this thread I thought I would play with photoshop a bit.
here is a pic of the fender style saddles on a fender styles tremolo bridge.
Cool goat, they look just like the ones on my Stat, hence as I mentioned earlier the ones I recently bought have no grooves.
I can play pretty hard.. I would be worried about the string moving around on me.
| re: re: re: saddles |
toastedgoat wrote…
Denis wrote…
toastedgoat wrote…
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
Since I am trying to be very visual on this thread I thought I would play with photoshop a bit.
here is a pic of the fender style saddles on a fender styles tremolo bridge.
Cool goat, they look just like the ones on my Stat, hence as I mentioned earlier the ones I recently bought have no grooves.
I can play pretty hard.. I would be worried about the string moving around on me.
When I change mine over I'll let you know how it plays, Yeah.. you don't wanna be playing live on a solo with ya strings all over the place... lol
Thinking about most acoustic guitars sit on a plain bridge, as with my old faithfull EKO ranger VI
You must be getting close now to finishing off, I thing your waiting on ya tuning keys to arrive??
Cheers
Denis
I cant wait to hear the guitar finished.
Mahogany strat...mmmm mmm good
Mahogany strat...mmmm mmm good
| re: re: re: re: saddles |
Denis wrote…
toastedgoat wrote…
Denis wrote…
toastedgoat wrote…
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
Since I am trying to be very visual on this thread I thought I would play with photoshop a bit.
here is a pic of the fender style saddles on a fender styles tremolo bridge.
Cool goat, they look just like the ones on my Stat, hence as I mentioned earlier the ones I recently bought have no grooves.
I can play pretty hard.. I would be worried about the string moving around on me.
When I change mine over I'll let you know how it plays, Yeah.. you don't wanna be playing live on a solo with ya strings all over the place... lol
Thinking about most acoustic guitars sit on a plain bridge, as with my old faithfull EKO ranger VI
You must be getting close now to finishing off, I thing your waiting on ya tuning keys to arrive??
Cheers
Denis
you are probably right , the tension on the string should be enough to hold it in place.. I have knocked strings out of the saddles before though. I might try a set of the vintage saddles.. I read the same thing about them. better sustain and tone over the ones like I have.
kunadiun wrote…
I cant wait to hear the guitar finished.
Mahogany strat...mmmm mmm good
ok you don't have to wait any longer
https://forum.bandamp.org/Audio_Review/7159.html
pic of guitar almost done.. tuners installed. electronics wired in and sounding good . no noise to speak of..
screws are missing because I am going to put in new ones.
ok strat is for the most part done... neck has to get used to tension on it. make take a few adjust to get it set in.. right now it is looking good.
I did not include to much on the electronics.. 1) it is hard to photo and solder at the same time and .2) there are tons of sites out there already that does a better job than I could explaining all the different wiring possibilities.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/
http://www.stewmac.com/wiring101/humbucking_wiring_options.html
http://www.strat-talk.com/
These links are good places to look around and read up on guitars.
I did not include to much on the electronics.. 1) it is hard to photo and solder at the same time and .2) there are tons of sites out there already that does a better job than I could explaining all the different wiring possibilities.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/
http://www.stewmac.com/wiring101/humbucking_wiring_options.html
http://www.strat-talk.com/
These links are good places to look around and read up on guitars.
| re: re: re: re: re: saddles |
toastedgoat wrote…
Denis wrote…
toastedgoat wrote…
Denis wrote…
toastedgoat wrote…
TheKunadiun wrote…
what are the saddles on the guitar?
i cant remember
Since I am trying to be very visual on this thread I thought I would play with photoshop a bit.
here is a pic of the fender style saddles on a fender styles tremolo bridge.
Cool goat, they look just like the ones on my Stat, hence as I mentioned earlier the ones I recently bought have no grooves.
I can play pretty hard.. I would be worried about the string moving around on me.
When I change mine over I'll let you know how it plays, Yeah.. you don't wanna be playing live on a solo with ya strings all over the place... lol
Thinking about most acoustic guitars sit on a plain bridge, as with my old faithfull EKO ranger VI
You must be getting close now to finishing off, I thing your waiting on ya tuning keys to arrive??
Cheers
Denis
you are probably right , the tension on the string should be enough to hold it in place.. I have knocked strings out of the saddles before though. I might try a set of the vintage saddles.. I read the same thing about them. better sustain and tone over the ones like I have.
kunadiun wrote…
I cant wait to hear the guitar finished.
Mahogany strat...mmmm mmm good
ok you don't have to wait any longer
https://forum.bandamp.org/Audio_Review/7159.html
pic of guitar almost done.. tuners installed. electronics wired in and sounding good . no noise to speak of..
screws are missing because I am going to put in new ones.
Cricky Goat what guage strings do you use? knoking a string out of a saddle must take some force. I suppose if your using a very light guage this could easily happen. I use the trusty old Slinky's, I find them just right for the strat.
The guitar sounds awesome, I wouldn't bother changing the saddles personally. I can't remember how much I paid for mine I think it was around £20.00
AWESOME JOB ON THAT GUITAR!!
Cheers
Denis
| Foil |
Out of interest what does the foil do for the body and the sctach plate. The wire in the first pic, I assume that is the earth cable you mentioned.
I assume you purchased the Fender vintage pick up's [what's the difference between the custom ones I've seen somewhere, are they the same?] forgive me if you have already mentioned this.
I assume you purchased the Fender vintage pick up's [what's the difference between the custom ones I've seen somewhere, are they the same?] forgive me if you have already mentioned this.
| re: re: re: re: re: re: saddles |
Denis wrote…
Cricky Goat what guage strings do you use? knoking a string out of a saddle must take some force. I suppose if your using a very light guage this could easily happen. I use the trusty old Slinky's, I find them just right for the strat.
AWESOME JOB ON THAT GUITAR!!
Cheers
Denis
The guitar sounds awesome, I wouldn't bother changing the saddles personally. I can't remember how much I paid for mine I think it was around £20.00
well really I play lots harder on the bigger gauge strings. normally I use the 0.010 -0.046 earnie ball slinky
If I am playing out a lot I usually end up moving up to the 0.011-0.048. For quite awhile I played on the
0.012-0.052 hybrid EBL half round sets. That was before I went back to driving a truck all day.. Now my hands are wore out at the end of the day so I don't feel like working them out any harder than I have to.
| re: re: re: re: re: re: re: saddles |
toastedgoat wrote…
Denis wrote…
Cricky Goat what guage strings do you use? knoking a string out of a saddle must take some force. I suppose if your using a very light guage this could easily happen. I use the trusty old Slinky's, I find them just right for the strat.
AWESOME JOB ON THAT GUITAR!!
Cheers
Denis
The guitar sounds awesome, I wouldn't bother changing the saddles personally. I can't remember how much I paid for mine I think it was around £20.00
well really I play lots harder on the bigger gauge strings. normally I use the 0.010 -0.046 earnie ball slinky
If I am playing out a lot I usually end up moving up to the 0.011-0.048. For quite awhile I played on the
0.012-0.052 hybrid EBL half round sets. That was before I went back to driving a truck all day.. Now my hands are wore out at the end of the day so I don't feel like working them out any harder than I have to.
I use DR 10 gauge strings. THey are hard to bend with the floyd rose bridge and the tuning lock things on the headstock
battlecat wrote…
Rebar How do you used those suckers?
play lots of acoustic guitar with normal ac strings on it.. then on you electric move up one gauge set at a time with weeks or even months between string size upgrade.... once you get used to the heavier gauges , and can really work em.. you won't want to go back to .oo9 or .008 ever again.. You will love the fatter tones and sustain you get from heavier gauge strings.
Kunadiun wrote…
I use DR10 guage strings. THey are hard to bend with the floyd rose bridge and the tuning lock things on the headstock
I like EB strings but I also like the D'addario bright round wounds now for some reason.
I have had some quality issues with the D'addario strings lately though. factory messed up strings in a couple of sets. I use 10's 80% of the time on the electrics.. if I am playing on the Ibanez or Jackson or Kramer I use 10's .
If I am using the strat or something with a very fat neck and solid bridge I will up it to 11's
my next build, a telecaster (partscaster). cause I don't have one and want one. 
I played on a tele last Thursday night at the bar and I liked it. It had a humbucker in the bridge pickup so it wasn't quite like most telecasters.. I did like the tone on it though. It was very playable too.. except the 1st string kept fretting out on me above the 14 fret.
the truss rod was probably not setup right, or maybe the frets werent filed correctly, or maybe there is a warp in the neck, or maybe the bridge wasnt setup.
lol you probably know all that but I have been learning about setting up guitars so I thought id share.
lol you probably know all that but I have been learning about setting up guitars so I thought id share.
the owner of the guitar said one of the frets had "lifted on him" and needed to be reset. it wasn't my guitar so I wasn't gonna worry about it. I just moved everything over to the 2nd string when I had to.
oh ok. how does a fret lift on you?
keep us posted on this tele build
keep us posted on this tele build
TheKunadiun wrote…
oh ok. how does a fret lift on you?
keep us posted on this tele build
moisture can do it, dryness can do it. improper installation can do it. putting to much lemon oil on the fretboard and not wiping it off can do it.. extreme temp changes, dropping the guitar and the fret hitting something. several ways of a fret lifting.
| started on the telecaster build |
I'll start a new thread, I have started on my telecaster build. I'll take some pics as I go along.
I've already torn the guitar down and scrapped the crappy neck, I also have the pups for it
2 Bill Lawrence tele custose for neck and middle, and a custom MHD bridge pup, that's replacing a SD Quarterpounder.
I've already torn the guitar down and scrapped the crappy neck, I also have the pups for it
2 Bill Lawrence tele custose for neck and middle, and a custom MHD bridge pup, that's replacing a SD Quarterpounder.
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