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Post subject: Triple P-90 Strat (DONE, PICS!)
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:24 am
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Over the years I've always been tinkering with my guitars, swapping parts, and trying to fix some guitars I've gotten in less than ideal shape. I've never thrown anything away, or sold the old parts from any guitar. With my custom Strat build, I even ended up with an extra body, saddles, tuners and a couple of pots. And a couple of weeks ago, I realized that I actually had almost enough spare parts to create a new guitar!

The only major thing I was missing was a neck. Had I gone the way of ordering one custom, it probably would've cost in the $350-$500 range. Since this assembly is purely for fun, that was a lot more than I was willing to spend. Luckily, I can order directly from Allparts from where I work and I managed to get my hands on a neck with stainless steel jumbo frets (like on my Forumcaster) for near cost. Which is nowhere even remotely near $350.

For the bridge, which is second most major thing I don't have, I'm going to borrow one from my highway one just until I can afford another one. If the highway one bridge works, I can pick one up for around $30. The whole idea behind this guitar is to try to use parts I have on hand, and get the parts I need for the least amount of money possible. Other than the neck, the only thing I had so shell out some bucks for was a custom pickguard from Warmoth. It's tortoise shell and cut for triple P-90s! I picked up two P-90s from the St. Blues factory in Memphis for $10 each (they're decent Korean made pickups), and I bought a Seymour Duncan P-90 from a guy who walked into the shop the other day and sold it to me for $30. It's probably as old as I am, but they're going new now for about $100.

It's probably going to be a week or two before the pickguard arrives, but other than that I'm good to go! I'll probably start assembly this week with things like fitting the neck. I'm using my Eric Johnson Strat body, and I almost feel bad about having to rout for the P-90s. Part of me doesn't want to touch it, but since someone has already refinished it it's not like I'm hurting it.
I'll be posting many more pictures soon, but for right now all I have is a picture of the body from last year.

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I need to get a decal for the neck too. I'm thinking I'll get a matching "Becks" decal for it like the one on my Forumcaster. :) I've got to think of a cool name for it!

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Last edited by texasguitarslinger on Fri Jul 12, 2013 11:38 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 12:50 am
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That's a cool idea!!

I love P90s in a strat, even though mine has only two, chosen via 3-way-switch.
(and, in fact, they're Tonerider Rebel90s but they're very, very close to P90s in sound. Awesome pickups for half the money of the reknown major companies!)

I can imagine that it will look awesome with 3 of those!

Looking forward to see more pics.

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:36 am
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Cool idea Texas! I've been thinking about a triple P-90 guitar ever since Mike Robinson of Eastwood Guitars fame e-mailed me last summer about this
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I talked with Mike a few years ago about a replacement for my old Supro Duo-Tone. At the time he was waiting for the ok from the owers of the Supro name to give him the license for a manufacturing run to replenish his stock of those guitars. When he finally got the ok last summer he produced some of the Tri-Tone's as well. This triple P-90 Stratocaster build should be almost as much fun as the Forumcaster, lol. :D 8)

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:54 pm
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Solid Body Love Songs wrote:
Cool idea Texas! I've been thinking about a triple P-90 guitar ever since Mike Robinson of Eastwood Guitars fame e-mailed me last summer about this
Image
I talked with Mike a few years ago about a replacement for my old Supro Duo-Tone. At the time he was waiting for the ok from the owers of the Supro name to give him the license for a manufacturing run to replenish his stock of those guitars. When he finally got the ok last summer he produced some of the Tri-Tone's as well. This triple P-90 Stratocaster build should be almost as much fun as the Forumcaster, lol. :D 8)


My Granddad has a 1959 Airline that reminds me a lot of that! It has three humbuckers and a neck like a baseball bat. My Dad destroyed the original sunburst finish (with permission) when he decided to to give it a more modern natural finish in the '70s. I destroyed the original kluson style tuning machines when they crumbled to pieces as I tried to give it a restring. Every generation seems to mess that guitar up a little bit more, who knows what my little cousin will do to it? :lol:

Just for kicks I made this virtual model of what the finished guitar should look like together. I'm really excited to get started on it! :D

Image

I'm thinking of just having a master volume and master tone. Warmoth won't let you get the pickguard drilled for three pots with a P-90 in the bridge. It wouldn't be a big deal to drill out another hole myself, but in a way I like the simplicity of having only one volume and one tone.

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 2:20 pm
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That is a super-strat if there ever was one 8) Texas, your Grandads Airline is a 24 3/4" scale Image that baseball bat neck would be good for slide guitar, lol. I found one in a shop out in the far western suburbs for a discounted price but decided to wait for word from Mike at Eastwood. On the P-90 Strat project again, a bro of mine let me play his custom shop jazz bass that has no volume or tone knobs, just 2 single coil pick-ups straight into the amp and it is one hot bass guitar :D . The P-90s and a selector switch only?

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 3:25 pm
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Well, I already ordered the pickguard so probably not. Interesting idea, but I think I'd at least need a volume control for playing live. I usually cut back a notch or two for rhythm and then roll it all the way up for lead. :) It's especially useful when you're at a jam and have to play straight into an amp with no pedals. Plus, with single coils I always keep it turned down all the way when I'm not playing to avoid nasty looks from the singer. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 4:38 pm
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texasguitarslinger wrote:
Well, I already ordered the pickguard so probably not. Interesting idea, but I think I'd at least need a volume control for playing live. I usually cut back a notch or two for rhythm and then roll it all the way up for lead. :) It's especially useful when you're at a jam and have to play straight into an amp with no pedals. Plus, with single coils I always keep it turned down all the way when I'm not playing to avoid nasty looks from the singer. :lol:



On second thought you are absolutely right Texas! :D 1 volume and 1 tone with a selector switch it is then 8)

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:54 pm
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I've seen a couple of Strats with three P90's while surfing on the internet.

They look pretty cool on a black Strat with a tortoise guard and maple fretboard (the pictured guitar is not mine so I credit that photo).

Image

A notable fan of the P90s was Pete Towshend who had an Eric Clapton signature Blackie fitted with those pickups since 2003.

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:58 pm
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texasguitslinger wrote:
Image




I think the guitar you're actually building would look like the Strat featured on the video I've posted, except yours will feature a regular 5-way switch instead of the three mini toggles.


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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:52 am
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very cool idea. go for it.

looking forward for new pics.

good luck and cheers :D

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 11:58 am
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Very, very, very cool...I can't wait to see (and hear) it!

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 5:52 pm
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TGS...That is not only a great idea, but EVERYONE needs at least one guitar with P-90s! As for a name, keep it simple and straight forward...as long as Fender don't mind...Becks...Strato90!

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 11:17 pm
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Wow, I ordered the pickguard two days ago and Warmoth has already made it and shipped it! :D It's coming from Washington though, so I may actually have to wait longer for it to arrive than I had to for it to be made.

I think I may have come up with a good name too. How about the Becks Triple Threat? I'm going to have the same guys who did the decal for my Custom Strat print me up a decal for this one too. They were really fast and did a great job. http://shop.rothkoandfrost.co.uk/guitar-headstock-waterslide-decals-s/204.htm

I haven't done any assembly work yet, but I did snap some pictures of my pile of guitar parts before I left work today!

Image

This one is actually really close to the actual color of the neck, it definitely has a vintage tint.

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Sadly, this will be the only place on the guitar where you'll find the word "Fender".

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And here's all of the parts I have together so far. The neck pocket will need to be carefully shaped to fit the neck like we did on my Forumcaster. I'll definitely need to leave that to my tech.

Also note the random Christmas lights and pretzels! :lol:

Image

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 2:18 am
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Becks Triple Threat, I like that one. Cook pic's. The neck is perfect, very good choice Texas 8)

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Post subject: Re: Triple P-90 Strat Project!
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 5:13 am
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that neck looks really nice. though for me, the wood grain of the body is way too bland for a natural finish. id be painting over it no doubt.

triple P90's is a winner. :D


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