Wow, thanks for all the links. It's got me thinking. I have not painted a Strat before. But I have a Squire right now that I will be using as a test bed for everything I want to do with my final project.

I have worked with wood on other projects so I'm somewhat comfortable doing this myself. With the Squire to test everything on I'm not worried about it to much.

I will be adding some design to the flat black body. I just haven't decided on what it will be yet. So I don't know if I will need to take care of the design before or after the main body painting.

I want to get the guitar I want. But I also love the idea of the project and creating my own guitar myself.

I just have to make sure it sounds good or the project is a total bust. I do have a tech that I TRUST that can do the assembly for $75 or less with a $12 pack in case I don't feel comfortable or run into a problem with the electronics.

Is the NITRO finish the one that comes on the Highway one series? The Flat finish?

Or what finish should I be looking for on ebay to make sure I get the flat (not glossy) finish that I am looking for?

Scot06,

For the price you are about to spend on all the wood, paint, parts, and circuitry I think you may be better off contacting the Fender Custom Shop and seeing what they can do for you. They can build you anything you want and it will have a Fender name and SN on it.

Of course if you really want to build it yourself, e-bay is the place to go for the parts. I hope you find all that you are looking for in a Stratocaster.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Big Jay you build awsome guitars and are very knowledgeable, how many guitars do you currently have Big Jay?

Scot, I ordered a neck unfinished from Warmoth about a month or two ago and absolutely love it. No Serial numbers or names but still has the fender headstock design. The site is loaded with necks and bodies, all different shapes, woods, combinations etc.

Thanks for the info and help everyone.

While looking around I keep seeing people selling bodies and necks as Fender Licensed? Whats that all about?

Fender themselves do not offer replacement necks or bodies. But as there is market demand, other companies do make them.

Fender licenses out their shapes to some companies. These companies make replacement parts to the same specifications as some original fender parts. They get to use the trademarked headstock shape. But they are not allowed to use the Fender brand on any of their product.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thanks Twelvebar. Thats what I wanted to know. so it soulds like I'm going to be safe going with a neck or body from one of the companies that is licensed to make replacement parts as far as getting something that will sound like a Fender Strat. Is that correct?

Yessir, I have helped friends make guitars (read, I did all the work for them,) using warmoth bodies and necks. the rest of the parts were genuine Fender.

They were fine guitars. I am going to build myself one in the near future too, to use up a set of Texas special pickups I have.

I can't speak first hand of any of the other companies, but I have heard good things about AllParts and Mighty Mite too.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.