Check Out My New Frankenstrat

texasguitarslinger · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:28 am

SonicBlur wrote:

martysnarf wrote:

bradjacob wrote:

I DID buy a book from Amazon ($27) on setting up and maintaining strats.

Brad- I NEED this book!! I looked on Amazon.com and found a book called, "The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat" by Paul Balmer. Is that the one that you used??

Oh, and where did you order the body and the neck from? Your local dealer? Just curious.

BTW- thanks for the great info, brutha!! VERY cool post, and a VERY COOL guitar!! Enjoy her- sounds like she's a keeper!!

This book is a GODSEND for a novice in the Stratocaster repair and maintenance world!! It should be included with every Strat sale as far as I'm concerned. GET IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT!!

-Mike

I got it for Christmas, it rocks.

Now I need a toolkit.

TobiH · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:09 am

wow, that looks great !

very retro table cloth too :wink:

bradjacob · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:03 am **Posts:** 29

martysnarf wrote:

bradjacob wrote:

I DID buy a book from Amazon ($27) on setting up and maintaining strats.

Brad- I NEED this book!! I looked on Amazon.com and found a book called, "The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat" by Paul Balmer. Is that the one that you used??

Oh, and where did you order the body and the neck from? Your local dealer? Just curious.

BTW- thanks for the great info, brutha!! VERY cool post, and a VERY COOL guitar!! Enjoy her- sounds like she's a keeper!!

Martysnarf - Yup, that the book. It's a great read with lots of pictures. It goes through a tutorial on Vintage strats, setting action, intonation, and even dives into some particular models. Offers suggestions on tool kits, etc...

Another great book is: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879309210/ref=oss_product

Thanks for the kind words too

bradjacob · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:03 am **Posts:** 29

martysnarf wrote:

Oh, and where did you order the body and the neck from? Your local dealer? Just curious.

The neck and body are from a guy on eBay known as "Reliable Fender"

http://stores.ebay.com/The-STRATosphere

Pickups from this guy:
http://stores.ebay.com/HDCustom-Guitar-Supply

Al the other stuff was from Musicians Friend on the net.

Hope this helps.

bradjacob · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:03 am **Posts:** 29

JamGuy wrote:

Love the color combo...the vintage white looks sharp with the rosewood board. Of course I'm a little bias... [img][img]http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8215/bulletcaster.jpg[/img]
By derekm207 at 2010-02-16[/img]

Might be the body's fault? That model is from the 80's and I 'think' I read that the specs on some of those different models were weren't always compatible with other strats. Maybe a 09 USA Stnd body would fix it. They're relatively inexpensive. I've seen them for like $400.

martysnarf · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:02 pm **Posts:** 45

bradjacob wrote:

The neck and body are from a guy on eBay known as "Reliable Fender"

http://stores.ebay.com/The-STRATosphere

Pickups from this guy:
http://stores.ebay.com/HDCustom-Guitar-Supply

Al the other stuff was from Musicians Friend on the net.

Hope this helps.

THANKS MAN!! Great information and a beautiful new guitar. Enjoy her!!

Andybighair · **Joined:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:22 am **Posts:** 2175

Hello bradjacob!

Nice work! Looks fantastic!

Andy

martysnarf · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:02 pm **Posts:** 45

Man, I just priced out doing the same thing that Brad did, using some of the sites that he recommended. I priced it out using Custom Shop parts, and it would cost me $400 MORE than buying one new from the Custom Shop LOL!!

Conclusion: Custom Shop parts cost WAY more separately than non-CS stuff!!

bradjacob · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:03 am **Posts:** 29

martysnarf wrote:

Man, I just priced out doing the same thing that Brad did, using some of the sites that he recommended. I priced it out using Custom Shop parts, and it would cost me $400 MORE than buying one new from the Custom Shop LOL!!

Conclusion: Custom Shop parts cost WAY more separately than non-CS stuff!!

Custom Shop parts (in my opinion) aren't any better quality than good ole' USA standard parts. It seems like the CS guitars are basically small runs of guitars with a unique set of features.

It all comes down to what you style you're looking for. I'd even recommend using a Mexi-body, since they're actually made in the USA!

Curious, what are the specs of what you're looking to build?

martysnarf · **Joined:** Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:02 pm **Posts:** 45

bradjacob wrote:

Custom Shop parts (in my opinion) aren't any better quality than good ole' USA standard parts.

Curious, what are the specs of what you're looking to build?

You are absolutely correct about the CS quality not being any better. I agree 100%. I was just curious to price it out and see...

That said, my CS '60 strat is the finest guitar I have ever laid my hands on, aside from a 1958 original vintage piece that my buddy is lucky (and rich) enough to own. I ADORE my CS '60 strat; way more solidly-built than any of the other 20-odd strats I have owned over the years. Love that thing!! Maybe I just got lucky and got a real gem or something; it's a FINE piece of machinery!

Anyhow, I'd like to build a '54, '56, or '57 reissue with a maple-neck. I love my '60 with the rosewood, and I would love to have another that's 50's style with maple. I priced a few scenarios on some of the cool sites you posted; they have all kinds of stuff!! I could definitely do one that's non-CS for much cheaper. I am just so spoiled by mine that I wanted to do a price comparison.

However, the only concern I have about buying CS bodies and necks is that I don't know how they can PROVE that they are indeed from the CS. They show pics of the COA, but not all SN's are stamped into the bodies and necks. They could easily be fakes (and I am in NO WAY insinuating that they are). I am just kinda "thinking aloud". I have never looked at parts, so I have no idea how they validate the authenticity of the newer stuff. I know how to tell vintage bodies and necks, but not the newer stuff. Who knows- probably not worth it anyway- good ole' regular USA stuff is probably just as good, as you said.

Thanks again for sharing your git and info with all of us! This post really got my gears turnin', and though I do NOT need yet another guitar, I think it would be a great learning experience to put one together- not to mention FUN!! Very very cool post, man!

Randy1 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:52 pm

That is a fabulous looking Strat. Congrats.

FBRN · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:38 pm

That is my absolute favorite color. It just screams "Classic" to me. Whenever I think of a vintage Stratocaster I think of that color combo.

orvilleowner · **Posted:** Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:42 am

JamGuy wrote:

Love the color combo...the vintage white looks sharp with the rosewood board. Of course I'm a little bias...

Hey JamGuy, please tell us about that vintagey looking guitar of yours!

Sorry to divert attention away from yours, brad, but I gotta know some of the details of JamGuy's guitar! :oops:

straycat113 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 27, 2010 2:18 am

Totally amazing looking ax. If it sounds as good as it looks which I know it does, I believe you have a partner for life.

bluez81 · **Joined:** Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:34 pm **Posts:** 172

Sharp!

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