Yeah that's coming along nice. I always had a thing for 64 strats myself.

As a matter of fact, I just posted a couple of pics in the Neck Definitions thread in this same Stratocaster category.

As far as drilling the neck, that is actually easy if you do a couple of steps first.

(1) test-fit the neck into its body slot. if it fits in snug then on to the next step.
(2) you will need a couple of small clamps like the Irwin Quick-grips ( Lowes and Home depot both carry them. I highly recommend them, they are a bit pricey but last a long time . I have some for work since 2000 and they are fine.
(3) Once the neck is clamped in place you can mark the drill holes.( I saw in your photo's the body is predrilled for the 4 neck screws.)
Use an awl and/or a drill bit the size of the screw holes (better) insert thru the body's neck screw holes and once touching the neck tap the drill bit with a small hammer (12 ounces )
You only want to make an indentation mark so that when you unclamp the neck and body there you are you have an accurate point as to where to drill.
(4) place neck plate on back of body insert all 4 screws thru plate and body.
(5) measure the lenght of the screws that poke out from the neck pocket. That is your depth measurement for how far the drill bit can go into the neck.
(6) If you have access to a small drill press I highly suggest you use it. It makes depth set up for the drill very easy as well as insuring that you are drilling at 90 degrees.
(7) if no drill press then, clamp your neck down to a table top.
(8) with your depth measurement measure the same measurement on the drill bit. (if you have a drill-bit collar it will be even easier. If not wrap plastic tape at your depth measurement, below the tape is your depth to drill.
(9) set yourself up so that you can drill at 90 degrees comfortably.

And that should be it.
Except that I assume you already have a neck plate and screws ??

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

Just received word from Matt at MJT that the body is on the way...other than that, not much for news. Still waiting on the pickups and capacitor as well... Should be coming together in the next few weeks!!!

Great news...

The pickups have arrived and the body, bridge and nut are supposed to be arriving today. I keep jumping out of my chair every time I hear a truck roll down the street... patience is not one of my strongest attributes. I'll be sure to get a few pics up as soon as possible!

One question....

Was Fender using surgical tubing for pickup spacers or springs? Seems like the pics I've seen for 63 show tubing and springs for 65? As far as 64 I'm not sure. There's no way I'm going to be able to nail every detail but I was curious if anyone knew...

Tubing is not as versatile as springs. For ease of maintenance I would use springs and go as far as if tubing is oem, change to springs.
Over time tubing will begin to dry out and crack thereby becoming useless as pickup screw tensioner. The more these little pieces of tubing have been handled, the quicker they will disintegrate due to the reaction of finger oils and acids. Not to mention the sweat and whatever else that always seems to find its way thru the pickguard pup slots.
Plus they are not as finely adjustable as the springs.
Last thing you want is a tubing falling apart in the middle of a set, as your pickup is moving up and down.

I know this does not answer your question but I think it's a moot point since the goal is to have a working relatively foolproof instrument.

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

My all-original '66 Strat (bought from the original owner in '68) had the surgical tubing.

That said, I generally use springs when building a clone.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Where it's out of sight, I tend to agree that it would make more sense to just use springs... and I happen to have some on hand. The p/ups came with tubing however which is what got me thinking of this in the first place.

The pickups i just installed came with the tubes to, i used them mainly because i hadn't got any spare springs at hand an i wanted to see what there like, they seem to hold the pickup tighter in the plate but adjustment isn't as smooth as the spring.
As mentioned in a previous post i can see flaws in the durability of the material they are made from, only time will tell but personally knowing what i no now, id go for the spring, its a pretty fool proof design.

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Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

hey jamguy, i probably missed it somewhere, but what pickups are you installing?
the guitar looks very cool, love the color its gonna be exceptional.
cool green ,

MJT is gooding good reviews, im definitely gonna go with them. on my next build.
this oilwell is running dry at the moment

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

I went with Klein 65's... I've heard some good feedback and I think they're close to the tone I'm after. Time will tell but I'm sure I'll be more than happy to make do.

So... the body came. UPS pulled through and it arrived at 6:50...I had almost given up hope. It looks amazing, I'll get a few pics up tomorrow. I got the neck drilled and installed, it was a nice straight, snug fit in the pocket which helped the process. Lots of odds and ends left to do... nut, string tree, bridge, strap buttons, wiring... other than that it's pretty much there.

Visually, it's exactly what I was after. I'll let you all know she sounds when the time comes.

I'd say that's heavily yellowed Ice Blue
Looks great though can't wait to see the final product and get the details of how it sounds

It is indeed heavily yellowed Ice Blue... it seems that in certain light it looks more blue, it some light more green...anyhow, I couldn't be more stoked on how it looks and 1000 thanks to Matt & Mark at MJT... they are awesome to work with and the finished product is amazing. So here's a picture of what it looks like so far....



A couple of interesting notes regarding the assembly so far.

*The body contours are decidedly 50's... which I like but isn't exactly to 64 specs.
*The Fender pickup cover holes did not line up with the pickup holes in the baseplates on the Kleins, and had to be drilled out slightly to fit.
*The String Ferrules aren't exactly like the originals from the 60's, however they seem a bit more substantial and I'm more than happy with them.
*The bridge plate does not extend out to the P/G (sorry no pics) and leaves about a 1/4 inch gap. I'm not sure if that's the nature of the bridge I ordered from MJT (which I suspect is from Allparts) or if that's normal.
*Also, I may have a local luthier I know install the nut... I'm a bit intimidated by the project and don't want to screw it up...I'm most concerned about cracking the little piece of rosewood on the headstock side of the fretboard. As is, the nut seems like it would be a VERY tight fit and I don't want to force it... having never installed one before I might just need to get help with that one...funny though, before the parts arrived I thought the neck installation was going to be the hard part and the nut an easier project

The Allparts hardtail bridge base plate is dimensionally identical with the equivalent Fender part. The complete assembly differs only in that AP supplies a set of generic cast-metal saddles. For authencity, those should be replaced by the stamped-steel types imprinted with the "FENDER" and "PATENT PENDING" markings.

HTH

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

That's good to know... strange there's a gap but oh well... it's certainly nothing to get all balled up about.

My Pat Pend stamped saddles from Crazy Parts are in transit... they are somewhere between Oregon and Germany... tracking #'s don't seem to help narrow it down. Guess they'll get here when they get here... just like the capacitor I've been waiting a month for. Oh well...I'm at a point where I could get the wiring done (and wire in the cap when it comes) or mount the bridge plate so I can tinker around with something in the meantime.