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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:17 am
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Just replacing the neck pup, it's a fender noiseless on the bottom serial # looks like 053326, it would be hooked up to the master Vol and master TBX tone.
I may try it just for fun, in addition I have decided to repaint this body to a cream white color instead of that stark bright white it is currently. That will also allow me to plug and redrill the misaligned bridge holes for thru body stringing... :roll:
What can I say, after two days of looking at it in that pitiful state, it has to be corrected since it is bugging me..... :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 12:46 pm
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53magnatone wrote:
These are the final pics of the 1st rebuild, I would say that total cost has been well under $400 for the entire project. Rebuilding not one but two guitars is definitely a plus but the secret was That I was willing to compromise and use left-over parts as much as possible.

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So in all, this guitar comprises of Grover Locking tuners, Fender vintage pups from a Players Deluxe MIM, 2 TBX tone pots, 5 way switch, ( All pick-ups controlled by a TBX ) while I'm on the subject, the funny hum I was getting was from either my living room lights or some other appliance being on last I mentioned it. It was gone and they are as quiet as can be hoped from single coils, only the pickguard is insulated. The bridge is standard but will more than likely undergo a change in the future if at all. Depends how sound/tone works out as I dial in the TBX's and the MIM Vin pups. So far it is a classic strat sound, a little quacky on the BM and NM settings but it was what I was looking for.
Tomorow it will undergo a more thorough test with the HRD... 8)

Now it is back to the Stratopartster II, but that will be tomorrow... :?: :?:



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Well it is or should I say has been almost a year since I posted on this thread.
A couple of changes were always intended on both the I and II Rebuilds.

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(1st)...For the 1st Black Rebuild, I always wanted to upgrade the bridge, since the trem bridge which came with the body was/is not that great. I will probably end up using it elsewhere or getting rid of it. If the latter I'm sure there will pop up a worthy cause on this Forum.....
Now I had intended to do this a couple months back but instead I loaned Stratopartster I to a
friend Mark Cutler ( Remember the Schemers.. :?: for those of us in New England.) A Providence RI based band that long preceded Deer Tick .) So after a couple a months it returned....
Thank You Mark for the Positive Reviews of it... 8)

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(2nd)....On this one some errors were committed on the electronics concerning proper wiring.
In addition to the nut needing to be filed, one not so necessary mod is the pickguard but ....On second thought,as can be seen, the black pickguard is cut too big for the Fender Hardtail Bridge versus the original which was part of the Bullet Squire guitar.
Always brings me satisfaction when I compare what this guitar was...is...and is yet to become in its final metamorphosis....
I really cannot think of a more appropriate description for it.

So without further meandering scribing the following pics illustrate the various parts to be added to which guitar......
That my Forum Friends you will have to guess as there are some parts in the photo which may or may not be part of an entirely new build.... :idea: :)

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As..... a final teaser I add yet another rebuild, now well cured and ready for reassembly...

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:23 pm
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Pics are always required.......

So as the strings are undone, there is one other mod/update which I have been wanting to do for quite some time.
That was to ditch the plastic knobs in favor of knurled metal knobs. These are so much better as (1) they are knurled which means they are grippier ( :lol: )
(2) they feature a set screw instead of a press fit.

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Additionally, another upgrade is the string tree's...Vintage and lower line models featured the old style which tend to bind the string, therefore adversely affecting tuning. The roller tree's decrease the friction and allow the string to expand or contract between tuner shaft and nut.

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Easy enough swap, just a small hole is needs to be drilled as the tree has a locating nub which prevents it from twisting or.... :?: :? .

Yes....to those hawk eyed readers.......The nut is out..... :lol:
A bit of issue with the G String Slot..... :wink:
not wide enough, the string was binding......( on this one I should stop while I'm ahead..)

Carry On...as they say....

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Last edited by 53magnatone on Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:36 pm
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I'd pay all the money in the world for that rebuild set neck. I love the strange shape.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:57 pm
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Buxom wrote:
I'd pay all the money in the world for that rebuild set neck. I love the strange shape.


Ha..Ha...It is not for sale....
Actually, the tone was what got me to buy it so long ago..
I cannot remember, as it seems I have had it forever, at least since 93...

Dual Humbuckers, with a single to dual coil switch, I have to check on the layout as it has been boxed up since undergoing refinishing.
BTW that's Colonial Maple Stain, then Polycrylic clear ( both by Minwax )

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:01 pm
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Where the hell did you find it? I've found really interesting guitars at yardsales, but that was before I was really into playing.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:11 pm
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One empty cavity awaiting the new Fender Vintage Trem.

Image

Both 6 points but one with pressed saddles, the other with block saddles. I have always preferred the tone of the pressed saddles versus the block saddles.

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The newerFender vintage Trem has a thinner trem block but it is stock whereas the other did have a denser aftermarket block.

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Undecided as to wether to use all 5 springs or just three, experimenting will be in order.

Image

Just awaiting set-up, intonation, strings, ( nut issues :wink: )
But it is late and it is time to halt until afterwork tomorrow.

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Last edited by 53magnatone on Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:16 pm
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Use my spring set up. Looking at the guitar from the bottom do 2 on the left wall, hook the next spring on the block right next to the other one and to the next hook on the claw over then one right next to the wall. It's weird but it gives a good balance.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:23 pm
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Buxom wrote:
Where the hell did you find it? I've found really interesting guitars at yardsales, but that was before I was really into playing.


I think it was in New Heaven CT back in 91 or 92, a Pawnshop....

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:38 am
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Hey 53magnatone,

Nice job with the pictures. Always great to see a blow by blow report! Keep up the good work. Your guitar turned out great. I wish the Forum would allow embedded audio clips so we could let the Forum users hear a sound bite!

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:39 pm
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Thank You...I'm quite anxious to hear the difference in sound, as well as I'm going up a string gauge from 9's to 10's......

I think this will suffice with this one as......Well as you well know, you can change things around to the point where the guitar resembles a scene from Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop album cover and it never gets played....

It will be going to a Blues Jam in the next couple of weeks...work scheduling allowing of course

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 5:01 pm
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Quick Bump and Update...

Stratopartster I ..... Will be undergoing a refinish this winter, I had not allowed enough curing time between coats and especially between black to clear. In addition the neck needs a redo, not complete but enough to gloss out the imperfections....I may also redress the frets and recontour the neck at the fret ends. To be more precise is to round out the edges.

Stratopartster II ......Pickguard is the mod ( blank Sheet will need to be cut, routed and drilled ), but more importantly I have major issues with the electronics. Used Martian's schematics but things are still way off. I may have reversed the pups as in neck in place of mid and or vice versa. I have Mid Pup but Mid and Bridge is nasally and low powered. I have Bridge Pup with single to coil but same when combined with mid.
I do not have Mid and Neck or just neck, barely audible so either some wires are crossed or I spliced incorrectly.
I have to check all the specs from Pickups to wiring to pots and what-not......Hmmmm
On the plus side the nut was shaved, slotted and is dead-on.

Of course since the new addition to the quiver will be here, choice of ax to grind will not be a problem..New addition is a translucent Blue Aerodyne Strat with Seymour Duncans. It will probably undergo minor mod such as upgrade to locking Sperzel Tuners and TBX tone Pots.
......Stay Tuned........

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:31 am
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53magnatone wrote:
Image

Undecided as to wether to use all 5 springs or just three, experimenting will be in order.


If you have no plan to float the bridge and activate the trem, I like the Clapton setup of having the claw up against the wall of the rout, five springs on the mass block and a wood stop in the space between the mass block and the back wall of the rout. I had that done to the '57VHR I acquired last year.

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:01 pm
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Doc..Did you find that by doing that, the strings oscillated for a longer time span, whereas decay rate lenghtened, thus tone was improved...?
At the moment I just have it with 5 springs flat with only flatting the notes the only possibility.

I'm not sure why I keep acquiring Strats with trem since I rarely use it. For me it is more often than not, just another piece of hardware that gets in the way.
But I like the difference in tone from my hardtail....Speaking of that I have quite a bit of work to correct the problem,I'm also suspecting i did not use a 500 K pot....

Time to check.. :?: :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Stratopartster Rebuilds I and II
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 4:51 pm
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Just curious, where did you get the logo for the hard tailed one?

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