Hello,

I have a project guitar, an Indonesion Strat-wanna-be, that I am modding. My delima is that the maker removed so much material from the body that it doesn't balance properly. It is neck heavy. My plan is to add material back into the overrouted cavities to fix this problem. Have any of you tried this solution and if so what did you use?

Thanks,

I can imagine a few folks on here that might be able to help you. Though from my guess you'd have to put in some massively heavy wood to equal out the lightness of the rest of the body, that it probably wouldn't work that way. Perhaps an investment in a nice tremolo bridge unit (I'm thinking gotoh/ wilkinson, for instance) would do the trick: 500 grams of solid steel.

But I am keen to hear what the real pros have to say to this matter. One thing I can predict they will ask is: Can you show us some photos to illustrate the issue? Perhas of the back of the guitar & the cavities in question?

Best -

Nutter

you could try putting automotive body filler in places. that would weigh it down.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Filler-261-Rep ... B0007ZG9TO

you could even go as far as drilling 1" holes under the pick guard and mixing bondo with lead shot from some shotgun shells. if you fill them with lead that will add some weight

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Forum member Ceri is the master of doing this task. Try searching for some of his post concerning this. I can't remember the exact name but one of the best was titled something like--- Repairing Nikininja's burnt strat. Good luck!!

Here is a link to most all build threads posted by forum member The_Nutter. Have a look through these and you should find the answer to just about all build questions!!

viewtopic.php?p=518530

My ears are burning.

The less dramatic method:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17948&start=15

The more dramatic method:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=30747&start=120

(Scroll down on each page for pictures.)

Where in the world are you, speedfish? Maybe there's someone nearby who can help...

Cheers - C

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I've done this job several times, though only on a couple Strats, and never for the reason you state. Its not a difficult job, but if you don't have the right tools and materials, it can be almost impossible to do and get good results. My first question is whether or not the guitar is so neck heavy (unusual for a Strat, common with SG‘s) is due to the routing, or the material the body is made f from. If its because its made from a lower grade material, it just wont make $$ sense, especially when you can pick up a body from All Parts, and the like for $100.

I had a strat that seemed sonicly challenged and to light. I took a piece of 1/8 brass plate and cut it to fit in the universal route and drilled and countersunk it. I used small brass wood screws.
This made it feel more like my old ash body and gave it loads more sustain. Brass is the perfect musical metal.

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