I currently play a Fender Standard Stratocaster SSS in Candy Apple Red with a rosewood fretboard. I am planning on switching things around on it. I was thinking about getting a cream coloured body, cream pickguard, black knobs, black switches, and an all black HSS pickup setup.

Does it cost more to have the body sanded and finished in the cream color, or to buy a cream colored body ?

IMO, buy another project guitar, would be a shame to strip a CAR body, but thats just me. Plenty of cheap stuff on craigslist and such if you keep an eye out. I would guess to pay someone to strip and refinish a body would cost more than picking up another body, or even finding a nice MIM in the color you want. I just picked up an '88 japanese strat in a nice creamy aged color with maple neckfor $100. It's definately a project as far as replacing tuners, bridge and p/u's, but the body and neck are solid, has a few dings on it, but I like the mojo, and well worth $100.

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

thanks for the help. You are right, after doing some proper research, buying the body would be much better. Aside from actually getting a MIM replacement body, what other bodies could i place on ? (meaning it could sound as good, fit the tremolo, ect)

you can checkout replacement bodies from allparts, or warmoth. Otherwise keep an eye on craigslist or the BAY for bodies or projects guitars.

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

Warmoth is a good idea if im getting the empty body, otherwise are kinda expensive

Could i use one of these ( http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2007-3-15-lb-USA ... 571wt_1263) I would basically leave it as is, like keep the natural look, and just install the electronics and pickguard ?

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/Showcas ... &Path=Body

Would that work with MIM hardware ?

sure, just be careful you have the bridge on exactly where it should be, mark your holes, just be careful drilling. I would recommend a drill press set for proper depth, and NOT to try to freehand with a drill.

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

you can order the body with the 6-holes already made for the tremolo thanks for the advice.

bUt my parts would fit with this body ?

I've never ordered anything to tell you for sure, but you should take a measurement, and call them up. I would guess they know. I'm sure somebody on this forum has done this before.

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

Buy another guitar. The work you are thinking about doing should only be done when a guitar is in serious need of some major repair. If you can't afford a second guitar then sell this one and buy one that better suits your needs because clearly this one is not what you want.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

you may be right :/

what if i was to keep the body, neck, but change pickups, pickguard, knobs ?

+1!

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