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Post subject: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:50 pm
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I know there are a few threads out there about these. I have the ability to get my hands on one of the bare (and I mean bare) bodies. It has no finish, other than MAYBE a clear coat. I need to know if these are worth building (as a player's guitar, this is gonna get a bit costly for what I have in mind, but I found its uniqueness very intrigueing). Who has them? Who plays them? How do they sound? The sound/tone is somewhat important to me, though I know it's a VERY subjective matter of opinion.


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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:06 pm
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So to the best of my knowledge, the bodies are made of wood and covered in a metal (i.e. copper, chrome and so forth). A buddy of mine covered his Ibanez JS-1000 knickle. It looked very cool and weighed a great deal.

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:17 pm
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Nope, in this case, no wood. I've seen it, held it, want to build it. It is ALL Aluminum, hollow, and supports, etc. TIG welded inside. Very neat, and polished finish (it looks like it is chrome). There is another thread about these from Xheffrie (spelling?) that had a picture identical (not the purple or Stars and Stripes, just raw finish). I did not find the answers to the questions I have there; so hopefully someone has them.


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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:45 pm
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Look inside the most recent " Custom Shop Dream Machine " book. There is a segment or two about aluminum guitars.

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:27 am
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daversatek wrote:
There is another thread about these from Xheffrie (spelling?) that had a picture identical

Hi daversatek: Forum user Xhefri is indeed the man for this. Maybe he'll see this thread and chime in, but if not you could contact him through his very interesting website:

http://www.xhefriguitars.com/

He's an amazingly nice and knowledgeable gentleman and will assuredly give you whatever advice he can. (I hope that's not speaking out of turn, Xhefri... :) )

My own humble view would be: grab that bod with both hands and build a beautiful guitar out of it! Rare and well worth having.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:52 am
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Hey, I just arrived back in the US (literally as I am sitting in the airport in Seattle right now) so I need to be short as I need to catch another flight. Also Mr. C is kind with his words. Gentleman indeed! Regarding these Aluminum Strats, I bought one some time back, and posted info about these on a thread. It sounds like you read the forum info about these on that thread, so I will not be redundant.

If your wondering about the "tone", mine had Gold Laces which are a bright 50s sound type pickups. The guitar was a little brighter than wood but not a big difference, which kind of says something about the tone wood debate. 8) Anyhow, the stock models are pretty collectable, but I am not sure what the value would be on a plain body built into a custom guitar. The real question is, Do you really like it? If so, go for a custom build. You will not notice much of a big difference. What are your plans as far as pickups? That will really determine the final tone more than anything else as far as the guitar goes.

These BTW are chambered Aluminum, no wood inside (where did someone get that idea? ummm) Need to run! Cheerio!

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:06 pm
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Thanks, Ceri. Xhefri, yeah - this body is indeed chambered / hollow, and is drilled/tapped for all hardware as an American standard. I would have to use a trem, and not sure yet what type I would actually install. My pickup configuration at this point, would be as an H-S-S. I have a few good humbuckers laying around, including a Duncan SH-5 and a SH-13 (Dimebucker). Not sure what I would do for the middle and neck position yet. Still have to consider necks (in terms of make/model). I don't really get into the tonewood debates other than the realization that everyone hears what they may perceive as a difference in their own way. I think with active electronics or active pickups, you nix any tonal differences anyway. I was concerned this body would become a noise trap (outside of my playing) or white noise amplifier of sorts. I am open to and welcome any component suggestions...


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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:20 am
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Hi again daversatek: well if ever there was an occasion to go looking on Ebay for a genuine Fender neck this is it. For this bod anything else would be a bit of a disappoinment, I feel.

Xhefri has said that the metal body has fairly little affect on the sound of the instrument. Everything I know about that gentleman says his ears and judgement are to be relied upon, so that's good enough for me.

Therefore, I think a large part of the point of a shiny silver coloured body is cosmetic, frankly. And that means we want to choose the accoutrements accordingly. I seem to remember that aluminium bodies take two-point trems, so I'd be looking at a branded Fender American Standard or American Deluxe bridge in chrome; either will be just fine.

And then you can find aluminium or at least mirrored pickguards from the specialist sellers: this guitar simply has to have one of those. And to complete the shiny look I'd be going for Lace Chrome Dome pickups, which you can get as single-coils or humbuckers as you prefer. Xhefri is the very man to talk you through the options as far as Chrome Domes go - he and I share a liking for Lace sounds, and Jeff's visual taste is just excellent as well, so it would be fun to hear his thoughts on the specs I've suggested.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:11 pm
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I considered the "all Chrome" look, but also considered a black pickguard and pickups as well, with chrome hardware. I have to look into Lace further, I've heard nothing but good about them. Still on the fence with this build, but it sure would be cool.


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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:16 pm
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daversatek wrote:
I considered the "all Chrome" look, but also considered a black pickguard and pickups as well, with chrome hardware. I have to look into Lace further, I've heard nothing but good about them. Still on the fence with this build, but it sure would be cool.

You know the back pickguard with Chrome Dome pickups might look nice. Kind of like below with solid black or even the black pearl. You could be S/S/H instead of the humbucker in the neck like I have here. I have seen a few aluminum bodies on eBay over the years. Fender must have dumped some of these and occasionally they show up on the market.

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:23 pm
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I was thinking a humbucker at the bridge (such as the Seymour Duncan SH-5 or even the SH-13 I have laying around). The guy that with the Strat body I looked at claims he has more. I tkind of makes me wonder if they are genuine (though I don't have good reason to believe otherwise), especially in this day and age where nearly anything can be replicated.


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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:58 am
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daversatek wrote:
I was thinking a humbucker at the bridge (such as the Seymour Duncan SH-5 or even the SH-13 I have laying around). The guy that with the Strat body I looked at claims he has more. I tkind of makes me wonder if they are genuine (though I don't have good reason to believe otherwise), especially in this day and age where nearly anything can be replicated.

Hi daversatek: yep, anything can be replicated. And there's no legal reason not to be producing metal Strat style bodies (unless he's faking a Fender logo on them), so if this guy's doing it I'd sure like to know because I'd love to have one of those things myself!

Still, though it's possible he's making them I sort of doubt it. Manufacturing hollow aluminium Strat bodies would take a lot of time and effort and setting up. I wouldn't have thought there's enough money in it to be worth the trouble - but it would be great to be wrong! :)

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Aluminum Strat
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:59 pm
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Here's a mint 1993 Aluminium Strat here- if only only I had the ability to scratch up for this one.. :oops:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/music-instrume ... 330090.htm

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