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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:13 pm
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Xhefri wrote:
CAR's color varies a lot due to how it is applied. I have a whole section on my website about Candy colors: http://xhefriguitars.com/page2.html#C13 Also show part of a stripped body so one can see how they were made. Like you I use to be into classic cars and ran a resto-shop. Did CAR a few times and it was a serious pain. Not just simply metallic red but a complicated process of base coat, color coats, clear coats, that was really tricky to get the color even. Large flake would have been holo-flake like used on boats. True Candy Red is a fine silver base coat with several transparent red coats followed by cleat coats. Here are some samples:

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Thanks for the explanation and the link to your cool site !

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 4:54 am
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chromeface wrote:
PS. If you plan installing the regular American 2-point tremolo in your custom-made Ultra, you'll need to install a tremsetter to stay in tune. Otherwise I suggest you using a mini Floyd bridge instead.


Hey C-man, The Candy Apple Red Strat Plus of the title, is the guitar getting the Ultra Pickguard. That two point tremolo bridge is fairly new (7/12) and staying, although nothing is forever, especially on my guitars!

The last Strat Plus I owned, recently sold, had the tremsetter. I don't dive-bomb, except as a joke, just a little warble :)

So no worries about tuning stability, for me the locking tuners and LSR nut work. Thanks for the suggestion.

That reminds me of how much I prefer the Pop-in Whammy Bar on the Am. Deluxe to the Screw-in of most others. It stays where I leave it, rather than dangling. Are all the Pop-ins like that?

In a couple of days I'll try to post a diagram of the S-1 wiring on the '03 Am. Deluxe. Then we'll have some fat to chew!

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 6:45 am
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I'm finally at the stage where I can play through the Ultra pickguard and I'm really impressed with these pickups. They're clear and powerful, sound great both clean and "dirty". My intention was to sell this guitar when completed, but I don't know if I can! :lol:

Luckily there's still work to be done; gonna replace the Height adjustment screws (especially the single side of the dually) and tubing (it's old and tired at 23 or so years), put shiny screws in the 5 way switch and a full set of lock washers, etc.

The first three pics are the Pup/Switches/Pots assembly. Tone control 1 was missing, per Xhefri's advice on a long ago post, I replaced it with a linear taper 250k pot.

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This is the Super Switch as I received it, comparing the stock wiring to Xhefri's wiring diagram (my poor copy). Some changes in wiring were necessary and I decided to scrap the stock wiring and start fresh.

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The halfway stage in the assembly. I'm hoping my wiring and solder joints are done correctly, I'd hate to go back in and work on this assembly, it's very tight in there.

Check out how close the 3 position toggle switch is to the TBX pot. The hot output from the neck side of the Bridge dually Pup has to be soldered to the tabs closest to the TBX. I'm sweating this part.

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Here it's complete (or so I hoped). I'd forgotten that there are 3 grounds from the Vol. pot on my Strat Plus; Output Jack, Trem Claw and body screw in the Pup rout. No matter, I used the existing wires when I installed it. Luckily the soldering iron was handy.

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Here's the full view, it would never have been this neat if I hadn't emulated Xhefri. I'm the anti-OCD guy, if you know what I mean.

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And the front view. Don't you just love a shiny, new pickguard. Once again the X-man guided me to Chandler Guitar/pickguard heaven where a bit of searching turned up the right item.

Unfortunately when installed there were some problems, pups not working turned out to be slight gaps where I bridged tabs on the switch with solder and intermittent sound on position 5 of the Neck pup (but not in pos 3 & 4!) was fixed by sanding the inside of the contact on the switch.

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The (nearly) finished product!

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That's my story (and I'm stickin' with it), so far!

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 7:40 am
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danagos wrote:
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The neckplate is not period-correct for a Strat Plus. :|

Great-sounding pickup configuration with lots of tonal options to choose from. :P

Your guitar deserves an Eric Clapton mid boost circuit. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 9:49 am
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chromeface wrote:

The neckplate is not period-correct for a Strat Plus. :|

Great-sounding pickup configuration with lots of tonal options to choose from. :P

Your guitar deserves an Eric Clapton mid boost circuit. :wink:


Hey chromeface, Let me get this right, you think the guitar needs a period correct neck plate AND a mid boost circuit! :lol:

You're right about the Neck Plate, good catch. I just hate getting ripped off for one of those Plus neck plates. Saw one sell for $26 yesterday on ebay and let it ride.

And you're on the money about the awesome Pup configuration That's making it hard to seriously consider selling this guitar. Hard to imagine that I can "horse trade" into a better Strat than the two I've got.

I have very good SCN Pickups on a 2003, early V.2 Am Dlx and a later version SCN that aren't quite as good, and a set of excellent custom scatter wound (Amalfitano SP). Over the years, a pretty wide range of mediocre pups, fender's tex mex, standards & mij's, plus a bunch from other mfg., and none of them stand out like these do.

Had the mid-boost circuit on a Deluxe Powerhouse strat, clipped the resistor for the full 25 db effect. It was effective, but it would take a good bit of carving the wood to accommodate the circuit and the battery. Probably devalue the guitar.

Maybe I ought to reconsider the Neck Plate! :)

- dan

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 11:21 am
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danagos wrote:
it would take a good bit of carving the wood to accommodate the circuit and the battery.


Not necessary to rout the body for the "Elite" PCB.

As the TBX pot is already present, you'll only need the MDX pot and the PCB.

Both the PCB and battery can be fitted under the volume & tone controls.

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A little bit messy job but efficacious to keep the value of your guitar intact.

If you feel uncomfortable to DIY, contact an expert luthier to professionally install the MDX circuit board in place.

You can also add a 2nd toggle switch to turn off the mid boost, though it's much preferable to unplug your guitar after use.

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 12:37 pm
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chromeface, that's a good looking guitar, fully shielded too. I'd like to see the whole thing.

That Mid-Boost unit takes up less room than the type I'm familiar with. Probably won't wind up in the CAR Plus, but maybe some future build.

Right now I've got a Hwy One 3 tone Burst body that's got a natural "relic" look to it, (the previous owner bashed it around a bit). Gonna take it a step further and "age" it. Waiting for the right neck (price/type) to come around.

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 7:17 pm
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If you combine the Clapton circuit with the Ultra pickup set your guitar would become more versatile.

The mid boost works great with full-sized humbuckers, especially with the dual Red Lace Sensor bridge pickup; it makes the guitar screaming at high gain, ideal for the Bon Jovi repertoire.

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By far the perfect combination for scorching metal leads when fat, punchy humbucking output is required.

Since your guitar is a Candy Apple Red Strat Plus with a maple neck putting that mid boost with the Ultra pickup set would make your axe sound like a Gilmourish Strat in steroids! :P

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 5:32 am
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chromeface wrote:
If you combine the Clapton circuit with the Ultra pickup set your guitar would become more versatile.

The mid boost works great with full-sized humbuckers, especially with the dual Red Lace Sensor bridge pickup; it makes the guitar screaming at high gain, ideal for the Bon Jovi repertoire.

By far the perfect combination for scorching metal leads when fat, punchy humbucking output is required.

Since your guitar is a Candy Apple Red Strat Plus with a maple neck putting that mid boost with the Ultra pickup set would make your axe sound like a Gilmourish Strat in steroids! :P


Sorry I haven't been around, had to replace my computer and didn't have the opportunity to restore any files so I had to start with a blank slate and new O/S (windows 8). What a PITA it's been.

I'd still like to see a picture of your White/Purple Strat. :D

Couple of good looking Red Strats in your pics and pretty good players as well. Richie Sambora's US signature model had the 25db boost and pushbutton on/off as well as TBX tone, nice setup.

Now I'm getting a real itch to build a guitar with a mid-boost and humbucker!

Which mid-boost board are you using, was it stock or did you mod with something like the Fender kit? :arrow:

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The mid-boost on my Powerhouse Strat affected the sound even when turned down, do you find that true on yours? I see you have a toggle switch, is that a boost on/off? That would be ideal in my opinion.

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Post subject: Re: (Pics!) Candy Apple Red Strat Plus Restoration
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 7:08 am
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The PCB on the Powerhouse is the same found on the Clapton Strat except the TBX pot is replaced by a no-load type.

Some prefer using the Fender mid boost with single coils because the boost overpowers the humbucker.

A lot of players like Richie Sambora use the mid boost with humbuckers for the scorching metal sounds they get.

The FSR TBX HSS Strat combines the mid boost circuit with the fiery tone of a humbucker in the bridge position.

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Only 50 examples were made for the UK market.

danagos wrote:
The mid-boost on my Powerhouse Strat affected the sound even when turned down, do you find that true on yours? I see you have a toggle switch, is that a boost on/off?


The pictured guitar is not mine.


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