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Post subject: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 6:30 pm
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My Relic Strat build is finally finished, unless I get an "Ashtray" bridge cover. Not sure if it would fit on this bridge, are they one size fits all? This is a Hwy One bridge with the smaller string spread like a two point trem.

I never much liked the Relics I've seen. Too much was done or not enough and they were supposed to look authentic. :roll:

Although there was a nice Masterbuilt Relic Strat with a neck that had the same specs as a vintage '56 soft V but a 9.5 radius and that got me wondering.

Anyway, I got this '08 Hwy One 3t SB, Nitro finished body with some rough usage on it and thought seriously for the first time about turning it into a relic with the features I'd want in a guitar.

A home for my Amalfitano SP Pups, a TBX tone control, soft V Neck with a 9.5 radius and locking height adjustable tuners, glossy urethane finish everywhere except the back of the neck.

Other than the pickups, all parts are Fender made or specified for their guitars.

It was more work than I thought it would be, but it plays like I made a deal with the devil! :twisted:

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The Neck is a NOS Jimmie Vaughan that had never been played. The Fretboard was a mess with dust, etc. trapped in the finish. After sanding and refinish-ing, it's pretty nice and the back of the Neck fills my palm and feels very comfortable.

The Neck Pocket fit was, as hoped, nice and tight and it's a highly resonant guitar with good action and no buzzes. With the intonation set it plays beautifully up on the dusty end of the Neck. :D

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The tuners are Gotoh SDS 510 HAP M, Nickel finish, Locking and Height Adjustable Posts with their "rock solid" technology that's supposed to keep the posts more stable.

The String Tree isn't really necessary but part of the authenticity (and easier to use than to cover its track).

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I try to keep the wiring neat ever since I started following Xhefri's builds! 8)

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In fanciful moments while working on it, I thought I'd call it "Pappy's '59 Strat" if it was the masterpiece I hoped to build. Now I lean more towards "The Piebald Mutt". :lol:

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A friend of mine calls his ugly tools, etc. "theft resistant" and I think its got that going for it! 8)

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:19 pm
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Looks good you did a great job


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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:09 pm
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What's it supposed to be a re-creation of?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:47 pm
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What method did you use to stress the body? I want to try this some time. Very cool!

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:42 am
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Best relic job I've ever seen was the one my friend has been working on. His secret: Don't ever put in a case and just let get trashed.


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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:51 am
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Xhefri wrote:
What method did you use to stress the body? I want to try this some time. Very cool!
tbazzone wrote:
Looks good you did a great job

Thank you both for your kind words.

Jeff, since it was a nitro finished body I took 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper to it. Using a tough foam block with some flexibility and a hard painter's sanding block depending on the area and effect. Using the hard block's edge, you can stripe it, like you see near the output jack's bottom edge. Oh, and a lot of Elbow Grease, in fact I ran out after this was done! :D

Retroverbial wrote:
What's it supposed to be a re-creation of?
Arjay

The "Strat of my Imagination".

I realize that the "Relic" look is not to everyone's taste, not too long ago I felt the same way. I had what Roger Waters called "...a fleeting glimpse..." after watching the Fender Custom Shop Strats on ebay for a while, then I saw that Masterbuilt, then I saw this body for sale. Any faults, failures of courage or conceits are solely my own and unintended. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:10 pm
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Well, I remember the job you did on the neck respray. Great work: now the dusty end ain't so dusty anymore! :D

I also happen to be very fond of those height adjustable 510 tuners. Good choice.

And whether or not we favour the relic thang, I think you've done an unusually good job at that. I'm finding it disturbingly interesting.

All together, a very nice project, beautifully accomplished. Congrats indeed! Now: play the crap out of it, and enjoy!

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:15 pm
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Ceri wrote:
And whether or not we favour the relic thang, I think you've done an unusually good job at that. I'm finding it disturbingly interesting, Cheers - C


Like that choice of words. Speaking from my OCD, perfectionistic point of view, I can relate!

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:30 pm
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Nice... Very Nice..... That is a believable worn look....

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:33 pm
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Hey C, Just want to mention how good it is to see you on the Forum. I have not had much time this summer. Your input is always #1!

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 6:57 pm
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Ceri wrote:
And whether or not we favour the relic thang, I think you've done an unusually good job at that. I'm finding it disturbingly interesting.
Cheers - C

Hey Ceri, Thanks, I didn't mean to "disturb" just "interest" :)

I think I know what you mean though, as the sanding progressed, I got into the deconstruction of the original look. :twisted:
53magnatone wrote:
Nice... Very Nice..... That is a believable worn look....
Thanks 53mag...my guiding principles were to sand till it looked good to me and not to take any more wood out of it or put any more dents into it. 8)
paris wrote:
Best relic job I've ever seen was the one my friend has been working on. His secret: Don't ever put in a case and just let get trashed.

Ya know paris, I always felt that way and this kind of started that way. The previous owner(s) had mistreated it and played it a lot for 5 years. One of them had sprayed it with bad gloss something over the pickguard. This is how it came to me.

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I had to sand that cheap gloss spray off and then I felt free to keep sanding. I realized that the nice thing about a relic project is you can always say, "I meant to do that!" :D

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As I got down into the colors on the forearm rest I liked the way the natural color of the wood and the streaks of red were playing on each other.

Does anybody have any information on the Vintage Ashtray Bridge Covers? I'm seriously thinking about it but don't have a clue about the fit. Maybe I ought to quit begging and do some homework.

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:38 am
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While doing research on an Ashtray Bridge Cover I came upon an informative post & pic by none other than Retroverbial! 8)

Arjay's was the 4th post down "The ashtray snaps into place over the bridge saddles and relies on simple friction to hold it in position, as shown with this CIJ '65 re-issue Strat......"

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The poster following you stated: "I have never put mine on. Works fine without it." :lol:

That's good stuff and shows me that the cover fits over the saddles.

Other opinions were that the covers only fit on saddles with a string spread of 2 7/32" so that makes sense as well.

Some others have mentioned applying pressure to the edge of the cover to tighten that spec by a little over an 1/8", to fit the 2 1/16" string spread spacing on my '08 Hwy One Bridge. Any thoughts? Has anyone tried this?

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:52 am
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The only thing about it that looks weird to me is sanding all that finish off, then putting a layer of gloss finish back over the worn areas... like you're trying to protect it from future wear.

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Post subject: Re: Relic Strat Build Finished
Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:10 am
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CRGuitarMan wrote:
The only thing about it that looks weird to me is sanding all that finish off, then putting a layer of gloss finish back over the worn areas... like you're trying to protect it from future wear.

It's a priceless work of art, meant to be played, but carefully preserved for posterity. :roll:

I'm glad that the finish is the ONLY weird thing you see! :lol:


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