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Post subject: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:58 pm
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A shop close to where I live is selling rejected AllParts bodies and necks for relatively little money.

I want this guitar, but it's too expensive. http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/6354/2008-Charvel-Custom-Shop-San-Dimas-Koa-Natural-1H-Floyd-Rose-Tremolo/

I love the look of the plus top Squier, but it has the big headstock and I don't like that. Almost all affordable Fenders with really cool bodies have a rosewood fingerboard and I want maple.

So, I'm thinking about buying an American body and neck and original Fender parts and building my dream Strat. A really dark Fat Strat where the wood shows through. Thinking about it, wondering if I'm mad. Wondering if there is any chance that I'll manage to make the body as nice as the 2008 Strat in the link.

Wondering if I'm better off just getting a Mexican Standard, as I will definitely be spending more than they cost.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:29 pm
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If finances are a consideration you're better off buying an off-the-shelf garden variety guitar. That's assuming you can live with every flea such a dog has to offer.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:38 pm
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Are you building this with rejected allparts parts? Cause kinda by definition rejected parts won't be as good.

My warmoth body/fender mim neck build ended up around $750. I wish I'd spent more and bought either an american neck or a warmoth neck. Figure $1000 to do a proper build. You might consider just sucking it up and buying the one you want. Alternately you could just buy a mim guitar and swap out some of the bits that offend.

Also finishing guitar bodies is an art. If you haven't done it before you'll probably screw it up. I certainly did.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:39 pm
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DarkPenguin wrote:
Figure $1000 to do a proper build.


+1

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:41 pm
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Finances are always a consideration. An American Strat costs quite a bit. But the idea of creating my own Strat, exactly they way I want it... It's intriguing. Getting the body and neck, then picking the pickups and bridge, soldering... Knowing everything about the instrument. What can be more intimate? What is the relationship with the guitar going to be?

Guess it's not about the money at all.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:44 pm
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DarkPenguin wrote:
Are you building this with rejected allparts parts? Cause kinda by definition rejected parts won't be as good.


I haven't seen them, but I understand that many have minor blemishes that won't affect the looks or function. I will be going there to look at the parts. Hand pick them. And it they are subpar, I won't do it.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 6:17 pm
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Be warned. Unless you buy everything you want it'll gnaw at you. You'll wonder why you didn't spend that extra $50 on the better tuners or the extra $200 on the better neck or are those pickups really good enough.... Then you'll do another build. Eventually you'll have your warmoth shopping cart filled with items that only make sense if Paul Reed Smith himself is building it for you.

It is a sickness.

$90 for the black star shaped fret markers seems like steal doesn't it? They'll look lovely on bloodwood, I think. That's going in my cart...


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 7:49 pm
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DarkPenguin wrote:
Be warned. Unless you buy everything you want it'll gnaw at you. You'll wonder why you didn't spend that extra $50 on the better tuners or the extra $200 on the better neck or are those pickups really good enough.... Then you'll do another build. Eventually you'll have your warmoth shopping cart filled with items that only make sense if Paul Reed Smith himself is building it for you.

It is a sickness.

$90 for the black star shaped fret markers seems like steal doesn't it? They'll look lovely on bloodwood, I think. That's going in my cart...


:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:14 am
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DarkPenguin, I am afraid you nailed it. HAHA!


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:52 am
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You are definitely looking at $1,500+ to build what you are describing.... Or the link.
Fine grain in a two piece body will be less than a one piece but if grain pattern is to be viewed then it is going to cost... Neck anywhere fro $150 to $300, the body $250 to $400.
The parts alone will run you close to $600+...
Lacquer, stain and a gun another $350... tools probably $300-$500 ....

If this is your 1st guitar build, most of us here would highly recommend that you start with a budget guitar, reworking, refinishing that before you have $800 worth of neck and body in front of you.. It's really easy to completely screw up either one and some mistakes are irreversible...
I would think about it before tackling a build... Get as much knowledge behind you before playing with expensive wood.... :?

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:59 am
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53magnatone wrote:

If this is your 1st guitar build, most of us here would highly recommend that you start with a budget guitar, reworking, refinishing that before you have $800 worth of neck and body in front of you.. It's really easy to completely screw up either one and some mistakes are irreversible...
I would think about it before tackling a build... Get as much knowledge behind you before playing with expensive wood.... :?


Can I get an AMEN for that!

There's usually a way through most electrical problems...but wood is usually irreversible. Finishing is an art-form best left to the pros for a look you'll really love...there are hundreds of ways to make it look less than perfect.

As for your dream guitar...take a moment and figure out why it rubs you that way...and consider if you can get something close to that from something off-the-rack in your price range. If it is then only the plastics or other easily-exchanged parts...that's a better plan for a beginning project.

Cheers.

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:44 pm
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You're all absolutely right. There is that paint job thing. I could start by playing around with modifying my fake-a-Strat. Get other pickups, neck, bridge, electronics. Change things, one by one. It's all transferrable later on anyway if I decide to try my paint skills on a new body.

Having said that, my dream guitar is a relatively simple one. For looks, I'd totally go for this one: http://www.thomann.de/nl/fender_modern_player_strat_hsh_ct.htm

Just wish it had a maple fretboard.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:57 pm
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HeyJoe42 wrote:
As for your dream guitar...take a moment and figure out why it rubs you that way...and consider if you can get something close to that from something off-the-rack in your price range. If it is then only the plastics or other easily-exchanged parts...that's a better plan for a beginning project.


+1

My first two custom Strats were built that way. Both turned out swell and I still own and play them. Spend as much time planning your instrument out as you do actually buying the components and assembling them -- it will spare you some grief by preventing you from buying parts that may be incompatible with one another (like I often did early on).

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


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:58 pm
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Not to mention that since you're in the Netherlands, the exchange rates and international trade taxes are going to cost you more.... If you do look into building your own why not just order the less expensive neck and body choices from Fender, then you'll be assured the Fender parts will fit exactly as they should.. Only concern is making sure that the tremolo route is for the correct 6 point vintage ( Mim's and MIA's are spaced differently concerning the six screws. )

This would be the way to go, there is also a few books available on building..
In addition. One of our Forum members " The Nutter " has posted a thread compiled of Forum members Build threads projects.... There are a few here which would probably answer your questions, such as Martian, Xhefri, Ceri, The Nutter, Andy Big Hair and a few other's which are on that very useful thread.... I also have a couple projects on there also...
( Stay tuned I'll find the link ....)

Seems the thread does not exist any longer ... That's too bad as there was some great builds in that compilation..... So in light of that I'm posting my links ( shamelessly :wink: ) of my builds which have been on hiatus due to major life events getting in the way ...

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65048&hilit=nutter+build+thread

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=51950&hilit=stratopartster+builds

I hope that there is a way to revive " The Nutter's " build thread compilation thread ...

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 1:24 pm
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There is also the defeated return value on the guitar should you try to sell it. You might not foresee yourself selling the guitar because it is built exactly as you want it today, but people and tastes change.

I think a used American Standard, as long as you understand what you don't like about it, is a pretty viable option for most regular folk.


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