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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:28 pm
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53magnatone, thanks for the links. You are right about taxes and duties, but that is no different when buying a complete instrument. I'll check your links and see about this whole thing. Maybe I'll just get a nice MIM Standard or similar. Or the Paisley. That one looks fab.

Toronado, you're definitely right about the resale value of a project-guitar. They are worth about the same as a department store planks. I'm not doing this to sell it, but you have a point. Should I ever need to sell it, it won't be worth a thing.

What I may do is get a real Strat and if I still feel like playing a surgeon, I'll buy complete Strat kits for 89 euros, paint them assemble, have fun with then and sell. They can't be great, as everything is included, but I will learn everything about the anatomy of a Strat and I can experiment with painting the body. But I'll only do it if I feel the urge. I guess once I have a proper Fender, I won't be interested anymore.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:52 pm
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VGA wrote:
... 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.

That was nearly my line of thinking when the Fender double-fat sunburst body came knocking. All the Fender components and Mighty Mite neck were acquired new off eBay for not very much money. I paid regular retail for the Dimarzios, though (no real deal there). After a lot more work than I thought, it came out just the way I wanted, though (including the coiltaps).

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 3:11 pm
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Oh no! A positive reaction to the idea! Now I'm torn. :twisted:

Granted, the body was pretty to start with.

Whatever happens, it'll be interesting couple of weeks as I weigh the options.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:14 am
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I just finished building my first guitar, and I'd say go for it. I spent about 250 gbp and have had nothing but good comments from people and the forum alike. I painted it out of a rattle can with hobby paint, built in in my dirty oily garage, and used no luthier specific tools.

I used a factory reject body (2 piece swamp ash) which had only been through stage 1 routing to get the basic shape and cavities done. It was rejected as there was some tear in the grain. Once filled it is now not noticeable. I picked good quality hardware and pups, in fact about 60% of my cost was pickups, tuners, electronics and Bridge. I did skimp on the neck, partly because I don't intend on keeping it, and will be swapping it out eventually. It just enabled me to get the build done.

However the neck is playable, feels nice apart from the Fret edges need filing. It's too thin for my liking though, I'm waiting for a specific neck to fit.

It is very satisfying building to your own spec, and I couldn't buy anything like what I've built. In the UK you couldn't even get a second hand mim std strat for what I spent on my build, and other than the neck what I have is better quality all round when compared to my mim std.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 3:15 pm
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Sounds cool, moochy13!

I got discouraged after putting the required electronics into an Amazon basket. Somewhere north of 350 US dollars. Add the 2x 95 euros for the body and neck (rejected AllParts but nothing that affects the function or even looks) and then the paint.

I kept looking though. People are selling "dressed" MIM pick guards for 40-50 euros here in the Netherlands. Adding the bridge, tuners and whatever is left, will cost me about as much as a decent Squier. That's not bad for what will effectively be a proper Fender.

And after digging through my DIY stuff, I found car paint from when my Rover got too much attention from someone unable to park. The car is gone, but I still have primer, a British Racing Green paint and clear coat in cans. I am now visualising a BRG Strat, burst or not. I'd need to buy black paint for a greenburst, but it would be unique. Wondering whether a black or a white pick guard would go better with a maple neck. My fake Strat has rosewood and I want this one to be different.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:18 pm
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A quick question (I hope).

I'm guessing this is a fantastic deal. A loaded MIM guard. Obviously, I won't be able to play this thing to hear what it sounds like. Anyone have any idea if this is worth having? It's not a lot of money, but I want it to sound good.

A rear photo shows an inspection sticker from 1995. Can't make out the month.

http://link.marktplaats.nl/m779512212


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 1:55 am
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My mim strat sounds OK. That's it, just ok. I wouldn't out those pickups in any guitar I was building, in my opinion they're good for upgrading most squiers that's about it. It is cheap, but in my build the pickups are where I spent the most money and I think it was the right thing to do.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:00 am
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Thanks! Hard to buy this blind (or deaf).

There is this. Current bid at €110 ($130?). It is a USA pg with Texas Specials. I can't make out what the stickers say, but the pickups are known.
http://link.marktplaats.nl/m770990284

I was thinking about '69 pickups, but they don't come cheap.

Mind you, it doesn't have to be extremely cheap, but I am trying to keep the costs under wraps.

Edit: for €200,- a loaded pg with '69s and USA electronics. Unused. This may be it. http://link.marktplaats.nl/m774618485


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 5:21 am
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I don't know what exchange rates are but I spent 70 gbp on 2 humbucker handwound in the UK. You could spend lots more, but I don't think I would spend less on a pair of humbuckers.

As a first build I didn't want to throw money at it because it could have been a disaster, but didn't want crap pups either. Read up on the company, very good user and magazine reviews, good selection, right price. I'm very happy with them and would use the same company for more pickups in a heartbeat.

Strat pups aren't something I've looked into so can't help you too much.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:42 am
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I think the rates are roughly +10% for the dollar, -10% for the pound.

You know what? I'm barking up the wrong tree. 69 pups, real Fender electronics, US made. But I have never done this. It will be an expensive blunder if I mess it up.

So, why not buy a dirt cheap kit? It probably wont sound awesome, but I will be better equipped to make my dream instrument after I build this. =>
http://www.instrumentsonline.nl/Webwinkel-Product-10413126/Bouwpakket-voor-stratocaster.html

And I will. I have the bug.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:25 pm
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53magnatone wrote:
...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...
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 ...


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

viewtopic.php?p=518612

ask and you shall receive.

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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:25 am
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From my experience if you're buying a pre wired set up, and a finished body and neck, just bolting bits together is easy. I had to do a lot of woodwork to my body, drilling holes, sanding it, filling it, shaping it etc. And I soldered all the wiring myself. And paint it.

Bolting it all together after that was easy.


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Post subject: Re: AllParts Project
Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:11 am
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VGA wrote:
Oh no! A positive reaction to the idea! Now I'm torn. :twisted:

I don't think anybody is particularly against the idea of a build, per se. Just some cautions against thinking it will be economical. I built a Partsocaster recently and for what I've got invested in that project I could have bought an MIM Standard and an MIA Standard.

Here she is:

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