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Post subject: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 11:57 pm
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I couple of years ago I posted a question to the Custom Shop (Ask Mike) about why I was quoted $20K for a mahogany body strat, 2 humbuckers, wrap around bridge, rear route, and with a 24" scale neck. I was told due to all the labor to reconfigure the machines for the 24" scale.

I decided to try this a project, but because I don't have a shop with woodwork tools/machines, I modified my build slightly. I ordered a mahogany strat body with a universal top route from Warmoth. I chose a fixed bridge with no bridge mount, and a pickguard with the controls holes for a standard strat and just a neck humbucker.

My donor neck came from my MIM Blacktop Jag. It fits perfectly. So far the project is going well. I had to cut a small piece of mahogany and glued it into the route since the route is for a 25.5" normal strat scale. I needed to mount the bridge .75" closer to the neck (25.5" - 24" = 1.5". Half of that is .75".) In theory this should work. Cutting the pickguard was a pain since all I had was my hand drill, small hack saw, and files. I soldered 3 500K audio pots, 3-way switch, Gibson BB2 (neck), BB3 (bridge) from my JB Studio LP.

The next step which is the scariest will be drilling the string through holes for my hardtail bridge. I bought a drill guide from the local hardware store to help me drill perfectly straight.

Wish me luck. I'll keep you all posted.


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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:39 am
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Good luck for your project , that 's a great project, show us some pictures of your work in progress.


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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:37 am
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+1 :D

Take pictures, worth a thousand words EACH! :lol:

Really, the best way to share your work and save it to appreciate yourself, some years from now, when you're trying to remember the details. 8)

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:23 am
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Interesting project - it is not possible to post too many pictures, so please post away.

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:03 pm
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This I gotta see!

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:44 pm
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Here are some photos of my work so far. It's not perfect but it's not bad...as long as the finished guitar intonates properly I can accept the imperfections. Plus, I'm trying to prove to myself that this can be done.

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 12:02 am
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The mock-up appears pretty sound to me.

If it plays as nice as it looks I'd say you've hit a homer.

8)

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 12:29 am
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Very nice project indeed.

Looking forward to hear how it sounds. :D


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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:47 am
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Nice - some time ago there was a chain on the subject, and some doomed that impossible :wink:

gtr5150 wrote:
I needed to mount the bridge .75" closer to the neck (25.5" - 24" = 1.5". Half of that is .75".) In theory this should work.

This confuses me a little - the main thing is to get the bridge saddles 24" (+ usually a hint of leeway) from the nut. If you got that with the .75" bridge placement difference, it should intonate fine.


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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2014 10:09 am
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Wow :wink: . To build the impossible strat, (sounds like a song) this is great and to save at least 19K is even better. Hope the best to you,
Good build
mud


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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 2:12 am
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Is upper Fret access much worse seen as the neck is set further in the body? I recently built a les Paul type strat and carved the heel to help with access, although I kept the strat scale.


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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:27 am
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jmattis wrote:
gtr5150 wrote:
I needed to mount the bridge .75" closer to the neck (25.5" - 24" = 1.5". Half of that is .75".) In theory this should work.

This confuses me a little - the main thing is to get the bridge saddles 24" (+ usually a hint of leeway) from the nut. If you got that with the .75" bridge placement difference, it should intonate fine.


Hmmm, you are right to feel confused. Why should the shift be 0.75"?

That would be the correct shift if the 12-th frets were in the "same" position for both the standard 25.5 inch scale neck and the 24 inch scale neck. I don't know that 12-th frets are in same position.

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:39 am
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Hi gtr5150: I believe I remember your original discussion with Mike at the Custom Shop - didn't it lead on to some discussion of Warmoth conversion necks and such like?

gtr5150 wrote:
I had to cut a small piece of mahogany and glued it into the route since the route is for a 25.5" normal strat scale.

I've some experience at rebuilding guitar body cavities - I'd love to see a photo of that glued in section if you cared to post it? The innards are looking great so far, so congrats and keep up the good work. :)



orvilleowner wrote:
jmattis wrote:
gtr5150 wrote:
I needed to mount the bridge .75" closer to the neck (25.5" - 24" = 1.5". Half of that is .75".) In theory this should work.

This confuses me a little - the main thing is to get the bridge saddles 24" (+ usually a hint of leeway) from the nut. If you got that with the .75" bridge placement difference, it should intonate fine.


Hmmm, you are right to feel confused. Why should the shift be 0.75"?

That would be the correct shift if the 12-th frets were in the "same" position for both the standard 25.5 inch scale neck and the 24 inch scale neck. I don't know that 12-th frets are in same position.

Yes, this has had me scratching my head too.

The acid test is simply to measure the scale length. If the neck is built to a 24" scale then we can pop a steel rule along the fingerboard with 0 against the front of the nut: the breaking point on the top E string bridge saddle should come at exactly 24 inches.

Anything different - the bridge is in the wrong place.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:50 am
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Ceri wrote:
The acid test is simply to measure the scale length. If the neck is built to a 24" scale then we can pop a steel rule along the fingerboard with 0 against the front of the nut: the breaking point on the top E string bridge saddle should come at exactly 24 inches.

Anything different - the bridge is in the wrong place.


+1

Simple mathematics.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: 24" Scale Strat Build
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 4:26 pm
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Thanks to all for the support. To answer some of the questions. I did all my measurements from the 12th fret. There should be a photo of the small block I added. I did check out the Warmoth conversion neck but it's a LP scale 24.75 and I really wanted a 24 scale. I'll upload more photos soon. I assembled last night. I am just looking for a metric Allen wrench to adjust saddle height. I installed a Gotoh hardtail. Guitar intonates fine. Doing set up. Electronics work. Thanks.


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