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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:16 pm
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I've gotta say...I liked the idea...definitely unique...and a high end product...

That's just my opinion...but if you look at docteurseb's blog you'll see some very high end guitars...many custom built by him & the Fender Custom Shop...

...so whatever else may be said...I don't think he's a plonker :lol:

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 12:53 am
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Well seemingly the planets didn't align for him this time around as he is selling it straight after completing the build.

Maybe this is just a bitsa and he wanted the Clapton neck for a legitimate project.

I didn't think you could change the covers on noisless PUPs?

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 4:00 am
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John Sims wrote:
Maybe this is just a bitsa and he wanted the Clapton neck for a legitimate project.


That would be my guess.

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 6:36 am
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When I started this one I knew there was a good chance I wouldn't keep the guitar since I already had couple Clapton Strats, but I definitely wanted to see how it would look.
If I wanted to keep the stock neck for another guitar (which is no less/more legitimate than this build), I wouldn't have bothered.

VN covers can be changed, but you need to be extra careful as the coil touch the covers.


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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 2:10 pm
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John Sims wrote:
I didn't think you could change the covers on noisless PUPs?


Well John that rumour floats around ...Fender do not recommend it due to the fine nature of the wire and its tight packing. Removing the cover can damage and ruin the pickup but with care these and the SCN covers may be removed.
I have not done so on the N3s but cannot see any reason it is not possible on these as well. After all someone had to be able to put the cover on in the first place. :D


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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:18 pm
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So the whole black guitar thing was just a ruse to score a cheap Clapton neck? I don't know whether to be impressed, apauled or jelous.

Very clever though as you obviously couldn't sell a Clapton Strat without a Clapton neck. But putting the black neck on, because it was a black guitar, gave the excuse that it didn't need the neck.

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:26 pm
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jimmy_james wrote:
John Sims wrote:
I didn't think you could change the covers on noisless PUPs?


Well John that rumour floats around ...Fender do not recommend it due to the fine nature of the wire and its tight packing. Removing the cover can damage and ruin the pickup but with care these and the SCN covers may be removed.
I have not done so on the N3s but cannot see any reason it is not possible on these as well. After all someone had to be able to put the cover on in the first place. :D


So, assuming Fender don't sell the covers (because they don't want you to change them) where do they come from? I'm being retorical in honesty as I'm not that bothered as it was just another aspect of a well executed plan.

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:50 am
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It's a different stroke. It's unfortunate for some of the opinions expressed. Forum member Xhefri does the same thing with Strat Plus's and he can't hold onto them long enough. From the standpoint of playability I don't care for high gloss necks. Other than than that, it's build on a Clapton platform, and to borrow from an old Chevrolet advert:

"Lord Vader, your guitar is ready!" :wink:

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:40 am
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John, as explained in my last post I wouldn't have bothered modding a guitar just to keep the stock neck. I would either have bought one from the many guitar chops shops on fleebay, or would have bought a used/mint EC Strat and parted it out myself.

Personally, I'm not terribly fond of vintage frets and don't enjoy the stock finish and fretwork of the "basic" USA Clapton Strat. A CS Teambuilt is a noticeable improvement and a MB Todd Krause is even better (if money is not an issue), however if you know how to do a finish/fretwork licensed necks (high quality ones) are for me a better and legitimate route to go.

For VN covers, I got a few black ones a while back from guitarpartsresource.
To put/remove covers you need to temporarily pull on the sides so the sharp edges of the cover don't potentially pull/cut a coil. I didn't know that trick the first time I did this 10 years ago and killed one of the pickups.
In this particular instance, it would have been far easier to to just swap the pickups, but there is a particular reason why I wanted to keep electronics as close to stock as possible.


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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:09 pm
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[quote="docteurseb"Personally, I'm not terribly fond of vintage frets and don't enjoy the stock finish and fretwork of the "basic" USA Clapton Strat. A CS Teambuilt is a noticeable improvement and a MB Todd Krause is even better (if money is not an issue), however if you know how to do a finish/fretwork licensed necks (high quality ones) are for me a better and legitimate route to go.[/quote]

Couldn't agree more...in Sep't. 2014 I bought a 12 y/o Clapton neck for just that reason...

...forum member martian...an accomplished musician & luthier...re-fretted & dressed it...

...we settled on semi-jumbo frets...and I couldn't be happier with the result...

...it feels like a New Clapton neck...with a naturally aged tint...rather than stark white...and broken in feel...just right for my build...

...total cost: south of $600...AND I got Exactly what I hoped for...


...what it looked like originally...

Image


...with new frets & tuners...

Image


...just what a Clapton concept build needed...The Hot Rod Brownie...

Image

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:23 pm
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Something to be remembered by.
YMMV 8)

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Post subject: Re: A Blacker Blackie Build
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 12:02 am
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ZZDoc wrote:
Image
Something to be remembered by.
YMMV 8)


Beautiful axe! :P

Pretty close to Eric's own personal sunburst guitar, with different pickups and switching :)

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