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View Full Version : It's a Lipstick Fiesta!!


duhvoodooman
January 11th, 2016, 04:43 PM
And no, I'm not speaking in riddles. It's what I'm calling the new partscaster I recently built. Circumstances forced me into this! Really!! Just consider:

I had a nice maple Squier CV neck lying around looking lonely after I swapped it out for a rosewood neck on my Humcaster (http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php/22236-Finally-built-a-guitar?p=239827#post239827).
The STRATosphere (http://www.stratosphereparts.com/) was running a 15% off sale on bodies, and I found a really nice looking Squier CV '50's body in Fiesta Red, a color I've always loved but never owned. It even came with all the body hardware! Such a deal!!
Poking around on Reverb.com, what did I chance upon but a loaded pickguard from a Squier Vintage Modified "Surfcaster" with Duncan-designed lipstick pickups. I'd been wanting to try a set of lipsticks in a Strat for a while. It was even pearloid, just how I like my p/g's! It was FATE!!

So with the stars thus aligned, I made the purchases and built my "Lipstick Fiesta." Here's the finished article:

http://www.duhvoodooman.com/miscimages/musical/lipstick_fiesta_full.jpg http://www.duhvoodooman.com/miscimages/musical/lipstick_fiesta_body.jpg

These Strats practically build themselves--so easy to put one together! I love the looks, it plays like a dream, and what these low DC resistance lipstick pickups lack in power they make up for in jangle. Kinda fills out the treble end of my collection of Strats, which is now up to five. I love it when a plan comes together!!
marnold
January 11th, 2016, 07:20 PM
Cool! Is that fiesta as salmon-y as it appears in the pictures?
Jipes
January 13th, 2016, 08:15 AM
I love the sound of lipstick pups, the ones which were on my Danelectro U56 were really great !
duhvoodooman
January 13th, 2016, 10:21 AM
Cool! Is that fiesta as salmon-y as it appears in the pictures?
The photos are pretty accurate on the color. The full guitar shot is very close to the true color; the body close-up looks a little lighter and more orange, probably due to the proximity of the camera flash. The finish quality on the guitar is really quite exceptional for an inexpensive instrument.

Fender's Fiesta Red is really more of an orange-red than a true red, and many photos I've seen of vintage Strats in this color have faded to a dark salmon pink shade.
Tig
January 14th, 2016, 09:14 AM
Awesome! She's a beauty.

How does it sound?
Hampus
January 14th, 2016, 04:14 PM
It looks amazing, well done! I came close to buying a Danelectro with lipstick pups. Never did though.
duhvoodooman
January 14th, 2016, 07:07 PM
How does it sound?
Definitely on the bright side, lots of shimmer & jangle. I wouldn't want it to be my only Strat, but it fills out the treble end of the spectrum nicely.
tjcurtin1
January 15th, 2016, 05:14 PM
I think that a strat looks cool with lipsticks on. I have to say that overall I like the sound of the lipsticks in my Danelectro pawn shop U3 git better than those in my Squire CV 50. It can't quack like the strat, but there are some great colors in the various sounds you get from those pups (and maybe the hollow body). Surprisingly, I noticed recently that one of SRV's strats was fitted with a Dano lipstick (bridge, if I remember correctly). Nice quarter-swan neck, btw!
marnold
January 15th, 2016, 05:54 PM
Actually all three of the pickups were lipstick!

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NwqWhrpbarM/hqdefault.jpg
duhvoodooman
January 15th, 2016, 10:21 PM
Actually all three of the pickups were lipstick!
Specifically, that's a partscaster made for SRV by long-time friend, supporter and Dallas music store owner Charley Wirz in '83. Stevie used to play "Life Without You" on it, a song written in Charley's memory after he passed away in '85.
Spudman
January 24th, 2016, 02:24 PM
The Fiesta looks great Voodoo. I opted for the Surf Green. It's a different sound for sure. Very classic-vintage. I think they work better when you can turn the amph up a bit. I'm not sure because I haven't been in that situation yet, but it just seems like how they would shine as pickups and as a guitar.


2383
piebaldpython
January 25th, 2016, 12:00 AM
Pretty sweet Strat.
Hampus
January 25th, 2016, 02:37 AM
The Fiesta looks great Voodoo. I opted for the Surf Green. It's a different sound for sure. Very classic-vintage. I think they work better when you can turn the amph up a bit. I'm not sure because I haven't been in that situation yet, but it just seems like how they would shine as pickups and as a guitar.


2383
That is so cool! Now I want one :(

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tjcurtin1
January 25th, 2016, 09:05 PM
So they actually make that Squier as a stock item?
duhvoodooman
January 25th, 2016, 09:47 PM
Yes, the one Spuds has is a Squier Vintage Modified Surf Stratocaster: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratVMRSG

The loaded pickguard on mine came from that model. The body and the neck are from two different Squier Classic Vibe '50s Strats: https://reverb.com/item/303655-brand-new-squier-classic-vibe-50s-stratocaster-fiesta-red