Contemplating on a Strat

[Spudman***]

Very Chi Chi! Don't forget since it is such a classy guitar you are obliged to practice proper etiquette and must always hold your pinkie away from the pickups.
Sweet color scheme.

[tremoloman***]

Are you referring to the MIM or MIA 60th model?

I played the 60th MIM the other day... the neck, action, and tone are just as good as an American Strat IMHO. The new upgrades really make a big difference.

[ZoSo65]

It would've been the MIM version.

I received my 2005 MIA Deluxe body today,,,man is she sweet!!
I'll get some pics up probably tomorrow.

[ZoSo65]

Pups and pickgaurd have landed, will post pics soon,,,I'll edit this post.

PICS,,,ok, I had to use the cell phone for these pics, but they came out pretty good.
Oh yeah,,pickgaurd is not screwed in and the protective plastic is still on it. It won't come off till it's finished

Just need the neck and tuners to complete it. Other then waiting for the other parts to arrive,,,heh

[duhvoodooman***]

Looking good so far, Z-man! Hope she turns out as easy on the ears as the eyes!

[Katastrophe]

That's gonna be one classy lookin' Strat, man! Who ya getting the neck from?

[ZoSo65]

ZoSo - My wife says go with the Robert Cray signature Strat.

I'd like to meet your wife,,,cause I really do like that strat,,,I think if I did get an RC strat, it would definitely be the MIA version, as it is more true to what he really plays.

Hope she turns out as easy on the ears as the eyes!

So do I DVM!!! On a good note though, everything I've been reading about the SCN pups has been everything but negative. Fender has even spoke very highly of them compared to the 56's and 63's they base most of there tone on. Fender has also mentioned that in several areas the SCN have surpassed them. The specs that Bill Lawrence has put on them are unbelievable!
From Fender(when SCN's where just a prototype):

We mounted his new prototype into our test bed guitar and began testing it against our original ’56 and ’63 Stratocaster pickups – the benchmark we’ve used for the past 10 years. We were literally amazed—no noise canceling pickups we had tested before had come this close to capturing the true essence of Fender’s original designs. The more we played it, using a variety of amplifiers and playing styles, we came to realize that this pickup actually exceeded our expectations—under certain conditions it actually out performed the originals!

As far as the neck, Katastrophe, I'm not sure yet, but it will be a fender.
There's a couple good dealers I found that have true replacement MIA Deluxe necks and necks from actual produced guitars that have never been played.

On a quick note here, I can't wait till it's all together, and making some true Strat tone!

[SuperSwede]

Cheesus Zoso!

lovely guitar, very sober color

[tot_Ou_tard]

Pups and pickgaurd have landed, will post pics soon,,,I'll edit this post.

PICS,,,ok, I had to use the cell phone for these pics, but they came out pretty good.
Oh yeah,,pickgaurd is not screwed in and the protective plastic is still on it. It won't come off till it's finished

Just need the neck and tuners to complete it. Other then waiting for the other parts to arrive,,,heh

So ZoSo, what do you have to do to finish the guitar.

Just a little soldering install the tuners & bolt on the neck or is there more?

Oh, yeah, you'll need a bridge. How hard is this to do?

Do you have a name for your new baby yet?

[Spudman***]

I've seen some gray guitars that are amazing in stage lighting. They turn multiple colors. That looks like it will be one fine axe (drooling). Have fun.

[ZoSo65]

Now that's a 60th to me!
But how they can go from $1300 down to $560, I don't get.

[duhvoodooman***]

But how they can go from $1300 down to $560, I don't get.

I think you read that wrong, Z. It's marked down by $560, from $1860 list to the $1300 selling price....

[ZoSo65]

I think you read that wrong, Z. It's marked down by $560, from $1860 list to the $1300 selling price....

hehe,,yeah I just noticed that.
It was a late one lastnight.

[ZoSo65]

So ZoSo, what do you have to do to finish the guitar.

Just a little soldering install the tuners & bolt on the neck or is there more?

Oh, yeah, you'll need a bridge. How hard is this to do?

Do you have a name for your new baby yet?

Yes tot, basically. Just a little more soldering then usual due to the S-1 Switching System (see the American Deluxe Series Stratocaster pdf for details).
As for the bridge, I'm going to use the tremelo bridge that comes on it from Fender, it's going to be all "factory".
Trem is installed BTW just need the trem cover and knobs, and the body will be 100%.
No name for her yet,,hehe

[ZoSo65]

Well, the body is finally 100%, just need to solder everything.
Getting the S-1 knobs is what delayed everything, can't even get them from Fender yet, as they haven't released them as an "accessory" part yet. So I had to get them from ebay, and man do they get some really high bids, especially for the black ones. Seen them go for almost $80, but no lower then $45!!!
The Fender dealer I talked to was shocked by the price range, said when Fender does release them, it would be a $15 part most likely,,,go figure.

On a sad note though, due to a few circumstances that happened here at home, I won't be able to finish it, and I'm going to sell it when it's ready(solder it up, and test it, using a MIM neck from a friend)
So if anyone is interested let me know, and when it's finished I'll post in the TFN sales Forum. I figured I'd let you guys know first,,,before the ebay thing happens. I'll post some pics later

[Bloozcat]

That's really a shame ZoSo65. I know that building the guitar was half the fun, but it's too bad that you won't get to experience most of the other half...playing the guitar.

I started a similar Strat project about three or four weeks ago. My goal was to try to assemble a very nice Strat using good quality parts that I could get mainly on E-bay. I was looking for Fender parts for some of the main components, and it didn't matter to me if they were MIA or MIM, just that they be of a good quality standard. I wanted to see if I could accomplish my goal for $600.00 or less for all the parts.

I found this very nice ash body in like new condition that was taken from a MIM Fender Deluxe Players Strat. It fit my weight requirement coming in with finish already applied at 3 lbs. 12 oz. I got it on a buy it now for $149.95, and after following many other auctions for both MIA and MIM bodies, it was a very good price. I spent last night applying copper shielding tape to the body cavity. BTW: the body looks even better than pictured, with a nice glossy finish. The white marks on the body and in the cavity are just remnants of polishing compound. Before putting the shielding tape down, I cleaned it all up and the body looks perfect.

I found through other various E-bay auctions such items as a 3-ply w/b/w Fender pickguard in mint condition with the plastic still on it for $3.80, Fender tremolo back cover in the same condition for $2.46, Fender strap buttons w/felt and screws for $.99, Fender output jack with cup and screws for $3.95. All of these parts were taken from mint condition 2004 or newer Fender guitars, and all the parts appear as new. I was actually suprised that I got some of the parts so cheap.

After following many Fender Strat neck auctions, I decided that the prices they were getting on E-bay would break the bank so to speak, and run me over the $600.00 limit. Having used Mighty Mite necks in the past with very good results, I decided to look for one of their better models at the best price I could find. I found a MM2929 C-shaped neck w/22 jumbo frets, rosewood board, in 9 1/2" radius for $99.95 on a buy it now. The neck it turns out is as good as any I've seen in the quality dept. The maple is very nice straight grained with no flaws at all. The fretboard is a nice thick piece of rosewood that is pretty dark and expertly finished. At first check, the frets appear to be uniformily finished with no high or low frets. The headstock is a true Fender shape, and there is a very light lacquer finish on the maple that is barely noticable. This is a perfect finish for the application of the Fender neck amber tint that I'm going to apply.

The electronics I already have, with CTS pots, a CRL 5-way switch, an Orange Drop cap, and three custom wound single coils among the parts. I did a preliminary tally of the cost, and it appears that I'll make my goal of $600.00 or less, with about $10-$15 to spare (that will undoubtedly be eaten up by unforseen or forgotten "extras").

I haven't done much picture posting (as duhvoodooman can attest to), but as soon as I can get some pics together, I'll post 'em. More to come as I continue with the project.

[Bloozcat]

Here's another picture of the back of the body:

[Tone2TheBone]

That would make one wicked Strat.

[SuperSwede]

Bloozcat, it will be a great guitar! Im looking forward to see and hear the results!