Lycking Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 Hey there fellow guitarfreaks! To introduce myself, i´m 17 years strong, I live in Denmark, and i've only been playing the strings for ´bout 4 months or so, so im quite a rookie. I've got a single guitar, an acoustic Cort Earth 100-NS, a decent one, without too much fancy stuff. Thing is, that ive got this ridiculous idea stuck in my head, about building my own Strat... So far i dont know alot about guitar crafting, but this holiday is gonna be used on reading and reading. Since i'm only 17, is my budget kinda tight. I'm thinking about 60-70£. I know this is a VERY low amount of cash to use, but thats kind of what i got leftover to spend So here's my ydea... Im thinking about buying a cheap used strat copy (found a few at 25£), and use the neck and things affiliated with that (hunting for a bolt-on). Other things than the neck that i'm after from the guitar, is the pickguard, and all the electronics, except for the (probably awful) pickups. The reason im going for a used guitar to pick apart is, that it can't pay off to buy the parts individually. If i was going to buy just the neck and pickguard (without tuning heads or anything), would it already be somewhere up near the 100£... And thats simply too expensive for me, even though it may be better quality... As going for pickups, im thinking about adding 3 single coil pickups by Wilkinson: MWVSM Vintage http://www.jhs.co.uk/wilkinson.html scroll a bit down, the white ones at the left. They cost 32£ each, but i've a store near me, who sells them for just 7£ each! (legit and factory fresh pickups, used it loads of times), so they are quite cost efficient i guess When the neck and electronics are fixed, is the main part of my project to build the body myself, with mostly hand tools. Obviously is it going to be strat-shaped, or something near it, as i love to make things unique and my own. Im not really sure about which wood i want to use, but im taking it to my grandad's possibly tomorrow, and his whole cellar is stuffed with different woods If i ain't getting any luck there, i'll surf around the city's woodstores. The most of the wood he has, is probably Oak/beech, which of what i know ain't the best guitar woods. I'm mostly doing this for the project itself, and im not expecting to make a perfect guitar that plays like a '67 strat or anything near it, as long as it can play without making my ears bleed am i happy So, i would just like to hear you folk's toughts about my ideas and stuff, and thanks in advance Cheers! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 Simply put, just do it! That is exactly how I started twenty two years ago. I bought a strat copy, made a flying v body and swapped all the parts over. A lot of time in between and mostly learning by doing repair work, refurbs and various mods and then in more recent years full blown builds completely from scratch. What I'm saying is, you have to start somewhere and if that's how you want to start then it's as good place as any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 Thanks alot for the reply Demon, motivational! By your words do i guess you've built quite a few guitars, just got one quick question, if i cut up the wires just before the pickups, swap the pickups, and then solder the new pickups on, can i then place the stash in the new body, without changing alot of other settings/wirings? Asking since i havnt got alot of experience with soldering, just the basic stuff.. Also speaking of the body, do you reckon i would be able to make a solid body with wood that has been laying in a fairly dry and hot cellar for 10-20 years? Read alot about woods, but i only think ill have access to woods not too oftenly used in guitars (beech, oak and such). Would it still be possible with those like that? As said, not got too high goals of the sound, just to have something fun to work on! Cheers n thanks again! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripthorn Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 This is how I started, but my strat copy was given to me. I would recommend just using the pickups as they are, since, as you gain experience, you are likely to move on to more and better builds. Plus it saves the budget. One thing to keep in mind is you will need to buy things like wood, finish, sand paper, etc., so don't worry about pickups right now, use the ones you have. Oak or beech will be fine for a body wood. The only reason we use a lot of the woods we use in guitars is tradition. If it is 10-20 years old, you are perfectly fine using it. Good luck, and don't be shy about asking questions around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted December 22, 2012 Report Share Posted December 22, 2012 What he said, also about the pickups, always cut the wires leaving the longest possible amount of cable. Better even is to in solder them so you're not cutting them at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Thanks for the replies both of you! Going to check out the woods he has around later today, hoping he has some decent :-) Speaking of the pickups, am i quite sure i'm going to switch them out, since the ones in the guitar already by a huge chance is awful, thats what ive read about them. Also, im going to save quite some money on tools/sandpaper/other materials, since my grandad also has a old wooden/metal workshop in his cellar, because hes a former machinist. But well, time will show.. If the pickups already installed is decent will i stick with them. Thanks for the answers again, very useful :-)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Right, so i kicked off the project today! I went to my grandpa's (damn you snow!), and took a chat with him, and went to his basement to look for some wood. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/145/imag0381z.jpg/ I went to the back of the woods, and found this beautiful piece of 22 years dried European Ash! Love this piece of wood! So pretty http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/imag0383k.jpg/ Cut off the edges/tough bark http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/imag0384j.jpg/ Aaaand here begins the work! http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/imag0385v.jpg/ Rough body cutoff http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/811/imag0386yj.jpg/ And finally the result of the days work http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/imag0387ib.jpg/ I havnt cut out the headstock yet, because im not sure how wide the neck from the guitar im going to buy is. Also, i was hunting for a wood thats as close to 45mm thick, but the one i found is 39, and will probably end about 35mm thick, after Grounding/polishing (damn you terrible english!), Is it thick enough? Wont be working on it before the 27th, since all the xmas stuff coming up Cheers n merry christmas! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted December 24, 2012 Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 Looking really good. 39mm will be perfectly fine for a body. 35mm might feel a tad thin to anyone accustomed with a traditional strat, but will work just fine. And there is a good chance that your ash is on the heavy side so a thinner body will make a more comfortable guitar in the end I believe the term you are looking for is "sanding". Your English is perfectly fine. Better than my daughters and she is about the same age as you So a lot of snow in Denmark too, huh. We got a bit more than 50 cm in Stockholm now. And yeah, you might ask the moderators to move this to the "in progress" section as it will get the right attention there. Glædelig jul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted December 24, 2012 Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 Looking good, Lycking! By the way, if you want to embed the ImageShack images directly into your post click the "Embed" bit at the right side of each image's page and copy the "Forum" code bit into your post. For example: [URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/imag0387ib.jpg/] [img=http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8886/imag0387ib.jpg] [/URL] Which gives you: ....and as Peter mentioned, your English is very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2012 Thanks for the replies both of you! Great comments both of you :-) And thanks for the picture tip, ill try it ;-) 50cm at stockholm!? Most of it here at sjælland has melted overnight, so we have like 5cm left. Heading to Idre Fjäll in week 5, hopefully theres still some great skiing snow! Glædelig jul til dig også//merry christmas to you too :-)! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 Right, so ive found a guitar i consider about buying and taking apart. IT has no brand on the headtock, and the seller doesnt know how to find out which brand it is. (she cant spell guitar anyways, hehe) Here it is anyways http://www.qxl.dk/pris/musikinstrumenter-udstyr/guitar/el-guitar/elgitar-incl-forstaerker-tuner-og-skulderrem/v/an695527076/ Its up for 350 DKR which equals to about 35£ I've written to the seller and asked if its a bolt-on neck, as thats what im after. I know its hard to say, but how would you reckon it for the build? its cheap and seems decent in my eyes. Its with a small amp by the way. Cheers and thanks again Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted December 25, 2012 Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 Looks like a decent guitar to use for parts and neck. I figure that you need to consider replacing the nut as it looks like a really cheep plastic one, but I would consider that part of the whole building process. If you have a chance to look at it in person before buying it, check if the frets are seated correctly and that there are no cracks anywhere. Also see if the fretboard is showing signs of movement/shrinking due to drying (is the fretboard wider/more narrow than the rest of the neck). You can feel that by running you fingers along the joint between the fretboard and the rest of the neck. If so it can easily be handled if you are willing to refinish the neck. A quick meeting with a sanding block will take care of that. But if you don't want to refinish the neck and the shrinkage is severe you might need to look for another donor guitar. If the frets are sticking our a bit from the fretboard that isn't a big problem and it can easily be dealt with with a file and shouldn't keep you from purchasing the guitar. Anyway, I'm being really picky now and 350 DKR is IMO a really good price so I say go for it. I think Idre will have enough snow for skiing up until the end of April at least so no worries there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 Thanks for the reply again, i'll wait for him to answer my mail about if it has bolt-on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted December 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2012 Edit: could a Mod please move this thread to "In progress" after a request? Thanks <edit: done> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 FINALLY got a bit further! I got my guitar this morning, its a good bit used, and tbh am i not sure it works. Its low quality really, but again aint i expecting this project to end with a fender/gibson quality.. Gonna test it later tonight, hopefully it works! the pickups are loose, but im changing them anyways. I hope this is my lucky day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Time for a MAJOR change of plan! During the last week, did i buy a donor guitar, but it was SO awful that i went back and got my money back.. Therefore, am i thinking about doing it all myself, buying stuff from Guitarfetish.com! Because of this, am i gonna need some advices, so i get all the parts i need in one order :-) What i got so far in the cart: Maple/rosewood neck w/o tuners or anything Output jack Pre-assembled pickguard with 2 coils and 1 bridge humbucker Gold hardtail bridge Trem(olo) Cover I probably need a whole lot more, so please shout if you got something i should grab with it! Can Give the links to the things i have so far, if you ask me for them :-) Thanks alot! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Edit: also need the bolt-on plate for the neck, anyone know if these are up for single sales? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Maybe you should actually LOOK on he guitarfetish site,because if you did you would have already found the neck plates.I ordered some a while back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 Yup i've found em, apperently didn't they come up when i searched for them... .__. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelvock Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 You don't need a trem cover if your not installing a trem, there will be nothing for it to cover... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Not sure if i'm explaining this as i'm thinking it myself, but alot of stuff happening around me so i'm a bit confused at the moment Researching abit (3 hours) of the final wiring, am i getting a little bit confused about the tremolo and tremolo blocks. I spent some time looking at some strat assembly/disassembly videos, seeing some of them (don't remember if it was all of them) strung the guitars through the trem block inside the guitar. Is it a must to have a trem block inside, or is it only if youre actually going to use a trem system? Because i'm thinking either that the strings are "getting stuck" ((damn you english!).. the place where they fit in?) Therefore am i think if that is in the trem block itself, or in the bottom of the bridge, just going through the trem block(at least in the cases where the trem block was shown). I'm also wondering about the "Ground contact wiring", because it was soldered into the trem block, if you then dont need a trem block unless you are actually gonna assemble a trem system, where is that then soldered (or is it even necessary with the eart contact if you ain't gonna use trem)? I know this was some crap discriptions, but apperently can't i really get my english going today haha Also, looking at some pics of pre-cut strat bodies (not that i'm getting that, making my own) Do they all seem to have holes fitting a trem block. Is this just to make sure you can assembly one, or is it again because there must be one? Thanks in advance ! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelvock Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I think you need to carry on researching before you start buying parts that you don't need. If you are not installing a tremolo, then you don't need anything relating to it such as the trem block, which is actually part of a trem. If your goin to use a hard tail bridge find some build threads where they are used to see how they are set up, strung, grounded etc. it's all on here. The reason those pre-cut bodies have the trem route is because strats by definition come with a tremolo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Alright, thanks alot for the answers ! I'll spend this week researching, since i wont be able to buy anything at all before saturday anyways Cheers! Lycking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lycking Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Well, decided to make a list of links of the 6 things i have in the cart so far Here we are.. Neck: http://guitarfetish.com/Satin-Finish-Strat-fit-Neck-Maple-Fingerboard_p_1996.html Hardtail bridge: http://guitarfetish.com/Chrome-Hardtail-Bridge-for-Teles-and-Strats_p_158.html Neckplate: http://guitarfetish.com/Fender-style-neckplate-screws-and-black-mount-plate_p_5820.html Tuners: (not too sure if these even works for it?) http://guitarfetish.com/6-inline-Tuners-Gotoh-style-chrome-free-string-trees_p_5823.html A little output jack: http://guitarfetish.com/Strat-football-with-output-jack_p_5831.html And finally a pre-wired pickguar. Here do i have 2 models, one S/S/S and one H/S/S. Can't really decide between them, the S/S/S sounds like its better quality, but i kinda like the 14K of the humbucker.. since they dont have sound examples, am i kinda 50/50 between them.. Which one would you guys go for? Has to be said ive given up on my start budget, so screw the price! S/S/S: http://guitarfetish.com/ALNICO-Pickup-Pre-Wired-Strat-Pickguard-White-MAJOR-Upgrade_p_89.html H/S/S: http://guitarfetish.com/Humbucker-Equipped-HSS-White-Pre-Wired-Assembly-NEW_p_423.html Also, any must-have things i've forgotten to put in so far? Thanks! Lücking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Strap buttons? http://guitarfetish.com/Pair-Classic-Strap-Buttons-Chrome-Free-Screws_p_589.html String trees: http://guitarfetish.com/Pair-Nickel-Butterfly-Strat-String-Trees-complete_p_596.html or http://guitarfetish.com/Pair-of-Roller-String-trees-Chrome-finish_p_601.html Screws for the pickguard if it does not come with them: http://guitarfetish.com/Full-Bag-of-NICKEL-Pickguard-Screws-20-pcs_p_267.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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