scottishstrat

You may have seen my other post about having to make a pickguard for a Flying V I was working on. I wasn't 100% happy with it, good but too flexible, especially with the pots etc fixed, off the guitar it felt as if it was going to flex to the point of breaking. I started looking around for somewhere that supplied decent sized plastic sheets at a reasonable price, found this: Retail Engineering Design Plastic Sheet Suppliers. I ordered a 3mm thick 500mm x 500mm sheet of white acrylic, arrived the following day. They supply various materials, various thicknesses, various sizes from 210mm x 297mm up to a full metre square at considerably lower prices than pukka pickguard blank sheets. The 500mm2 sheet I ordered was only £5.40 + £6.00 P&P.

Incidentally, I wasn't exaggerating about the original pickguard. Check the photo, look at the strings in relation to the pickup poles and the photo was taken square on to the pickup

The finished article, well, just about finished, still needs a final once over, set up and sound check. Added later: Had it's once over, set up and sound check. Very quiet guitar thanks to extensive anti noise shielding. Capable of un-neighbourly levels of gain and volume on the amp without noise becoming intrusive! Final sound/tone check was with an overdrive pedal and all tube amp . . . . sweeeeet

I've tried contacting him via both his myspace and MSG sites, no response. Apparently he is touring just now which may explain the lack of a reply but doesn't help me! The project turned out to be bigger than expected, the guy I'm building it for was supplying the donor guitar, he picked up a Tokai MS Flying V replica. I thought great, Tokai, good name, should cut down the work needed . . . . boy was I wrong there! Discovered there are three different standards of Tokai depending on where they are made: Made In Japan Made In Korea Made In China Yep, you've guessed it, the MS replica is of Chinese origin and it shows. There are several problems but the biggest is the pickguard, wrong shape, too angular and both pickups are so far out of position the poles aren't even under the strings. With the Flying V the bottom edge of the pickguard runs parallel with the edge of the body, this thing has over a 5mm run out, 15mm from the edge at the neck, under 10mm from the edge at the bridge end! The Tokai body is shorter than the genuine Flying V so simply buying a replacement pickguard wasn't an option, I'm having to make one from scratch to fit. None of the problems are insurmountable but they are a pain in the ar . . . . If you get offered a Tokai, find out where it was made unless you are prepared to throw money at it.

Thanks Natch, hadn't found that site. In one way it helps, it's the first time I have seen a possible model for the front pickup, in another way it adds to the confusion because it's the fourth possible model for the rear pickup Cosmetically it is sorted, I know what external mods I need to make but it's trying to find out about the electrics that's giving me all the grief. In response to a posting on the Scorpions fan forum I was advised to contact Michael Schenker himself. Apparently he is quite happy to respond to emails from fans so I am hoping to get a definative answer from him. I'll keep you posted.

Me neither. I'm not a fan of the Flying V, it's too '70s Glam Rock for my liking. I don't mind working on them, just wouldn't want to own one!

Hi folks! Apologies for not being on for a while . . . . a while Been here for a look around often enough but can't remember when I last logged in. My last posting was about my "Blackmore" Strat, finished long ago but still being worked on, still finding little things to do to it! Since then I have started making some "beer money" from my hobby, repairing/modifying guitars. Worked on many types, Strats, Teles, LPs, SGs, etc mainly local guys but starting to get some work from further afield as well. Next project is I've been asked to modify a guy's Flying V into a copy of Michael Schenker's No 1 Flying V. Lot of cosmetic work, replace pickups, tuners etc. This will be my first Flying V, not that keen on the Flying V style myself, a bit too "Spinal Tap" for my tastes but hey, each to his own Having a hell of a job trying to research Schenker's No 1 Flying V. Considering how popular he is there's not a lot of technical info about his gear. Photos yes, technical info, very little. I have been led to believe it is the standard Gibson neck pickup and you can see from photos that the bridge is a Seymour Duncan, can't find out which Seymour Duncan though. Can anybody here shed any light on the pickups?

These days there's not much to choose between a big name, Fender, Gibson, and what used to be considered lower quality copies. The big names are riding on their reputation and little more, Fender has started building to a budget with cheaper parts and Gibson . . . . friend works in a guitar shops and the amount of work that needs to be done to a Gibson when it comes out of the box is shocking. They all need work done to the nut and action to make them playable, either their standards have dropped drastically or quality control is non existant. Here's a shocker for you, we all know how much a Strat costs in a dealers, here's what they cost Fender to make including delivery, a MIM Strat is around $90, a Chinese Strat is $70, compare that with the price in the shops! Fender is also being sneaky with parts. A while I was looking at a set of Fender own brand locking tuners and found out they were actually made by Sperzel and branded Fender. Before I bought a set I asked a mate who deals in Fender parts, I was very surprised when he said they were actually made in China! Seems when Fender introduced their own brand locking tuners they were indeed made by Sperzel but . . . . once they were established manufacturing was switched to China, without changing either the part number or the price. I never buy a new guitar, an off the shelf one doesn't appeal to me as they wouldn't be what I wanted. I much prefer to buy basket cases, neglected or even damaged depending on what the damage is. That way I am free to refurbish and rebuild to my specifications not what some manufacturer thinks I want.

Hi guys, I must admit I haven't been on for quite a while. Brief summary of the story, I had picked up an abused, neglected attic find Strat and decided to copy Blackmore's Sunburst from the late '70s. It was originally intended as a cosmetic copy but after making contact with the man who built the original (Dawk Stillwell) it turned into much more than that! Anyway, thought I'd update you on how my Blackmore Strat project turned out. Well, here it is: General body shot with modified trem & 1/4" Stainless steel trem arm. Blackmore scallop, took a lot of research to get close to the dimensions and many thanks to Bruce for his tutorial which helped a lot. General opinion is what I've ended up with is very close to the genuine article? Dummy pickup in mid position as per the original Here's what I can remember doing to it: Sperzel locking tuners Picato RB77 strings Graphite nut “Blackmore” scalloped neck Seymour Duncan SSL-4s bridge & neck (middle is a dummy) MTC fitted & wired as per Dawk Stillwell’s advice CRL 3-way switch (spring removed to make operation smoother) wired neck-bridge & neck-bridge All pots replaced with CTS 250K items Pickup/control cavity fully shielded Backplate modified as per the original, cut down to make it easier to change strings (very sensible mod!). Modified tremolo Self made ¼” stainless steel tremolo arm 1:1 audio transformer under jack plate to help kill external electrical noise SSL-4s were picking up (I copied the original so well I also copied the noise problems they had with it!) The work is so extensive that the only part not replaced or modified is the body itself! Everybody who has played it loves it but the greatest compliment it has had is from Dawk Stillwell himself, he reckoned you couldn't get a closer copy without him building it himself . . . wow, praise indeed! I also have an Olympic White which will be based on the Strat that replaced Blackmore's Sunburst. Picked it up cheap with a damaged neck and neck pocket after falling off a speaker stack! Repaired the damage, replaced the neck and repainted it, originally a natural with a naff grain. It still has a lot of work to be done to reach the same level as the Sunburst but other commitments have kinda put the project on hold just now. My two Blackmore inspired Strats. The work in progress Olympic White and my baby, the Sunburst

Well guys, here it is, the result of a lot of filing and sanding. Digging a file into the neck for the first time took some balls!! For my first attempt at something like this I think it's gone reasonably well? It's a graduated Blackmore scallop. The dimensions of the scallop were taken from a Fender Japan Blackmore Signature Strat (that and studying a hell of a lot of photos) but the scallop on the Blackmore Signature Strat was "toned down" considerably so on this I have exaggerated it a bit to get closer to the original. The story is that Blackmore sent one of his guitars to Fender Japan when they were designing the Signature Strat, they took one look at the scalloping, had kittens when they saw how deep and uneven it was and decided to "sanitise" it to make it easier to play and machine for the production run. The above pics are of the finished neck, the one below was taken while I was working on it, just finished between the 8th & 9th fret, the deepest point in the scallop, 2mm at high E and 1.4mm at the low E. Included it because it gives a better idea of the graduated scalloping, starts shallow at the nut, deepens up to the 9th fret then shallows again to a uniform 1mm across the neck from the 14th fret onwards. Up to the 14th fret the scallop is deeper at the high E than low E. Up to now I have been playing a Malmsteen scalloped neck (uniform scallop right down the neck) on my Blackmore Strat clone, we'll see how this one goes. As well as the scallop the neck is now sporting a graphite nut, roller string trees and waiting for a set of Sperzel locking tuners. Haven't swapped it with the neck on the guitar yet, more work to do on a tremolo and want to look at some shielding, want to do everything in one when the guitar is in bits. Anybody got any thoughts on shielding, don't know whether to go for the messy "radar" paint or the "patchwork quilt" copper tape? By the way, regarding the Dremel Contour Sander? Who needs it! Did all of it with the selection you see below along with wet/dry and final polishing with steel wool before cleaning/conditioning. The miniature files are part of a set I had from my modelling days and although not essential did prove useful.

I'll try to describe the vintage tremolo without sounding like a total bore on the subject All the screws do on a vintage tremolo is hold it in position, they do not secure it against the body. The front edge of the bridge plate is wedge shaped, the top is level, the underside is angled. Without the strings or springs in place and the bridge plate flat aginst the body the two outer screws are tightened only until they touch the bridge plate then back them off slightly, the centre four screws are left 1.6mm above the plate. The two outer screws form the pivot, the others are for stability. Until the strings and springs are in place the bridge will flop around. Adjust the balance between the strings and springs until you have 3mm clearance between the rear of the bridge plate and the body. It's the balance between the springs and strings that secures the bridge but because none of the screws are tight the bridge can rock back and forth with the trem arm. Does that make sense

Hi jaycee, somebody else from the UK Yeh, a sanding we will go! Not doing it on the neck on the guitar, have a spare so if I do cock it up it's not a total disaster! I found this on the net, anybody know if this is close to the scalloping on Blackmore's strats? Tried asking "Dawk" Stillwell, Blackmore's former guitar tech who did Blackmore's scalloping but he hasn't said (won't say?) yes or no! Blackmore Scallop?

Hi Rich, when I realised the Demel tool was a major problem I knew it was, more than likely, going to be a file and sandpaper job. All I was looking for was suggestions about tools to use etc, the debate re international shipping etc is incidental! It is strange that Amazon US lists the contour sander, Amazon UK doesn't, even tried emailing Amazon UK, don't have them. Like the idea about the PVC pipes, I like little prompts like that! Various diameter PVC pipes, MDF to make a "handle", epoxy resin and we're in business! Who needs a Dremel Contour Sander!

I can assure you I am not hung up in the wrong century I regularly buy from the US and would if I could find the Dremel sander as they are not to be had here, even on Ebay etc. The suppliers you listed in your earlier reply: toolsforless - do not ship outside the US Amazon - do not ship outside the US mytoolstore - minimum international order is $150!

Yes, I have seen a few for sale in the States, however, I am not in the States! I can assure you I cannot find one in the UK. Even the contour sanding grips suggested by Bizzar_Guitars would be great but again, can't find them in the UK!

Yeh killemall8, thought that would be the answer. Just annoying that the excellent article is based on a tool you can no longer get! Ah well, few beers & sandpaper seems to be the solution.

I was getting myself primed up to have my first attempt at scalloping a neck myself. I'd read Brian Calvert's article on it numerous times. I started looking at what tools I would need, the main one being the Dremel Contour Sander. To my horror I have discovered that this great article explaining every move to scallop a neck is based on a tool that has been discontinued and is virtually unobtainable. I'd appreciate some suggestions as to the best way to follow Brian Calvert's Blackmore scalloping instruction without the benefit of a Dremel Contour Sander!

Melvyn Hiscock's "Make Your Own Electric Guitar", I'll watch out for that. At the moment I've got "Complete Guitar Repair" & "Electric Guitar Setups" both by Hideo Kaminoto, just to get a general grounding on the subject. My Strat is my first project and although I've aquired a lot of knowledge doing it there's a hell of a lot I don't know! I'm a long way off building my own guitar, modifying, I've got a fair idea, building from scratch, wouldn't know where to start

Hi Rick500, yeh, Edinburgh is a nice place, full of history. I live about 8 miles east of the city.

Thanks guys. Welcome appreciated. Productive evening, apart from joining here also finally got round to making a stainless steel tremolo arm for my Strat out of 1/4" rod. A lot of heating, bending, thread tapping, polishing . . . cursing . . . but came out quite well. Waiting for a new tremolo block before I fit it to the guitar. One on the guitar was modified for a 6mm arm, not enough to play with to cut a 1/4" thread in it. Biggest problem I had was finding somewhere I could get 1/4" stainless steel rod in sensible lengths, most places wanted top sell me enough to rewire the Golden Gate Bridge Heading for bed now, after midnight here! Oh, just noticed, I ain't the new guy anymore. Thanks and hello Umar!

Hi guys, I'm your newest member . . . somebody else join please I hate being the new boy! So much info here I don't know where to start looking and what you guys are doing puts my efforts to shame. I got back into guitars after a break of more years than I care to remember, used to play an acoustic, decided to go electric this time. I have what started out as an abandoned Strat that had been slowly decomposing in a mate's attic for years. It is now a clone of Ritchie Blackmore's late '70s Sunburst Strat, right down to the scalloped neck and trick wiring etc. That wasn't the original intention, it sort of took on a life of it's own and headed off in that direction with me as a passenger! Being an avid fan of Blackmore's late '70 playing with Rainbow I suppose I should have seen it coming! It's my first project and I have to admit I'm quite proud of it, didn't have a clue when I started it, I'd never even looked under a pickguard before. I think I spent as much time searching the net for "how to" sites as I did working on it My mates now regard me as something of an expert As long as you want a Blackmore Strat clone I am, everything else I am still finding my way I enjoyed working on my Strat so much that I want to get more into working on guitars, studying furiously although you can never learn everything, back to the "how to" websites again!. Anyway, enough for now. look forward to picking everybody's brains and adding my twopenny worth where I can. Steve