vlvtrvolvr13

Ok some confusion is going on here and ill straighten it up....

Im not building a strat, i have a standard that is already customized with pickups from swineshead, its set and good to go.

Now the one im gonna be building, im gettin parts from Warmoth, and i think im doin something like a telecaster, with the raunchier side of a heavy guitar.

Now, was ist a Fernandes Sustainer System? and it sucked? Thats depressing if so becuase id really like to have one to experiment with, So i guess for better sustain i need a hardtail bridge right?

well its a fender standard moded with swinesheads.

Does anyone recommend a sustainer system?

Well i think im gonna make an ultimate jam guitar cuz my strat is very versatile in the tone category, but has weak sustain, only 21 frets, brighter tone than id like for some of the stuff i play, and not the fastest neck. Seeing what i feel like i need how can i take these needs and make them into an awesome jam guitar. When i write stuff with my group i usually create alot of the chord progressions, some riffs, and alot of the effects and sounds.

So what kind of things should i take into consideration when i got to start building and ordering parts for a custom guitar?

well we shall see what happends hear. Im not gonna be dissapointed as long as it sounds good. Im not gonna feel like i failed if the guitar doesnt sound like a Les Paul it will be interesting to see how it does turn out.

and i hope no one thinks im trying to prove anyone wrong, thats not what i mean by doing this..

Yes i was refering to the Gibson scale length. My fingers arent huge but ill try out some LPs at guitar center beore i commit to the idea, as well as some guitars with ebony boards although i doubt i will have much of a preference to what the board is...

before you go crazy with it do u like the way it sounds if its from a toy shop? is it even made of decent wood?

The most-often compared tone differences are between a Strat and Les Paul, most people know what each one sounds like.

Body makes a difference: Alder or Ash (strat) vs Mahogany/maple cap (LP)

Neck makes a difference: Maple (strat) vs mahogany (LP)

Board makes a difference: in order of brightness/attack, ebony-maple-rosewood

Bridge makes a difference: floating metal (strat) vs wood-anchored TOM (LP)

Scale length makes a difference:  25.5 (strat) vs 24.75 (LP)

Pickups make a difference.

Between these two guitars, you can't really isolate any single one thing that contributes most to the tone difference.  But you are correct, mahogany will be warmer and have less attack than alder or maple.

To me this is one of the fun things about building, you can explore different wood-scale-pup combos and see what works for you.

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so if i were to get a mahogany/ebony conversion neck from warmoth that might increaser the warm tone of the guitar but how will that effect where the bridge and pickups fall?

I just kind of wonder if the body wood is going to make that much of a difference. I mean, sure, there might be a little bit, but it's hard to believe that it'd be all that audible.

It seems to me that the neck wood and fretboard would have more to do with the tone than the body wood, on an electric guitar, at least. A mahogany neck, for example.

And the scale length too --part of the Fender brightness is the longer scale (they say), gives more snap.

Just that I'm skeptical about building a guitar in order to capture a certain tone...seems that would be near impossible, really, given all the variables involved.

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well i dont know much about the physics involved and the way sound is affected by the wood but heres what i figure...

with a warm toned body like mahogany, and warm based pickups like the lace sensors ill be able to get decent warm sounds for jazz and blues. Now the ebony and maple will add a bit of brightness so it doesnt get to muddy and helps articulate the sound.

ill be sure to let u guys know how it actually sounds once im done and whether or not it is really warm or not...

the air norton is being replaced by a light blue lace sensor

Ok so i want a warmer fatter tone out of a fender strat, and since they dont make mahogany bodied strats to my knowledge im gonna build one for the experience. Heres the general idea and if you guys can comment that would be great.

Mahogany body blank from Warmoth, routed HSH, going to be a Strat shape

Maple neck (clear finish) 25.5 scale, bolt on, Ebony fretboard, pearl dot inlay(warmoth ordered)

Pickups from Dimarzio and Lace Sensor

Bridge-Tone Zone for modern rock and hard rock type stuff (VLVT and Rage)

Middle-Hot Gold single coil

Neck-Air Zone for jazz tones and cleans RHCP type stuff

Schaller Non-Trem Roller Bridge

Kluson tuners (32/11) are the standard for the neck im ordering

Standard Strat tone controls

-5 way switch

-2 Tones 1 Volume

Finishing Details

-White solid coat body,Black Silver pickguard custom from Warmoth

-Ebony dye for neck from StewMac

-Hardware Black or Gold (what are your guys opinions)

So thats the idea, if you guys see any major flaws please let me know. I tried to keep it simple with the electronic wiring and controls which is why it is so basic becuase this is my first and i want to make it work before i go experimenting too much.

Thanks in advance for the ideas if i can get a couple pics up i will!

looks hot algee! good luck with it!

what about some saucy P90's (or even a P90 at the neck and buck at the bridge)

If I could I would use P90's for everything...even my classical 

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Im not very experienced with P-90s but if you are and you want to explain a little about them to me and possibly some good models then please do.

Which of these two pickups would be a better match to an Air Zone neck humbucker and most likely a Red Lace Sensor in the middle?

The guitar is mahogany with maple neck and ebony fretboard.

that is probably one of the most used wood combinaison in guitar history...

Yes, it will sound fine for sure!! Not too dark and not too much highs...

I would recommend humbuckers instead of single-coils for that wood, though.

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sweeeeeeeet! Thats a relief to hear...Ill post more info once i figure out the buckers im gonna use!

Well im going to start out on my first guitar, which will be a strat, sometime this month when i order my blanks from warmoth. I know exactly the way i want it to be i just need a little help choosing something major. I already have an alder body guitar, so i was thinking about making my strat a mahogany body with maple neck and ebony fretboard. My reasoning is the mahogany will add a warm tone and the ebony will give some articulation. I realize it wont sound like a regular strat which is fine with me.

Does anyone think this wood combination will work in the way i have described it?

Mahogany body

Maple Neck

Ebony Fretboard

Thanks for the help, once i know this ill add more info on my project!