C18Q1 SC Relics Guitar’s Strat Build

GoldenEraGuitars

Well well well, after all this time and I still haven’t built a Strat for myself. I sold my US Standard last year to fund the business... I’m glad I did as it provided me with a nice sum which allowed me to progress substantially.

So, what am I going to do? I’ve actually kinda cheated in that I wasn’t going to build a Strat let alone document it until yesterday. I realised that I had some “spare stock” (I know, there’s no such thing. But I just mean that it hadn’t been sprayed or advertised yet). I was sitting here with an alder body, rosewood neck, pickups that I’ve acquired from an American winder who is keen to work with me (I’m keen to work with him too!) and a bunch of parts ready to go.

I decided to spray a few more bodies yesterday and subsequently, this happened...

https://i.imgur.com/Iw2KZyW.jpg

Thats a 2 piece alder body finished in a 3 tone burst (nitro lacquer), a 9.5” C maple neck with a rosewood board and a few basic parts I gathered up. The neck has already had the fretboard edges rolled and the fret ends bevelled. I have also sealed it and applied some tint. My new decals should be with me soon too so that’s exciting. The pickups are also boxed and ready to go.

Willy Houston of Rocket Pickups got in touch and we had a good chat. He sent me a set of hot wound single coils so I figured it would be rude not to test them out. Willy makes pickups for Erik and Joey in Warrant plus a few other players. I was delighted he got in touch. 

And of course I shot a few mock up pics to get us started so here you go..


https://i.imgur.com/DqypGzy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KvCw5fy.jpg

Next step (seeing as I skipped the spraying and prepping) is to get the scratchplate wired!

GoldenEraGuitars

Things are progressing slowly now (between workload and family life!) but I did manage to get the decal on this evening  

Still makes me proud to see it on the headstocks I do.

https://i.imgur.com/DVbfd2D.jpg

Ready for more clear coat.

paulnb57

Looks great!
Will it be reliced?
And if so will you be sharing the process so we (I) can have a go?

GoldenEraGuitars

paulnb57 said:

Looks great!
Will it be reliced?
And if so will you be sharing the process so we (I) can have a go?

Thanks I hadn’t planned to do too much to this tbh. Part of me wants this to be the one Strat that I don’t age. I’ll rub down the back of the neck and MAYBE check the body. But I plan to have another few strats and at least one properly battered model to hand

GoldenEraGuitars

Oops, kind of got somewhat stupidly busy with orders and neglected my own build. Shame on me

Anywah, top of the body pretty much ready so here’s a few buffed mock up pics 

https://i.imgur.com/AMJ3edf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/y2Q57IY.jpg

The neck isn’t far behind, just the headstock to clear coat then I’ll be into the electrics. 

Exciting!!

gavin_axecaster

Shiny!

marktheharp

That looks cool. .

GoldenEraGuitars

Today was a good day. After bevelling the fret ends and rolling the fingerboard I have now moved on to the levelling, crowing and polishing.

Ill be able to fit it to the body in about 2 weeks time. 

Next up is to finish the body before assembling the scratchplate.

https://i.imgur.com/Fvc7aHb.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/w3EvqVz.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YOnPtKL.jpg

GoldenEraGuitars

Ooops... forgot about this thread!

Okay, long story short... I changed my Strat body to a LPB one that I had been finishing for sale.

Skip forward a few steps and I’m at the assembly point. I also had no intention of beating it up but hey.. I couldn’t resist. Finished with Rocket pickups, cloth wiring, 250k tvt pots, oak grigsby switch, switchcraft jack and a fully dressed neck..

https://i.imgur.com/Cz89y44.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DPes4ZL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/dYzA0aC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vuDV8n4.jpg

John_A

That LPB looks great, much better than the sunburst IMO

Adam_MD

Nice Scott looking good I definitely prefer the lpb.  

meltedbuzzbox

John_A said:

That LPB looks great, much better than the sunburst IMO

This in spades

GoldenEraGuitars

Thank you guys. Although I still have some parts to tidy up on it. I’ll try and do that next week some time if I get a chance between orders.

SteveF

Definitely the LPB.  Looks great. 

GoldenEraGuitars

SteveF said:

Definitely the LPB.  Looks great. 

Thank you  

Im definitely doing more of this colour for sale soon!

eSully

Looks lovely, great colour

munckee

First time I've seen this thread, I was just thinking how great the sunburst looks, like a desert sunburst, now you've changed it for a body that looks like you tied it to a car and drove it through the desert : )

I like both but that burst is a great advert for what you can do!