Where to get a strat body?

fretmeister

I'm very slowly assembling the parts I need for my first ever build.

Where in the UK can I get a HSH or HH strat body that doesn't cost the earth?
It will need to have a proper Fender neck joint as I'll be fitting a Warmoth scale conversion neck.

I think I want a flat mount trem for downwards use only. Probably 2 posts, so a modern strat type or a Wilkinson VS100 etc.


Any ideas?

I haven't decided whether to buy a painted one or try to do it myself in the garden with a bunch of car paint cans - or just blow torch it a bit and then oil it.

ta

spev11

https://www.gear4music.com/Electric-Guitar/Parts_Spares/Bodies
they seem cheap
or
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/211119377179025--eastcoast-st2-deluxe-hss-roasted-maple-neck-vintage-white
I bought one last week and its great, sounds great , plays great, for even more bargains, i'll buy the neck off you for £50  . (honest I would if you bought one)

spev11

Although the trem post distance is a bit odd as It doesn't have an equivalent in any brand that's easily available (although it works just fine)

elstoof

That eastcoast surely won’t have a fender strat neck pocket?

mrkb

What do you define as cheap?
guitarbuild sell unfinished bodies to a wide range of specs - they’re a bit like a smaller uk based warmoth.

https://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/

spev11

elstoof said:

That eastcoast surely won’t have a fender strat neck pocket?

im pretty sure it does, I measured it the other day, I can double check but its in work and i'm not in til tuesday, i'll whip the neck off and take some pics with my calipers ( i measure the neck width in-situ)

spev11

and to be fair the neck is a very fine thing, the headstock is a bit marmite but theres no faulting the quality of it (not on the one I have anyway, my mate has ordered the tele shaped one so I'll check that out when It arrives)

spev11

Just did a quick neck width measurement at the 19th and its 56mm. I'll whip the neck off when I;'ve finished my repairs and get some more figures, width, depth and length, anything else? Bolt hole distance?

elstoof

spev11 said:

and to be fair the neck is a very fine thing, the headstock is a bit marmite but theres no faulting the quality of it

Im sure it is but OP already has a Warmoth neck they want to fit so pretty crucial the pocket is fender spec. This fretboard is much more squared off than a strat heel 

Revolutions

mrkb said:

What do you define as cheap?
guitarbuild sell unfinished bodies to a wide range of specs - they’re a bit like a smaller uk based warmoth.

https://www.guitarbuild.co.uk/

This. It’s worth paying the right price for defend quality - these folk will help you out with advice on fit & measurements.

I bought a Tele deluxe body & was a great fit for an All Parts neck,

chrisj1602

Some of these can be decent (some are definitely not…)

https://www.boobooguitars.co.uk/collections/guitar-bodies

elstoof

Booboo are the Guitarbuild rejects. I’ve had a Strat body from Guitarbuild and it was very good but I don’t think they do 2 point trem bodies. everything on their website is 6 screw and there’s no custom option for it as far as I can see. Maybe if you contact them they can offer it off menu?

elstoof

The most obvious, but not the absolute cheapest, is of course an actual fender body

https://www.fender.com/en-GB/parts/bodies/deluxe-series-stratocaster-alder-body/0997103709.html

not really much more than a Guitarbuild body though, and the difference is much less than you’d ever spend on having it professionally finished, or even on a half dozen rattlecans and your time

NCo

Just got a Guitarbuild body, excellent service, the body had two slight imperfections though. Overall still highly reccomended.

NCo

Just to add to my comment above: 

My first option was Gavin at Axecaster, but at the point of purchase he didn't have what I wanted. He now has stock of some really lightweight, 2 piece Hosco bodies at incredible prices. Some already sold out, like the a 3lbs 7.75oz body, but he still has a couple more at 3lbs 11oz and 13oz.

His communication is great, always responds almost within an hour, and he's very helpful.

guitarcookie1

fretmeister said:

I'm very slowly assembling the parts I need for my first ever build.

Where in the UK can I get a HSH or HH strat body that doesn't cost the earth?
It will need to have a proper Fender neck joint as I'll be fitting a Warmoth scale conversion neck.

I think I want a flat mount trem for downwards use only. Probably 2 posts, so a modern strat type or a Wilkinson VS100 etc.


Any ideas?

I haven't decided whether to buy a painted one or try to do it myself in the garden with a bunch of car paint cans - or just blow torch it a bit and then oil it.

ta

I have a US Standard Strat body as part of a partscaster that I'm thinking of dismantling and moving on.

Olympic white, two-point trem, HSH, from around 2013 I believe.

Maybe of interest? Depending on what you mean by not costing the earth..

fretmeister

I suspect that will be too expensive for me. Aside from the neck, and the pickups that I already own I'm doing this cheap.