...starting from a raw body that has the right raw strat outline and a neck pocket. That's it. Bought a neck off here recently that is undrilled. How do I decide where to drill the body and matching neck holes, best screws to use to attach the neck, and where to put the pickups and hardtail bridge? I've got a dual soapbar P90 in mind and maybe even a tunomatic bridge, a bit like Mark Knopfler's blue carve top Suhr/Pensa. So I might do some carving too. Do I start by drilling for the neck, joining it together, then take all alignment and measurements from that? Pros and cons of a hardtail bridge versus a TOM and tailpiece? All advice gratefully received and thank you in advance!
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For the neck holes: I once did these by taking a known good neck, putting four dowel markers in its holes (they're like pointy metal cones), carefully offering it up to the neck pocket and pushing hard but careful.
Then I drilled the neck pocket holes undersize to be absolutely sure before I took them out with a file... that bit took ages though.
If it's a standard Strat neck pocket then a screw in each corner isn't a bad way to start - if you're going for a neck plate then it's even simpler. Transfer punch will get you marks in the right positions. Drill the body holes first, then use transfer punches again to mark the neck for drilling.
If you want a TOM with a strat-style body then you'll probably have to either shim the neck or recess the TOM - I don't think you can do the latter and have a stoptail though.
http://www.monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/builds/sp5/finished.jpg
Doing the ferrules on a drill press is possible but it's hard to get them in a really neat line. No chance of doing the TOM recess that way though - that's a router job, and I'd make up a little template rather than just using a straight edge.
https://www.blackdogmusic.co.uk/product/curved-neck-joint-plate-in-chrome-black-or-gold/
And yes, get the neck in first, take your measurements for the bridge and so on from that.
@Sporky When I wrote Harry-caster, I had in mind that the guitar would cater to Mr. Seven's fetish for offset waist "F" style instruments.
In which case, yes - especially if in twenty years it appears on eBay. It's even got lefty tuners because I drew them the wrong way around in CAD and righties wouldn't fit...
Maybe I'm just a wuss.
A TOM can be recessed with a router bit and a straightedge.