I am thinking of embarking on a partsocaster build.
I am wondering if I could get some hints and tips.
Body
Where should I be looking for one? Warmoth seems to be the place I have heard mentioned the most.
I am wanting a H/S/S set up. Vintage cream finish (maybe a little relicing).
Am am I best buying a body then sending it away for someone to finish it? If so are there any suggestions of who I could use?
Neck
As above is Warmoth the place to go to buy a neck?
Spec wise i am wanting a vintage set up. I like the 7.5" necks on the mim Fender 70's classics. Size wise I like quite a chunky neck on strats as I'm used to them from my Sheraton.
When you buy the neck do you select the fret wire size you like or do they tend to be specific to the size/shape of the neck you buy?
Trem system
What would you suggest? I've only used Fender ones. I'm not looking for any 80's tastic divebomb crazyness. Vintage all the way. I see Wilkinson trems mentioned quite a lot. Are they any good?
Of course then there's the electrics and what not to consider. I'd have thought that comes a little later on.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Comments
Fender hardware is fine.
Pickups - to your taste!
Our own GSPBASSES does cracking bodies and necks and they are very reasonably priced. Once built you can send to one of the very fine painters on here and specify exactly what you want.
If you feel like it, screw it together yourself then have someone do a pro setup and wire up the electrics for you - you'll get a corker of a guitar this way..
Budget wise I am looking at £750 ish but that's not set in stone. Because this would be a build I could add to it as I needed to over the course of the build.
I like the idea that the guitar can be made to my spec exactly. I've always wanted a custom guitar but finances have always taken a turn and it's prevented me ordering from the likes of Jonathan @feline.
I have never attempted to make a guitar, never even taken a neck off one. My initial worry would be that should I start tinkering with making the guitar I would end up with an expensive guitar that doesn't play well. I was thinking that I'd get someone to assemble the guitar. I wouldn't have a clue when it comes to installing a trem, machine heads etc.
I don't know about painting and relic'ing - I'm sure someone will advise.
I would allow a couple of hundred for hardware, pickups etc which you could upgrade later.
It would be a significant cost saving to self assemble. There's a lot of experience on here to advise and help..
What about things like placing the nut, adjusting its height etc? I have no clue on things like that. I just pick guitars up and play them. Even then, that's questionable.
£300 seems very reasonable. I am thinking that I will have a word to @Van_Hayden regarding the electrics.
Electrics for a strat are easy - all on the pickguard. Attach the ground and screw it down - get the other bits screwed together then off for a setup.
You would be surprised how little there is to it...
Drop him a PM - @GSPBASSES
I will do, thank you.
It has now just been set up by @SteveRobinson and I don't yet have it back so I can't yet tell you how good it is after the work that Steve did to it.
If he has time, maybe Steve could describe it for you and tell you how it is now that it's been professionally set up?
All I can say about it is that it's a beautiful guitar and @Bridgehouse has done a very tasteful relicingjob on it so that it simply looks old, not over done.
Don't worry. I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here. Your guitar project has wooden components. There is a limit to how predictable the natural acoustic resonances will be.
I suppose i know what I am wanting sound wise and looks wise. I'm taking advice though from this wonderful forum to help me get there.
Neck shape
Fingerboard Radius
Fret size
After that, you can play about swapping parts...
Radius would be 7.5
fret size. I'd like jumbo frets I'm not sure of the wire size though