In Strat modding mode! Come recommend me stuff!

[Rex_Rocker]

Alright, decided I'm going to do it! So please come suggest me stuff.


1. Neck.

You know my struggle with the guitar's neck. I want to replace it. Ideally, I'd go quartersawn baked maple with a Wizard profile, huge frets, and a 12" fretboard, but that's going to cost me. So I've lowered my expectations. I was thinking Modern C. I would prefer 12" or flatter, but 9.5" is fine. I mean, it's a Strat after all. I would prefer Maple fretboard, but if Pau Ferro/Rosewood is cheaper, I'm alright too.

Things that are a MUST, though: Truss rod adjustment accessible without having to take the neck off, and pre-finished. I don't want to have to finish it myself. Also, if it doesn't need a fret job from the factory would be a BIG plus.

The cheaper, the better, while still being good quality.


2. Pickguard.

I haven't decide if I want H S or H H. But either way, I want a bridge humbucker, and I want that bridge humbucker to be as close to the edge of the pickguard near the bridge as possible. I would also want aged white, one single volume control far away from the bridge pickup, towards the end of the pickguard, and a Fender blade switch. I already have a 500K pot and the 3-way Fender switch for it.

Not sure about aged white, though. Try to convince me otherwise? Maybe black? Pearloid? Tortoise shell?

Also, cheaper is better while still having the features I want.


Also... what color pickups? I'm trying a DiMarzio Super 2 in it this weekend. I'm pretty sure I'll like, though. If not, I'm going to drop a Duncan Custom or JB in it. But not sure if I want black, white, or zebra.


Soooo... opinions?

[Rex_Rocker]

This is the strat in question:

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Beautiful LP there!

[Rex_Rocker]

Beautiful LP there!

Thank you! I decided to swap the hardware back to black.

[ErikH]

Swap the neck since there's the issue there, add locking tuners, keep the rest as-is until you play it more and get a better idea of what you want from it or need, if anything.

Get a Warmoth. Vintage/Modern construction. It has the TR adjustment at the headstock. Modern has it at the heel. Anything other than maple/maple will be more expensive. But, worth it. As mentioned in the other thread, if you go with roasted maple, get the moonglow side dots. Both of those choices are an upcharge. Getting a finish on it is an uncharge as well but roasted maple doesn't require finish to keep the warranty.

For the bridge pickup placement, you'll have to see how much room there is to go back from where it is now and the pickguard would most likely need to be custom cut to move it back further. Most makers have a standard template.

[Rex_Rocker]

https://www.solomusicgear.com/product/fender-player-series-stratocaster-neck-22-medium-jumbo-frets-maple-9-5-modern-c/

Well, I found this. Seems decent. Though it's not baked Maple and it's 9.5". But then again, this is my beater guitar. I would so get a Musikraft or Warmoth neck, but they can get spendy with the specs I want them to have.

If I can find a good deal on one, I'll look into Warmoth, though.

[Rex_Rocker]

Also, looked underneath the pickguard, seems like I'm stuck with an HS pickguard. Only routed for HSS.

No biggie. I can use a full-size hum and an Little '59 or a Quarter Pounder ot a Cool Rails or whatever in the neck.

This is what the body looks like without a pickguard. I think I can get the bridge pickup a bit closer to the bridge than it is right now with the right pickguard:



Althought, not THAT much closer, though.

[MikeS]

I was in a similar neck search for one of my strat bodies mod-summer, and I found a Fender Player Plus Strat neck on The Stratosphere. Similar to the link you posted, but the Player Plus necks have a slightly wider 1-11/16" nut, flatter 12" radius, still with a modern "C" shape with medium jumbo frets, and a satin tinted finish. Mine is maple/maple (they also came in pau ferro/maple). I recall paying a little more than $300 for it, and while that's not pocket change, it was still significantly less than a Warmoth neck and it didn't require fret levelling.

[ehdwuld]

Any cheap squire affinity neck would meet your specs
buy the whole twhnolet a pawn shop
part out the body

buff the squire logo off
Locking tuners and tusqxl nut
Done

Put in a standard pickguard with three pot holes

stick a piezo disk to the bottom of the bridge route

Route it to a 100 k pot for volume
No tone control needed it wont be bright as it not directly under the bridge

Use independent volumes for the magnetics and piezo

Use five way switch like a 3 pickup guitar

[El Dunco]

So long as you don’t get 3 Blackout singles, put them in an American Strat and review them before I have a chance.

[jeremy]

i have three blackout singles in a usa hamer daytona, with an emg spc to boot!

[Mincer]

Also, looked underneath the pickguard, seems like I'm stuck with an HS pickguard. Only routed for HSS.

No biggie. I can use a full-size hum and an Little '59 or a Quarter Pounder ot a Cool Rails or whatever in the neck.

This is what the body looks like without a pickguard. I think I can get the bridge pickup a bit closer to the bridge than it is right now with the right pickguard:



Althought, not THAT much closer, though.

Yeah, just use a little humbucker in the neck. You can even do a series/parallel mod to it to get a cleaner/clearer sound if you want.

[Rex_Rocker]

I just got an HS tortoise shell pickguard off Amazon. I hope it fits!

If not and it looks like ****, they're cheap enought. They're like 12 dollars, LOL.

[Rex_Rocker]

I was in a similar neck search for one of my strat bodies mod-summer, and I found a Fender Player Plus Strat neck on The Stratosphere. Similar to the link you posted, but the Player Plus necks have a slightly wider 1-11/16" nut, flatter 12" radius, still with a modern "C" shape with medium jumbo frets, and a satin tinted finish. Mine is maple/maple (they also came in pau ferro/maple). I recall paying a little more than $300 for it, and while that's not pocket change, it was still significantly less than a Warmoth neck and it didn't require fret levelling.

I'll keep an eye out for those! Thing is I'm in Canada, so add at least 30 or 40 dollars more for the shipping.

Oooff. Just checked. 60-70.

[Rex_Rocker]

Any cheap squire affinity neck would meet your specs
buy the whole twhnolet a pawn shop
part out the body

buff the squire logo off
Locking tuners and tusqxl nut
Done

Put in a standard pickguard with three pot holes

stick a piezo disk to the bottom of the bridge route

Route it to a 100 k pot for volume
No tone control needed it wont be bright as it not directly under the bridge

Use independent volumes for the magnetics and piezo

Use five way switch like a 3 pickup guitar

Honestly, the piezo thing sounds like a good idea! In the future, though. As it is, right now, it's just my beater guitar, and that sounds more of a commitment for a better guitar.