BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

[rockman23]

I'm building(assembling) a Strat.---I got the body- A '57 reissue SEAFOAM GREEN STRAT BODY(mint cond. got it for $150.ebay)..

THE NECK--I'm gonna get it from WARMOTH, here's my question:

The neck is gonna be Quartersawn maple w/maple fingerboard---Should I get INLAYS(dots) or NO INLAYS(I'm thinkin' no inlays)--I like the clean look of no inlays on maple BUT I'm not sure, WHAT DO YOU THINK??

ALSO---should I get a REVERSE HEADSTOCK(I think I want a reverse headstock)--OR have a NORMAL Righthand HEADSTOCK???

I love the look of REVERSE HEADSTOCK but I'm not sure--WHAT DO YOU THINK???

It's gonna be a CBS headstock(the big head)...TELL ME WHAT YA THINK, please!

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Reverse CBS headstock: Pros:Cool Jimi Vibe ! Cons:tough to tune on the fly.
No Fretboard Inlays: Not my cup of tea. It's your guitar, But for me it has to have Inlays.

 

[Inferno]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I know you're just asking for suggestions, but remember that this is YOUR custom strat.

I'm more of a traditional guy, so I'd go with regular headstock (due to it being easier to reach the tuners and such). I like black dots on a maple board, but you might consider abalone dots if you want to be different. Just some suggestions.

What color pickguard/pup configuration is your strat going to have?

 

[rockman23]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Thanks for the opinions thusfar!!

This STRAT is gonna have a WHITE(or pearloid) pickgaurd--It's gonna have a whiteHumbucker(not sure wich one) & TWO SINGLES(Fender VintageNoiseless)--All WHITE pickups...

I was thinkin if I get NO INLAYS I could put little black decals for inlays if I feel the need--BUT, when yer standing up, I dont use inlays, I use the SIDE DOTS......

I just dont want to have ANY REGRETS anymore, that's why I love your input! I wanna do this project & be 100% happy w/it!!

ABALONE inlays are cool cause ya can barely see em---Definately a possibility, the abalone inlays that is...

----MORE OPINIONS PLEASE!!------thankyou!

 

[mixedmedia]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Since it's a vintage style body I'm leaning towards using non stock parts such as the reverse headstock and the non inlayed fingerboard although side dots are necessary. Warmoth charges extra for no inlays so keep that in mind. Dot inlays aren't an intrusive as those huge block ones. I figure it's worth saving $50 to just not look at the dots.

Maybe a vintage tinted maple neck since it might set off the green and provide some contrast color to the white/pearl pickguard/pickup setup.

 

[Wattage]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I love reverse stocks. I have it down to my fave now which I had made by USACG. It is a large CBS style stock, tiltback, maple neck with ebony board. I've Got that on both a Tele and Strat.

I also had a Warmoth neck which was great but I really wanted the tilt back.

I never have much of an issue tuning with the reverse but I am sure it is a PITA to get used to for some. I love how much more resonant the low end is with the longer string length on the bottom.

I have abalone dots on a very dark board which wasn't the best idea, they disappear pretty easily in low light.

Right now I am re-doing the Strat. I had a lefty body which looked cool as hell but I kept rolling off volume and switching pups ahe time inadvertanly so I am going back to a righty body. Getting butnut's old JV actually so if anybody needs a lefty body let me know. It's the bay right now but I'll cut a deal for a forum bro.

 

[rockman23]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

--YES, deffinately MAPLE w/VINTAGE TINT!! It WILL set off the SEAFOAM GREEN something fierce!

I just checked at Warmoth & the NO INLAY option is FREE!! BUT, Warmoth will NOT accept the neck for refund if it has No Inlays--that dont bother me cause I'll be keepin it...hopefully!

A "CBS Headstock" QUARTERSAWN MAPLE neck w/Maple fingerboard from WARMOTH is $197.00----NOT BAD??...The REVERSEHEADSTOCK option is free.
ABALONE Inlays are only $15.00 extra. TEMPTING...

ALSO---This STRAT will be a HARDTAIL--It's routed for a tremelo BUT at MUSICIANS FRIEND you can get a HARDTAIL BRIDGE made especially for Tremelo Body Strats to retrofit to a HARDTAIL for $49.00...I'll be gettin a CHROME Hardtail bridge...

ALSO, I'm gettin SPERZEL LOcking tuners, chrome, of course...

 

[rockman23]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Hey mr.WATTAGE-----What is the advantage of the TILT BACK HEADSTOCK cause I could get that option when I order my neck from Warmoth, I just never new of the advantage & still dont...Please ENLIGHTEN Me, thanks!!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I also think the normal orientaiton for the headstock is the way to go, just for tuning ease. As for the inlays, abalone on a maple board looks really awsome. The neck on my custom strat is from Warmoth. Take a look and see if it appeals to you, if not, go no dots. If and when I do another custom guitar from Warmoth, I'm thinking of doing an ebony board with no inlays.

 

[tone?]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Can i ask a question??
Why are you getting a quartersawn neck??? If it is gonna be a maple with maple fretboard you have enough stability right there. I just think that we should stick to traditional formulas. I think that a quartersawn neck might be a bit bright and overkill for this purpose. You are gonna have it laquered right?
You also mentioned that you are going with a hardtail. If you put a Quartersawn neck on there it might add up for a pretty stiff feeling guitar.

I always say as others on here, that you should really be sure of what you want on a project parts guitar. PLUS go with time and tested traditional combos. I cant stress this enough. Alot of people say " well im gonna put this crazy wood here and that weird bridge there and....nobody has done this and it will kick butt" but the reason no one has done it is cause it sucks and doesnt sound good or feel right. Trust me i have done the same!

I would definately put some kinda inlays either side or abalone front.

I dont think that anyone can guarantee that you will be 100% happy. That is almost impossible and is probably the no. one reason for this forums existence! lol!!

 

[MikeS]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Abalone would still stick out on a maple board. MOP dots would almost disappear.

As much as I like the clean look of an inlay free maple board, the vintage vibe I get from Seafoam green and the CBS headstock almost screams for fret markers. That said, the green hue in abalone could look great against the seafoam green body.

 

[devastone]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I'm with Mike, since it will have a pretty traditional look, the markers would look more "right", but it's your guitar, either way will look nice on that setup.

 

[mixedmedia]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I got mixed up. I think it was extra and non refundable for no frets/fretless. Have you thought about sea foam green dots if that's an option?

 

[Wattage]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

Hey mr.WATTAGE-----What is the advantage of the TILT BACK HEADSTOCK cause I could get that option when I order my neck from Warmoth, I just never new of the advantage & still dont...Please ENLIGHTEN Me, thanks!!

String pull over the nut mostly. The tension eliminates the need for string trees of any kind and helps with sustain. If you are hardtailing it I would definitely do it. Some don't like the tiltback with the trem because they think the strings hang up a bit in the nut slots which could be an issue if it isn't cut cleanly.

Warmoth wouldn't do a reverse stock/tiltback in the past so maybe they have changed their mind?

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

My opinion concerning the inlays is that if you DEFINITELY don't need them then they will only have an aesthetic purpose, thus, the only thing you should decide on is which one looks best for you, I mean, you simply need to see pictures of all the possible options to know which one looks best for you.

For me, it has to be abalone, I once saw the Carvin DC400 with its' abalone inlays and immediately decided that abalone is the only way for both maple and ebony fingerboards.

For me, the ultimate neck has to be maple with or without an ebony fingerboard (I seriously dislike rosewood, I decided on my dear Strat firstly because of its' gorgeous Midnight Blue body and, because of its' lovely maple neck with a maple fingerboard).

I think that the way maple feels can never be beaten by any rosewood fingerboard, no matter how well made it is!

As far as headstocks are concerned, I feel I am the least suitable person to talk about them, I dislike any variation other than the classic 6-In-Line non-reversed headstock.

However, I agree that it is a matter of preference, and no, I don't feel that a reversed headstock will be considerably harder to tune, all it'll take is some time to get used to it!

In conclusion, I'll have to agree with all the other posters here, it IS a matter of preference, in the end, no patter what we say it is YOU who will be looking at it and playing it and thus, it is YOU that the look and feel should satisfy!

Cheers!

 

[rockman23]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

---THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT, I REALLY appreciate it!

--QUARTERSAWN---I thought a quartersawn neck was the best way to go for stability & preventing warpage(twisting)--If I dont need Quartersawn, the neck is $50.00 cheaper--I could use that $50. to upgrade to BIRDSEYE MAPLE FINGERBOARD, maybe...

---It would be kinda cool if Warmoth offered Seafoamgreen DOTS for the fingerboard--I'm still considering Abalone dots, I gotta CARVINsc-90 w/AbaloneBlockInlays & I love the look of abalone, BUT I still might go without inlays, I havn't decided.

It's deffinately gonna be Maple neck w/Maple fingerboard...Vintage tint, of course.

 

[rockman23]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

--Jeff H.-----That's a sweet Strat, I like the abalone inlays--the gold hardware looks cool, too!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I had a strat with a reverse headstock once. I would not reccomend it, just because some people think that your being full of self or something, showing up with a reverse headstock strat. I'm not saying that you are, and I wasn't, but that's what some people would think.

I like no inlays, and I think you should do that if you want.

 

[Wattage]

Re: BUILDING STRATOCASTER-please help!

I am most definitely full of something if not myself:dance:

Man why build it custom if you are not gonna show some ass? let it rock!