Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
...even though I think I know what the answer is.
I have the body and neck for a strat project just collecting dust. The body is one of the most beautiful 2 piece, lightweight ash bodies I have ever seen....really unique patterned grain. The neck is is a lovely Warmoth maple/maple with abalone inlays. Really nice grain pattern on the fingerboard. My plan was to make this into "The Ultimate Vintage Strat". Nitro finish, complete Callaham vintage hardware set, bone nut, Antiquity Pups...the whole 9 yards. Well, since I've fallen in love with my Les Pauls, the 2 strats I have already get very little playing time. I have a Highway 1 strat with Fender CS 54's, and a double fat strat that I rebuilt myself. Do I really need a third I ask myself? Here's a ball park of what it will cost me to do it right.
Nitro Finish - $600, 2 Tone Sunburst (from Dawn at Naked Body)
Callaham Set - $200
Pickups - $200-250 min
Misc - $100 (pots, other electronics, pickguard, nut w/install)
$1100 in remaining work, plus the $225 I have into the neck and the $175 I have into the body. $1500 total for a strat with top of the line finish, hardware and pups is a good deal....but for a 3rd strat? This would be the end all strat for me, lookswise and probably soundwise...definately quality wise. My Hwy 1 is really all I need in a vintage sounding strat, and I love the way it feels. My double fat has sentimental value, and is worth nothing to someone else.
The $$ is not the issue. But is that $$ better served going towards something else that I want....annother amp, like a 2 rock or a Splawn Quick Rod, Silver Jubilee or something entirely different? Or to multiple things like pups for Lesters, Carl Martin Plexidrive. Again, I can afford to do it all, but my thought process is why. Every time I look at it just sitting there I think, "Damn that's pretty, I can't wait to have it finished." But it will most likely be art for the majority of it's life, probably never a main axe...at least for me. Also, it will not have any resale value compared to what I put into it.
Just looking for opinions.
I have the body and neck for a strat project just collecting dust. The body is one of the most beautiful 2 piece, lightweight ash bodies I have ever seen....really unique patterned grain. The neck is is a lovely Warmoth maple/maple with abalone inlays. Really nice grain pattern on the fingerboard. My plan was to make this into "The Ultimate Vintage Strat". Nitro finish, complete Callaham vintage hardware set, bone nut, Antiquity Pups...the whole 9 yards. Well, since I've fallen in love with my Les Pauls, the 2 strats I have already get very little playing time. I have a Highway 1 strat with Fender CS 54's, and a double fat strat that I rebuilt myself. Do I really need a third I ask myself? Here's a ball park of what it will cost me to do it right.
Nitro Finish - $600, 2 Tone Sunburst (from Dawn at Naked Body)
Callaham Set - $200
Pickups - $200-250 min
Misc - $100 (pots, other electronics, pickguard, nut w/install)
$1100 in remaining work, plus the $225 I have into the neck and the $175 I have into the body. $1500 total for a strat with top of the line finish, hardware and pups is a good deal....but for a 3rd strat? This would be the end all strat for me, lookswise and probably soundwise...definately quality wise. My Hwy 1 is really all I need in a vintage sounding strat, and I love the way it feels. My double fat has sentimental value, and is worth nothing to someone else.
The $$ is not the issue. But is that $$ better served going towards something else that I want....annother amp, like a 2 rock or a Splawn Quick Rod, Silver Jubilee or something entirely different? Or to multiple things like pups for Lesters, Carl Martin Plexidrive. Again, I can afford to do it all, but my thought process is why. Every time I look at it just sitting there I think, "Damn that's pretty, I can't wait to have it finished." But it will most likely be art for the majority of it's life, probably never a main axe...at least for me. Also, it will not have any resale value compared to what I put into it.
Just looking for opinions.
