i think i'm getting another strat.......

[rumblebox]

i hated strats for a while because of my last strat... then i thought about it for a second and realized not all strats are that way. i hate 21 fret necks, and i hate having to remove the strings to work on the electronics.

2 things make me not hate strats: 22 frets and 2-post tremolos, since they come off without unstringing.


option 1: build an H/H strat with a 22 fret neck and a wilkinson tremolo.

option 2: buy a floyd blacktop strat and change the poopy pickups.

both options cost about the same if i use decent parts.

as soon as my H-401FM sells, i'll make a decision.

 

[CTN]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

yarp. good times ahead.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

after further investigation, i can build one to my exact needs for about $450. if i get the blacktop for $500, i'll probably spend an extra $50 on pickups if you figure what i get for the stockers on ebay.

 

[CTN]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

(Insert stock reply about lower resale value of builds vs. brand name guitars despite similar or possibly better quality standards of the build)

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

true, but this will be a long-term keeper. even if i do end up selling it, i'll just sell it in pieces.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

...and 2-post tremolos, since they come off without unstringing.

How do manage that? I'm curious about the circumstances under which that happens.

+1 on the Wilkinson though, I've put them on all 3 of mine now - I just like the way they're made.

 

[CTN]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

remove the springs at the back, and the trem will pop right out.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

remove the springs at the back, and the trem will pop right out.

yep. some guitars take a little bit of finesse, but most of them are easy. my M100 is perfect for mag-swaps and pickup demos for this reason.

+1 on the Wilkinson though, I've put them on all 3 of mine now - I just like the way they're made.

i havent used one yet, but i'm optomistic about the results. i got really good at making regular strats stay in tune with locking tuners and proper nut lubing/cutting. i can imagine it will only be better with the locking saddles. i also like changing between E and dropD a lot, which is the only drawback of a floyd IMO.

 

[CTN]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

Wilkies are fantastic, but make sure you get one of the good (more expensive) japanese made ones, not the korean ones. The korean ones use cheaper metals for the saddles and some other critical parts and are more prone to wear down faster.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

remove the springs at the back, and the trem will pop right out.

The Wilkinson does exactly the same - it works on exactly the same design principle of a two-point Fender trem.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

and it's only proper that i use something of my own namesake. lol

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

and it's only proper that i use something of my own namesake. lol

Sold to the man with a new Strat...

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

Wilkies are fantastic, but make sure you get one of the good (more expensive) japanese made ones, not the korean ones. The korean ones use cheaper metals for the saddles and some other critical parts and are more prone to wear down faster.

the WVS 50IIK? or the VS100?

EDIT: ok so the VS100 is the gotoh version from japan. got it.

even if i spend the extra $50 on the better tremolo, i'm still about $100 cheaper than just buying one and modding it.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

Go for the VS100 if you can find one.

 

[CTN]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

yup, the VS100.

Stewmac sells em.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

so, as of now, the strat plan consists of:

white body
black or tortoise pickguard, depending on how dark the rosewood is
CBS (big headstock) 22 fret strat neck with a rosewood fretboard
chrome wilkinson VS100 bridge
chrome locking tuners (probably grovers)
roller string trees on the headstock
white humbuckers
white les paul style tophat knobs
shaller straplocks (of course)

4-way blade switch for 1.bridge 2.parallel 3.neck 4.series
3-way mini-toggles for the humbuckers (split/hum/parallel) since i dont like the way triple shots look cut and screwed into the pickguard.
2 volume, 1 tone

 

[CTN]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

yummly. Get a black pearl pickguard.

then we can have almost matching strats! (lol, so lame!)

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

Wow...

 

[rumblebox]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

yummly. Get a black pearl pickguard.

then we can have almost matching strats! (lol, so lame!)

I thought about a black pearl guard, but i couldn't find a photo.... Now I'm considering it.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: i think i'm getting another strat.......

Having had various Floyd types and a Wilkinson, I say go for OFR hands down. Still the best to me.