Late 1980’s Strat aesthetics...

[PFDarkside]

I’ve got a Seafoam Strat body kicking around, and I’ve had for years now. I was going to do a Tom Dulonge style build but the neck has been on my main Strat for quite a while now. I’m debating what it would take to build it up.

I’ve got an image in my mind of the late 80’s Strat aesthetics, Seafoam, black hardware, pearl pickguard... It might be heavily inspired by the Charvel Surfcaster, I’m not sure... anyway, here are a few ideas to get started, I can mock up others with suggestions.

 

[PFDarkside]

I fully accept anyone saying this a questionable idea.

I fully accept that the pickups and knobs are not in the correct location and that’s just due to manual placement, not a plan for odd locations.

I’m trying to remember what that look is, and hope these mockups spark some memories. I’m thinking the style of guitar a player like Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck or Steve Lukather would be playing at a festival in 1989. (Understand I’m not looking for their exact instruments, I’m looking for the vibe of that era).

 

[Lewguitar]

Social isolation getting to ya? It sure is for me! Way too much time on my hands.

 

[PFDarkside]

Social isolation getting to ya? It sure is for me! Way too much time on my hands.

Combination of that along with sitting on way too many conference calls!

I could easily make a 1957 style with a maple neck/surfers, etc. but I’ve got enough vintage style Stratocasters. Just looking for something fun.

 

[PFDarkside]

Going back and looking at what these players were actually playing this is what they were doing... 50’s style with maple neck, chrome hardware, a lot of red bodies and “modern” pickups like Lace Sensor or EMG.

I may still be chasing the black hardware look though.

 

[Masta' C]

Black hardware definitely!

A little too "classic" with the chrome/nickel

 

[PFDarkside]

Black hardware definitely!

A little too "classic" with the chrome/nickel

Yes, but which fingerboard, pickup and control colors?

 

[Mincer]

3 was my favorite. I love the green w/ black. Looks more 80s to me.

 

[PFDarkside]

Narrowing down... I’m liking the dark fretboard and black hardware. Black knobs and pickups are a good look.

 

[Masta' C]

That's my pick out of all of them, as well! Nice!!!

 

[jeremy]

yaasss! i like that. dark with hss

 

[PFDarkside]

I think HSS is appropriate for the era too.

 

[Mincer]

I'd also like just volume + master tone.

 

[jeremy]

yes and no. depends on what the pups are. i might want a different value for the singles vs the bucker

 

[Metalman_666]

Narrowing down... I’m liking the dark fretboard and black hardware. Black knobs and pickups are a good look.

This one is win. You have chosen wisely.

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

 

[dystrust]

It's not a Strat, but I ended up with a similar aesthetic for my Tele:

It all started because the only set of tuners I had that would fit the neck were a black set of Jackson-branded Gotoh SG38s from a Charvel model series.

MIM Blacktop Tele neck
MIM Standard body, Lake Placid Blue
Vintage Charvel/DiMarzio/MightyMite Andy Summers-style bridge
Hot Stack for Tele & SM-1n Vintage Mini Humbucker w/ 500K pots

 

[PFDarkside]

That’s a cool pickup combo. I’ve always wondered if the CS could do a SM-1n in black.

 

[dystrust]

That’s a cool pickup combo. I’ve always wondered if the CS could do a SM-1n in black.

I really like it. With the 500K pots it's almost Strat-like, and I can get closer to a PAF sound with the tone rolled off a bit. I've thought about sending mine in to have it converted to 4-conductor wiring so that I can swap to a 4-way switch for a series option as well as a push-pull phase switch.

The bridge pickup is early Zeppelin all day long.

 

[PFDarkside]

I think I’ve got three ideas for pickup sets.

1. Active: EMG 89/SA/SA maybe with an SPC and PI2 for boost and phase. Kind of 80’s Lukather inspired.

2. Classic: JB/SSL-1/SSL-1 or SSL-5, very fitting of the era. Might do Classic Stack Plus equivalents for noise canceling.

3. Rails: Either JB/Custom/Hybrid with Vintage Rails/Hot Rails neck. Is there a “rails” bridge other than a Dimebucker that would look right with the smaller rails and still give classic tones?

I’m wondering if extra functions should be on push/pull pots or mini switches. Mini switches are of the era, but might be just too cluttered with the pearl and black.

 

[Snake Aces]

Combination of that along with sitting on way too many conference calls!

I could easily make a 1957 style with a maple neck/surfers, etc. but I’ve got enough vintage style Stratocasters. Just looking for something fun.

I hate conference calls. Especially when only 10 minutes of the 60 minute call is relevant to me or my tasks. It is even worse when the client insists on video conference calls.