Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
- Thread starter The Dali
- Start date
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Man, I love build progression threads. I'm always anxious for the payoff, but love the lead up.
I wonder why Fender doesn't offer fiesta red more often?? It's a color I rarely give thought to, but when you see someone onstage with it, it's hard not to like it.
Man, I love build progression threads. I'm always anxious for the payoff, but love the lead up.
I wonder why Fender doesn't offer fiesta red more often?? It's a color I rarely give thought to, but when you see someone onstage with it, it's hard not to like it.
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Hey man, sweet job, really nice work....
Hey man, sweet job, really nice work....
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Lookin' sweet!
Lookin' sweet!
The Dali
MeltedClockologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Thanks everyone... well, I received the neck and it was not in as good condition as expected. It is a 60's reissue neck (MIM) but it looks like it is 25 years old. That's not to say it is a BAD thing, since my body is a bit relic'd, but when I bought it the seller indicated that it was in "very good" condition. The pictures were taken from 4 or 5 feet away, so many of the issues were not apparent (very dirty fretboard, a few places where the low E string "indented" the wood, an impression on the headstock and on the side of the 4th fret, etc...).
I have a note into the seller for a possible "deal"... anyway, i think the neck will work for the project, but the original MIM/Squier neck is actually in better condition than this one, but given that I wanted to get something with the trussrod at the heel and not pay $300+ dollars, I'll have to live with it. Hopefully I can set her up successfully.
Ok, so I'm going to try to remove the mutiple copper tabs to remove the circuit issue and then mount the tuners on the neck prior to actually mounting the neck. I also need to review my pickguard wiring, as I tested it out and I'm not really happy with the Sprague Cap (or my wiring of the tone controls).
More to come.
Thanks everyone... well, I received the neck and it was not in as good condition as expected. It is a 60's reissue neck (MIM) but it looks like it is 25 years old. That's not to say it is a BAD thing, since my body is a bit relic'd, but when I bought it the seller indicated that it was in "very good" condition. The pictures were taken from 4 or 5 feet away, so many of the issues were not apparent (very dirty fretboard, a few places where the low E string "indented" the wood, an impression on the headstock and on the side of the 4th fret, etc...).
I have a note into the seller for a possible "deal"... anyway, i think the neck will work for the project, but the original MIM/Squier neck is actually in better condition than this one, but given that I wanted to get something with the trussrod at the heel and not pay $300+ dollars, I'll have to live with it. Hopefully I can set her up successfully.
Ok, so I'm going to try to remove the mutiple copper tabs to remove the circuit issue and then mount the tuners on the neck prior to actually mounting the neck. I also need to review my pickguard wiring, as I tested it out and I'm not really happy with the Sprague Cap (or my wiring of the tone controls).
More to come.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Just a suggestion if you can't get your foil shielding to work properly. I always use the Callaham aluminum pickguard shield on my single coil strats. It has always made them very quite in my experience and is quite a bit easier than using the shielding tape. I tried to use the tape on a project years ago and just couldn't get it to work.
The callaham guard is $18 I think, but someone posted a link with another aluminum guard that was $8-$10. I think it was from Guitar Fetish.
At any rate, just a suggestion and the project looks really great so far. Great work.
Just a suggestion if you can't get your foil shielding to work properly. I always use the Callaham aluminum pickguard shield on my single coil strats. It has always made them very quite in my experience and is quite a bit easier than using the shielding tape. I tried to use the tape on a project years ago and just couldn't get it to work.
The callaham guard is $18 I think, but someone posted a link with another aluminum guard that was $8-$10. I think it was from Guitar Fetish.
At any rate, just a suggestion and the project looks really great so far. Great work.
The Dali
MeltedClockologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
I heard back from the seller - what a great guy! He refunded me a little for the miscommunication. Really well handled on his end.
Ok, back to business. I do have a full pickguard shield, would that do any more than the foil that is already on the pickguard? The guard has foil on the underside covering the pickups and electronics.
I heard back from the seller - what a great guy! He refunded me a little for the miscommunication. Really well handled on his end.
Ok, back to business. I do have a full pickguard shield, would that do any more than the foil that is already on the pickguard? The guard has foil on the underside covering the pickups and electronics.
The Dali
MeltedClockologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Well, I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that I got the metal bushings in the the tuner holes of the new neck and successfully installed the tuners.
The bad news is that during the process the tuner bushings were very "stubborn" and didn't want to press into the holes. Many of you probably have fought with these bushings//errels in the past and know how difficult they can be to install. Anyway... when I finally did get them in a few of them slowly crept "out" of the holes after I set them. Not sure why, but I'm assuming the pressure of the wood pushed them bushing up and out of the hole. I figure I had not "set" them deeply-enough.
So... using a "C" clamp, I applied a little more pressure to each bushing. The first three set themselves. As I was doing the same to the 4th hole (the G string) I hear a little "snap" sound and looked down to see a very small hairline crack that had appeared between the 3 and 4 (D and G strings) tuners. The crack is like a line fromthe middle of one tuner to the middle of the next.
CRAP!
Ok, so, it was fairly small - must have only been through the lacquer, right? With a little trepidation I set the 5th tuner (B string).
I heard the familiar "PING!" and look to see another crack between the 4th and 5th tuner hole.
BAH!
Ok, what the hell - I set the 6th tuner as well. This one went in without issue.
I'll get a picture up tonight. It was late last night when this happened. The cracks are definitely in the wood, not just lacquer. The cracks do NOT show up in the inside of the tuner holes, and certainly don't go to the back of the headstock. I would say they are surface cracks, but I wonder how they will react once I string up the guitar? Will the cracks get worse? Will they stay the same? Will the neck burst into flames?
UGGGG!!!!!!
Well, I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that I got the metal bushings in the the tuner holes of the new neck and successfully installed the tuners.
The bad news is that during the process the tuner bushings were very "stubborn" and didn't want to press into the holes. Many of you probably have fought with these bushings//errels in the past and know how difficult they can be to install. Anyway... when I finally did get them in a few of them slowly crept "out" of the holes after I set them. Not sure why, but I'm assuming the pressure of the wood pushed them bushing up and out of the hole. I figure I had not "set" them deeply-enough.
So... using a "C" clamp, I applied a little more pressure to each bushing. The first three set themselves. As I was doing the same to the 4th hole (the G string) I hear a little "snap" sound and looked down to see a very small hairline crack that had appeared between the 3 and 4 (D and G strings) tuners. The crack is like a line fromthe middle of one tuner to the middle of the next.
CRAP!
Ok, so, it was fairly small - must have only been through the lacquer, right? With a little trepidation I set the 5th tuner (B string).
I heard the familiar "PING!" and look to see another crack between the 4th and 5th tuner hole.
BAH!
Ok, what the hell - I set the 6th tuner as well. This one went in without issue.
I'll get a picture up tonight. It was late last night when this happened. The cracks are definitely in the wood, not just lacquer. The cracks do NOT show up in the inside of the tuner holes, and certainly don't go to the back of the headstock. I would say they are surface cracks, but I wonder how they will react once I string up the guitar? Will the cracks get worse? Will they stay the same? Will the neck burst into flames?
UGGGG!!!!!!
The Dali
MeltedClockologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Ok, did some more work on the strat. The tuner bushings held overnight, and I didn't see any additional spreading of the cracks. I decided to add a little tightbond to the cracks to see if it would fill up some of the crack and add stability.
As you can see, the cracks don't go through...
I think the Titebond got into most of the crack...
Ok, did some more work on the strat. The tuner bushings held overnight, and I didn't see any additional spreading of the cracks. I decided to add a little tightbond to the cracks to see if it would fill up some of the crack and add stability.
As you can see, the cracks don't go through...
I think the Titebond got into most of the crack...
The Dali
MeltedClockologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
While the glue was setting, I scraped up the excess shielding in the cavity, as suggested above.
I cleaned up the wiring, and switched out the cap. In addition, I also grounded a tone pot to the shielding tape to complete the circuit.
I let the glue set for a good few hours and then pieced her back together. I strung up the top three strings first to test out the electronics. Perfect. DEAD SILENT.
I finished stringing her and re-checked the crack. So far, so good.
Ok, so I tuned up and rocked out for a while. Sounds great!!!! The mid and neck are awesome. The bridge is a little thin on the settings I used, but I think it was probably because I was keeping the volume low (kids sleeping, you know?).
While the glue was setting, I scraped up the excess shielding in the cavity, as suggested above.
I cleaned up the wiring, and switched out the cap. In addition, I also grounded a tone pot to the shielding tape to complete the circuit.
I let the glue set for a good few hours and then pieced her back together. I strung up the top three strings first to test out the electronics. Perfect. DEAD SILENT.
I finished stringing her and re-checked the crack. So far, so good.
Ok, so I tuned up and rocked out for a while. Sounds great!!!! The mid and neck are awesome. The bridge is a little thin on the settings I used, but I think it was probably because I was keeping the volume low (kids sleeping, you know?).
The Dali
MeltedClockologist
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
The stress cracks appeared stable this morning. I need to do some more small stuff to the guitar... I need to drill new pickguard holes (the holes didn't line up - as expected) and attach the backplate. The guitar also needs a setup. I'll bring to my luthier this week for a general setup. While he's at it, I'll have him double-check the crack to make sure there are no issues going forward.
The guitar looks awesome - killer "vintage" vibe! It is amazing, the pictures I've posted here make the body look mint, but it is far from mint condition. I guess red is hard to accurately photograph.
The stress cracks appeared stable this morning. I need to do some more small stuff to the guitar... I need to drill new pickguard holes (the holes didn't line up - as expected) and attach the backplate. The guitar also needs a setup. I'll bring to my luthier this week for a general setup. While he's at it, I'll have him double-check the crack to make sure there are no issues going forward.
The guitar looks awesome - killer "vintage" vibe! It is amazing, the pictures I've posted here make the body look mint, but it is far from mint condition. I guess red is hard to accurately photograph.
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
looks good! good job!
looks good! good job!
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
Looks killer, man! Congrats!
Looks killer, man! Congrats!
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
looks nice!
Just a tip, next time you have tuner bushing issues:
You shouldn't really have to use much force at all to get the bushings into the mounting holes. If it doesn't fit snugly with just pushing it in by hand, then get a reamer or some sandpaper or a round file, and spend some time making sure the mounting holes will accept the bushings snugly without much of a fight. It's a lot less stress that way - on you and on the headstock/finish!
looks nice!
Just a tip, next time you have tuner bushing issues:
You shouldn't really have to use much force at all to get the bushings into the mounting holes. If it doesn't fit snugly with just pushing it in by hand, then get a reamer or some sandpaper or a round file, and spend some time making sure the mounting holes will accept the bushings snugly without much of a fight. It's a lot less stress that way - on you and on the headstock/finish!
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
It'll be sweeeet. I love red Strats.
Candy Apple (metallic), Dakota, and Fiesta Reds. Not sure which of the latter two yours is. Not sure whether Knopfler's was Feista or Dakota. Also, what we see as Fiesta Red today is a tomato soup-like color that is partly due to yellowing of the top coat. But some custom-colored Fenders never received the top coat, and they are much closer to the original Fiesta Red (not as tomato soupy). And when Fender paints an instrument Fiesta Red nowadays, it is usually the aged-like tomato soup color straight from the factory, not the true original Fiesta Red as it first appeared. So, yours may be pretty close to what Fiesta Red actually looked like from the factory back in the '50's and '60's. Or it may just be Dakota Red. And red is very difficult to photograph accurately, making it even harder to tell.
My preference is for Dakota, which is more of a fire engine red than Fiesta. Here is my Dakota Red transitional '59 (refin, non-original neck):
Due to the light, it looks a bit brighter than it really is. And it's a refin, so I really just call it Dakota because that is what it is closest to; it isn't a true Fender Dakota Red. I'll eventually strip it and refinish it in Dakota over three-color sunburst with no top coat.
It'll be sweeeet. I love red Strats.
Candy Apple (metallic), Dakota, and Fiesta Reds. Not sure which of the latter two yours is. Not sure whether Knopfler's was Feista or Dakota. Also, what we see as Fiesta Red today is a tomato soup-like color that is partly due to yellowing of the top coat. But some custom-colored Fenders never received the top coat, and they are much closer to the original Fiesta Red (not as tomato soupy). And when Fender paints an instrument Fiesta Red nowadays, it is usually the aged-like tomato soup color straight from the factory, not the true original Fiesta Red as it first appeared. So, yours may be pretty close to what Fiesta Red actually looked like from the factory back in the '50's and '60's. Or it may just be Dakota Red. And red is very difficult to photograph accurately, making it even harder to tell.
My preference is for Dakota, which is more of a fire engine red than Fiesta. Here is my Dakota Red transitional '59 (refin, non-original neck):
Due to the light, it looks a bit brighter than it really is. And it's a refin, so I really just call it Dakota because that is what it is closest to; it isn't a true Fender Dakota Red. I'll eventually strip it and refinish it in Dakota over three-color sunburst with no top coat.
Last edited:
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread
i remember this thread.
i remember this thread.
