JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
MIM Strat weight reduction
- Thread starter JB_From_Hell
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
I can understand wanting to weight relieve a Strat, as they can get quite heavy (they usually have at least a pound on them in hardware weight alone). But a swimming pool rout won't do much.
Lightweight tuners and an aluminum vibrato block are the fastest and easiest ways to get some bolt-on weight reduction.
There isn't a lot of meat that you can carve out of a Strat. There are too many things in the way: vibrato cavity, belly cut, forearm contour, a relatively complex and spread out control/pickup cavity. And you can't just plane a quarter inch off the back like you can on a Tele for an approx. 1/7th weight reduction.
If it comes to carving, your best bet is to rout/drill/saw some circle plugs out of the lower horn area under the guard. But even then, you're not talking about a ton of weight removal.
I can understand wanting to weight relieve a Strat, as they can get quite heavy (they usually have at least a pound on them in hardware weight alone). But a swimming pool rout won't do much.
Lightweight tuners and an aluminum vibrato block are the fastest and easiest ways to get some bolt-on weight reduction.
There isn't a lot of meat that you can carve out of a Strat. There are too many things in the way: vibrato cavity, belly cut, forearm contour, a relatively complex and spread out control/pickup cavity. And you can't just plane a quarter inch off the back like you can on a Tele for an approx. 1/7th weight reduction.
If it comes to carving, your best bet is to rout/drill/saw some circle plugs out of the lower horn area under the guard. But even then, you're not talking about a ton of weight removal.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
Done “routing.”
Gonna throw it back together for now so it’s playable to try the new bridge pickup when I get home. When I go to do whatever refinish I decide on, I’ll use my Dremel to clean up the cavity.
In hindsight, in addition to more pictures, I should’ve weighed it beforehand.
Done “routing.”
Gonna throw it back together for now so it’s playable to try the new bridge pickup when I get home. When I go to do whatever refinish I decide on, I’ll use my Dremel to clean up the cavity.
In hindsight, in addition to more pictures, I should’ve weighed it beforehand.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
Having second thoughts on staining it... might just do a bunch of tung oil.
Before:
Having second thoughts on staining it... might just do a bunch of tung oil.
Before:
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
That does look nice.
I’m gonna play it as is for awhile, and see what jumps out at me when I’m not obsessing over it.
That does look nice.
I’m gonna play it as is for awhile, and see what jumps out at me when I’m not obsessing over it.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
No chisels at work, but I did sharpen the screwdriver first
No chisels at work, but I did sharpen the screwdriver first
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
Neither!
I scraped it off with the knife in the picture. Really, it was more like prying and breaking it off. The paint was so thick I used a chunk of it as a pick for a second.
Neither!
I scraped it off with the knife in the picture. Really, it was more like prying and breaking it off. The paint was so thick I used a chunk of it as a pick for a second.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
So, after all that, I got home and went to swap in the Custom Custom. It arrived as a C5, but I swapped it with no issues. The pickup had been drilled for direct mount, so I figured no problem, I’ll use the outer two holes, since it’s a trembucker, and since the pickguard already had two holes on one side.
Turns out, Duncan’s mounting holes are spaced significantly closer than Fender’s. But that doesn’t matter, since neither the Fender pickup’s screws nor the slot-head Duncan screws included with the pickup will thread into the holes.
None of these things are a huge deal, as I’ll hit the local hardware store tomorrow and be on my way for under a dollar, but man, what a bummer.
So, after all that, I got home and went to swap in the Custom Custom. It arrived as a C5, but I swapped it with no issues. The pickup had been drilled for direct mount, so I figured no problem, I’ll use the outer two holes, since it’s a trembucker, and since the pickguard already had two holes on one side.
Turns out, Duncan’s mounting holes are spaced significantly closer than Fender’s. But that doesn’t matter, since neither the Fender pickup’s screws nor the slot-head Duncan screws included with the pickup will thread into the holes.
None of these things are a huge deal, as I’ll hit the local hardware store tomorrow and be on my way for under a dollar, but man, what a bummer.
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
That is true. I think Carvin's don't line up with Fenders, either.
That is true. I think Carvin's don't line up with Fenders, either.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
Interesting, Veneer for the transparent/translucent finishes?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: MIM Strat weight reduction
I read that they're all built like that now, would assume for the reason you stated. Regardless, I'm pleasantly surprised by what was hiding under the 3 lbs of plastic I chipped off.
I read that they're all built like that now, would assume for the reason you stated. Regardless, I'm pleasantly surprised by what was hiding under the 3 lbs of plastic I chipped off.
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