Mother of All V Projects

[Dr.Mavashi]

So, I am a strat lifer. and will be getting more H/S(neck) classic fender format strats in the future. But for now I want to get all of the "era" staff out of my system in one piece.

So, I have a "foreign" Kramer striker with a neck exactly like the one here http://reverb.com/item/5204359-kramer-st-100-1980s-black and with Floyd Rose II - i know FR II is shizer, but it will be there for now, then I will switch to one of the better ones. i want to use the the neck and the FR II for the V project.

Body:

Warmoth Rhoads (VR), back routed, Bridge Humbucker/Neck single coil, floyd rose II.


Wood - this will be a rehearsal/practice work horse as I want my strat to carry the gig/recording mileage. Thus, cut-through is the prime goal to hit. I am thinking Maple, however Michael Schenker has amazing cut through for all these years - i know about the whah engaged, but is there a record of what type of wood tends to be most common in his Vs on the top albums ?

For finish, I am thinking "natural" Nuno's Washburn style ...


Pick Ups:

Bridge: Invader or perhaps a custom shop build Invader/Fullshred. Bridge side Invader/Neck side fullshred - to give the invaders punch fullshred's precision and tracking.

Neck - Quarterpounder


Electronics:

Initially just a three way switch, Switchcraft ?


Neck: I am thinking a Blackmore scallop or just 12th fret and on scalloped - not sure yet.

Bridge: - Floyd Rose II - eventually wanna switch to something better, will pre-drilling for FRII effect my options ?

That's about it, comments, advice - much appreciated!

 

[Adieu]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Which era "foreign" Kramer -- ESP Japan Kramer? Or Chibson Kramer?

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Which era "foreign" Kramer -- ESP Japan Kramer? Or Chibson Kramer?

Late 80s Neptune NJ neck plate. Plywood body ...

 

[Adieu]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Late 80s Neptune NJ neck plate. Plywood body ...

Huh. Color me stumped.

No clue who actually made those...plywood doesn't much sound like something ESP Japan would bother with.

it's pre-Gibson-owned Chinese reissues, though. Korean budget model, maybe?

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Yea its a budget model, mainly good for what he is using it for, which by the way sounds like an awesome project. I did something similar before and it turned out great.

Edit:
Check out KNE Guitars, they have some great prices that'll save you some cash toward something else...

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

So .... two questions:

1) if I want a natural finish that looks like Washburns Nuno sigs - what type of the wood it would be for a back routed Rhoads V?
2) Is there a type of wood that Schenker historically prefers?

Yea its a budget model, mainly good for what he is using it for, which by the way sounds like an awesome project. I did something similar before and it turned out great.

Edit:
Check out KNE Guitars, they have some great prices that'll save you some cash toward something else...

Thanks Dude, not sure if they can swing what I am looking for based on what their website is saying in terms of options ....

 

[ChAoZ]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Paduak body wood is what you need IMHO, similar tone to Maple and the wood used in Nuno's favourite

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

I'm not a Schenker expert by any stretch but Mahogany is most likely what the majority of the V's from his hey day were made from. His Medallion V was mahogany. I think that was his first V.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

So this got held up a bit, but I am about to put an order through with Warmoth ...

1) Striker ST 100 Kramer (1989/90 make) to be set into a Warmoth V-R body that has these specs for neck pocket - 25-1/2" Scale Length (Strat® scale)1-3/4" thickness, my understanding this is standard strat specs and that's what Kramer used back in the day, and this should be fine. I am not going for any mounting holes done, so that it can be done specific to the neck by the tech. CORRECT ?


2) This is going to be my practice/rehearse "crunch berry" - cleans are of no importance, it will be through a rig as described in my sig (below). I am looking for a bright, cut through the mix tone, punch and tight lower end (palm mutes), responsive to pick dynamics tone. It will start with Invader in the bridge and eventually will have a custom shot take on Invader/fullshred blend. No middle pick up, a neck single coil - for now it will be a Tex Mex, but eventually would be Quarter Pounder, for a thick and liquid violinish runs. So which wood would you recommend ? Alder, Swamp Ash, Mahagony ?

3) I will be installing Kramer's Floyd Rose II for now, eventually a proper FR. HB in the bridge would be angled mounted and single coil in the neck should be fender. Should the FR II be recessed or angle mounted (I do want to not just dive bomb, but also to bend bridge back) ?

Thank you!

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Bamparu dudes, please help.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Schenker would be playing all mahogany Gibson V's

I'd get a distortion if crunch and cut is what you want.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Schenker would be playing all mahogany Gibson V's

I'd get a distortion if crunch and cut is what you want.

As much as I love Lynch's BFAT tone, not ready for Distortion, I am really Fullshred, Invdader, PATB II spectrum, How will mahogony work vs Swamp ash/adler work?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Did they use a 1 5/8” board width or 1 11/16?
I would have thought the latter?

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Did they use a 1 5/8” board width or 1 11/16?
I would have thought the latter?

25 1/2" Scale
1 3/4" thick body
Strat® Neck Pocket
5/8 deep
3 long
2 3/16 wide.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Mother of All V Projects

25 1/2" Scale
1 3/4" thick body
Strat[emoji768] Neck Pocket
5/8 deep
3 long
2 3/16 wide.

Maybe I didn’t phrase my question correctly.
You said in an earlier post that 1 5/8 was what you thought Fender’s Standard thickness was.
I’m referring to the actual width of the guitar fretboard from low E to High E....in other words the length of the nut. Not the body thickness.
I’m pretty sure the standard medium C neck had a 1 11/16” nut length.
Ive got both a guitar with a 1 5/8” board and it’s really slender.
I’ve also got another guitar with a 1 3/4” board and it’s noticeably wider. They are comfortable enough but unless I’m mistaken they aren’t the norm for a fender neck.
That +/- 1/16” makes quite a difference.

Edit: just reread it...I believe you were in fact talking about body thickness and I misunderstood your comment as fretboard width....
Never mind!!!! Carry on!!!

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Edit: just reread it...I believe you were in fact talking about body thickness and I misunderstood your comment as fretboard width....
Never mind!!!! Carry on!!!

NP, no such thing as too much confirmation.

I think i am actually gonna go with Mahogany, I wanna go with angled humbucker in the bridge and floyd in the angel pocket, will there be any issues with that?

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

NP, no such thing as too much confirmation.

I think i am actually gonna go with Mahogany, I wanna go with angled humbucker in the bridge and floyd in the angel pocket, will there be any issues with that?

I would think that would be fine. If you are going Warmoth on the body, I would just add a note as to what Floyd you’re using or give them a call and ask about compatibility.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

So another question, how would Invader with a metal cover lp style sound in a Mahagony Randy Rhoads V style body, vs alder ?
Thanks.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Would this be worth spending 200 buck on vs keeping the Floyd Rose 2 from 89/90 Import Striker ?

http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...molos/Floyd_Rose_Original_Tremolo_System.html

 

[dystrust]

Re: Mother of All V Projects

Would this be worth spending 200 buck on vs keeping the Floyd Rose 2 from 89/90 Import Striker ?

http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and...molos/Floyd_Rose_Original_Tremolo_System.html

If you don't need an Original Floyd, you can get a Gotoh Floyd from Philadelphia Luthier for $100-120 depending on which color you want. If you need a locking nut (not included with the bridge) they run around $25. I'm not sure about a Floyd II, but the Gotoh is a direct drop-in replacement for an OFR.