N(ma)GD

[Chris of Arabia]

That being a New (modified already) Guitar Day...



Another addition to the collection. This time a Fender 'Classic Player' 50's Stratocaster, with a few modifications made in the right-hand image. The changes are relatively few, just a change to a gold anodised aluminium scratchplate, a Wilkinson VS50MkII tremelo bridge and a roller string-tree. Things like pickup swaps (SSL-5/6, SSL-1/2) and shielding will come later. It still needs to be fully set-up to take account of the VS50MkII, but so far, I'm liking what I see and hear.

 

[Grenade]

Re: N(ma)GD

Happy NMAGD. I've always wanted a Gold Top. I think you just changed my mind.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: N(ma)GD

Happy NMAGD. I've always wanted a Gold Top. I think you just changed my mind.

I was very tempted to put "Gold Top" in the title, but thought better of it. The body colour is 'Shoreline Gold' BTW...

 

[LReese]

Re: N(ma)GD

I'm a sucker for a pretty Stratocaster. Congrats!!!

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: N(ma)GD

What don't you like about the pickups in it? Fender puts custom shop pickups in their Classic Player series....

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: N(ma)GD

What don't you like about the pickups in it? Fender puts custom shop pickups in their Classic Player series....

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: N(ma)GD

If I'm honest, I'm not that desperate to swap out the pups, especially not the neck/middle. The bridge could use a little bit more output though, but not so much that I'd want to go with rails, stacked or mini hums. I'll give it plenty more air-time as it is before swapping anything out.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: N(ma)GD

Gorgeous!

 

[d1dsj]

Re: N(ma)GD

That's a real beautiful looking guitar, it was nice before but with the anodised plate it looks cool and classy. I've been trying for ages to get a gold anodised plate for my G&L but to no avail. I may swap some pick ups out in the near future, if I do I may have either an SSL5 or a Surfer custom bridge... if you're interested just let me know and I'll be in touch if I do it.

 

[Will S-T]

Re: N(ma)GD

A boost pedal is a strat's best friend.
Learn to live with her and she will deliver.
Absolutely beautiful guitar BTW!

 

[cohara41]

Re: N(ma)GD

Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[elscorcho]

Re: N(ma)GD

That gold-on-gold is classy!
Congrats on the NMAGD!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: N(ma)GD

Very nice indeed!

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: N(ma)GD

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: N(ma)GD

Well I've just been getting the trem set up with a set of 10-46 gauge strings (from 9's), and it's looking pretty good so far, but I'll need to drop the neck off it to get at the truss rod to set the relief up. That's pretty much the only feature I don't like about the 'Classic Player' series - sometimes they are just a little too historically accurate.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: N(ma)GD

That's a real beautiful looking guitar, it was nice before but with the anodised plate it looks cool and classy. I've been trying for ages to get a gold anodised plate for my G&L but to no avail. I may swap some pick ups out in the near future, if I do I may have either an SSL5 or a Surfer custom bridge... if you're interested just let me know and I'll be in touch if I do it.

It does look even better in person. The light when I was shooting was awful and then I was processing the image with the 'Elements' version of Photoshop rather than the CS5 I usually use - they are set up rather differently.

I'd certainly be interested in the SSL-5 if you do the swap, so let me know whenever/if you're ready.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: N(ma)GD

It does look even better in person. The light when I was shooting was awful and then I was processing the image with the 'Elements' version of Photoshop rather than the CS5 I usually use - they are set up rather differently.

I'd certainly be interested in the SSL-5 if you do the swap, so let me know whenever/if you're ready.

Will do Chris.

 

[Grenade]

Re: N(ma)GD

Fenders builder doesn't get close to that color. But I still want one.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: N(ma)GD

OK, all done and setup to my tastes again. Oh, I forgot to mention I'd put straplocks on it too whilst I was doing the other mods.

Whilst I think about it, it's perhaps worth mentioning a couple of small issues with the quality of the workmanship done on this guitar, and also the 'Baja' I've been swapping a few parts out on too. It's only little things, but ones that could so easily be sorted out by Fender. I noticed quite a few scratchplate screw heads had been left with sharp edges on them where you could cut your hand if you weren't careful - easy enough fix, but not what you expect with 'Custom Shop' being stamped on them, as well as a Master Builder's name being associated with them. Also, there were no felt washers beneath the strap buttons, so they are tightened directly onto the paintwork - again, a minor point and easy to rectify.

What I noticed with the 'Baja' is probably also fairly minor, but requires a bit more work to rectify. I'm in the process of replacing the standard bridge with one of the Wilkinson versions with the compensated saddles on them, as well as also swapping in the BK Blackguard bridge pup I got off Kam. I thought that I'd flip the control plate round 180 degrees whilst I was at it, as I'd have the soldering iron out anyway. Unfortunately, whoever fitted it, didn't put it on square, and you can't get it to align with the existing screw holes without re-drilling (the pot gets in the way, where the switch is that much narrower), unless you also do the scratchplate at the same time, and presumably re-drill most of the screw holes for that too. Like I say, easy enough to fix, but it does make you wonder about the attention to detail being paid to the assembly of the guitars, because otherwise they do play really well.