New (first) build: Birch body strat.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

It needs a buffer!

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

It needs a buffer!

? What?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

Joke...

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

Joke...

So I figured. Just didn't get it ...

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

I stringed it up todays ago and made sure all works correctly. It plays really well acoustically. More sustain than neither of my other strats.

56 mm wide bridge is stupid. It's perfectly centered and e strings barely stay on fingerboard.

It'll be next week before I have time to get back on it.

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

Update on the project:

I sold the unfitting Callaham bridge and build one from GFS block and Squier CV plate I had around. Also picked up Boston/SPG saddles to finish that "budget trem" option.

Body has gotten paint. Backside got two smallish runs, but what matters looks nice. Hopefully It'll look that after it cures as well...

 

[SAguitar]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

You are doing a great job!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

Now is the time for a buffer.

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

Now is the time for a buffer.

I still don't get it...

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

So. I've had the body, neck and hardware mostly ready now for months, but got stuck with electronics. Being busy with just about everything else I just didn't have motivation to start planning the wiring.

Well I finally got the plans ready and wired the pickguard today:


Tomorrow I'll fix up the jackplate with master volume and hopefully I'll get it together during weekend and may post first impressions.

 

[Artie]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

I still don't get it...

I think he means one of these:



Nice job, by the way.

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

I think he means one of these:

View attachment 98825

Nice job, by the way.

Ah. buffer indeed

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

So I got it together and tried out:



Still needs couple of knobs as you can see, otherwise it's pretty finished. Neck needs a bit of refinement too, it plays really well up to 14 fret, but gets slight buzz from there. It's not really noticeable when playing, but annoys me anyway.

First run it did sound pretty bright, I opened it up and switched the resistor in tone circuit for 10k: Perfect. It also rendered the dark / bright switch useless, so I still need to open it and add second cap there for darker tones.

Tried it with a band in weekend as well. Single rail in series with Twangbanger sounds brutal: Really articulate and tight, but juicy. Perfectly balanced for old-school metal tones. Twangbanger on it's own as well may be the best hard rock pickup I've yet heard.

Rest of the guitar needs still a bit testing before I can say anything about it.

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

 

[Jacew]

Re: New (first) build: Birch body strat.

I looked up the string buzz problem just now while playing, and realized it wasn't fret buzz... I hadn't adjusted the neck SSL-7 and the stagger was putting magnets uncomfortably close to middle strings. Lowered it down and that's fixed.