NGD

[Lazarus1140]

No pics yet.

I have searched unsuccessfully for many months for a Tele worthy to replace the dearly departed one in my avatar. I may have given up.

Last night I was at a GC in Arlington and found a Strat I bonded with immediately. The neck was comfortable, the action was almost perfect, and most importantly the Alder was alive. It breathes. It vibrates. It sings.

It is a Fender USA Satin Series.

Let the modifications begin! The hardware looks kindy cheesy and the pickups are uninspiring. In any case, I must have a 'Lil 59 in the bridge.

It looks exactly like this.

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD

Outstanding guitar. I love the warmth of the brown bursts (tobacco, honey, etc.). I look forward to hearing what you do with it.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NGD

Congrats on the new guitar! I looked at those, for the price they are an awesome deal!

Just curious, why do you think the hardware looks cheesy? What are you going to do to change that?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: NGD

That's cool; congratulations. I wasn't aware of that line of guitars. I guess that's a Highway One Series equivalent.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: NGD

Congrats! That's a nice looking axe. KMCguitars (from this forum-RIP) had one similar to that in color.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: NGD

Very nice, that should be a great guitar for Fender.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: NGD

They have a P-Bass too. Yummy. Put a black guard on it, spray a nice thin gloss coat that wears off easily...put an old-style decal on it and bridge cover. Mmmmm.

 

[DarkMatter]

Re: NGD

Isn't it great to pick up a guitar and know within minutes that you'll be great together.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: NGD

The satin finish lets the wood breathe, which gives it a much more resonant and alive sound than the ones caked in poly.

If it were mine, the only thing I'd do is install Surfers with the Eric Johnson wiring scheme.

 

[Liam1963]

Re: NGD

Nice!

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NGD

Just curious, why do you think the hardware looks cheesy? What are you going to do to change that?

It has the look of Chinese chrome. I don't like the feel of Fender's screw in trem arms so the first thing I'll probably do is drop in a vintage style Wilkinson bridge if the mounting bolt pattern is close enough. Also, since I use a moderate amount of trem I prefer locking tuners. I'm not sure about the pickups, but they sound weak. It could be that it is strung with 9s.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NGD

The satin finish lets the wood breathe, which gives it a much more resonant and alive sound than the ones caked in poly.

It is really obvious on this one. The resonance is organic ... maybe even orgasmic.

If it were mine, the only thing I'd do is install Surfers with the Eric Johnson wiring scheme.

[/QUOTE]

I'm not familiar with that but will definitely check it out. As it is, I use a wiring scheme that I really like that involes auto split of the bridge humbucker or mini-humbucker and no tone control on the center pup.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NGD

Put a black guard on it ....

I am considering a different pickguard, but have to decide if I want to change the hardware finish as well. I don't know. Simple pictures are best.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NGD

That's cool; congratulations. I wasn't aware of that line of guitars. I guess that's a Highway One Series equivalent.

I'm not sure anything can measure up to a HWY 1 equivalent. Those were finished in Mexico (probably dues to the nitro finish and our EPA regulations), and then they were assembled in the US.

This one strictly says made in the US and I guess the oil finish or whatever makes that possible. I believe it lands at or near a MIM pricepoint due to the hardware package. That is only my unsubstantiated opinion. It feels right and sounds good, albeit a bit anemic, so it is a great platform for modification. As it is, it is better than my Yamaha Pac 604 that I have been using for almost a year.

 

[Van Noord]

Re: NGD

Very cool! Many similar features as my new Lonestar Deluxe. Main differences being pickups, fret size and body finish.

Being a lower cost USA model...did this replace the HWY1 series? (Large headstock, jumbo frets, satin finish..)

Any thoughts on saddle upgrades? Or tuners?

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NGD

Very cool! Many similar features as my new Lonestar Deluxe. Main differences being pickups, fret size and body finish.

Being a lower cost USA model...did this replace the HWY1 series? (Large headstock, jumbo frets, satin finish..)

Any thoughts on saddle upgrades? Or tuners?

I may want to try something new for the bridge. Somebody posted something about one I hadn't seen or read about before. Hopefully I saved the link. For tuners I have always used Sperzels, but I've never followed through on the need to make a template for laying out the pin holes. It's a pain. Anyway, it's not easy to thread a fat E string through their posts, so I'm probably up for trying something new there as well.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: NGD

Yo Yo..you jammin' like Romo ,Playa!

 

[Kac]

Re: NGD

that thing is beautiful! I want a nitro satin strat for my next one....

 

[ex-250]

Re: NGD

I love the finish on these, always fiddle with one when I hit a GC.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: NGD

Schweet!