Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

[Diminished Triad]

I'm designing a Warmoth strat kit and selecting wood for the guitar body, front laminate, neck and fretboard. Could you give me recommended combinations if I intend to use either/both the Alnico II Pro Staggered APS-1 and Vintage Staggered SSL-1 SD pickups?

Thanks so much!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Based on the 70's Strats I've played, you should ask them for the heaviest, most tone-dead piece of wood they have.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

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[LReese]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

They're known for Ash (Not Swamp Ash, the heavier Ash). I do have a '75 that's Alder and of normal weight range (Hardtail slightly under 7lb).

If you want the '70s sound, best to talk to the SD custom shop. SSL/APS might not be close enough for you. I'm presently using Antiquity Surfers in mine - all 3 the same direction/polarity because the stock pickups are SO shrill. Could also go for Fender CS 69, but I have not tried those pickups - supposed to be more of the late 60s/Early 70s sound.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Weak wound A5 pickups needed too.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

You better focus on some different pickups and put less focus on the wood. Different wire type, and outputs compared to earlier 50s and 60s type strat pups. Very different sound.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Ironically, mid to late Seventies Fender "boat anchor" guitar bodies were usually made of a wood species called Light Ash.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Based on the 70's Strats I've played, you should ask them for the heaviest, most tone-dead piece of wood they have.

Do not forget 1/4" thick plastic finish.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

I purchased a strat in '77 and have not found a replica or re-issue. Probably not a great year for strats?
In any event, really enjoyed the sound of that time but can't find my strat, and wondering what pickups and guitar body types (wood) were most prevalent at the time. I know it was a maple neck and fingerboard............burst......tortoise pickguard.......white knobs......3 white single coils. In '77............was there much choice? Summer of '77.....what a time for jamming! Would like to replicate that guitar since they do not make '77 model strats it appears.....and as suggested....would like to focus on both the pickups and wood selection. Thanks!

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocaster/classic-series-70s-stratocaster/

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Yep. Heavy ash.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Yep. Heavy ash.

I'll ask for heavy ash.......the menu usually only includes swamp ash. Doesn't hurt to ask!

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Specs on a 70's strat are also the three bolt neck pocket with adjustable neck angle. The three bolt neck is not the best for sustain and heavy woods were thought to improve sustain back then. The question is do you want to just replicate a 70's strat spec wise or do you want to build a good sounding and playing guitar? Many of these 70's specs can be tone killers.

A 70's strat can sound good. A buddy of mine had like a 79 or 78 hard tail that sounded pretty good. He used it all the time even though he had a Les Paul and a San Dimas Charvel. I don't remember it being heavy. It was actually rather light weight. It may have actually been alder but if not it was light weight ash. Ash varies considerably from body to body. I had a 70s Tele that weighed 12lbs and it sounded terrible. I now have a swamp ash strat of medium weight that sounds absolutely amazing. Avoid putting on a thick poly finish if you do an ash body and try not to get it too heavy. Medium weight is probably better.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

If you go with heavy ash don't mix in SS frets. If you go with SS frets use swamp ash. You need to balance things against each other.

Use a four bolt neck pocket. Why replicate a bad idea?

Use a 50's or 60s style vintage trem, not the 70's cast unit. Why replicate another bad idea?

 

[LReese]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

I personally don't see any reason not to do SS. There's no practical way to do an A/B test, but I really can't tell a negative tonal change after 2 stainless refrets and 1 EVO refret, as well as owning 4 Suhrs with Stainless frets.

I see the point on the 3 bolt pocket and the trem. However if the pocket is cut tight, 3 bolts is good enough. I recall that Teles always had the 4 bolt neck except for the Deluxe. Strats did not get the 3 bolt neck join until about '73, as well as the cast bridge. Four bolt and vintage bridge can be vintage correct if you're going for a pre-73.

I might be a little off on dates.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Specs on a 70's strat are also the three bolt neck pocket with adjustable neck angle.

Yup, they certainly had an 'adjustable neck angle' alright. I lost count of the number of times i found one of my outer 'E' strings hanging off the side of the fretboard during gigs, and had to wrench the neck back into line to get the strings back over the fretboard.

I owned four 70s Strats during the '70s, and they were rubbish. Too heavy, necks too big and not tight, and the worst pickups ever (they only found favour with disco and funk styles). don't forget that neck-tilt system is going to help lose some tone, too. Also wonderfully craptastic tuners.

The best design concept for a 70s Strat is to use Strat sensibilities from other eras but keep only the '70s cosmetic features. The Tokai SilverStar Strat replicas do that (they feel and sound like '60s instruments but are cosmetically '70s) ... I know because I have one, and it is far superior to any of the originals i owned back in the day.

 

[LReese]

Re: Preferred wood for 70's strat sound?

Lets not discourage - Everyone must experience the CBS'ness of the 70s.

My '75 is not a bad instrument at all, once all the 'features' were worked out of it. Still have a frozen neck adjust screw to deal with, but its not hurting anything. Worst scare was finding out the truss rod was fused to the Truss rod nut -and- not well fused to the anchor (fortunately).

I actually found that neck to be more of a toothpick. Feels much better with piggy frets on it.