So I drew up some Strat Specs....

[Gunny47]

Okay dudes, I have a ton of cash saved up from working for a long time and over the summer and I need to get some GEAR!! heheh Now, I am debating between a bunch of different things and hopefully I will settle on one of them soon enough. They include a red VOS SG Standard w/ the standard stopbar (NO maestro) or a SG '61 Reissue, a vintage sunburst ES-335 Fat Neck, a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue, Dr. Z Route 66 or a different amp. I am leaning towards the guitar, being that my last big gear purchase was an amp and that I just sorta want a guitar more. Then again I want a smaller amp that I can still gig with and still has some decent headroom, so I am really not sure yet. The problem is if I get the amp, it will take forever to get a guitar afterwards and if I get the guitar first it will mean less waiting for the amp (if that makes sense, it does in my world, being that the guitars cost more).

The other guitar option that I did not mention above is a stratocaster. I am definitely leaning towards the SG or ES-335 over the strat, but the strat will give me a larger departure in tone from my LP compared to the others. So it is a serious consideration and today, I came up with a list of specs that I am considering if I were to get a strat built. Please give me your feedback/suggestions and tell me what I am missing. Basically, I am going to send all the parts to RS Guitarworks so they can assemble it, paint it and finish it. Orange = uncertainty

Specs/Parts:
- Warmoth 1 piece Swamp Ash body routed for vintage hardtail and 3 single coils, specified extra light weight body
- Warmoth Pro Neck - Quartersawn Maple with Brazilian Rosewood fretboard, boat neck profile, 6130 Standard Medium Jumbo (gibson style) Nickel Frets, 1-3/4" nut width, Kluson 11/32" tuner holes, compound neck radius
- Bone Nut from WD Music Fender Flat Bottom (fits the neck correctly)
- RS Complete Premium Strat Style Electronics Upgrade Kit (RS Superpots, Jensen PIO cap, 5 way switch, input jack, wiring)
- RS Aged Strat Knobs, RS Aged Strat Switch Tip
- Kluson Aged Fender-style Double Line Tuners (from RS)
- Schaller Strat Locks System
- Callaham Vintage Hardtail Bridge
- Callaham Jack Plate with 2 Stainless Steel Screws
- Callaham Stainless Steel Neck Plate (luster)
- Duncan Antiquity Surfer Neck
- Duncan Antiquity Surfer Neck (same as normal neck but I will put it in the middle position, basically a non RWRP middle pup - I will explain later)
- Duncan Antiquity Surfer Custom Bridge pickup
- Suhr BPSSC Kit in 3 ply white/black/white (the noiseless humcancelling system from John Suhr - it does not work with RWRP middle pickups)
- Callaham Stainless Steel String Ferrules
- Fender USA '62 Mint Green Pickguard
- Fender Vintage Bridge Cover (ashtray cover, just for looks if I want to put it on, I don't expect to use it, I just would like to have it!)
- Callaham Pickguard Shield
- Fender Pickguard Screws
- Fender Strat Hardshell case in Brown with gold plush interior
- Of course, will be set up for 11 or 12 guage strings that I use
- And finally, paint and finish! Fender has out in the custom shop line a 50s relic strat. The color is sonic blue OVER 2 tone sunburst. Basically, it shows how in the 50s that Fender took normal guitars and painted the custom color ordered over them. So it has the sonic blue relic'ed and in spots where the paint is really chipped up, you can see the 2 tone sunburst and then you can see the wood. So I was thinking that same thing, but instead of sonic blue, have it Fiesta Red, which is my favorite strat custom color. But I would like the "roadwarrior" aging which is very very heavy aging, a lot more than the Fender relics. This includes very oxidized and sometimes rusty hardware, tons of paint chips, dulling of the finish scratches, checking, the whole 9 yards... I am not sure what I am going to do for the neck. Maybe a very light finish (not sticky) with some heavy tinting/aging to it so the color is more yellowish.

As you can see I am not sure about a lot of things on this strat, or even if I am going to get it in the first place. It's going to be expensive with the relic'ing and finishing, but it should be my be-all, end-all strat with all the specs I have been dreaming of. I am not sure whether I should request to have an "extra light weight" swamp ash body or just get the normal weight. I am also not sure of the fingerboard radius, which is very important being that I will play slide with it. I am debating between the compound radius which goes from 10" towards the nut to 16" at the 22nd fret (yes, the warmoth pro necks have 22 frets) or a 12" neck radius. And then I am not sure whether I need string ferrules or not. So please, give me some feeback and tell me if I am missing anything. Thanks so much guys!

 

[larry_emder]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

sounds excellent

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

You might consider USACG for the neck and maybe the body. The quality is absolutely top notch and you might save some $. It's obvious from this list that you're planning on dropping some good coin on this anyway, but it might be a good idea to budget a good 200$ or so to get this set up by someone who really knows what they're doing.

Other than that....I think these are all great choices, hard to go wrong. But if it were me personally, I would get modern locking tuners, forgo some of the callaham stuff (neck plate? Does their neck plate system have threaded metal inserts?) and consider noiseless pickups of some sort: kinmans if you want to spend the cash (they are truly spectacular sounding) or lace holy grails.

But yeah: I think a good (or in this case really good) strat is just about the greatest thing in the world, no matter where you stand tonally. You can do so much with it. Of the other instruments though, a 335 is a fantastic guitar, very versatile in a different way.

Now, one thing I might mention.....if you haven't considered a telecaster....maybe you might consider it....once you go tele, everything else sounds like jelly. Yes I am an idiot.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

I would forgo Callaham entirely...never liked how their brigdes sound.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

Also:
Strats don't need ferrules
The ashtray bridge on a strat, is, in my opinion, pure class, but you should talk to the callaham people about how it would fit. Finding an aged one might be hard too, I've only seen new ones.

As far as the extra light weight body - do you mean the chambered one? I think that would be a step away from authenticity. Might sound great but if you're going vintage strat all the way you might stick to swamp ash.

Get the strat. Unless the SG you are looking at has p90s, I wouldn't bother. The strat you're talking about is basically the ultimate electric guitar. It will make so many beautiful tones, it will look so good, be so easy to play. Gibson's more affordable SGs are pretty middle of the road in my opinion, although it depends on if you find a good one.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

I would forgo Callaham entirely...never liked how their brigdes sound.

I think it's the best vintage bridge out there, although not, for my purposes, the best strat bridge. It might not be to everyone's taste of course. As far as their other hardware is concerned, yeah, I don't think what they make is too special, saddles as an exception. Anyone who feels compelled to cryogenically treat string trees probably has some seriously unresolved stuff to sort out.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

I'm actually doing the same sort of project you are, or rather, I'm finished but might be making changes, and I think the shiny new unreliced hardware looks really smart on a beat up body. Don't know why. Like a beautiful woman with a tattoo or two, a few premature crows feet from partying a little too much, wearing a grass green sun dress and single pearl earings.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

I was not going to get a chambered body, definitely not, but just request that they look through their swamp ash bodies and find one of the lighter ones (it says on the warmoth site: request "extra light weight" body or whatever you are looking for). Being that I am used to Les Pauls, I am leaning towards the normal woods, not the super light ones. I gotta research the noiseless things more (pickups or the Suhr noiseless unit), but I tried a Surfer loaded strat before and it was easily the best sounding strat ive played. I'm not really new to the strat game, I've been considering one for over a year but decided to go with my Tweed amp instead so it is recurring.

I only put down those extra Callahan parts because that is the only company I really know that specializes and supposedly excells in strat hardware. So please, share your other companies I can use for neck plates, input jack plates, bridges and string trees besides Fender. I might go with them, I gotta hear what other people tell me. I am not a big fan of locking tuners for some reason. I like grovers sometimes, but other than that I would prefer the standard green (on gibbies) or metal (on strats) kluson type tuners. I'll definitely do some more research and check out USACG. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

BTW I agree with the mismatched shiny harware on aged guitar OR aged hardware on shiny guitar (like my R7 is). So I'll look into some non-aged parts as well. Thanks again!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

I think it's the best vintage bridge out there

No it is not....it does not even sound as good as the real thing!!!!!
And it still does not beat Gotoh soundwise!!!
Japanese knows one or two things about metaworks.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

No it is not....it does not even sound as good as the real thing!!!!!
And it still does not beat Gotoh soundwise!!!
Japanese knows one or two things about metaworks.

I was referring more to the overall quality and appearance, but that's a good point. I would be inclined to try some of the wilkinson bridges, I believe they have a vintage-styled 2 point bridge that has really good movement and sound. I have a 6 hole vintage styled one and I think it's great.

 

[cream123]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

no compound neck radius. Unless you are going USACG style - 7-1/4 to 9-1/2

 

[Curly]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

a few questions:

Have you played a strat neck with a 1 3/4" nut?
Have you played one with that nut width and a vintage style bridge?

Have you played a compound radius? Which radius?

Have you played a strat with a swamp ash body and Surfers?

Also:
Strats don't need ferrules

please re-read his original post. it's a hardtail

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

a few questions:

Have you played a strat neck with a 1 3/4" nut?
Have you played one with that nut width and a vintage style bridge?

Have you played a compound radius? Which radius?

Have you played a strat with a swamp ash body and Surfers?




please re-read his original post. it's a hardtail

Well seeing as a strat isn't a strat without a tremolo, and he's looking for a strat, my statement about not needing ferrules stands :naughty::1::28::welcome::14:: private::foot:

 

[Gunny47]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

a few questions:

Have you played a strat neck with a 1 3/4" nut?
Have you played one with that nut width and a vintage style bridge?

Have you played a compound radius? Which radius?

Have you played a strat with a swamp ash body and Surfers?

- No
- No
- No
- No :14:

I have played plenty of strats with 12" fingerboard radii and those have always been some of my favorites. I have played strats with boat necks and those have always been some of my favorites. I have played strats with surfers and those have always been some of my favorites. If I decide to go strat, I think I am going to settle one something much easier to deal with like a Fender reissue (like the American Vintage range - 57 or 62 reissue) with a couple of mods or a Nash clone. More true to vintage anyway. I gotta think this whole thing over some more though, I'm not pulling the trigger anytime soon, I'm just throwin out ideas. Thanks for the suggestions to all!

 

[J Moose]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

Seems like a lotta money to throw at paint...especially when it's gonna be all worn-in and beaten away...

I'm not really sold on the idea of 'relicing' a players instrument anyway. Rusty hardware?! Ever try to adjust that stuff? Plus it's pretty icky to play on... comes off on your skin and stuff... I'm always swapping out rusty hardware!

I think relicing is great idea for trophy guitars that seldom get played...

Rest of it seems groovy though. Hardtail, one piece body... not much to go wrong with there... still, I'd be shopping around for used strats and wait until I found one that resonated with me... has some mojo.

They're all pretty different even though they're the same.

 

[Kivitel]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

If you're considering resale value especially, a good older strat that hits the spot for you, upgraded, might be a wiser investment. Of course finding a hardtail is the challenge there.

 

[alanfc]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

Gunny if I were you I'd print out that list and file it away for now,

and get out in the city and play some Strats! (maybe you already have)

I bet you'll come across one that feels great. And the innerds you can mod later. Maybe you won't need to do that even. (block the trem like I do)

I went out Strat shopping a couple years back , allowing myself a $2000 budget. It was my big time "after all these years I finally deserve a great guitar" Played about 50 of them all over L.A.
Came home with a $439 MIM. (orig.$999 list). I'll be buried with it

Just food for thought

 

[Gunny47]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

Gunny if I were you I'd print out that list and file it away for now,

and get out in the city and play some Strats! (maybe you already have)

I bet you'll come across one that feels great. And the innerds you can mod later. Maybe you won't need to do that even. (block the trem like I do)

I went out Strat shopping a couple years back , allowing myself a $2000 budget. It was my big time "after all these years I finally deserve a great guitar" Played about 50 of them all over L.A.
Came home with a $439 MIM. (orig.$999 list). I'll be buried with it

Just food for thought

A similar thing happened to me last summer. I was going to hit it off with a blue w/ rosewood Deluxe Player's Strat (MIM about $550 or so). And that guitar is totally different from the more anal specs I mentioned above. I never got the guitar becasue it would set me back in saving for my Tweed amp. But there were a few selling points that kept me from getting it anyway. The neck profile (way too thin for my tastes) and the pickups. Vintage Noiseless were okay, but not very desireable for me. But the two main things that I think won me over was the ash body and the 12" fretboard radius, and of course the looks.

So yea, if I decide to go strat, I'll check more out. Another favorite of mine was the '62 American vintage reissue, but it had the same issues as the Fender Deluxe Players, the pickups and the neck profile. It is pretty much a given that if I go with a cheaper Fender model, I would want new pickups. I've also played American Vintage '57 which are great as well, they have that clapton V neck that I like, still a little on the thin side for my tastes. I still have a thing for the ES-335 and I believe it will be better for what I am looking for anyway. I don't particularly like strats as slide guitars, and I'm looking for a guitar I would keep in mainly E flat and Open G. Gotta play some more stuff, think about it more. Thanks again dudes!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: So I drew up some Strat Specs....

I know it might be a debateable issue, but custom built strats don't hit the nail on the head....mostly because the true specs that Fender spent 50 years working on aren't met. They may seem cool, but what you end up with is a good strat that sounds slightly off, and depreciates MASSIVELY once it's yours.

I know that it's a very debateable standpoint, but there's serious strat afficionados that would agree with me....not to mention I've had numerous Fenders, G&L's, and custom strats.

If I were you, I'd direct ALL my attention towards the new Fender Hot Rod 62.
I'm totally blown away by that strat, and even though I own 3, my next 2 guitars will be the 62 Hot Rod strat in Sherwood green and the 52 Hot Rod Tele in butterscotch. Fender hit the nail on the head with those 2.

By the way, the Dr. Z Route 66 is a superb amp...although it'd be nice with reverb. I tried a bunch of Dr. Z's, and the Route 66 is the king of all of them.