Sparkle Project

[Silence Kid]

Seriously ****... I wasn't even drunk and I don't need a new guitar at all. But I do 'need' to store a few pickups I acquired:

Always wanted a Sparkle guitar; been close to talking myself into one of the pink Squier Affinities, but I'd just be parting out a lot of that hardware and I don't really like Affinity necks so... Figure ten years between parts guitar builds isn't bad, why not? Calling it my reward for a recent promotion...

I could go Dick Dale on it and install my Rose Mariposa SSS setup, but more probable I'll stick my Jazzb/Jazzn HH black-guard in... As for necks, I've always loved the Squier Mascis and would love to get my hands on one. Otherwise I'm actually growing to like the Mighty Mite I had on another of my project guitars so I might duplicate success there. Maple would be nice. Also looking to acquire gold hardware

A bit of inspiration for me:

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Sparkle Project

After my recent classic player Strat purchase I've been watching a Vegas Gold version but it's gone through the roof bidding. I also like that Squier Sparkle, but I figured it's mostly junk and if I was going to do it, I'd just get a sparkle body like you.

Have fun building! (What pickups are you going with?)

 

[RorySquier]

Re: Sparkle Project

Those guitars look sparkling! Good luck on your project.



;>)/

 

[LLL]

Re: Sparkle Project

This thread gets 1 million thumbs-up, because paint with big flakes of metal rules.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Sparkle Project

Mmmmm - shiny.....

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Sparkle Project

Nice. I love gold guitars.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

Well my Paypal account indicates progress. I picked up a cheap Kmise neck just to get things going, but I'm still trying to barter for a Mascis or something else in case this is a flop.

Pickups I'm still leaning toward the assembled Jazz bridge/neck set I already have, or maybe a JB/Jazz combo (that I also have a spare of on-hand.) It's a black guard so I might have to get a pearl guard for extra gaudy (or at least parchment.) Parts I still need: Trem springs, neck screws/plate, bridge screws, tuners... Really not much.

This will be my third Strat, after my American Deluxe and $50 cheapo; they're growing on me.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Sparkle Project

thats a fancy looking body! look forward to seeing the finished product

 

[LLL]

Re: Sparkle Project

Don't get the typical, bourgeoise, pickguard-du-jour pearloid white pickguard...

...get a black pickguard. :smokin:

In other words, the general overall color scheme difference (ignore that they're Les Pauls) between this:



and this:

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

I have four pickguards not on guitars right now; all are black So it's likely to have one of those for at least a few minutes while I decide I like it. I can choose between HSS, a couple HH guards, and an SSS.

The neck I'm going with for now is maple, so I'm gauging how the black will look as the sole dark thing on the guitar. The black hardware on the Les Paul above does make it look more finished.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sparkle Project

Wow! I dig that! Sparkles are cool, in any color.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

Awkward stage when it looks like a guitar, but is not playable

 

[LLL]

Re: Sparkle Project

Dead sexy!

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

My thoughts at this point:

(Mis)-match the headstock black, glue on some crossed flags instead of a decal, and go for a motif such as:

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

Some build notes so far:

-It's an Eden body, made of polonium... Paulownia. It's quite light, and finished very well. VERY glossy. No obvious defects; I did spend about fifteen minutes filing the pocket, which comes irregular/small. Better tight than the alternative.

-The neck is cheapo as mentioned; my first impression? GROSS. It was a matte finish, and the "aged tint" applied was bright, fifty years of cigarette smoke orange; it didn't mesh or look authentic, and I hate matte necks. Buffing compound fixed that, it's now very shiny and the aged tone looks much more authentic, about as orange as my 66 Mustang, minus the wear.

The frets are actually shiny and the tangs are cut well for this level of humidity anyway, which is alarming; the overall feel/shaping are good/standard, with the exception of the giant heel. We'll see how it plays, how much filing down they need... I hate myself already for saying this but... It's 100x better than the barely useable neck on my $50 Chinese Strat copy; it cost more than half as much as that entire guitar though, so I guess it would. I like this better than most Squier necks short of say a VM... So far. Seems straight, we'll see if it turns to a noodle or backflips.

-I have a Squier Trem with zinc block and steel saddles; wondering if I should just use it and replace the block, or buy something better/gold Thinking gold locking tuners, because I hate string trees.

 

[LLL]

Re: Sparkle Project

My thoughts at this point:

Exactly.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sparkle Project

I'd say that body deserves a proper neck. Troll Warmoth's 'Screamin Deals' section daily.

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: Sparkle Project

Maple is Proper

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

Exactly.

Haha, ignored the '69 ? I always thought the '68 / '69 was the best Malibu. So sharp and pointy...

Anyway, yeah, passive in scoping out a new neck; the Kmise will do well on a cheaper body I have, if all else fails. When I find a deal I'll grab it.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Sparkle Project

Progress. For those who haven't seen the other threads I've created or haven't cared:

-The body arrived with neck holes drilled slightly different than Fender spec; a standard neck plate fits fine but no factory Fender necks I have would bolt right up without drilling new holes. Had to drill holes in the $30 ebay neck anyway; otherwise it fits well. The joint is pretty tight.

-Both the dual humbucker guards I possess are non-standard bolt pattern and I don't want to drill the body for that; mounting a stock loaded US Fender HSS guard in the meantime. I may just drill for the US guard and tack the HH on with whatever screw fits, for now; eager to try out some pickups without de-soldering the nicely wired HSS guard for mostly no reason considering it won't be permanent. US HH guard on order.

-All other holes in the body are drilled, bridge etc. mounted with success Seems stable and lined up at the moment anyway.

I could play it tonight if I care to fire up the drill and solder iron again. If it isn't by now evident, this was originally a semi-budget build and the developments with the body now cause it to stay in the budget mindset; I dislike needing to drill a 'nice' neck just to have it fit this body. I plan on the neck and body staying married, and hope it sounds/plays somewhat decent. I'll probably keep replacement in the back of my mind.

Also: it's been a while since my last project ten years ago, which was a pretty extensive cut-up of a Telecaster (Tele-gib sort of, routed neck/bridge for humbuckers, filled in portions of the remaining Telecaster routes and drilled for a Tune-o-Matic/tailpiece.) Part of me is more fine than ever with buying whole guitars, even after this meager amount of work, although the price of all the components make it right. Neck and body were about $100 altogether, everything else (bridge, pickups etc.) I had a spare on-hand except a bunch of random screws and things.