Strat Hunting

Re: Strat Hunting

Oh yeah. I've picked up some G&L's in the past. I like them. Great build quality. Only one problem, 1 5/8" nut width. Too narrow for me. With my hands, I have to have a 1 11/16" nut width.



Going the Warmoth route has crossed my mind, even if just for the neck. Heck, I have the parts laying around; hard-tail bridge, tuners, neck plate and screws, string ferrules, strap buttons, pickups. Just need the wood and a pickguard. I may visit this again. Just hard to make time to paint it and all (which I would do myself).



Very nice, but see above for reason why G&L is a no-go for me.


Step 1: Sell the neck on TGP or SDUGF (they fit Teles and Strats)

Step 2: Buy a USACG neck

I know some people say they don't like butchering guitars, but this plan involves unscrewing 4 screws then screwing in 4 screws.

That's what I would do!

That G&L neck will fly, and your USACG neck will be top quality and exactly your specs.

I think it's a financial breakeven.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Yeah, Highway 1 (post 2007 for the larger frets) or old Tokai (late '70s/early '80s), Fernandes from the '80s. If you get the Japanese ones from Japan, they're almost always in near-perfect condition.
 
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Re: Strat Hunting

Thanks for all the input. All good points and options. Highway One's are a consideration. Have seen a few for sale locally.

Right now I'm checking out the availability of a body and then will take it from there. A partsocaster is a great idea.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Another love for the Highway One strats. I used a Highway One neck for my strat build I did last Spring. I basically built my dream strat for around $800.

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Re: Strat Hunting

Yeah, the MIM Standards are high on the list. Pickup change is inevitable due to the versatility needs.

Good input so far. Keep it coming.

if i was on a super tight budget and could only keep one guitar i could get by on a MIM strat with the HSS set up for all my Electric needs... i have 3 of them in my collection still... my old 1999 one is my work horse even if i like the larger frets in my 2006 one
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Does it HAVE to be a Strat, will a Strat-like guitar do?

Cause I am extremely impressed with the 1993-1996 Washburn MGs, have three myself and am very happy with them.

For 22 frets, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, USA-made Wilky VS-100 and HSS that's where I'd look.
The MG-120 is Mahogany Body/Figured Maple top, the MG-100 (which I have) Swamp Ash body and the MG-90 Mahogany body and an oil finish. All USA-made.

If you'd be willing to go even a bit further then BloodRose said he's selling some of his.
The MG-104 (also have one) is a 24-fretter, HSH with a Floyd, Alder body/Figured Maple top and the MG-130 (Steve Sala's sig) is 22-frets, HSS but with a 24.75" scale and set-neck.

All of them truly amazing guitars and these days you can get them for so little for what you get it's a crime (got mine from 350 to 600 USD)
 
Re: Strat Hunting

No, it doesn't necessarily have to be a "Fender", but that's my first choice. They just work for me. Those Washburns are really nice. Looked around last night and don't see a ton available. Another good option though.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Another vote for Washburns especially the US made ones of the early 90s. I have one and it's the reason I would part with my Fender.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

No, it doesn't necessarily have to be a "Fender", but that's my first choice. They just work for me. Those Washburns are really nice. Looked around last night and don't see a ton available. Another good option though.
Like I said, BloodRose is selling a couple, shoot him a PM and see.
I'd also ask Ascension, these two are the ones I got mine from (one from BloodRose, two from Ascension but could have easily been the other way around) and I cannot stress enough how great they both were with everything from start to finish.

I've also seen them pop up on ebay, the imports almost constantly and the USA-made ones every two weeks or so.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Thanks for all the feedback. After much looking and thought, I've decided to go the "partsocaster" route. Just purchased a Midnight Blue MIM body off eBay. It'll come with strap buttons, jack plate and jack, pickguard, and back plate. The neck is going to be from Warmoth made to the same specs as what's on my #1 (also a Warmoth neck). I'll order that after I move some stuff I've got up for sale.
 
Of course. :). I dig the look of the Wasburns but I am not familiar with them which means I don't know how the necks are. Being from the Grover Jackson era, my guess is they are similar to a Jackson neck which are too thin for me.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Thanks for all the feedback. After much looking and thought, I've decided to go the "partsocaster" route. Just purchased a Midnight Blue MIM body off eBay. It'll come with strap buttons, jack plate and jack, pickguard, and back plate. The neck is going to be from Warmoth made to the same specs as what's on my #1 (also a Warmoth neck). I'll order that after I move some stuff I've got up for sale.

You'll want an aftermarket tremolo, so plan on that. The stock tremolo is a weak thing on those.
 
You'll want an aftermarket tremolo, so plan on that. The stock tremolo is a weak thing on those.

I have to get one anyway as it wasn't included. I know one thing, I'm not spending more than what I paid for the body for a trem. That's just nuts, IMO. It'll be locked down anyway.

I'm either gonna get a used MIM trem and replace the block or get one of the steel block MIM spaced trems from GFS. The last trem I got from GFS was nice and the block was nice and solid. Made a big difference on the Strat it went on.
 
Neck ordered from Warmoth. Found one that matched perfectly in the showcase.

Same specs as my Frankenstrat - maple/maple, boatneck contour, 6105 frets, Warmoth Pro construction, compound radius. I have some nice Schaller tuners for it and a graphite nut.

Now the wait for it and the body to arrive.
 
Re: Strat Hunting

Neck ordered from Warmoth. Found one that matched perfectly in the showcase.

Same specs as my Frankenstrat - maple/maple, boatneck contour, 6105 frets, Warmoth Pro construction, compound radius. I have some nice Schaller tuners for it and a graphite nut.

Now the wait for it and the body to arrive.

Its unfinished. You'll finish it yourself..you have skills with that, right?
 
Its unfinished. You'll finish it yourself..you have skills with that, right?

Of course. I finished the neck on my Frankenstrat and painted my SG Jr. No issue there. I'll be wiping on the same poly satin finish that I've used before, 3-4 thin coats.
 
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