Walnut San Dimas Style Project

treyhaislip

treyhaislip

Well-known member
So, after vowing to never have more than one project going on at the same time I've done it again. Lol

I just bough this body on eBay-1 piece Walnut HH San Dimas style strat. I've never played a walnut Strat before so I would be open to any suggestions/help.

I really want to use a Dimebucker and want an ebony fret board...so first, is this a good combo to try and if so then second, what would be good options for the neck pickup and neck wood?

Thanks for the help!

View attachment 58935View attachment 58936
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

It looks nicer than I thought it would. Is it heavy?

I'm thinking walnut, ebony, and Dimebucker would be bright and hard sounding, but have no experience with that combo.

If it were mine, I'd probably install a maple neck, Wilkinson trem, and zebra Jason Becker/Whole Lotta Humbucker neck. (been wanting to try that combo)
Nickel hardware.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Bright, bright, and bright, from what I know about walnut bodies, although I havn't ever used one. I do know that ebony fretboards are bright and I do know XL-500s are bright. You should probably to go with a warm dark neck wood. Rosewood (the main neck not the fret board), wenge, or mahogany.

I'm surprized to see the proper shaped Charvel cavity cover there.

+1 on a Wilk trem with a brass block.

The guitar should have excellent sustain.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Thanks for the heads up, I was thinking Walnut was more darker like Mahogany but research plus info on the forum proved me wrong. I have a Mahogany with Rosewood board already, I may just put that on it to see how the tone goes...Seymour Duncan has down that the SH-13 works best with rosewood fretboard...so methinks maybe Mahogany with Rosewood.

Also, I was thinking of pairing a DiMarzio Dominion in the neck with the Sh-13 in the Bridge. My basswood project couples the Liquifire with the Sh-12 and I love how well they blend together...so I don't have a problem mixing brands like that.

Thanks again for the advice!
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Was watching that one myself. Looks like a very nice body and start to a cool project! Congrats and enjoy.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

muttznmongrelz said:
Was watching that one myself. Looks like a very nice body and start to a cool project! Congrats and enjoy.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I didn't think I was gonna get it but I love natural wood finishes so I thought it'd be worth a try. Thanks again!
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Sure it's going to sound great and sustain very nicely. Love a One Piece Body, as you said, if you can find one. Look forward to seeing it come together.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Having built a walnut strat myself I would honestly recommend a mahogany neck to even out the tone. Ebony fretboards work well with mahogany and you'll get a resounding tone. Warmoth offers good necks for a decent price.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

nightfall said:
Having built a walnut strat myself I would honestly recommend a mahogany neck to even out the tone. Ebony fretboards work well with mahogany and you'll get a resounding tone. Warmoth offers good necks for a decent price.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up! I was thinking of going mahogany...I really want an ebony board but I also really want a guitar with the Dimebucker/500XL which SD recommends for Rosewood boards...not sure which route to go...
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

treyhaislip said:
Thanks for the heads up! I was thinking of going mahogany...I really want an ebony board but I also really want a guitar with the Dimebucker/500XL which SD recommends for Rosewood boards...not sure which route to go...
Click to expand...

Rosewood and Ebony sound very very similar
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Go with what feels right! The dime bucker sounded great with my ebony fretboard on my lp
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

nightfall said:
Go with what feels right! The dime bucker sounded great with my ebony fretboard on my lp
Click to expand...

I'm happy to hear that! Kinda helps pull the trigger on the Mahogany+Ebony Neck combo! :)

I wish my dad never sold it, but he had an old Ovation Breadwinner with an Ebony board--my favorite neck/fretboard feel I've ever played.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project



im gettin ready to build a walnut tele. doing research i ran across this. walnut body guitar, maple neck, ebony board. gives you some idea of tone.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewhooooooooooooooooo
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

I just came across this post, and have to say, that is so awesome. I have family in West Virginia, and whenever I am there I always try to bring back black walnut for projects. The last time I was there, there was a guy on craigslist selling some, so I got some from him. I honestly went through his entire pile to get "musical grade wood." In the end it was totally worth it. I have a nice project going on that I might finish in about three to four..... decades. (I'm really slow.)

But I really dig your project. A walnut body with mahogany/ rosewood neck will balance out nicely. I wouldn't worry about the walnut being too bright. I would describe it as being more "clear" than "bright." So I would say, go with the Dimebucker. You'll be fine with it.
 
Re: Walnut San Dimas Style Project

That's awesome! Especially to be able to pick the piece out yourself! Make sure you finish that project eventually--that would be awesome to tell the whole story of the wood. :)

And thanks for the info--that helps and I'm definitely going for the Dimebucker!
 
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