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At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 01:49:10 AM

Title: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 01:49:10 AM
i'll put some decent pics of the guitar (especially the neck) itself up in the next few days, but i must write about my newest toy :)

so as some of you may remember i scored a MIM classic 70s strat. it was in nice enough nick, but feeling sorry for itself.

barely playing it i immediately took the guitar apart and fitted:

slowhand set, with baseplated bridge
rewired middle tone control to work with bridge too
BKP vintage trem
straplocks

was sounding pretty alright at this point, but i hated the feel of the poly finished neck.

inspired by uli jon roth, and a conversation with wez at the bkp christmas drinkup i quickly sent my strat to him for a replacement neck - and its marvelous:

birdseye maple fingerboard
23 frets (you know, 21 or 22 frets just isn't enough to express my art using 3rd eye techniques :P :P) like uli jon roth
cbs-like headstock
gotoh height adjustable vintage locking tuners
graphtech nut (i might go for an LSR one day)
9.5" radius
cheap fender decal
3 bolt fitting - actually fitted properly this time ;)
moderately chunky feel - perfect profile actually

i can't wait to try it with my treble booster and NOS curly cable, though a bit busy, so that might have to wait a few days.
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 01:52:45 AM
might rewire for two volume controls and a tone, might also go for said lsr nut... but not just yet, i want to get the feel of it like this

edit: although the string trees are fitted for the look, they aren't touching the strings due to the cool tuners

edit: also, the positive tonal improvement due to this neck is quite noticable
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 09, 2009, 02:19:13 AM
:) Seems cool, but will need more pics to know :P

All the neck is birdseye or just the fingerboard?
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: horsehead on March 09, 2009, 06:59:19 AM
and here comes another convert ;)
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 07:25:01 AM
All the neck is birdseye or just the fingerboard?

Just the fretboard - its acrylised B/E maple so as hard as ebony, somewhere between the two in tone.  Also it has my usual dual Carbon fibre bars and two way truss rod so its very stiff compared to the average strat neck

Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 08:19:48 AM
one other thing to note... the MIM body had a silly amount of paint in the trem cavity - particularly around the front opening of the route

not sure if this was a problem when it had the original trem (smaller trem block maybe) but it certainly was with the BKP trem and it was catching quite badly... a few minutes with the router and a scr@per sorted it nice and neatly,  but its worth noting that you may need to remove some paint if upgrading a MIM fender.  Having said that i think it was a totally worthwhile upgrade
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 09, 2009, 08:33:31 AM
Sounds good gwEm  :wink:
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 08:50:15 AM
one other thing to note... the MIM body had a silly amount of paint in the trem cavity - particularly around the front opening of the route

not sure if this was a problem when it had the original trem (smaller trem block maybe)

it was also a problem with the original trem
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 11:20:26 AM
ok! heres a load of images of the neck:

http://www.preromanbritain.com/gwem/temp/wezneck/ (http://www.preromanbritain.com/gwem/temp/wezneck/)
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 09, 2009, 11:43:44 AM
ok! heres a load of images of the neck:

http://www.preromanbritain.com/gwem/temp/wezneck/ (http://www.preromanbritain.com/gwem/temp/wezneck/)


Looks like lovely bit of wood. Miles better than my Strat neck.
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Roobubba on March 09, 2009, 12:22:29 PM
As a guitar, it doesn't do a lot for me, although that is a lovely hunk of wood that Wez has put on, there! Looks, as ever, expertly set up, too :)

BTW, nice gurning :)

Roo
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 12:26:17 PM
As a guitar, it doesn't do a lot for me, although that is a lovely hunk of wood that Wez has put on, there! Looks, as ever, expertly set up, too :)

BTW, nice gurning :)

Roo

as wez says, the fingerboard is as hard as ebony, and feels different from maple - naturally it has the cool maple look  8)

theres only one strat i tried which i prefer to this one - and thats philking's white 50s v-neck.

it sounds pure stratocaster - even unplugged ;) wez has set up the pickups really well for perfect sounding in-between positions.

vintage radius boards always make me gurn, but at least i've done so in an aggressive rock way ;)
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: FernandoDuarte on March 09, 2009, 01:51:27 PM
Truss rod bottom adjustment?

Nice birds :D
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: PhilKing on March 09, 2009, 02:49:39 PM
I guess another fret wouldn't fit - there isn't much room between the neck end and neck pickup - in this case it is almost a neck pickup!  The whole thing looks great, the birdseye really sets it off.  If you wanted a good Fender decal, check Glenn Ellard at artyfarty1@blueyonder.co.uk.  He does the Fecker ones but also does the correct replacements too.
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 02:56:05 PM
we did consider a 'good' decal, but really i didnt want to make that part too good - i also changed the headstock shape subtly just to avoid issues.  tbh we went with something that was a similar shape just because nothing else looks right on the big headstock - but i do get uncomfortable making anything like that too close

a fecker one would be a good alternative - its an easy change if gwem wants it,  the current one is a vinyl sticker and could be removed easily without damage
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Philly Q on March 09, 2009, 03:46:48 PM
23 frets (you know, 21 or 22 frets just isn't enough to express my art using 3rd eye techniques :P :P) like uli jon roth

 :lol: :lol:

That neck looks good!  The 23rd fret only just squeezed in though, didn't it?  :)

Is that quartersawn maple for the main part of the neck, Wez?
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Ian Price on March 09, 2009, 04:12:39 PM
It is a very nice neck indeed - I saw it when I picked Wez up for the Manchester BKP meet. Very nice work indeed.
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 04:24:58 PM
That neck looks good!  The 23rd fret only just squeezed in though, didn't it?  :)

Is that quartersawn maple for the main part of the neck, Wez?

i got a good few mm after the 23rd - definately no chance of a 24th though.  The main neck wood isnt perfectly quatersawn but close enough for the main neck shaft even though it deviates off on the wide headstock... dont forget i have added the CF bars and an extra stiff fretboard so even though its not perfectly quartersawn i would not expect this to twist at all- if it does gwem knows where i am ;)
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 08:51:54 PM
just got this together for gwem as well, he got to try it on saturday but not in its finished state (the uniuon jack plate was not ready)... bit of set-up to do but i will try to get it to him for so he can bring it to saturdays meet if i can.  I am glad gwem let me do this assembly job as i really wanted to play with the transtrem - its an interesting beast

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/gwem1.jpg)
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Philly Q on March 09, 2009, 08:56:59 PM
So how much of that Steinberger is new build?  Or is it one of gwEm's older guitars modified for the TransTrem?
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 09:07:01 PM
very little new stuff - but a 4 bolt neck and 5 bolt body  meant it needed a little more work to assemble... especially since the holes where nowhere near lined up and the neck pocket was very loose and the holes in the body were worn out

this is what gwem sent
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/st2.jpg)



Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: WezV on March 09, 2009, 09:11:56 PM
i probably should have let gwem post this  but i got excited after putting it together - the painkiller bridge pickup is nice!!
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: Philly Q on March 09, 2009, 09:27:50 PM
It looks an interesting project!  :)
Title: Re: gwem plays strat live and quite likes it shocker
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 10:23:01 PM
i probably should have let gwem post this  but i got excited after putting it together - the painkiller bridge pickup is nice!!
i'll let you off ;) it looks fantastic that steinberger!

the scratchplate is a wd one, which i broke - luckily wez fixed it, and loads of other fiddly repairs to the body/paint. it can't have been easy - but the result is just what i was hoping for. the transtrem is great to use, and the neck is a real player!

edit: i want to try it with the painkiller! (tried it with another pickup on saturday), and i'm sure the union jack plate will give a massive mojo boost - though the black looked nice too
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Adam.M on March 09, 2009, 10:35:11 PM
I always thought it'd be cool to have 23 frets on a fender, theres definitely room! hell you could get a 24th in there by moving the neck pickup back a bit.

Hmm... now this has me thinking!
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 09, 2009, 10:50:24 PM
Is this making an appearance on Saturday gwEm?
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 10:58:22 PM
Is this making an appearance on Saturday gwEm?

if it arrives in time - i'm not going to rush wez for it since i get the strong impression he likes playing it! i'm going to tour the US in two weeks, so as long as i have it by then i'm happy. and to be honest, if not then i'm still happy.

strat will absolutely be coming
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 09, 2009, 11:18:45 PM
Is this making an appearance on Saturday gwEm?

if it arrives in time - i'm not going to rush wez for it since i get the strong impression he likes playing it! i'm going to tour the US in two weeks, so as long as i have it by then i'm happy. and to be honest, if not then i'm still happy.

strat will absolutely be coming

I've always wanted to have ago on a Steinberger with a Transtrem.
The Strat is very nice lovely neck from Wez.
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 09, 2009, 11:36:04 PM
I've always wanted to have ago on a Steinberger with a Transtrem.
;) you know you'll be able to try it one day!
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 09, 2009, 11:48:17 PM
I've always wanted to have ago on a Steinberger with a Transtrem.
;) you know you'll be able to try it one day!

 :D I've got the tab book for VH 5150 and a lot of that was done with a transtrem which is why its impossible to play in standard.
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Ian Price on March 09, 2009, 11:51:24 PM
so as long as i have it by then i'm happy. and to be honest, if not then i'm still happy.

This gives me the impression you're a happy kind of guy. I like happy people :)
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on March 09, 2009, 11:52:48 PM
Painkiller + union flag (not called a Union Jack unless flown from a ship) pickguard = British Steel?
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 10, 2009, 12:31:46 AM
Painkiller + union flag (not called a Union Jack unless flown from a ship) pickguard = British Steel?

the thought had crossed my mind too :D

it takes a special black guitar to really wow me, since the body still had the original finish i wanted to keep it - but how to jazz up the look? with the union flag scratchplate i've been thinking about for a while! i was also thinking about having binding added and a white plate to match your V.

with the painkiller, at wez's suggestion, i'm half considering changing it for a double red bobbin dimarzio or a swineshead. perhaps i should try some bobbin toppers first, or maybe the double black is fine - since it would be silly to downgrade sound quality just for the look... the painkiller sound is absolutely what i want in this guitar.

i guess i'm just a brit proud of the great metal, punk, and hard rock heritage we have here... its funny though that this is a proud USA designed and partly made guitar.

the idea was to create a punk steinberger, since the body of this one has been in the wars a bit compared to the one you did. the neck was a secondhand one and feels different again to the one you rebuilt.
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: WezV on March 10, 2009, 07:28:54 AM
(http://i'm half considering changing it for a double red bobbin dimarzio or a swineshead)

if you can get one at the right price it might be worth rewinding
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 10, 2009, 09:31:38 AM
(http://i'm half considering changing it for a double red bobbin dimarzio or a swineshead)

if you can get one at the right price it might be worth rewinding

i asked tim about rewinding dimarzios before and he wasn't keen, due to use of non-standard parts
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: PhilKing on March 10, 2009, 11:51:43 AM
(http://i'm half considering changing it for a double red bobbin dimarzio or a swineshead)

if you can get one at the right price it might be worth rewinding

i asked tim about rewinding dimarzios before and he wasn't keen, due to use of non-standard parts

I think he will rewind SD's and they make red bobbins.  Of course you could get White from BK using their standard bobbins and spray the red part on the top!
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 10, 2009, 12:41:26 PM
I think he will rewind SD's and they make red bobbins.  Of course you could get White from BK using their standard bobbins and spray the red part on the top!

Cheers Phil - I wasn't aware Duncan did red bobbin pickups. That might work out expensive though - as I already have a painkiller. I'm going the bobbin topper route first - just so i have some idea what it will look like.
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: gwEm on March 13, 2009, 11:29:21 AM
Is this making an appearance on Saturday gwEm?

yes it is!

regarding the red bobbins... i've decided i quite like the black and i'm unlikely to change them
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Philly Q on March 13, 2009, 11:38:35 AM
regarding the red bobbins... i've decided i quite like the black and i'm unlikely to change them

I think the black looks fine - even if you got red, it would look weird if it wasn't the exact same red as the scratchplate.  And you'd have to paint the top corners of the pickup white to match the flag graphic.  Too much hassle!
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Jonny on March 13, 2009, 01:44:51 PM
I'll chime in with the idea of bobbin toppers, it basically changes the top color of the pickup.

But in my opinion, in my very honest opinion.

They are a pointless and the most worthless pieces of sh*t ever and doesn't even cover the fact they are still the same colour below. F*CKING POINTLESS.

*ahem*
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Sifu Ben on March 14, 2009, 05:41:00 PM
I'll chime in with the idea of bobbin toppers, it basically changes the top color of the pickup.

But in my opinion, in my very honest opinion.

They are a pointless and the most worthless pieces of sh*t ever and doesn't even cover the fact they are still the same colour below. F*CKING POINTLESS.

*ahem*
Calm down. What do you expect for $2???? If you've got black bobbins it wouldn't even look that odd with the sides showing black. If you want more, feel free to custom order some dimarzios :roll:
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: Johnny Mac on March 16, 2009, 06:13:38 AM
Wez, your that Strat neck you made for gwEm is amazing! I never played such lovely Strat before and the sound of those Slowhands are top notch. I want a neck like that. I want lots of things and one of your necks is one of them!
Title: Re: gwem visits wez - 23 fret strat and union jack steinberger content
Post by: WezV on March 16, 2009, 07:06:03 PM
its all in the 23rd fret johnny, makes all the difference ;)