Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: PPPMAT on July 21, 2010, 02:51:16 PM
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Hi guys
After purchasing my 60's strat roadworn last year on a whim - it has me totally hooked and I haven't played anything else for about 6 months. I have some great guitars and I thought it might be nice to have another strat like the roadworn but maybe a bit different and really high quality.
Naturally I went for a look at the fender custom shop stuff and I've tried loads but none of them feel right and whilst the workmanship is brilliant I've found them all to be a bit heabier than I would like and the necks are abit too chunky (even the early 60's ones)
So...........I've finally decided to go custom build (sort of). I knowa local luthier who will put together a strat for me, by reprofiling and fretting a neck blank and fixing it to a good quality peice of Alder. He will then spray it with nitro and relic the finish and all the parts to give it that 'heavy relic' look that I want.
the general look will be early 60's strat, sunburst with white pic guard and rosewood slab board.
What I dodneed o do though is source the hardware. I want tthis to be really really good quality and whilst you kear callaham, gotoh etc mentioned I haven't a clue what is considered the best for the job. Particularly for vintage trems and tuners. Also pickups - I love texas specials and am inclined to go for Irish tours as the pickup of choice.
Also any other advice or comments welcome as to where to source high quality bits. Hopefully this will give me exactly what I'm after and something thats a bit different aswell.
Cheers
Matt
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Bare Knuckle can give you a vintage aged scratchplate with the pickups and also have a great vintage trem with a steel block and bent saddles - just like the originals. Kluson still make the machines (you can find aged ones on ebay), and companies like Fatboy can sell you just about anything you need.
You might like the 62 custom set, it's a bit more 'Texas' than the Irish Tours, not quite as bright, and a little thicker sounding. Not that there is anything wrong with IT's.
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what about Fatboy for the relic parts? http://www.fatboyguitars.co.uk/index.htm
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Have a chat to Jonathan (Feline Guitars) about bridge parts. I was talking to him about it the other day. Obviously, he can source the BKP bridge assembly for you, but he also has various other possibilities up his sleeve :D
I've been looking into this sort of stuff recently. I nearly went for a Callaham "enhanced vintage" sustain block for my Roadworns. In the end I got some cold rolled steel blocks from a chap in the UK on ebay (£22). I picked him because he was the cheapest I could find at that moment for a "throw-away experiment". His "US standard" one fits the Roadworns - I've installed one in my 60s Roadworn so far... AMAZING difference in volume and just "more" (and you already know how "righteous" the guitar sounds anyway).
At first the change was so amazing that I didn't like it! But after resetting pickup heights and amp settings, I'll never go back! :lol: I would seriously recommend you replace the bridge block with a steel one on your 60s Roadworn - my 50s Roadworn is just aching to receive the second block I have, it suddenly doesn't sound as good as it did a week ago.
Where you get a block is up to you - it seems to me that Callaham, this ebay bloke, BKP, are all probably using roughly the same kinda steel... (although some folk's marketing materials seem to suggest that their's might have an extra "special-ness" about it :lol:). So I predict that the tonal change will be similar, the rest is down to marketing/price/name ... your choice! :D.
WARNING: If you do put one of the ebay guy's blocks in your Roadworn you do need a new arm, a vintage 10/32" screw, the existing Roadworn arm is 5mm and, er, well... it's not the right one... even if it seems like it at first... (I broke it off in the block when it got stuck!!). The Ad I bought from did point this out but I kinda misread/misinterpreted what it meant...
Anyway, I was discussing all this with Feline, and about my CIJ strat which is seriously in need of this mod (it has a zinc block and has a very dead-duck sound in comparison now), and I found he has access to various goodies/solutions at competitive prices. When I've figured out what I'm doing and got the cash together, I'll be going that route. If I was in your situation, with this project, I'd probably ask him to "go get me the BKP assembly", but he does have other options. I didn't ask, but I guess these could include aging of the visible parts...
Pickups-wise, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend ITs - that's what my 60s Roadworn has - but it's interesting to hear what PhilKing says. Once you're all "steeled-up" in the bridge department, the 62 custom set might be a better bet if you definitely like the Texas Specials vibe. ITs with the steel stuff aren't thin by any stretch of the imagination, but they are bright and hard - think Rory Gallagher, definitely. If you want a more "bubbly/delicate on the neck or neck/middle when the volume's turned down" (SRV, Hendrix), it sounds like the 62 set is the way to go... :D
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For tuners, you really can't go wrong with the Kluson-style Gotohs (SD91 set). I think Fatboy (and probably other places too) sell aged versions.
TonePros/Kluson are good too, but they're more like a modern tuner "disguised" as a vintage tuner.
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Callaham make great stuff. For a lower budger GFS and Wilkinson both do steel block trems.
Kluson tuners are great, about £40 off ebay, have them on my Strat and Tele
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Thanks for the replies guys - some really useful stuff there. I'm tempted to get a set of 62's and have them all prewired into a fatboy aged pickguard - would seem a neat solution.
i like the gotohs kluson a likes - will probably go for those....
I do need to find a body though, it has to be Alder and it has to be light. Any idea where to have a look?
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Warmoth, USACQ... There are some english companies that does thinks alike, but I can't remember now...
There is also Mr Jonathan (Feline), Mr Wez Venables, Mr Bob (Legra)
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Warmoth are great, not that expensive either if you're getting an unfinished body - $175 for alder, usually a bit more for extra light (which seems to be defined as under 4 lbs). Bear in mind you'll have to pay VAT and import duty.
They've just, in the last couple of weeks, introduced two new product lines, "Vintage" Strat and Tele bodies, with slightly different specs than their standard bodies.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Body/Stratocaster/Vintage/ (http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Body/Stratocaster/Vintage/)
http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/ClassicShowcase.aspx?Body=2&Shape=1&Type=81&Path=Body,Stratocaster,Vintage (http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/ClassicShowcase.aspx?Body=2&Shape=1&Type=81&Path=Body,Stratocaster,Vintage)
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i have a block from the ebay guy - its good.
edit: i also have the BKP vintage strat trem. i have to say its lovely! extremely well made.
i have one vintage trem made of a MIM steel baseplate, gotoh milled steel saddles, with the ebay block..
i also have a full bkp vintage trem.. and a squier steel baseplate trem to which i've added MIM steel saddles and a GFS steel block.
its hard to compare the trems in terms of sound, since they are in very different guitars. however, i will say again the BKP one is exceptional in terms of build. none of the pimped trems sound bad, and they all work pretty well.
wez did a relic job on the ebay block, and it worked out a treat - you can get reliced springs on ebay which don't look too bad.
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who is the ebay guy? i have a CIJ '62 with i fancy messing with.
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who is the ebay guy? i have a CIJ '62 with i fancy messing with.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steel-tremolo-sustain-block-Fender-Stratocaster-/150469954668?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2308b54c6c#ht_2302wt_930
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Some great info here guys thanks!
The warmoth stuff looks like the way to go. The vintage strat body is exactly what I want and I can choose a nice light weight too. I will probably get the basis for the neck there too.
Its starting to come together............just need to cost it up (not going to be cheap)
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I've just replaced some old screws on the Fenix which I was fixing up. Think I have enough for the scratchplate but not the spring cover. More than happy to stick them in the post if you want...... That's £2 saved :lol:
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who is the ebay guy? i have a CIJ '62 with i fancy messing with.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Steel-tremolo-sustain-block-Fender-Stratocaster-/150469954668?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2308b54c6c#ht_2302wt_930
thanks for the link
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I've just replaced some old screws on the Fenix which I was fixing up. Think I have enough for the scratchplate but not the spring cover. More than happy to stick them in the post if you want...... That's £2 saved :lol:
Having discovered that you can buy distressed screw sets its not a bad idea :P
Its looking pricey so far - topping a grand easily which sounds a lot but I suppose its still much cheaper custom shop and it will be made from high quality stuff
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You ,ight want to check out these guys if you want a relic finish:
http://www.mjtagedfinishes.com/forsale.htm (http://www.mjtagedfinishes.com/forsale.htm)
They also do aged plastic parts too
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You ,ight want to check out these guys if you want a relic finish:
http://www.mjtagedfinishes.com/forsale.htm (http://www.mjtagedfinishes.com/forsale.htm)
They also do aged plastic parts too
I just got a Tele body and pickguard from him. Worked out £235 for body and pickguard and shipping. Plus £44 for the pleasure of Parcelfarce and HM customs.
I can recommend his work.
Forgot to add if you bid on ebay they seem to be going $120 to $150 under the $375 buy it now price if you go for a no reserve auction.
Andy
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Quick update - I've decided to buy a fender roadworn neck as I love the one I have and it seems daft trying to replicate it with other parts.
Warmoth body to follow and possibly a fender roadworn 50's bridge (I assume it is the same as the 60's maybe someone can confirm?) and buy a steel block off the ebay man to go with it.
I will probably go for a fatboy prewired jobby but need to speak to tim about some custom wired pups as I lovethe bite and push of the tex-mex pups but want better quality. IT;s would seem an obvious choice but what about a set of 62's wound extra hot in the bridge? I spend 90% of my time on the bridge pickup so it has to be right!
Looking forward to this!
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The Roadworn 50s and 60s bridge are the same - at least, they look, and behave, the same on my two :lol:
ITs have done a superb job replacing the Tex Mexes in my 60s. One first changing them, the difference wasn't huge at all. The ITs seemed to provide just a little more body than the TMs. And then add the usual "seems more expressive" that you get with BKPs, volume and tone controls more usable, etc...
Sultans into my 50s was a slightly different experience. I very much like it, but I'd say ITs are nearer to the Tex Mexes out of the two. The Sultans have just as much top end but seem sweeter/rounder sounding, the ITs can get harder/tougher more easily. (Both sets have been in the same strat before they ended up in the Roadworns, and the hard/sweet comparision seemed to apply in there as well - but it's all a bit subjective, different strings, several months between the changes, etc)
The 62s and Mothers Milks (both of which I'm considering next) I don't have any experience of yet... but both the ITs and the Sultans have a superb bridge pickup - I somehow suspect now that none of the BKP strat sets are going to have an unusable bridge pickup for me :lol:
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Quick update - I've decided to buy a fender roadworn neck as I love the one I have and it seems daft trying to replicate it with other parts.
Warmoth body to follow and possibly a fender roadworn 50's bridge (I assume it is the same as the 60's maybe someone can confirm?) and buy a steel block off the ebay man to go with it.
Probably yes, but you'd better measure and compare with the dimentions in this link:
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BridgeRoutingOptions.aspx
Also think that you should measure the neck pocket, because Fender has different neck pockets in some guitars... and then see if they work on the Warmoth's body pocket...:
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/faq2.aspx
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The guitars I build usually end up with a mix of original vintage bits, Callaham, and Montreux. I like Callaham tremolo blocks, but for the price, they better be good.
Bodies and necks come from a variety of sources.
Hi guys
After purchasing my 60's strat roadworn last year on a whim - it has me totally hooked and I haven't played anything else for about 6 months. I have some great guitars and I thought it might be nice to have another strat like the roadworn but maybe a bit different and really high quality.
Naturally I went for a look at the fender custom shop stuff and I've tried loads but none of them feel right and whilst the workmanship is brilliant I've found them all to be a bit heabier than I would like and the necks are abit too chunky (even the early 60's ones)
So...........I've finally decided to go custom build (sort of). I knowa local luthier who will put together a strat for me, by reprofiling and fretting a neck blank and fixing it to a good quality peice of Alder. He will then spray it with nitro and relic the finish and all the parts to give it that 'heavy relic' look that I want.
the general look will be early 60's strat, sunburst with white pic guard and rosewood slab board.
What I dodneed o do though is source the hardware. I want tthis to be really really good quality and whilst you kear callaham, gotoh etc mentioned I haven't a clue what is considered the best for the job. Particularly for vintage trems and tuners. Also pickups - I love texas specials and am inclined to go for Irish tours as the pickup of choice.
Also any other advice or comments welcome as to where to source high quality bits. Hopefully this will give me exactly what I'm after and something thats a bit different aswell.
Cheers
Matt
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Quick update
Bodyarrives from Warmoth - nice and light under 4 pounds. Its one of the new vintage strat bodies and its pretty good. Made from 2 pieces of Alder. My only croticism (well not really criticism) is that the horns are not quite as rounded as I would like - not quite as much as my roadworn but its very close. The cntouring is spot on. Neck pocket is perfect.
Neck from one of the chop shops in the US - fender roadwon 60's version. in perfect shape and would recommend them - pricey though. Stratospere (ebay)
Fatboy guitars are making me the pickguard and covers, etc all prewired with BKP Irish tours. All aged to match. The trem is cold rolled steel with steel sustain block - supplied by BKP apparently.
Body ready to be sent to my luthier mate for nitro sunburst finish and then reliced to my tastes!. Its all coming together and I hope it sounds good because I could have bought a really nice strat for the money that its cost.
Been fun though
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Looks good! Dare I ask how much it's costing to get the body finished?
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Cool!
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Looks good! Dare I ask how much it's costing to get the body finished?
I don't have a breakdown but the nitro finish and relicing is around £200. Its all built into a price that includes assembly fret work and a full set up.
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That sounds a pretty reasonable price, I think (from my position of total ignorance! :lol: ). Looking forward to seeing the results!