Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: tomjackson on December 01, 2011, 01:07:43 PM
-
I've just ordered a 1 piece alder SSS strat body to go with a Warmoth neck I have. I was thinking of just oil finishing it, I doubt there will be much grain but it will be easy and have a woody vibe.
Any ideas/examples on natural finished strats? I'm thinking perhaps a black pickguard with parchment plastics, or perhaps tortoiseshell, or even all cream.
I was laso thinking of a Callaham trem, but happy to hear other options here, even the lesser spotted BKP one of it is still available?
-
I think any of the colour combos you mention would work - just think of SRVs/Rory Gallagher's knackered sunburst models as examples?
For the trem, I believe both are well respected so either would do nicely :)
-
BKP trem is very nice. alder can look abit dull - maybe pep it up with some red wood stain?
-
I have a natural finished Strat with a tortoise scratchplate, I don't really like the look.
If it's a maple neck, I think a black plate (70s style) would work, or white/parchment.
If it's a rosewood board, I was thinking cream plate with black knobs and covers?
-
I really like the look of stained mahogany Strat/Tele bodies (Gibson SG style)
-
Thanks for the ideas. Yes I suppose bare alder is almost a Rory strat, so faded white could work.
Any ideas on wood stain? I thought a dirty look might be nice, sometimes PRS seem to stain the grain with a charcoal colour but I expect that only works with more grained woods like swamp ash.
Philly, yes it's a rosewood board. Cream plate would work but black knobs might be a bit 70's for me!
Do you have a photo of you tortoise one?
Anybody got more details on the trem? I'm almost tempted to see if my dad can make one at work, it's probably bread and butter for him bar the saddles if I could get all the dims....
-
If you get your Dad to machine every thing except the saddles, that would be awesome! Maybe you could load up with some really nice saddles with the "saved" cash. If you went with the Graphtech Wilkinson replacements, maybe that would be easier than trying to achieve that lip for the strat style intonation screws.
http://www.graphtech.com/product-234-2/
-
If you are happy with a 2 point trem. You can try the hipshot on my strat if you want.
They play very well.
-
Thanks Matt but I'm going all vintage with this one, 6 point trem and single coil routing only.
So probably vintage saddles too....
-
I'm not a big fan of natural strats so I defenitely suggest you do some staining or something else if possible. I think either pickguard option could work. Actually I think a tortoise guard with white or parchment covers would look cool.
-
Philly, yes it's a rosewood board. Cream plate would work but black knobs might be a bit 70's for me!
Do you have a photo of you tortoise one?
This isn't the actual neck it ended up with, and it's now SSS not HSS.... and it's swamp ash, not alder :oops:.... but you get the general idea:
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP2586a.jpg)
In retrospect, I think I like this better:
(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/IMGP2578a.jpg)
-
Well I like the 1st one better Mr Q even more so in SSS form. My suggestion was going to be tortoise with parchment pickups and knobs. Cool and classy.
-
Yeah, fair enough, we've all got different tastes! :)
It just seems like too many different shades of brown and beige (the carpet doesn't help, I know). It's like the clothes and decor in an episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em or Terry and June. :wink:
-
I really like the look of stained mahogany Strat/Tele bodies (Gibson SG style)
+1
I'm not sure how close you could get to this on a lump of alder though?
(I'm keen on hearing what could be done about staining alder before oiling - my understanding is that it could be a bit hit and miss. I've done it to mahogany and got away with it.)
On Rory's strat. I read an interview with him in the 80s where he said that it turned out his wasn't alder. He said he was no expert himself, but the guitar man had told him that it was actually a maple body, and therefore rather unusual. Rory's conclusion seemed to be that that might explain one or two things, but he was happy with it anyway.
Certainly, "in the flesh", the body looked very grey in comparison to other bashed strats I've seen up close.
-
On Rory's strat. I read an interview with him in the 80s where he said that it turned out his wasn't alder. He said he was no expert himself, but the guitar man had told him that it was actually a maple body, and therefore rather unusual. Rory's conclusion seemed to be that that might explain one or two things, but he was happy with it anyway.
With all due respect, I think he was completely wrong! :P
It doesn't look anything like maple, it looks like dirty alder. And given the fact the Fender Custom Shop had extensive access to the original when they made the tribute models, I can't imaginine why they'd use alder if it was really maple.
-
On Rory's strat. I read an interview with him in the 80s where he said that it turned out his wasn't alder. He said he was no expert himself, but the guitar man had told him that it was actually a maple body, and therefore rather unusual. Rory's conclusion seemed to be that that might explain one or two things, but he was happy with it anyway.
With all due respect, I think he was completely wrong! :P
It doesn't look anything like maple, it looks like dirty alder. And given the fact the Fender Custom Shop had extensive access to the original when they made the tribute models, I can't imaginine why they'd use alder if it was really maple.
I must admit, that is kind of my thoughts on it nowadays :lol:
To give him (Rory) his due, it was more of a "I don't know, and I don't really care, but I've been told that... etc". I wonder if the guy who told him was the same tech who refinished his blonde 50s tele black as a "favour" without asking him!
But, on the custom shop version, one of the reasons I never GAS-ed about it much was because the colour was so different to the original. Up close, Rory's was a cold grey, no "colour" to it at all. All the CS versions I've seen (er, two!) had a warm, almost pinkish-brown tinge to them. Mebbe soak it in a bucket of salt and vinegar for a week and you might get lucky :lol:
Anyway, I never really answered tom's questions. If you can get the body dark enough, I'd personally go for my standard off-white (cream, parchment, or minty) strat preferences - do NOT put black knobs on this!!! :lol:
Otherwise I'd be thinking black-white-black sandwich with off-white knobs and pickups, or I reckon Philly's with the tortoiseshell is a cool look (his photo of the pearl one looks a bit "Good Ole Boys" to me...)
And I use the BKP bridge on one of mine - lovely piece of kit. Takes a bit of fettling like any, but it settled in really quickly and nowadays I use it without even thinking about the tuning.
-
No BKP Strat Trem anymore!
So what are my options? Callaham looks good but pricey, there's the Wilkinson one with a steel block.
Any more? Are there any UK made machined trems?
-
There's a guy on eBay somewhere who sells replacement steel blocks for USA/Mex Fender bridges. I think Andy may have one?
For Callaham, have a look at the Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience website - it may work out a little cheaper than ordering direct from Callaham once you factor in shipping charges and VAT.
-
Yep, I've got the ebay bloke's blocks in my 2 roadworns. Very nice. If you want to use the trem arm, watch out that the hole matches your plate.
On the BKP trem front - try calling Jonathan at Feline, I believe he also has contact with the guy that did/does the metal work. Of course, it might be that the guy has actually stopped making them.
-
The body has arrived and got to say it's really nice.
I got it from this guy on ebay who Martin MJW tipped me off about....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/1jonone/m.html?category=33039&cmd=ViewItem&ih=011&item=320806831006&rd=1&sspagename=WDVW&_trksid=p4340.
It's 4.2lb 1 piece solid alder made to spec and was £99. 2 piece bodies are a little cheaper.
It has a lovely ring to it when you tap it so I think it should sound ace.
-
cool! got my hardtail mahogany strat body from him, also on MJW's recommendation! he does great work :)
-
Looks good! And his prices seem quite shockingly cheap (to a Warmoth customer like me!)