Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => The Dressing Room => Topic started by: Dmoney on April 06, 2012, 10:56:25 PM

Title: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 06, 2012, 10:56:25 PM
and I'm thinking of buying a strat.
what on earth is wrong with me.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Frank on April 06, 2012, 11:11:27 PM
Every man should own a strat. Or six.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Madsakre on April 06, 2012, 11:25:59 PM
24 here and gassing for a tele :S
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Attica! on April 06, 2012, 11:28:09 PM
Get yaself a Malmsteen Strat, ready for when the mid-life-crisis hits, haha. You'll be shredding ya ass off, doing power slides, trying to feel young again :P Although no reason you can't do that when ya 50 either haha :D

Make yaself a Warmoth :)
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 06, 2012, 11:32:42 PM
I have a charvel, which is preeeettty close to a strat, in that its the same shape, but its still HH and has a floyd.
I fancy something else. Non-floyd trem, maybe with locking tuners if possible. To be fair I'd still like a humbucker in the bridge, but i'd like to experiment with rails or hum cancelling kinds of single coil sized jobs one day.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Attica! on April 06, 2012, 11:45:20 PM
I have a charvel, which is preeeettty close to a strat, in that its the same shape, but its still HH and has a floyd.
I fancy something else. Non-floyd trem, maybe with locking tuners if possible. To be fair I'd still like a humbucker in the bridge, but i'd like to experiment with rails or hum cancelling kinds of single coil sized jobs one day.

Have a check out at Warmoth. You can seethe guitar as you're designing it. It's really addictive and fun. If you go for the conventional strat shape with pickguard, get a Universal Route so you can experiment with all varieties of pickup configs. Or go for a strat with a Wilkinson Trem, Graph Tech Tusq XL nut, and Shaller Locking Tuners. Plus the wood choices for the body and neck are endless :)
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 06, 2012, 11:56:38 PM
I just had a go.
Do you think the graph tech is a better way to go than the LSR nut that you find on deluxe strats?
Warmouth would be cool. I'd go with a simple oil finished (satin finish?) mahogany body and maple neck, and like you say, universal route, or even just HSH. I know nothing about trems. Is the wilkinson better in some way than the american standard?
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Toe-Knee on April 07, 2012, 12:07:14 AM
I just had a go.
Do you think the graph tech is a better way to go than the LSR nut that you find on deluxe strats?
Warmouth would be cool. I'd go with a simple oil finished (satin finish?) mahogany body and maple neck, and like you say, universal route, or even just HSH. I know nothing about trems. Is the wilkinson better in some way than the american standard?

im 26 and im building a strat!

You need to get one of those OOTS bodies. Theres a few HSH ones left lol
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Philly Q on April 07, 2012, 12:10:49 AM
and I'm thinking of buying a strat.
what on earth is wrong with me.


It's true, you have left it a bit late.....
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Attica! on April 07, 2012, 12:15:24 AM
I just had a go.
Do you think the graph tech is a better way to go than the LSR nut that you find on deluxe strats?
Warmouth would be cool. I'd go with a simple oil finished (satin finish?) mahogany body and maple neck, and like you say, universal route, or even just HSH. I know nothing about trems. Is the wilkinson better in some way than the american standard?

Regarding Wilkinson, they are millions of times better than the Vintage or Original Trems. Just read reviews over the net. They are really smooth and hold tuning well. They hold as good as a floyd with locking tuners and a good nut (which I'll get too shortly). You can also get it recessed so you can pull up like a floyd, or just have it laid on the body. Hipshot and Wilkinson are my 2 favourite non-locking trems.

Regarding the nut, I've tried loads, and whilst the LSR works, the Graph Tech Black Tusq XL provides the smoothest, friction-free, string glide, for me personally.

On mahogany, I think an oil finish may work better. I think satin works better on harder woods like maple. I'm sure Feline or someone could give you better advice than me on this subject :)

With the neck, if you get maple, get quatersawn. But seriously consider raw Pau Ferro as the neck wood, andmaybe even the finger board. You don't have to finish this wood, and it has a lifetime guarantee. It's my favourite neck wood, similar sounding to maple. And it feels the fastest neck I've ever played.

But if you don't like the brown cosmetics of Pau Ferro, check out Canary or Afra. They're the tiniest bit warmer than maple, but no where near enough to really notice a major difference. There's descriptions on the Warmoth site. I mentioned these as they're similar in colour to maple, and they also can be played raw with a lifetime guarantee.

Just a few closing comments. As well as having fun designing your own Body & Necks (check the neck bit out if you haven't), check out the Browse & Buy section; it has really good savings. Also have a look at the Soloist too :)

Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 07, 2012, 12:29:51 AM
I can't find an option for oil finishes. Also, raw necks... I guess that means just that. totally open wood with frets banged in, open to the elements?
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Attica! on April 07, 2012, 12:39:48 AM
I can't find an option for oil finishes. Also, raw necks... I guess that means just that. totally open wood with frets banged in, open to the elements?

Sometimes you need to contact Warmoth directly about certain finishes - or you could do it yourself. And yes open wood. But with these exotic woods, they're resistant to wear, so you can have them raw.

If you want to deal with somebody for a more in detail discussion, try USACG. They guy used to be at Warmoth until he went his own way. The prices are the same so you don't have to worry about paying £2000 for a custom guitar. USACG also provide a greater variety of options to customise your guitar with. I just like Warmoth becasue of the Browse & Buy section, and the sites better accesability. But if you're going for something really specific, go with USACG. They also do a Dinky Strat which is really cool.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Philly Q on April 07, 2012, 12:45:12 AM
I can't find an option for oil finishes.

Warmoth don't offer oil finishes - you have to do that yourself.

They'll do gloss or satin, but all the finishes are paint/lacquer.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 07, 2012, 01:14:40 AM
 cheers guys. Ill look around. I like the idea of the raw neck. I think the darker wood would look pretty interesting.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Brow on April 07, 2012, 01:36:46 AM
I'm almost 29 too and already have 5 strats plus several Superstrats, does that make me old before my time?!  :lol:
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Toe-Knee on April 07, 2012, 01:41:01 AM
I'm almost 29 too and already have 5 strats plus several Superstrats, does that make me old before my time?!  :lol:

that makes you aincent
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: 38thBeatle on April 07, 2012, 08:22:28 AM
Just bloody do it.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Frank on April 07, 2012, 08:55:37 AM
I just realised I bought my first Fender strat very nearly 25 years ago and it's still going strong. God I love strats.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Philly Q on April 07, 2012, 09:57:19 AM
My first Strat was a Squier with one humbucker and a 24.75" scale, bought in 1986 (when I was 22).  I still have both the neck and body, but they've been subjected to various indignities like being repainted, routed for extra pickups and carved up for a Kahler tremolo.

Had lots of Strats since then, but I've only got one actual Fender one now, although I do have several Fender necks around the place.

Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Roobubba on April 07, 2012, 02:05:21 PM
24 here and gassing for a tele :S

Oh dear, oh dear.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Madsakre on April 07, 2012, 03:00:29 PM
24 here and gassing for a tele :S

Oh dear, oh dear.

Yeah, i love mashed potatoes too :)
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 08, 2012, 01:10:25 AM
I've been browsing Warmoth. VERY very tempting. how easy are these things to put together? I've never adjusted a truss rod in my life. always thought that was best left to someone else.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Attica! on April 08, 2012, 01:30:53 AM
I've been browsing Warmoth. VERY very tempting. how easy are these things to put together? I've never adjusted a truss rod in my life. always thought that was best left to someone else.


Well you'll have to have it adjusted by someone when you get it set up neways, that's for any guitar, so I wouldn't really worry about that haha. But if you know what you're doing, it's actually quite easy as you adjust it from the side of the neck as to either the nut or at the base of the neck.

Putting them together is totally easy. Just add the screws, mount the bridge on (I'd request the bridge insterts to be inserted for an extra $10 as it's peanuts), and from then it's all standard. :)
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 08, 2012, 01:41:38 AM
cheers. thanks for the pointers!
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Johnny Mac on April 08, 2012, 06:27:26 AM
I wish I was 29 again  :lol:
Strats make nice sounds. I have one but it's not so good playability wise.  I've always wanted a Warmouth Strat. In the off white cream colour, vintage white. White pick gaurd, could go aged there. I'm torn between a birds eye maple fingerboard or rose wood. Trem. Pickups, Apaches or Mothers Milks. Biggish frets. Sperzals.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 08, 2012, 08:21:59 AM
My issue partly, is that I feel very much like a humbucker in the bridge kind of guy. I do however very much enjoy using my charvel with the neck humbucker coil tapped. I don't think I want to get into messing with rails in an old strat, or routing one. I have a plan for a warmoth build but I should shift some stuff first.

As far as strats go, I find myself drawn towards butt ugly 70's ones. heavier the better.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: MrBump on April 08, 2012, 08:48:28 AM
I wish I was 29 again  :lol:
Strats make nice sounds. I have one but it's not so good playability wise.  I've always wanted a Warmouth Strat. In the off white cream colour, vintage white. White pick gaurd, could go aged there. I'm torn between a birds eye maple fingerboard or rose wood. Trem. Pickups, Apaches or Mothers Milks. Biggish frets. Sperzals.

+1 on everything you just said.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Telerocker on April 08, 2012, 11:10:55 AM
I like strats for versality. A HSS-strat (ok, not the purists' choiche) is ideal for my coverband. I have two of them with VHII/Mother's Milk and Crawler/Irish Tours.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: keith on April 08, 2012, 01:53:47 PM
Im bloody ancient ...............and I dont own a strat :D
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Brow on April 08, 2012, 04:40:15 PM
I'm almost 29 too and already have 5 strats plus several Superstrats, does that make me old before my time?!  :lol:

that makes you aincent

Shut up you and build my Timmah!
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: JacksonRR on April 08, 2012, 04:45:12 PM
I'm almost 29 too and already have 5 strats plus several Superstrats, does that make me old before my time?!  :lol:

that makes you aincent

Shut up you and build my Timmah!

Is he making you a Timmy with a South Park graphic? That would be perfect.  :lol:
Perhaps a kill switch on it for the Jimmy side......
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Brow on April 08, 2012, 05:38:01 PM
Is he making you a Timmy with a South Park graphic? That would be perfect.  :lol:
Perhaps a kill switch on it for the Jimmy side......

He is, but no Timmy graphic. I'll prob add something myself somewhere down the line  :lol:
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Toe-Knee on April 08, 2012, 06:42:36 PM
Is he making you a Timmy with a South Park graphic? That would be perfect.  :lol:
Perhaps a kill switch on it for the Jimmy side......

He is, but no Timmy graphic. I'll prob add something myself somewhere down the line  :lol:

You could have had a Timmy graphic etched into it.....

The one so far is dodgy as hell and is working a tad better but its still not ideal im going to restart it sometime this week.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: JacksonRR on April 08, 2012, 06:46:41 PM
 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRnJuRNzg8LB92IfInlSOywUjiqnDE5RxZdeyRkf9JauwqoKbhrH3eY0FCu)
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 12:51:29 AM



LACK OF A STRAT (that isn't a superstrat) SOON TO BE SOLVED! WOO!
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: JacksonRR on April 09, 2012, 02:51:16 AM
Oh what color?
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 03:00:44 AM
natural ash.
not a warmouh.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Johnny Mac on April 09, 2012, 04:22:46 AM
Single coil bridge?
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 07:55:39 AM
yes it is. I dont want to give away too much until i actually have it in my hands. its not a purists strat though.
I'm pretty excited
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Brow on April 09, 2012, 01:12:57 PM
The one so far is dodgy as hell and is working a tad better but its still not ideal im going to restart it sometime this week.

Tbh mate I never even thought about it when we were discussing the pedal  :lol:
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 01:13:29 PM
what is a timmy when it's at home?!
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Elliot on April 09, 2012, 05:42:28 PM
I am almost 40 and don't have a maple fingerboarded strat.  I am feeling somehow like I am lacking something in my life.  Is this mid-life crisis (I do have 4 rosewood boarded strats, however)?
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Philly Q on April 09, 2012, 05:53:45 PM
I am almost 40 and don't have a maple fingerboarded strat.  I am feeling somehow like I am lacking something in my life.  Is this mid-life crisis (I do have 4 rosewood boarded strats, however)?

I'm surprised!  Have you never had a maple board Strat, or just not at the moment?
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 05:55:02 PM
I used to dislike lighter coloured boards on anything, but I dig the look on a strat. wouldn't be correct on a les paul though.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Elliot on April 09, 2012, 08:37:32 PM
Never had one - I was thinking of one of the mex 50s classic strats - but they are often too heavy (being made of cheaper wood) - or an AVRI but they are too expensive given I already have 4 strats..... dilemma!  I have some of those super accurate 'Fender' waterslide decals that were banging around the internet a few years ago...maybe a Warmoth dressed up to look like a Fender (which is important to me).
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 10:29:43 PM
having had my small look into strats, it seems like a bit of a minefield in terms of models, differences between them, build quailty varying so much between guitars of the same year... etc etc... I'm hoping I've got a good one. Picking it up on wednesday. Ash body... i HOPE its heavy.

I figured out that I like the ugliest and least strat like strats.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Philly Q on April 09, 2012, 10:35:05 PM
Ash body... i HOPE its heavy.

If it's a Fender, it probably will be, so you won't be disappointed!  :lol:
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Dmoney on April 09, 2012, 10:39:17 PM
ash with a swimming pool route. either way, it isn't going to be super light. I think I'm safe. I have a gig on thursday. I think if i showed up with the strat people would throw fits.
Title: Re: I'm almost 29 years old
Post by: Elliot on April 10, 2012, 01:05:13 AM
All the American standards I've tried recently have been nicely resonant and light - unlike the Mexican models which have been for weight lifters only (ok an exagération).