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Author Topic: New Strat Day! (sort of)  (Read 3099 times)

Philly Q

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New Strat Day! (sort of)
« on: August 30, 2008, 04:39:22 PM »
For a while now I've been wittering on about getting a maple-neck, big headstock Strat (mainly because I've become childishly obsessed with the look of the '70s Fender logo  :oops: ).

I thought about getting an MIJ ST72, but you never see them anywhere and I had my doubts about the vintage radius and small frets.  I was also quite keen on the Billy Corgan Signature, but I didn't really want the DiMarzio rails pickups and it seemed silly to buy a signature guitar then ditch the only unique feature.

In the end I decided to do what gwEm recently did and bought a Highway 1 neck, which is now sitting on my '99 American Standard:



                              Before                                                               After


What d'you think?  Robin Trower meets Robert Cray meets EVH(?). 

Are the black parts a bit much on the light coloured neck and body?  Would white look better?

I may still put the '99 back as it was and get another body to go with the maple neck.
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maverickf1jockey

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2008, 04:42:57 PM »
I like it.
It has a Ritchie Blackmore vibe to it with the black coil covers.

Strats, or any fender for that matter, have never looked right to me with a rosewood neck as opposed to a maple.
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noodleplugerine

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2008, 04:58:55 PM »
I think that looks pretty damn good!
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Crazy_Joe

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2008, 05:13:44 PM »
I think it looks awesome!
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Black Dogs

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38thBeatle

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2008, 06:05:40 PM »
Looking good Philly.
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Philly Q

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2008, 06:13:28 PM »
Thanks gents.  :D

Nobody thinking I should go for white parts, then?  I must say I've always liked the contrast of white parts on a dark-coloured plate and vice versa, that way you can see them from a distance!
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roland_rat

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2008, 06:20:33 PM »
Looks good, looks nice job how you swapped to the humbuckler too.
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hunter

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2008, 06:40:45 PM »


Noice. I also like 70s headstocks ... only few do though ..

What is gonna happen to the old neck?
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FernandoDuarte

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2008, 06:41:10 PM »
Don't like the HSS configuration, beside it, it's gorgeous!
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Philly Q

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2008, 07:00:32 PM »
Quote from: hunter on August 30, 2008, 06:40:45 PM
What is gonna happen to the old neck?

Nothing, for the moment! 

It's still 50/50 whether I keep this as it is (but with a new bridge pickup), or get another body and build a whole new Strat.  I'd quite like to have one Strat with a tremolo, even though I'm not that fond of them.
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Ian Price

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2008, 07:56:12 PM »
Philly - I love it. Going through a bit of a Fender phase at the moment and this has got my juices flowing.  :o
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AndyR

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2008, 11:24:13 AM »
It looks really good as is Philly :D

And that's saying a fair bit from me, considering the following:
I prefer the look of rosewood boards on strats
I much prefer the 60s headstock
I don't seem to like how Fender have added another fret, always looks odd to me (otherwise I would have bought a Highway myself last year)
HSS is not my cup of tea at all!

Given all that, this one looks kinda right - and definitely not white parts with that scratchplate.

But I've just got this feeling that you're not wholly convinced, and that you will end up putting it back as was and get the new body! :wink:
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sambo

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2008, 11:35:15 AM »
I love the before and after equally as much. Both look really, really good.
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Philly Q

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2008, 11:45:53 AM »
Quote from: AndyR on August 31, 2008, 11:24:13 AM
But I've just got this feeling that you're not wholly convinced, and that you will end up putting it back as was and get the new body! :wink:

Hmmm, you know me too well Andy!  :lol:

I just have a feeling that this neck and HSS scratchplate would look even better on a black body.  And I do fancy a tremolo, maybe one of the Gotoh vintage/modern ones like John Suhr uses.  And I'm feeling sort of guilty about dumping the rosewood neck after nearly 10 years of service. 

On the other hand, the look is growing on me, and it does sound good - acoustically, that is, none of the electronics are even wired up at the moment....

But thanks for the favourable comments, despite all the features you wouldn't normally like!  :)   :lol:
I've always preferred 22 frets and maple boards (though I do like rosewood almost as much). 
The big headstock is just a current obsession, I've totally gone off the '50s/'60s shape at the moment for some reason (but I have these phases with guitars - e.g. sometimes I like vintage hardware but other times I like more high-tech modern stuff).
As for the HSS setup, I normally don't like mixing HBs and SCs but again, it just felt right to make this one a bit more modern, versatile and "functional".

Quote from: sambo on August 31, 2008, 11:35:15 AM
I love the before and after equally as much. Both look really, really good.

Cheers Sam!  :D
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dave_mc

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Re: New Strat Day! (sort of)
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2008, 12:48:11 PM »
i think i prefer the rosewood one, but (as usual) i'm not certain. :lol:
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