Author Topic: My custom guitar project: The Splorocaster! (Read 8470 times)

Steve Kinsen · « **on:** August 25, 2007, 07:21:15 PM »

For a long time I've wanted two things: a truly high level Strat-style guitar, and a unique guitar that I can really call my own. Last summer I spent a few hours (days, weeks, whatever) on mocking up the instrument that'd fulfill all my desires at once: the Splorocaster!

The only problem is that I have no idea where to start. To keep costs down I'm considering putting a Warmoth neck on it, but that's about as far as my plans towards actually putting this thing together go. What's the best place to get the body made? How do I make sure that all the routings and holes are drilled to the right size and shape? How the heck do I go about turning this thing into a guitar?

Here're the mockups (one of the body and routings, one of the finished guitar):

Will the shape of the body have a big impact on whether it can get the Strat tone? Is there any reason this particular design would cause me any problems? Cheers, guys!

P.S. In the time since I last looked at it, I've noticed that a few things are a little off in the design (the curve on the outside of the jack socket/scratchplate is a little flat, little things like that). Assume I'll sort them out!

P.P.S. The pickups, of course, will be BKs.

)

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2007, 07:26:31 PM »

It depends what you consider the "strat tone".

If you mean traditional traditional strat tone - I'd want a one piece neck with matching or no fretboard wood - Look at Wez's thread for the kind of thing I mean.

Presumeably you're going to get a different sound from the body - Simply because it will be a different sized and shaped piece of wood.

the_bleeding · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2007, 08:19:20 PM »

arent "real" strats hollowed out? if so, shape will have an effect on tone.

Steve Kinsen · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2007, 08:46:14 PM »

Quote from: the_bleeding

arent "real" strats hollowed out? if so, shape will have an effect on tone.

'Hollowed out'? Traditional Strats only have the same routing (with some minor changes) that my design has: if you're referring to a hollow body or sound chambers then no, "real" Strats have neither.

WezV · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2007, 11:20:02 AM »

it wont sound exactly like a strat because of the wood missing from behind the bridge - i would think it will be close enough especially with all the strat electronics

i suggest having a go at making a body yourself. have a look at this book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Own-Electric-Guitar/dp/0953104907/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/202-9936786-5509408?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188123507&sr=8-1

your design is quite easy to do - i would invest in some strat templates and use them to make a new template for your design

dave_mc · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2007, 02:54:20 PM »

no idea about the construction issues, but that actually looks really nice! :twisted:

Ted · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2007, 07:06:01 PM »

Warmoth may be able to do that body for you. Drop em a line. They're real nice...

8)

Orkestra · « **Reply #7 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:14:26 AM »

that's a great looking axe!

maverickf1jockey · « **Reply #8 on:** August 27, 2007, 01:03:17 PM »

Thank goodness you resisted the temptation to make it pointy like a BCRich Warlock.

Only criticism is that you didn't change the neck block.
If you are buying from warmoth get a maple fretboard (they look, sound and feel better) and get an angled headstock (better tuning stability when playing with whammy - you'll probably play with it a bit). Also consider a knife edge bridge like a wilkinson (same footprint and routings, I think, and far better if you plan on any whammy play).
What Pickups did you have planned for it?
A guitar like that looks like it's begging for higher output stuff like Uber Sinners.
Consider playing with finishes as Tim could do you a Camo pickguard and Pickups. It could look quite cool. Just play around with the mock-up until you find the colour you like most.

WezV · « **Reply #9 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:08:54 PM »

Quote

If you are buying from warmoth get a maple fretboard (they look, sound and feel better)

well thats a pretty subjective thing to say aint it - i think lots of people would disagree with you

maverickf1jockey · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:17:18 PM »

I meant in the realm of fender style guitars.
I really cringe at the sight of rosewood on fenders. To be authentic to the original sound and look you need a single piece of maple for the neck IMO.
Oh and I say they are more comfortable as they are softer and so form perfectly to the shape of your hands in a matter of months rather than years.
Plus my maverick is the best guitar I have ever played for tone and quality and it smokes any of the more regular, rosewood, guitars I have come across bar my friends EBMM Petrucci sig, which it just edges past.

WezV · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:29:11 PM »

yeah i agree some fenders definately look better with maple. personally though its the softness of maple that i think makes it unsuitable when compared to other fretboard woods. wear is an issue with any fretboard eventually but more so with maple, partly because its softer but also because its lighter in colour. Thats reportedly the reason fender switched to more traditional rosewood, leo didnt like the look of the worn maple boards.

Tonally i have to say i prefer stuff like ziracote which is a good alternative to brazilian rosewood - it seems to have the right balance of warmth and attack. Indian rosewood is a good second though - its just more dull to look at and sometimes needs a bit more care to keep it feeling nice

maverickf1jockey · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:45:10 PM »

I suppose you have the upper hand in this debate as you have more experience playing with alternative fretboard materials but I will say that a thrashed maple fretboard is akin to a really old pair of trainers: they smell a bit weird, are faded and greyish but are just so comfortable you just can't bear to get rid of them. :twisted:
Oh and BTW my shoes have only just worn in after a few weeks wear so don't try to throw doubt upon my personal hygiene or foot odour :shock:

WezV · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:59:49 PM »

my point is really that it all comes down to personal preference rather than any being better or worse than the other.

i do like old worn maple necks, but its not really the look or sound i have aimed for on any of the guitars i have built so far.

From my experience lots of people really dont like maple boards because they either dont like playing on a lacquered surface or they dont want a guitar that wears so easily - but then there are also the lots of people like you that do like them

Steve Kinsen · « **Reply #14 on:** August 27, 2007, 06:27:36 PM »

I do like the look of darker fretboard woods, but I like the hardness and brightness of maple. In the end I'll probably get ebony: maple tone and feel, with (better than) rosewood looks.

I'll certainly be doing a lot of trem/vib arm stuff (I'm a complete Jeff Beck freak), but I can't stand Floyds for the life of me. What's the best 'conventional' vibrato arm system? That Wilkinson bridge sounds interesting, but I'd need to know a bit more about it.

I know the guitar looks a little metal, but it's going to mainly be a funk and blues instrument: I'm a bit of a metalhead at heart, and the design's my way of getting that across even when I'm playing cleaner stuff! In terms of pickups, I was actually thinking fairly low output: certainly not original '54 reissues (I find the tone too brittle to be flexible), but a little hotter and warmer than that. Probably a set of Mother's Milks, but I'll have to see. Are Bare Knuckles as dominant in single-coil manufacture as they are in humbucker manufacture?

Oh, and Maverick: why would I want to change the neck block? I honestly don't know enough to make a judgment at this point.