Strat Project

[Bloozcat]

Howdy folks...

I haven't posted in a while, and my many projects have been just sitting...until now.

I began a Strat project last year from parts I'd been collecting. When I put the project on the shelf, I had not yet finished the neck. I chose to finish the neck in nitro lacquer, which is not always easy here with the usually high humidity. Well, I lucked out as our notoriously hot and humid season started a little late this year, and I was able to finish the neck and finally the guitar. During my haitus, I have also picked up a digital camera, so I can now post pictures of my "projects" as I finish them. Here's a few of the "new" Strat beginning with the neck:

 

[ted s]

Wow !! Looks great Bloozcat !, can you tell us a little bit abot the parts you had been accumulating ? thanks

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Man, absofrigginlutely gorgeorus! I love that neck. Looks like something all its own. Thanks for sharing the pics!

 

[Bloozcat]

Wow !! Looks great Bloozcat !, can you tell us a little bit abot the parts you had been accumulating ? thanks

Well, all of the parts except the pickups and bridge are Fender parts, a Fender licensed part, or Fender spec'd parts.

The neck is a licensed by Fender replacement neck by Mighty Mite. It's a mediun "C" back with jumbo frets, a 9-1/2" radius, and an 1-11/16" nut width. It came with just a light clear finish which I removed. I then re-did the neck in the dark amber nitro tint that you see in the pictures.

The bridge is a Wilkinson/Gotoh vintage style with a steel tremolo block. I went with this bridge because I like the 2-1/8" string spread.

The pickups were custom wound by a guy name Jeremy Cusick (Gtarman Pickups) who no longer winds pickups...which is a shame because he's good at it.

The Fender spec'd parts are the CTS pots, the CRL switch, and the vintage cloth covered wiring I used.

The guitar body is a MIM ash that was parted out from a new guitar. Same with the Fender tuning keys, strap buttons, input jack and cup. The neck plate which is a "Fender Corona California" I bought new, along with the Fender American Series string trees, the pickup covers, the pick guard, and the rear tremolo cover.

I debated over the headstock decal, but I figured that since the guitar was almost completely Fender, I'd go with a Fender decal. I've seen a lot of guitars that were far less Fender with the headstock decal, so I thought that it wasn't really out of line on this one.

An interesting side note: While I was finishing the neck, I had a Warmoth neck on the guitar temporarily so that I could play it and try everthing else out. I've heard it debated that for some reason Warmoth necks can be a little "dead" sounding. The speculation is that it's Warmoth's double truss rod that's the culprit. I sort of wondered with this Warmoth neck of mine as it has never had a very clear, crisp, tone to it (or so I always thought). Well for all of the bad things I've heard people say about the Mighty Mite necks, the one that's now on this guitar is far superior in tone to the Warmoth neck that I had on the guitar temporarily. For the record, I've used 3-MM necks and all three have been very good necks. I automatically did a fret dressing when I got them, but that's a pretty common thing to do on any new neck, unless it's advertised as already done and ready to bolt on. Same story with the nuts. They're usually just adequately slotted and not fine tuned for your instrument when you get them. That was true of the nut on this guitar as well. I did re-file and fine tune the nut, but since it's cheap plastic, I'll be replacing it with bone pretty soon.

The guitar sounds really good too. It's nice and spanky but it also has a rich presence to the tone. It's the first ash body Strat that I've owned (played many though), and I really like the way it sounds.

 

[stingx]

Wow. I really like the look of that guitar. That's extremely nice. :R

 

[Bloozcat]

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

I was wondering why the pictures look a little fuzzy, so I checked my camera. Instead of being on "auto", it was on a manual setting. So, the focus was a little off. This camera (Cannon PowerShot S3 IS) takes really good pictures, so I'm going to shoot some more and re-post.

 

[Tim]

Hey Bloozcat - welcome back. Good looking ax there my friend. My Squire Custom Tele still sounds good after the pot and cap replacements which you recommended. Maybe you can post a few sound bites of that guitar when you get the chance.

 

[M29]

Hello Bloozcat!

Good to see ya back and that Strat looks Great!!! I can't wait to see more of your work. Thank you for all your help in the past too. Beautiful combination and top notch finish!

M29

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Whoa Bloozcat!!!

From time to time we have wondered where you went. Stay around this time!

Freakin' beautiful axe dood!

 

[Spudman]

What a body! I love it. Top notch looking axe you got there.

 

[Robert]

Looks very sweet. Hey, that blue body looks similar to my Players Deluxe! Ash looks great.

Hope YOU like it!

 

[Bloozcat]

Looks very sweet. Hey, that blue body looks similar to my Players Deluxe! Ash looks great.

Hope YOU like it!

The body is from a Players Deluxe Strat, Robert. I can't take any credit for the finish on the body, that goes to Fender. The body was from a new Players Deluxe Strat that was parted out. The neck finish however, I did do.

Unfortunately, we're now into our hot and humid season, so without a climate controlled indoor facility, I won't be doing any spray painting for a while. Come the fall, I'll be finishing up the clear coats on my Koa Strat clone, and re-finishing the Warmoth neck that goes with it. I was never happy with the way the finish looked on that guitar, so on the mod bench it goes! And I still have a USACG body and another neck waiting in the wings for another Strat clone project. So many projects, so little time...

I've always said that this modding is like Malaria. It goes away for awhile, but it always comes back...and just as strong as ever!

So, now it's on to the Valve Jr. project that's been waiting. I bought all the parts last year, so I'm good to go. I'm way behind there with so many here having modded theirs already...and some of you with multiple VJ's, no less.

BTW, it's good to be back, and good to hear from you all...

 

[Jimi75]

To be honest - this is one of the most beautiful guitars I have seen in a long time!

The entire composition is perfect. like a 5 star menu!

I would like to hear some soundclips, just from the looks, this thing must sound like heaven!

 

[duhvoodooman]

GORGEOUS, BC!!! Wow, that neck looks just fabulous, and I love blue guitars. Beautiful Strat you've made there, my friend!

 

[Mark]

That is some clean work my friend! Enjoy!!

 

[oldguy]

Absolutely gorgeous! :R R
Glad you're back, good to hear from you, Blooz!

 

[250Keith]

Very nice Guitar, I like the color alot!
By the way are you the same Bloozcat that has that big thread on the Blues 30 ? if you are good thread! did you finaly find the best tubes for the amp? please share, I have been trying to find the Valve standard, but no luck so the Blues 30 is it, by next thursday I'll have the cash to get it.
Keith.

 

[Bloozcat]

Very nice Guitar, I like the color alot!
By the way are you the same Bloozcat that has that big thread on the Blues 30 ? if you are good thread! did you finaly find the best tubes for the amp? please share, I have been trying to find the Valve standard, but no luck so the Blues 30 is it, by next thursday I'll have the cash to get it.
Keith.

Yep, one in the same. Rather than stray from the topic I've sent you a PM about the BC 30, Keith.

My first pictures were a little fuzzy, so I re-shot some:

As you can see from this picture, I have to do a final clear coat over the decal to smooth it out.

...and this one has the added bonus of my fingers, the lens cap, and some of my U of M shirt in the reflection...

 

[duhvoodooman]

...and this one has the added bonus of my fingers, the lens cap, and some of my U of M shirt in the reflection....

Not to worry! Spudman is always breaking my ***** about me posting pictures of myself taking pictures!

BTW, BC, can you edit that third link so that it works correctly? There's an extra "http://" in there....

 

[Tim]

All links worked fine on this end (even the fingers and such photo).