"Black Cat Strat" build......

[Superbeast520]

 This is my  "Black Cat Strat"  build in progress....I picked specific details "Tipping the Hat" to some of my favorite players.


 I chose the Reverse Angled Bridge pickup as a nod to Jimi Hendrix.
The Callaham H/SRV Specials for that special Stevie Ray Vaughan sound.
While the Look of the guitar is based on David Gilmour's Famous Black Strat.


The Black Cat Idea is based on the old "Blues Cat" moniker heard spoken by the old Jazz/Blues guys, Thus the Grinning Cat on the Neck Plate (Grinning because I Love my Guitar).


 These are the parts I have so far:


FSR CustomShop Black Engraved Neck Plate, ( I found a Cool-
Grinning Cat on the net and thought it would be a nice
choice for my "Black Cat Strat" so I e-mailed them a pic and they
said no sweat.)

This is their link:  http://www.freeservicerequest.com/index.html


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k278/theoneandonlymechris/016.jpg[/IMG]]


I chose the Callaham Vintage S Model Strat Hardware Kit, nickel with
Super Short Gilmour style length trem bar, 4 1/8" tip to center. I think the best Vintage style Trem on the market.


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k278/theoneandonlymechris/006.jpg[/IMG]]


I decided the Callaham Pickup Assembly was also the best I could find. I have heard it said numerous times.....that Callaham's cryogenically treated stuff sounds better, so I went with the Callaham H/SRV custom winds, which are Fralin pickups wound to Callaham Specs.


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This is the Callaham link: http://www.callahamguitars.com/


I wanted a unique thicker pickguard with a Jimi Hendrix style reverse angled Bridge pickup route, so I had this one Custom Made by Terrapin Guitars.... the Callaham assembly will be transfered over to this pickguard.
Terrapin Guitars Gloss Black Acrylic .125" thick, Custom Pick Guard,
with Reverse Angled bridge pickup and a rounded edge as on the Gilmour Strat.


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k278/theoneandonlymechris/088.jpg[/IMG]]

here's the link to Terrapin Guitars: http://www.terrapinguitars.com/



Im using Mint Green Pickup Covers, Knobs and Trem tip, I like mint green because it looks kinda aged and has a nice vintage vibe to it. I got these at Stew Mac...I didnt know the Callaham assembly would have such a nice mint green look to the covers and knobs or I wouldn't have ordered more...

Heres the Stew mac link: http://www.stewmac.com/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=house_brands


These Tuners are the best I could find with a 21:1 gear ratio, (I wouldv'e went with the Steinbergers and saved $90 and had a 40:1 gear ratio, but I don't like the new changes they've made, it looks to me like their cutting cost by slimming down the design.) I also think a more traditional look will be best for this guitar. Im using a Graph Tech String tree to compliment the Graph Tech Black Tusq XL nut on the neck.

Gotoh Locking 510 Delta Series Tuning Keys, Antique Chrome, 6-in-line, 21:1 gear ratio,
Graph Tech String Tree.


This is the link for these:
http://www.allparts.com/Guitar-and-Bass-Parts-s/334.htm


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k278/theoneandonlymechris/003.jpg[/IMG]]



The Body (shown here) is still in production, its a Warmoth Show Case, One Piece Alder body, 3lbs 7oz. will be finished in Black Gloss by Warmoth, Vintage 6-Hole Trem, S/S/H top route.
I picked this particular Body because of the weight and grain patterns.

I decided not to do a relic job on this guitar, and instead opted to keep it looking fresh and have it finished in poly courtesy of Warmoth, the 3month delay to finish it in Nitro was longer than I was willing to wait, and Warmoth does such a fine job on their finishes I couldn't resist, my thoughts being, if I can't sound good with a guitar of this caliber finished in poly what the heck would a Nitro finish do for me...lol..... and poly last forever.
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The Neck is also still in production at Warmoth and is completely Custom to my specs and goes as follows:

Warmoth AAA Flame Maple
Vintage Modern Strat Style
Fatback Neck Contour
1 5/8th nut width
GraphTech Black TUSQ XL Nut
SS6100 Stainless Steel Frets
22 Fret 10-16" Compound Radius
13/32"  Tuner ream
Black Face Dots
Finished in Vintage Tint Gloss by Warmoth.

this is their link: http://www.warmoth.com/Pages/Guitar.aspx



This is the El Dorado - Black, Gator Strap that is going on the guitar.

This is their link: http://www.eldoradostraps.com/

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k278/theoneandonlymechris/087-1.jpg[/IMG]]


http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=11714.msg159900  ..........you can view the finished guitar here.

 

[whyachi]

That "cool grinning cat," is the Cheshire Cat from American McGee's Alice, if you were wondering.

 

[Unwound G]

Is your Strat going to be black with a one piece Maple neck or something more exotic ?

 

[Superbeast520]

That "cool grinning cat," is the Cheshire Cat from American McGee's Alice, if you were wondering.

I didn't know that..... Thanks!! .... that makes it even cooler...appreciated!!! :icon_thumright:

Its pretty much going to be a Gilmour style strat with custom features.....

 

[Kei]

he tuners are awesome.. loving it

 

[Superbeast520]

Got a Cool Strap from El Dorado today....just in case anyone was wondering what their Black Gator Strap looked like.....turns out its a flat looking black which is a bit different than they picture it on their site, was kinda wanting more of a gloss shine to it, if anyone knows how to do that to leather appreciate you chiming in......

 

[bbl4ck]

Ya got a lot of nice things going on with that Black Cat...
I will be waiting with baited bweath to see her finished.
:kewlpics: :rock-on:

 

[Superbeast520]

Switched the Callaham Pickup Assembly over to the Black Acrylic Pickguard last night.

I ended up using the Stew Mac Plastic covers and knobs, they were just a bit less Mint Green than the Callaham covers and knobs and thought they looked better.

The Stew Mac Mint Green knobs have Black writing on the controlls were as the Callaham knobs were lettered in gold, so I figured the Black would carry over through the guitars color scheme better.

I used an old worn out piece of sanding paper to take off the shine on the covers and knobs, I also rounded all the square edges to give them an aged, comfortable feel and appearance.


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[Dan025]

i like the reverse bridge pup, i never liked the shrillness of the fender angle with light strings. maybe it sounded better in the 50's when strings were heavier. giving the pup some distance from the saddle on the high e must balance the output better and give some much needed tone to the bridge pup. i will try this when i get a new body for my strat.

 

[Superbeast520]

Dont forget that if you go for the reverse angled bridge pickup option you'll need to get the body routed as a humbucker by Warmoth or route the reverse angle yourself, Warmoth dosn't offer the reverse bridge as a routing option so I asked for a standard humbucker route in the bridge of my strat body (which Im patiently waiting to be finished...lol). though you could always call and see if they'll do a custom route for ya......

 

[rockskate4x]

That's not true. They have reversed angled strat bridge pickup rout as an option in the configurator when you buy any strat body in the showcase

 

[Superbeast520]

Yes it appears they do, they must have just added that because I bought a showcase body and it didn't offer me that route option, also it is not shown as an option in the pickup route options page.

I myself couldn't have opted for it anyway due to the fact my body was already top routed for typical strat configuration thus I had to choose the humbucker route,or at least that is the only option it offered me at the time...january 29th 2010 when I ordered...... .....they really should put that info on their pickup route options page as well, maybe someone can bring that to their attention.

So yes correction.....  then the reverse angled bridge route is an option in the "body builder" route options.  Thanks for the correction.

 

[Superbeast520]

Ok so I got My body, it is awesome, 3lbs 7oz, Gloss Black, One piece Alder...I did all the sheilding, installed all the electronics, and installed all the hardware it is F****IN KILLER!!!  ....and low and behold I just recieved a confirmation and tracking number and Walla!!  the Neck arrives tommorrow!!!  NICE!!!  ....completely Custom, AAA Flame Maple and only a 7week wait time....not bad, not bad at all, and even after all their sale buys and holiday orders were in effect....Muah!!!  I love you Warmoth!!!  Im so gosh Darn happy!!! ....Yahoo.....lol :toothy10:

  Pics will be done after full completion and posted in the Strat Gallery..very soon....

 

[Superbeast520]

 It is very hard getting good pics of Gloss Black and I already suck at the camera thing so heres some shots to give the general Idea of the build Im working on.....

I have already scraped the finish from the frets with my thumb nails, and as you can see it is a darker vintage tint gloss finish on the neck...just as I requested in my order notes, as well as the grain running length wise which I also requested, now thats customer service.

The neck is AAA Flame Maple for the record and the box and all only weighed 2.20 lbs so the neck is very,very light, once I get it all assembled and setup Im gonna weigh it and see how much the guitars total weight comes to.

I love Warmoth!!!   :headbang:

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[mullyman]

Nice looking guitar, man. I had the neck plate for my 5150 Kramer done at the same place you did yours. William does great work.
MULLY

 

[Superbeast520]

That looks awesome Mully....ya he did an awesome job for sure.....that is very Cool!!!!  :icon_thumright:

 

[AutoBat]

the little baby sized trem bar is adorable.

 

[Patrick]

^  :laughing3:

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Be nice, David Gilmour uses the short trem bar, enough said!!  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Superbeast520]

It is the David Gilmour Trem bar from Callaham Guitars, I only use it for vibrato and have no need for a pry bar....