1st Time Ordering - Hardtail Strat Questions

[icebomb]

Hello Guys and Girls,

Since i can't find a strat i like i decided to make a partscaster :icon_smile:
It will be a hardtail HSH with a 12" radius 1-5/8" nut warhead neck.

I have a few questions and i thank you for your answers in advance.

What is the difference between the vintage and narrow bridge ?
Would the american standart bridge align with a humbucker pickups pole pieces ?
Is there a gap or overlap between a hardtail bridge and a warmoth pickguard when installed ?
How similar is the standart thin neck shape to fender modern c ?

Thanks again in advance.

 

[rgand]

Sounds like a good project. Looking forward to seeing your progress. I got the standard thin with mine. It's a little skinny for my hands so next time, I'll go with a boatneck or even a fatback.

 

[stratamania]

Welcome.

What is the difference between the vintage and narrow bridge ?

A narrow bridge has narrower string spacing unlike a vintage where the E strings end up close to the edge of the fretboard and can slip over the edge.  I'd suggest narrow spaced.

Would the american standart bridge align with a humbucker pickups pole pieces ?

Research F spaced humbuckers.

Is there a gap or overlap between a hardtail bridge and a warmoth pickguard when installed ?

Can't comment on this as I don't have a Warmoth hardtail other than a Tele.

How similar is the standart thin neck shape to fender modern c ?

I would say the Fender has a slightly rounder shoulder, but thickness wise it's similar.

I'd also recommend stainless steel frets and consider getting a compound radius neck. I have other guitars with 12" radius, but the compound is definitely worth a think about.

 

[icebomb]

Welcome.

Would the american standart bridge align with a humbucker pickups pole pieces ?

Research F spaced humbuckers.

I'd also recommend stainless steel frets and consider getting a compound radius neck. I have other guitars with 12" radius, but the compound is definitely worth a think about.

Seems like jb has an f-spaced version. I always thought trembucker meant it was for tremolo bridges. Thanks for your driections.
I set up my guitars myself so i can't be bothered with the conical shape of the compound radius. I don't do much shred stuff at the heel anyway.

 

[Cagey]

I set up my guitars myself so i can't be bothered with the conical shape of the compound radius. I don't do much shred stuff at the heel anyway.

The conical shape of a compound radius neck actually makes it easier to set up. It's also substantially easier to play. Then, if you put stainless frets on it, it gets even easier to play and they last forever unless you play 65 hours a day. In that case, they only last a million years. Contrary to the opinions of the kids on Harmony Central, they don't change the tone at all. Seriously - they're a no-brainer. You gotta have 'em. The only downside to them is if you don't have the proper tools to work with stainless, as they'll rapidly wear anything designed work with the relatively soft nickel-silver fretwire.

 

[icebomb]

I set up my guitars myself so i can't be bothered with the conical shape of the compound radius. I don't do much shred stuff at the heel anyway.

The conical shape of a compound radius neck actually makes it easier to set up. It's also substantially easier to play. Then, if you put stainless frets on it, it gets even easier to play and they last forever unless you play 65 hours a day. In that case, they only last a million years. Contrary to the opinions of the kids on Harmony Central, they don't change the tone at all. Seriously - they're a no-brainer. You gotta have 'em. The only downside to them is if you don't have the proper tools to work with stainless, as they'll rapidly wear anything designed work with the relatively soft nickel-silver fretwire.

I am getting ss frets why would you assume i wasn't  :dontknow:
Neck radius is a personal preference. I played a jackson with a compund radius and the radius change felt unnatural, it is not for me. And as i've said i don't know how to set it up.

 

[GearBoxTy]

I went with the vintage hardtail bridge and kind of wish I went with the narrow-spaced in retrospect.

As far as the bridge gap/overlap in respect to the pickguard, it doesn't on mine!

 

[Cagey]

I am getting ss frets why would you assume i wasn't  :dontknow:

For some reason, I can't see where you specified that, but I didn't know you were getting stainless frets. If so, good for you! They're the best.

Neck radius is a personal preference. I played a jackson with a compund radius and the radius change felt unnatural, it is not for me. And as i've said i don't know how to set it up.

I can't imagine how it would feel unnatural. Generally speaking, it goes in the opposite direction - it feels much more natural. But if that's how it feels to you, then you might want to avoid it until you have more time on the instrument, to where you can appreciate the advantage it brings. Not how I would do it - I always want the best asap. No sense in fighting with sub-par designs.

As for as knowing how to set a compound radius neck up, it's not any different than setting up an old-fashioned neck. If you've set up necks before, you already have all the skills you need. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the bridge may need a flatter radius than most are supplied at. A standard compound radius neck from Warmoth runs from 10" to 16", so at the bridge, you end up needing about an 18" radius to keep the cone constant. Most fixed bridges (Tune-O-Matics, Floyds, etc.) are designed for a 12" radius, which is too tight and they don't give you any way to fix that other than grinding slot saddles, or in the case of Floyds, shims. But, any bridge with height-adjustable saddles isn't a problem. You can have any radius you want.

Don't get me wrong - I'm sure you know what makes you happy. I'm only ranting because the improvement you can get is dramatic and I'd hate to see anyone miss out on that. Just because you played a guitar that probably wasn't properly set up, don't ignore the potential of evolutionary change. It's slow coming, but a lot of "standard" guitar knowledge is horse pucky when it comes to electrics.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I built a Warmoth hardtail Strat.
The narrow (American Standard) bridge is the way to go. This prevents the E-strings) especially the high-E) from sliding off the fretboard. It lines up with a Fender-spaced humbucker just fine.

The Standard Thin is really close to the current production Fender neck.