24 3/4 conversion strat

[fuzznut]

Almost done!  :bananaguitar: Waiting for a string tree, a new nut  :tard:, and a headstock decal I ordered from the UK.

 

[rgand]

Very nice! I like the look. Good job. :icon_thumright:

 

[fuzznut]

Thanks, right now it looks like pine  :icon_tongue: It'll take a couple of years to darken to a nice caramel/butterscotch color.

 

[Cagey]

'Tis a fine thing you have built, Mr. Nut. That really came out nice.

Doesn't look like you put strap locks on there. Hate to see that lovely instrument that you have eleventy-bajillion hours into go flying during a particularly animated bit of stagecraft.

 

[fdesalvo]

Planet Waves tuners, never had them before so I figured I would try them. Cuts the strings off too, which is good because I have several mini dikes that are ruined from cutting strings. Anyone have any opinions on these?

I DID say I would duplicate my other guitar, but I'm getting kinda tired of all this black hardware 

Excellent work!  The PW tuners are great - enjoyed them on a former build.  The little ball bearings are there to help you orient the string in the dark.

 

[fuzznut]

'Tis a fine thing you have built, Mr. Nut. That really came out nice.

Doesn't look like you put strap locks on there. Hate to see that lovely instrument that you have eleventy-bajillion hours into go flying during a particularly animated bit of stagecraft.

Thanks! I have big-button strap pins on there which are good enough, as I am slightly less animated than John Entwistle  :laughing3:

 

[fuzznut]

Excellent work!  The PW tuners are great - enjoyed them on a former build.  The little ball bearings are there to help you orient the string in the dark.

Thanks! They are nice, just a little heavy. I think they weigh more than the Sperzels I have on another guitar.

 

[fuzznut]

I have been playing this guitar nonstop for a week, it's amazing how addictive a good neck is  :toothy11:

I still have to dress the fret ends and put on a graphtech nut and string tree, if they ever get here. The tuners pull the strings low, so I'm thinking I don't even need the string tree.

Here's the tongue-in-cheek headstock decal  :laughing7:

 

[Cagey]

Nice decals. I think I might adopt the "Genuine Guitar Parts" annotation  :laughing7:

 

[BigSteve22]

Very nice decal! Rothco & Frost?

 

[rgand]

Looks good. Nice job on those decals.

 

[fuzznut]

Yes Rothko and Frost.

 

[fuzznut]

Here it is, the totally original "guitar up against a tree" photo.  :laughing3: The more I look at this, the more I think, "I can't wait to spray tinted lacquer"  :toothy10: :laughing7: :help:

 

[Cagey]

That's a genuine American Beauty! Now, if you wanna truly amaze your friends even more,  then before you tint the lacquer pull the tuners and mask the headstock so only the face is showing, and bury those decals in clear. You need about 3 - 4 coats before you start sanding, then sand w/ 320, shoot a coat, sand w/ 320, shoot a coat about 6 or 7 times. When you can't see the edges of the decals any more, sand w/ 600/800/1200. Then buff it out w/ compound, then polish.

 

[stratamania]

That has turned out well Mr Fuzznut.

I was looking at the bark of the tree is that tree an American variant of oak, or something else ?

 

[fuzznut]

That has turned out well Mr Fuzznut.

I was looking at the bark of the tree is that tree an American variant of oak, or something else ?

It's an American Sycamore.

 

[BigSteve22]

Here it is, the totally original "guitar up against a tree" photo...

Turned out beautifully!

Soooo... It was a strat, now it is a strat with some design liberties  :icon_tongue:

Especially the "design liberties."

Congrats on your new toy, and a job very well done!
:icon_thumright:

 

[stratamania]

That has turned out well Mr Fuzznut.

I was looking at the bark of the tree is that tree an American variant of oak, or something else ?

It's an American Sycamore.

Thanks...

 

[fuzznut]

That's a genuine American Beauty! Now, if you wanna truly amaze your friends even more,  then before you tint the lacquer pull the tuners and mask the headstock so only the face is showing, and bury those decals in clear. You need about 3 - 4 coats before you start sanding, then sand w/ 320, shoot a coat, sand w/ 320, shoot a coat about 6 or 7 times. When you can't see the edges of the decals any more, sand w/ 600/800/1200. Then buff it out w/ compound, then polish.

Thanks for this, the tinted lacquer was in reference to the next build, the limba hardtail. But definitely lacquer everything, the neck should be clear since roasted maple has a nice dark look to begin with. What about before applying the decal? What is your suggestion for the perfect base prep to apply the decal?

 

[fuzznut]

Here it is, the totally original "guitar up against a tree" photo...

Turned out beautifully!

Soooo... It was a strat, now it is a strat with some design liberties  :icon_tongue:

Especially the "design liberties."

Congrats on your new toy, and a job very well done!
:icon_thumright:

Thanks, I was worried that the the "design liberties" would unbalance the guitar, but even with those heavy tuners it still feels balanced. No SG neck dive  :icon_tongue:

As suspected, the humbucker 2 and 4 positions, while interesting sounding, are pretty unusable as they are half the volume of 1-3-5. I can't believe how stratty-sounding the thing is with humbuckers, I think it's begging me to put a single coil in the neck position  :laughing11: The neck is very resonant for a modern construction neck, and lighter in weight, maybe I can specify fast-growth maple for my next neck?  :icon_biggrin: Overall I'm happier than a pig in processed food  :toothy12: :toothy12: