'54 Z-Caster

[Patriot54]

Concept/Mockup thread: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=19958.0
Just Out of the Box thread: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=20192.0
Discussing 1954 Fender Burst thread: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=19242.msg283407#msg283407

All the details of this build are explained and discussed in the previous concept thread, but to sum it up I'm going for something like this, a "vintage" Z:

The first photo is where I took a normal Strat pickguard and traced it onto the body. The reason is because I want to keep the control placement as close as possible to a Strat. You can see how the bottom tone knob needs to be moved up and over, and the switch placement is halfway off the body so that needs to be moved way up.

Second photo shows a mockup of the Z pickguard made out of paper. Not quite perfect yet but pretty close to what I want - now I'm just trying to make it look good around that lower horn bevel. I probably won't cut the real pickguard until I have the neck and bridge in place, but this will show me enough so I can draw the top rout shape.

I'm excited about this one - it just got delivered at 10am this morning so that's not bad for a few hours work. Plus my last build took just over a year, so I'm trying to get this one done quickly and move on to other projects.

My only concern right now is if I can twist that part of the control rout, still have it look good, AND fit normal size pots in there. If not, I think I can make it narrower, use mini-pots, and it'll look ok in the end with the pickguard covering everything.

 

[bagman67]

Consider a French curve to draw smooth curving lines instead of swerving.  You can pick one up in an art supply shop for a couple bucks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEZ2xEJKgzU might give you some ideas.

 

[Patriot54]

Consider a French curve to draw smooth curving lines instead of swerving.  You can pick one up in an art supply shop for a couple bucks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEZ2xEJKgzU might give you some ideas.

Thanks - I'll be near an art store later today so I'll check it out.

 

[Patriot54]

Just ordered the neck..... this is about as vintage as I can get, inside and out, except I'm not sure if '54 Strats had steel or nickel fretwire so I went with steel. And I e-mailed John about bone nuts but they only sell the blanks and I wanted to keep it simple for now. I searched for info comparing corian and TUSQ but couldn't find any major advantages to either one so I figured corian seemed more old school.

Specs:
Style: Stratocaster
Construction: Total Vintage
Scale: 25-1/2 in.
Neck Wood: ONE-PIECE FLAME MAPLE  :icon_thumright:
Orientation: Right Handed
Nut Width: 1 5/8"
Back Shape: Fatback
Radius: Straight 7.25" (vintage)
# of Frets: 21
Fret Size: SS6230 (Stainless)
Tuner Ream: Vintage Style (11/32")
Inlays: Black Face Dots
Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: White Corian
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Finish: No Finish

I've been contemplating plain maple vs flame maple for this neck - at first I thought the flame might be too busy looking for a vintage neck. But since I already have one plain maple neck, and will probably have another one on a future project I'm planning, I decided to pay a few extra bucks and make this one special. Since it is a one-piece, there's no Unique Choices to look at so I'll have to be surprised when it's delivered.

I'm having it sent unfinished because I used Tru-Oil on my first maple Strat neck and it has a nice golden vintage look to it so I'll probably do that again. Or maybe hand-rubbed poly with a little tint in it. Some of the vintage neck finishes I see in the showcase look way too yellow and I assume that's supposed to replicate an aged neck anyway which I'm not trying to do.

:rock-on:

 

[Cagey]

A 1 5/8" wide fatback with a straight 7.25" radius and tiny frets? Ok, Yogi. I hope you know what you're in for. It's gonna be like playing a shovel handle. A pretty shovel handle, to be sure, but still...

 

[Tipperman]

A 1 5/8" wide fatback with a straight 7.25" radius and tiny frets? Ok, Yogi. I hope you know what you're in for. It's gonna be like playing a shovel handle. A pretty shovel handle, to be sure, but still...

I've used a neck like this before, and they're pretty playable despite how round they are. Errybodehs hatin' them tiny frets.

 

[Patriot54]

A 1 5/8" wide fatback with a straight 7.25" radius and tiny frets? Ok, Yogi. I hope you know what you're in for. It's gonna be like playing a shovel handle. A pretty shovel handle, to be sure, but still...

I was undecided until the last minute about the back contour, nut width and fret size because this is pretty much the opposite of my standard thin/wide nut/jumbo fret Strat. But I really wanted the vintage feel, and who knows I might even like it better. I can deal with a fat back and the fret size is small but still taller than the Gibson-style size. The part that might take some getting used to for me is the 1 5/8 width.

 

[DangerousR6]

A 1 5/8" wide fatback with a straight 7.25" radius and tiny frets? Ok, Yogi. I hope you know what you're in for. It's gonna be like playing a shovel handle. A pretty shovel handle, to be sure, but still...

Yogi didn't use a shovel, he used a bat... :doh:

 

[Cagey]

You may be thinking of Yogi Berra. I was speaking in the skeptical tone of Boo-Boo when Yogi Bear was up to one of his ill-conceived schemes to get hold of a picnic basket.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I still think the Warhead headstock is better matched, but either way, it's going to be a unique build and certainly an alternative to the strat lover that isn't necessarily the strat purist.

I'll be following this build.

 

[Patriot54]

I still think the Warhead headstock is better matched, but either way, it's going to be a unique build and certainly an alternative to the strat lover that isn't necessarily the strat purist.

I'll be following this build.

I'll be using a Warhead soon, but ironically it will be on a Strat I want to build next year.

 

[alterbridgefan]

An arrow would look good on this one, quirky, like this guitar, and still goes along with the concept.

 

[Patriot54]

Thanks to Tonar for sending me these pics right away of the unfinished neck.  :headbang:

 

[Tonar8352]

It's a nice one!

 

[Patriot54]

It's a nice one!

I already love the look of that flame maple so I can imagine how awesome it will look with finish.

 

[Patriot54]

My finished neck just arrived this morning from Tonar. I couldn't get really good photos yet but here's a few closeups to show the flamed maple grain. The finish on the fretboard and headstock is so smooth it looks like glass. It's a vintage-style finish but not tinted - just what I wanted and I'm very happy with the look and feel of this neck. Thanks Tonar!  :guitaristgif:

 

[Tonar8352]

Thank you! It is a great looking and feeling neck and I think you are going to love the feel of the polished hand rubbed maple neck.

 

[Patriot54]

Thank you! It is a great looking and feeling neck and I think you are going to love the feel of the polished hand rubbed maple neck.

I do love it already - it feels similar to the tru oil I used on my other strat but much smoother and more natural

 

[Patriot54]

So much for getting this project done quickly  :-\ I started with a router but had to do a lot of work with a dremel to finish it up. Still needs some fine sanding around the edges and a rout for the wires, then it will be ready for Tonar finish.

Here's all the parts I have so far assembled together.

 

[Great Ape]

Yes! That is SO cool! Lookin' truly trippy! Great work, and you know it's gonna look gorgeous when Greg gets done with it...