7/8 S-Style vs. Soloist

[Jaeberith]

Hey guys,

Well, I'm stumped. I'm torn between these two bodies, and I love both features of them. I'm certain on getting a HSH set of Suhr pickups, with a 16" fretboard and 24 SS6100 frets. The body will be mahogany with a quilted maple top, and a standard thin mahogany neck (satin finish) with pau ferro fretboard.

I'm basically going for the Suhr-era Guthrie Govan guitar, but I feel as though the soloist shape may be the body to go for. But if I went 7/8, it may play even slinkier, but what about the tonal difference due to the lack of wood?

Any comments or advice is appreciated!

 

[TBurst Std]

If you're thinking 25.5 scale length, that knocks the 7/8 S out. 

 

[stratamania]

The differences are that the 7/8 style is designed for the 7/8 neck which is a true 24 fret neck. It uses a 24 3/4" scale.  These necks and bodies only work with themselves.

A Soloist body you can put a 25.5 " scale neck on or a 24 3/4" conversion neck but not the 7/8 necks.
Either of the two necks you can use on the soloist but if you want 24 frets will have a fretboard extension where the main wood of the neck stops just after the 21st fret this is only available on the 25.5 " scale. (Note the 24 3/4" conversion neck is only available as 22 frets )

When you mention lack of wood on the 7/8 I am assuming that is the universal rout for the top routed option.  But if you are going to have the body made rather than from the showcase if you go for rear rout an H S H rout is available.

Id also recommend a 10 - 16 " compound but thats of course up to you.

Which combo of pickups are you planning, SSV, ML and SSH+ or something else.

 

[Fat Pete]

...A Soloist body you can put a 25.5 " scale neck on or a 24 3/4" conversion neck but not the 7/8 necks. Either of the two necks you can use on the soloist if you want 24 frets will have a fretboard extension where the main wood of the neck stops just after the 21st fret...

Just to cover all the bases, the 24 fret extension is not available on 24 3/4" conversion necks - not in the builder anyway and probably not at all, but you could call to check.

 

[Jaeberith]

When you mention lack of wood on the 7/8 I am assuming that is the universal rout for the top routed option.  But if you are going to have the body made rather than from the showcase if you go for rear rout an H S H rout is available.

Id also recommend a 10 - 16 " compound but thats of course up to you.

Which combo of pickups are you planning, SSV, ML and SSH+ or something else.

I'm going for the rear rout, so the HSH should be fine. I'm just curious about the sound when the pickups are closer on a 7/8 body.

Why would you recommend that radius? I'm used to that radius, so is there probably more reason to go with that than the straight 16". But I liked what I played from the Suhr range.

Yes! Those exact pickups in a zebra combination. I think I'm leaning towards the soloist body, as I've never had issues from a fender scale neck.

 

[stratamania]

...A Soloist body you can put a 25.5 " scale neck on or a 24 3/4" conversion neck but not the 7/8 necks. Either of the two necks you can use on the soloist if you want 24 frets will have a fretboard extension where the main wood of the neck stops just after the 21st fret...

Just to cover all the bases, the 24 fret extension is not available on 24 3/4" conversion necks - not in the builder anyway and probably not at all, but you could call to check.

That is correct. I will update my post.

 

[stratamania]

I'm going for the rear rout, so the HSH should be fine. I'm just curious about the sound when the pickups are closer on a 7/8 body.

Why would you recommend that radius? I'm used to that radius, so is there probably more reason to go with that than the straight 16". But I liked what I played from the Suhr range.

Yes! Those exact pickups in a zebra combination. I think I'm leaning towards the soloist body, as I've never had issues from a fender scale neck.

The radius 10 -16" I think is more comfortable. Some of the Suhr's are 16" but some are 10 - 14".

I just tend to think a compound radius gives the benefits of a flatter radius higher on the neck and has a better feel on lower frets. A sort of best of both worlds.

Good choice of pickups. I like the Zebra look too.

Just in case you had not noticed it, if you go for the Soloist with the 24 fret extended fingerboard neck, remember to order the pickup routs for the 24 fret pickup reposition.

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/PickupRoutingOptions.aspx

On the 7/8 pickups being  closer together, there may be a slight difference but it would be difficult to speculate on you are not really going to know till a guitar is built. I would think it would be negligeble.

 

[Jaeberith]

Yeah, the compound radius seems to be the best of both worlds. I'm quite eager to have a 16" fretboard, though. I also noticed the 24 fret pickup reposition.

The options for side jacks are a little confusing. Are they purely aesthetic, or should I go for one best for the body? Say, the 1/2" side jack on a soloist?

 

[Fat Pete]

...The options for side jacks are a little confusing. Are they purely aesthetic, or should I go for one best for the body? Say, the 1/2" side jack on a soloist?

It depends how you're ordering the body. Custom order or unfinished showcase bodies can be ordered with the 7/8" hole, which, despite the way Warmoth describe the options, can be used with most standard 'open' type jacks including Switchcraft etc. and will work with oval 'football' or square jack plates - as well as the Tele style options.

If you're ordering a finished showcase body they'll only drill at 1/2" which fits the generally not very well-regarded barrel type sockets, or 3/4" which supposedly fits standard sockets but is often a bit close for comfort - or worse.

 

[Jaeberith]

I'm going for a custom order, and I was wanting the 7/8" hole. Shouldn't run into any problems?

 

[TBurst Std]

7/8 hole would be the most desirable.

 

[stratamania]

16" fretboards are cool too. Also 7/8 holes.

Look forward to seeing the pictures of it...

 

[Jaeberith]

Think I'm gonna go with the compound - best of both worlds! Also cheaper than the straight 16"...

As am I! A quilted maple top with an aquamarine dye and natural binding would look rather nice.

 

[stratamania]

Make it so Jaeberith  :icon_thumright: