Beginnings of the Haapcaster

[Haap]

Just got a great surprise in the mail, my first Warmoth. Amazed with the quality of the finish on the body, the fretwork is spot on, and the unfinished Goncalo Alves is so sweet!

Body: Alder with Quilt Maple top, Tobacco burst finish, and American Standard Strat® Tremolo rout
Neck: Warmoth Pro Strat, Goncalo Alves with Ebony board, 1 11/16" GraphTech TUSQ XL nut, standard thin contour, 6150 frets

I have a Dimarzio Crunch Lab for the bridge, and Liquifire for the neck. I'm still shopping for a mid pickup. Any suggestions would be great! Ideally it would be something that wouldn't dive in volume when switched from the Crunch Lab or the Liquifire.

Cheers!
Haap

 

[drewfx]

Looks like a sweet combination.  :rock-on:

 

[Corey P.]

Very nice!  I especially dig the neck, and I'm a tobacco burst loyalist, so well played.  :icon_biggrin:

Re: middle pickup, maybe an Area 58?

 

[rapfohl09]

Very cool! I love the single ply black guards!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Seymour Duncan Cool Rail pup for the single coil, it's a great pick up.

BTW, nice build.  :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

That's a beautiful piece! I'm sure you're aching to put it together.

The Area 58 pickup suggested up-thread would sound good in that middle position, although on one of my guitars I opted for an Area 61 in that spot myself, with the 58 in the neck. They're both good choices, although they don't seem to shine like some others. Not to take anything away from them, the difference is subtle and nothing to get worked up over. On another guitar, I have a set of Neovin "Power Rock" pickups that the more I listen to, the better I like. Seriously under-rated, those Neovins. Don't be put off by the low price - they're nice parts.

 

[Haap]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions folks. I'll A/B the specs of the Area series, Coolrails and the Neovins and see. I was also considering an Air Norton, or maybe something a little hotter than the Area series, and maybe a little less trebly.

Also, thanks for the compliments. I've seen some amazing builds in this forum and it's cool that you guys dig mine. Death by Uberschall, your soloist is the reason I am building a guitar, that is a mean mean axe.

Cheers!
Haap  

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions folks. I'll A/B the specs of the Area series, Coolrails and the Neovins and see. I was also considering an Air Norton, or maybe something a little hotter than the Area series, and maybe a little less trebly.

Also, thanks for the compliments. I've seen some amazing builds in this forum and it's cool that you guys dig mine. Death by Uberschall, your soloist is the reason I am building a guitar, that is a mean mean axe.

Cheers!
Haap  

Looking great, I really like Warmoth's Tobacco Burst. I think BURN UNIT has affected several people here over the few years since it was done, glad it inspired you to do your own guitar.  ccasion14:  I'm afraid AFTER BURNER may have scared a few people.  :evil4:

 

[Stew]

Cool, thanks for the suggestions folks. I'll A/B the specs of the Area series, Coolrails and the Neovins and see. I was also considering an Air Norton, or maybe something a little hotter than the Area series, and maybe a little less trebly.

Also, thanks for the compliments. I've seen some amazing builds in this forum and it's cool that you guys dig mine. Death by Uberschall, your soloist is the reason I am building a guitar, that is a mean mean axe.

Cheers!
Haap  

Depends what you want from the middle pickup? Do you like position 3, or 2 & 4 better?

Maybe something with a different character (less hot) in the middle would make for a good contrast. IMO it gives more interesting combinations when in those middle positions—especially if you also have the option of coil splits.

Just a thought ... YMMV 

 

[tomroffey666]

Looks great! I recommend a Dimarzio Cruiser Bridge for middle position. I have one in my guitar with a D-Activator in the bridge and Chopper in the neck. Sounds amazing especially when split with bridge or neck! Also Andy Timmons uses them in middle and neck position so youtube him and you will see how great they sound!

 

[MikeW]

I used a Cool Rails in the neck, a Screamin Demon in the bridge and a Quarter Pounder for Strat in the middle position. I wanted to maintain a single coil sound but be able to combine with the coil taps I had for my bridge and neck pickups as well. It worked out really well and with no drop off in punch when I run through the switch positions.

 

[Haap]

Cool. I love doing these types of comparisons. One tends to learn a boatload! Just as a note, a tech from DiMarzio suggested a Red Velvet. For a little more hair he suggested a Heavy Blues 2 or a Chopper. Hmmmmm......... :headbang:

 

[tomroffey666]

The Chopper won't be very single coil sounding. I recommend going to www.dimarzioforum.com and asking there. They are very helpful, just explain the exact sound you want.

 

[Haap]

Thanks Tomo, I'll head on over there and see what those guys have to say. You know, I don't really know what the hell middle pickups "should" sound like anyways because I've never had a guitar with a middle pickup, so anything will be a surprise

 

[tomroffey666]

Haha no problem. Well usually you use the middle pickup in combination with bridge and neck pups and get some awesome strat/tele sounds depends how you wire them. I rarely use the middle pup by itself but thats me. Anyways i just put a Liquifire in my guitar and it is the best neck pup i've played, super fat and smooth! You should be very happy with what ever combo you go. Dimarzio ROCK