Blue quilt Maple Gilmour Strat parts arrived

[Frank67]

Dear fellow Warmoth enthusiasts,

I have been gassing for a Gilmour type Strat for a while. I know that this polarizes people, but to my ears both David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler had some of their best tones with the EMG SA pickups. I also digged the concept of the Gilmour Strat with the mid and hi/lo boosts. I just found the pre-assembled pickguard from EMG butt-ugly and I do, in general, rarely dig the aesthetics of the guitars that Fender puts out in terms of color choices, finish etc. I am also a die hard ebony fretboard fan. So, it became clear that once more Warmoth is the way to go.

The wood choices are all standard Strat. After consulting with my wife we settled on a blue to black dye on a special choice quilt Maple. I find the result breathtakingly beautiful. Cudos to the wonderful staff at Warmoth! The neck is black ebony with black MOP inlays - It raised an eyebrow with people at Warmoth but after they tried it they digged it too and I think it looks cool. The blue quit neckplate is awesome as well. The pickguard and all hardware (including a Wilkinson recessed tremolo) is black and it was a piece of cake to assemble with the solderless EMG system.

So here are a few views and previews how the assembled guitar will look like. I am looking really forward to assemble it over the next couple of days.

 

[Frank67]

some more pics:

 

[Updown]

Looks like ya got some nice parts there  :icon_thumright:
Love the matching headstock.

You might need to make your pic's smaller, they could see them from the space station  :icon_biggrin:

Or use photobucket etc ..

 

[greywolf]

  :cool01:should be very pretty when finished

 

[Frank67]

Oups, sorry for the size of the pics.
Here is a photbucket attempt after I finally found the button

 

[Frank67]

  :cool01:should be very pretty when finished

... has already been finished (pics in the Strat section) - I've been playing it all morning and *love* it  :guitaristgif:

 

[stratamania]

Nice, and I like the ebony neck...

 

[Cagey]

I know that this polarizes people, but to my ears both David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler had some of their best tones with the EMG SA pickups. I also digged the concept of the Gilmour Strat with the mid and hi/lo boosts. I just found the pre-assembled pickguard from EMG butt-ugly and I do, in general, rarely dig the aesthetics of the guitars that Fender puts out in terms of color choices, finish etc. I am also a die hard ebony fretboard fan. So, it became clear that once more Warmoth is the way to go.

Messrs. Gilmour and Knopfler both had some very unique picking habits that did more for their sound than the guitars/pickups. Not to discount the wood/hardware/electricals of their instruments and amplification, but I'd wager I could hand either one of those guys any one of my guitars and it would sound like either Gilmour or Knopfler was playing them. They both have a "touch" that sets them apart. By the same token, they could hand me their instruments and I wouldn't sound anything like them.

Anybody can buy a particular guitar or pickup or amp, but only those guys sound the way they do. The secret isn't in the gear, it's in the execution.

 

[Frank67]

There is no doubt that this is true. Gilmour and Knopfler will always sound the way they do because of their unique musical personality. And I agree that they will always sound like themselves on any instrument (watch Gilmour playing his Gretsch Duo Jet). And it is also true that no amount of gear (or practice) will ever make me sound like these people. I also did not mean to imply that I want to sound just like them nor am I aiming at it - I only said that IMHO both had some of their nicest tones (among their wonderful history of great guitar tones) when playing their EMG SA equipped guitars. Hence I figured that these pickups are probably good - and they are. I really like them and I don't find them dull and lifeless or sterile like some (possibly many) others do. The mid and hi/lo boosts bring a lot to the party too. Gear is just fun - but of course no substitute for talent and touch. Peace  and :rock-on:

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I know that this polarizes people, but to my ears both David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler had some of their best tones with the EMG SA pickups. I also digged the concept of the Gilmour Strat with the mid and hi/lo boosts. I just found the pre-assembled pickguard from EMG butt-ugly and I do, in general, rarely dig the aesthetics of the guitars that Fender puts out in terms of color choices, finish etc. I am also a die hard ebony fretboard fan. So, it became clear that once more Warmoth is the way to go.

Messrs. Gilmour and Knopfler both had some very unique picking habits that did more for their sound than the guitars/pickups. Not to discount the wood/hardware/electricals of their instruments and amplification, but I'd wager I could hand either one of those guys any one of my guitars and it would sound like either Gilmour or Knopfler was playing them. They both have a "touch" that sets them apart. By the same token, they could hand me their instruments and I wouldn't sound anything like them.

Anybody can buy a particular guitar or pickup or amp, but only those guys sound the way they do. The secret isn't in the gear, it's in the execution.

True, but the SAs really are a lot different, especially because when you roll up the SPC control (which Gilmour does, a lot) it's more like having P90s in there really.

Says a lot that Gilmour takes the EMGs and his black strat with passives out on the road, and uses them for specific songs. If it was all in his fingers, he'd play the whole gig with one guitar.

Having said that, of course, there's tone and then there's playing. Yes the SAs will get the tone (I've got some and they're lovely), but it's doubtful anyone will think you sound like Gilmour unless you play like him. As an example, I've been told that "you sound like Gilmour" when I've been playing a Les Paul with the Slash pickups in it, through a Marshall.

 

[Frank67]

True, but the SAs really are a lot different, especially because when you roll up the SPC control (which Gilmour does, a lot) it's more like having P90s in there really.

Says a lot that Gilmour takes the EMGs and his black strat with passives out on the road, and uses them for specific songs. If it was all in his fingers, he'd play the whole gig with one guitar.

Having said that, of course, there's tone and then there's playing. Yes the SAs will get the tone (I've got some and they're lovely), but it's doubtful anyone will think you sound like Gilmour unless you play like him. As an example, I've been told that "you sound like Gilmour" when I've been playing a Les Paul with the Slash pickups in it, through a Marshall.

All very good points and true of course! I think there is no doubt that different pickups, woods, scale lengths, bridges etc really do sound different. It is still the touch and personal style of the great players that cannot be mistaken. Santana on a Strat is still immediately identifiable as himself.

And for Gilmour bringing more than one guitar - aren't we guitar players all the same  :glasses9: ... I guess most guitar players like some variety. Mark Knopfler admits to having a collection of over 70 great guitars ...

I actually really like what the SPC does to the tone, making it more meaty (as you say P90 like). I also like what the EXG does ... and with both of them disengaged the SA pickups still do sound pretty "Straty" to me. Aren't they? ... and I love it that they have *no hum*.

Enjoy guitars!  ccasion14:
Frank

 

[Jumble Jumble]

I think with both controls rolled right down, yes, they sound very Stratty. Not totally, but there's no question what kind of guitar it is. I think they're lovely pickups, and I wouldn't want to be without my two Strats that cover both bases.

I would agree about the "variety" thing, but when he plays his black Strat the whole show, and then switches over to the red one with the EMGs just for Shine On, every night, you gotta think it's for reasons of sound there. I think it's probably because he uses the SPC on the solos so much.

Of course, in 1994 he was using the red Strat for absolutely everything, but a lot of that was to do with the lack of noise. Arena wiring is a lot better these days!

 

[Frank67]

I agree with everything you say ... just, for me, I liked his 1994 tone a little better than the one he has with the black Strat. I guess that is the "pulse" area, right?! These videos and recordings are just incredible.

It's just a personal impression of course. I am sure that you are right on Mr. Gilmour's motifs.

Cheers,  ccasion14:

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Oh totally - those Pulse tones are incredible and you simply can't get them with a passive Strat. Like I say, I wouldn't want to be without my EMG-equipped Strat.

Here it is, by the way. You can see mine is Gilmour-inspired too! [click for bigger versions]


(and then it got a new pickguard)

 

[Frank67]

beautiful - love the deep red in combination with the white. Very classy looking guitar!

 

[vai777]

that guitar is going to kick some serious ass

 

[LushTone]

Hell yea, I'm currently installing the Emg sa set with the exg and spc tone controls into one of my Warmoths.  ccasion14:

 

[Frank67]

Good luck with that! i really like these guys! I guess the spc (midboost) is the more useable one in relation with single coils. The strat is already bright and sparkly and the exg can push it a bit over the top (i guess gilmour was said to never use it). I like it on a modewt etting to give the emg sa pickups even more punch and sparkle - but the real nice thing is the spc that makes thee pixkups fat and meaty. It is a real nice concept and makes a guitar super versatile ...