Clearguard Strato-tele

[Watershed]

Here's one that just came together.
It was an interesting build.

I wouldn't have thought of the combination of parts myself, but I think it makes a statement.
Yea no knobs yet, that'll be at the owners discretion.

Black conductive shielding paint came in handy in this situation.

Not sure who made the neck.  It's cocobolo and needed a bit taken off the back.
Still needs a setup.
Sounds and feels great so far.

James

 

[warcripp]

beauty!!!

 

[Cagey]

Very nice, and mostly good choices except for that clear pickguard on a top route body. Kinda like a hot chick who chews with her mouth open or something <grin>

 

[TroubledTreble]

I love it! I've always wanted to see the clear guard on a guitar and I think yours was a good choice. I always thought it would be cool to play with the wires and bend them at sharp angles and create a little "wire" art. I wonder how clear pickup covers would go with that?

I love that neck too. Headstock is great. You say the owner will have choice of knobs. This isn't for you?

This build reminds me of Halloween candy, which is good since it was always one of my favorite times of the year.

Kudos to you sir!  :icon_thumright:

 

[anorakDan]

I really like the idea! What would be really cool is if a different color led lamp could be wired in by each pickup to glow when the pickup is selected!

 

[DangerousR6]

Pretty cool, I like the tele head on the strat body, looks much better than it does on a tele. but Imma have to agree with Cagey as much as I hate to about the clear PG, it woulda looked better with a rear route. Or an acrylic body... :dontknow:

 

[rapfohl09]

That is awesome! I have wanted to do something like that for a long time, and this just makes me want to do it more!!

 

[mgaut051]

Don't listen to the grumps - I love the clear PG. It's original and classy, especially on a top rout.
Well done - I love the "how it's made" feel to it, and it's understated simplicity. It's not like you put clear guard to show off the wood - this is much simpler than that - it seems like you put a clear guard because you wanted a clear guard. It works great. Bravo!

 

[reluctant-builder]

It is kind of cool. I think it might have been neat to have the body under the pickguard be black ... so, from afar, it's like the whole thing is a cavity. I'm not sure I'm explaining that too well. :\

 

[mataguri]

Normally I'd be against the idea of a top route clear guard but it looks great on that, esp because your wiring is really neat  ccasion14:

 

[DangerousR6]

Thanks, it started out as a finishing of a bare ash body ("sorta butterscotch" was as specific as it got).

Then, we got to installing the neck.  Then, the parts just kept showing up.
The guard was routed for a strat pocket.  It was a pre-assembled thing.  It came from a guy in Hood River Oregon (can't remember the name), true singlecoils.
They sound real nice, lots of character.  The last set of true single coils I bought were in my lovely Martin Stinger strat copy, 24 years ago.
I freehanded the guard to a tele pocket with a drill press and a dremel wood grinding bit, just a bit in each corner, then a block with sandpaper to get the bottom line good and straight.  I'll admit I was skeptical at first.

The real PITA with the clear guard was drilling the pickguard screws.  As it a clear guard, you have to be extra careful not to get a big chip when installing the screw.
It's nitro, which can chip with little to no provocation.  With your usual opaque guard, it doesn't matter.

It looked interesting enough to post though.
The owner thinks it rocks, so that's all that matters.

James

true dat, as long as the owner likes it, that's all that matters.. :icon_biggrin: