Cool Hardware on Order and Ideas for Next Build

[vikingred]

Here is the hardware I've ordered:

SCHALLER HANNES BRIDGE IN GOLD:

SCHALLER M6 TUNERS (3L/3R) in GOLD:

DIALTONE ACTIVE HUMBUCKER IN BLACK:

I'm thinking of going with something a bit different this time, a Warmoth style neck, modern tiltback contruction, 3A Birdseye on 3A birdseye (could be a solid piece?), with GOLD 6100 fat ass frets.  No binding.  Unfinished, lotta burnishing.

But what kind of body??  I don't like anything color, it's got to be natural wood, and I'm thinking another Warmoth satin finish but I just can't decide on a body.  Ideas?  Maybe a VIP body?

 

[pabloman]

If that bridge would work I'd say carved top Soloist. You're probably stuck with a flat top though.

Here's some food for thought

 

[vikingred]

If that bridge would work I'd say carved top Soloist. You're probably stuck with a flat top though.

Here's some food for thought

Yeah, I looked at a soloist, but the tilt-back Warmoth neck would look out of place I think, and yeah, it's gotta be totally flat.  Gonna be a phone-in custom order because the specs to drill for that bridge and those tuners are not an option to select online.  I really am thinking the VIP is going to be the way to go.  Maybe "hollow" but with that section for the bridge left solid (as can be requested).  Two F holes.  Two knob holes.  Done in satin.  Maybe Koa on mahogany?

 

[pabloman]

Burn Unit says you're wrong!

 

[Cagey]

If you'd like a carved top, a carved Tele is a wonderful thing and you don't have to worry about tilted necks, pockets, or bridge height. They carve those from a standard Tele body, so the high point is the same height as it would be in a flat top configuration. It's also carved in such a way that it allows you to use bridges you'd normally only be able to use on flat tops.

As for that neck, it sounds like a wonderful thing, but a 3A birdseye over 3A birdseye part is gonna be expensive so I don't know that I'd want to risk not having a finish on it. Unless it's been baked/roasted/torrified/carmelized, it may move on you in ways that are either difficult or impossible to compensate for or repair. According to Warmoth, that happens about 10% of the time. So, depending how risk-averse you are...

 

[jmcecil]

Big fan of that bridge.

 

[fdesalvo]

^ want one with piezo saddles!

 

[vikingred]

What about something like this (with GOLD 6100 frets, BLACK face dots, and GOLD schaller locking tuners):

I am not risk averse, and I love the feel of burnished necks, so I'd wanna request a solid piece of 3A birdseye maple for the neck/fretboard, if they have it, and leave it unfinished (my sweat is non-corrosive, in my experience).  That Dialtone pickup would be perfect to get the proper resonance dialed in, and then have a tone/volume knob.

Satin finish on the body finished by Warmoth (chambered maple on maple with UC birdseye).  Will also have to get them to custom do the bridge routing for the Schaller Hannes bridge--I'm sure they've done them before. 

I know it'd be god-aweful heavy, but it'd be a lap guitar for around the house mostly.  A bit bright, perhaps but badass I would imagine.  Going to have to return those Schaller (3L/3R) Tuners.

I think it looks sick, what ya'll think?

 

[pabloman]

The strat body is too rotund and vintage for that bridge and pickup combo imho. That bridge makes a statement and a strat body takes it away. I really think a Royale, Velocity, Diamondback, Z, Iceman, Soloist, or even a Musiclander would be far better choices. The hardware is just waaaaaaay too progressive for the strat.

 

[vikingred]

The strat body is too rotund and vintage for that bridge and pickup combo imho. That bridge makes a statement and a strat body takes it away. I really think a Royale, Velocity, Diamondback, Z, Iceman, Soloist, or even a Musiclander would be far better choices. The hardware is just waaaaaaay too progressive for the strat.

Man, the only one you mentioned that I could even consider would be the soloist.  The body itself, finished in satin is actually $40 cheaper than the one above.  I like the F-holes though.  I think the regular strat could pull it off.  I dunno.  It's late.  Here is the soloist in that style:

 

[Cagey]

I like the Soloist better. It's a more modern style which would be in keeping with the modern bridge, and it doesn't have bug houses pick traps f-holes. Plus it's $40 cheaper? Party!

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I like the F holes. I've always been a fan though. What about a VIP with f holes? Don't know if that bridge would work though. I think that combo you got would look pretty sweet though.

 

[vikingred]

Bought this neck (unfinished) late last night, can't decide on body yet:


Style: CBS Stratocaster®
Construction: Vintage/Modern Construction
Orientation: Right Handed
Neck Wood: 3A Birdseye Maple
Fingerboard Wood: 3A Birdseye Maple
Nut Width: 1-5/8"
Back Shape: Standard thin
Fret Size: GD6100 (Gold Color)
Tuner Ream: Schaller (25/64" 11/32")
Radius: 10-16" Compound
Scale: 25-1/2"
Fret #: 22
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: GraphTech Black TUSQ XL - Standard Nut
Inlays: Black Face Dots
Side Dots: Black Side Dots

 

[vikingred]

Big fan of that bridge.

How does it play? Got pix?  I've read it's super smooth.  I'm a heavy on palm-muting, hoping it will feel good and natural.

 

[vikingred]

Wow, ok this is surprising.  When inquiring with Warmoth about special routing for the Hannes bridge, this is their reply:

"After seeing and looking over the Hannes bridge before it was
publicly released, we decided to not offer any support for it."

Really???

What now?

 

[Fat Pete]

That's a shame. I remember looking at the fitting/drilling instructions a while back and they do look a bit involved.  Not beyond Warmoth I'm sure, but there may be room for 'user install error' they don't want to risk being blamed for (cf. Evertune).

So, DIY time? Also, dare I say Warmoth aren't the only game in town?

 

[vikingred]

That's a shame. I remember looking at the fitting/drilling instructions a while back and they do look a bit involved.  Not beyond Warmoth I'm sure, but there may be room for 'user install error' they don't want to risk being blamed for (cf. Evertune).

So, DIY time? Also, dare I say Warmoth aren't the only game in town?

Yeah, I'm thinking one word.  CAGEY.  I'll bet he could do it.  If so, I could just order the body, "no bridge route" option, and send it to Cagey.  Warmoth is like woman--she's beautiful and sweet most of the time, she'll "put out"--it's just slow and you gotta wine and dine her and wait for weeks.  Sometimes she'll bend over backwards to make you happy, but then surprise you and snub the shyte out of you, even when you spent thousands of dollars on her.  Heh.  No offense intended Warmoth, I love you.  :sad:

 

[rapfohl09]

I love that bridge, even though I haven't gotten a chance to use one yet.

Back when I was building guitars it was going to go on my next one, Schaller has all sorts of templates that you can download right off their site for drilling for it.

If you want to go the Warmoth route, just but one without any bridge holes. Any experienced luthier (cough Cagey cough) could take care of that pretty easily for you.

Don't get it finished though, the mounting posts and string bar are more than just drilling holes.

 

[Cagey]

It certainly wouldn't be the first time I took the routerbeast after a perfectly good body  :laughing7:

The Hannes bridge requires a bit of a rear route to inset the string retainer plate, and I suspect that's the part that concerns Warmoth. On a finished body, the chances of chipping the finish are greater than zero. It may not happen, but it can, and some customers might return a body with that sort of flaw. Then what are they gonna do with it? Could sell it as "B" stock at a heavy discount, but then they're working for free or close to cost, which doesn't pay the bills.

Also, that's a relatively expensive bridge for a hardtail, so they may not see as large a market for it as they'd like before they'd invest the time into the necessary CNC programming/testing.

Of course, they could offer it only on custom builds, which would allow them to do the work before finishing, but here again there may be a volume issue that might make it an "offline only" manual operation that costs more than people would want to pay.

In any event, I'd attempt it, and plan to at some point. I like that bridge design and feel like I need to have one on something.

 

[vikingred]

Lord have mercy:

Can you believe how beautiful that thing is?  Cost is close to 9 bills.  Can you imagine it in a Warmoth satin finish?  That new black Dialtone pickup plus the Hannes bridge, and then the unfinished solid 3A vintage/modern Birdseye Maple neck with big gold frets?  It would be a shocking piece of tonal bliss, I imagine.  Ok.................it's round about midnight.  :glasses9: