First Build

[OzziePete]

I would be really proud of that puppy
go bring that thing down to a good luthier and have him set it up as nice as the looks and you will have an axe. That's right, an AXE. Bring her to the woodshed and she will chop the wood.

Thanks! And she's already set up and plays like a dream. She sounds like butter melting on pancakes---warm and smooth. Not only a first build for me, but my first strat. Was always something of a Gibson man, but the comfort and ease of play--and the versitility--of the strat proved the most pleasant surprise of all. Nice.

Leo put a lot of research and development into the strat,and it has proven to have paid off, it is the most popular guitar in the world.  Playability was on top of the list, as was varsatility of sound. To think it was released over 50 years ago and still rules is a testament to the work he did and the fact that he LISTENED to the guys he kept asking for ideas and let them help develop those ideas. Funniest thing was Leo was a frustrated player, never was very good, but his tenacity to develop first a solid body electric, and then one that everybody would like has left him the reputation on one of the most influential people of electric guitar.  

Correction: Leo Fender never effectively played a guitar. I think his musical talent went only as far as being able to twinkle a piano a bit and that's about it. Which makes the story of Fender even more fascinating! He did have, though, competent players like Freddie Tavares, George Fullerton and Bill Carson to bounce ideas off. A genius engineer for sure. :icon_thumright:

 

[OzziePete]

Great looking guitar....did YOU do the finish - if so - fantastic job!  :blob7:  :blob7:  :blob7:

 

[AGWAN]

On The topic Of Strats. I hated them when I was shopping for left handed guitars.

but they've kinda grown on me. show me one that has a humbucker and a hardtail... I'll give it a try.

 

[Strat Avenger]

'Nice.
:kewlpics:

 

[drewfx]

That is pure beauty! Definitely a 10 out of 10.

 

[Walkingmanblues]

Great looking guitar....did YOU do the finish - if so - fantastic job!  :blob7:  :blob7:  :blob7:

Yes, I did the finish. Thanks....I think.

 

[swarfrat]

If you think spraying is bad, wait till you try powder coating in her oven.

 

[Walkingmanblues]

I simply had no idea how bad it would be. I lined our groundfloor bath with platic, floor to ceiling, and set a fan in the open window to suck out the fumes. Even so, the house....stank. Yes that's a good word for it. It stank like hell. I was relieved when the spraying was over. The wife was ecstatic.

"That is pure beauty! Definitely a 10 out of 10."

And thanks, Drewfx!

 

[OzziePete]

I simply had no idea how bad it would be. I lined our groundfloor bath with platic, floor to ceiling, and set a fan in the open window to suck out the fumes. Even so, the house....stank. Yes that's a good word for it. It stank like hell. I was relieved when the spraying was over. The wife was ecstatic.

"That is pure beauty! Definitely a 10 out of 10."

And thanks, Drewfx!

You didn't get a visit from the cops thinking you were brewing meth?  :laughing7:

Great job though, all the bad smells and inconvenience paid well for you.  :icon_thumright:

 

[back2thefutre]

Jaw dropping, way to go that thing is fing nice :icon_thumright:

 

[hannaugh]

Looks awesome!

 

[Firebird211]

That is a gorgeous strat. :icon_thumright: I approve of the color too.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

:headbang1:

 

[Walkingmanblues]

That is a gorgeous strat. :icon_thumright: I approve of the color too.

FB, just took a close look at your avatar! The trimmings are a little different, but the finishes are nearly identical. Makes me curious what your finishing process was they are so similar. Mind telling me what it was? I used StewMac ColorTone dyes, Blue (duh!) and Tobacco Brown. In order to pop the grain, I dyed the body twice. Once in its entirety with the TB, but mixed to 9X strength. It looked like a huge, horrifying chunk of dark, dark--almost black--chocolate when I was done. I was afraid I'd ruined that lovely quilt. Anyway, trusted in the process and sanded everything back, masked, dyed again with both colors mixed at recommended proportions, and viola. I’ll post some pictures of what it was looking like in process. And thanks for the compliment as well. You have good taste;-)

@Hannaugh: Really like the flame on that purple strat, but I LOVE the subtle burst on that Lester. Wow!

Body: Pre-dyed and sanded back.
Neck with initial coats of TruOil.

Dye Job II: The Return

All dyed cleaned up with a washcoat of shellac. Ready for the lacquer.

 

[hannaugh]

@Hannaugh: Really like the flame on that purple strat, but I LOVE the subtle burst on that Lester. Wow!

Thanks!  I almost had a heart attack when I opened the box from Warmoth with my LP body in it.  They did such a phenomenal job on the finish. 

You did a great job on your Strat there.  Make sure you enter GOTM for the owner-finished category.