Late 59 White/Maple SSS Strat clone/tribute

[Steve St.Laurent]

Over winter I'd decided it was time for an SSS Strat (the other two are HSS) and decided to build a clone/tribute of a '59 (mostly, still went with a compound radius neck).  This was the first guitar I finished and assembled all myself.  So stoked with how it came out and plays awesome. 

I finished the body with Colortone Vintage White Nitro, and Colortone satin clear nitro over aged clear on the neck.  Custom headstock decal is from https://www.rothkoandfrost.com (lacquered over).  I also have a UV lamp used for yellowing testing that I'll be using to age the finish further and I'll post pics later on that. 

I did a build thread here if your interested: https://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=31951.0 .

Here's the specs:

Body:

Model: Vintage Stratocaster®
Orientation: Right handed
F-Holes: None
Scale: 25-1/2"
Wood: Alder
Rout: Top Rout
Pickup Rout: Strat®, Strat®, Strat®
Controls: None
Bridge: Vintage 6-Hole Tremolo
Jack Rout: Strat® Top Jack Rout
Neck Pocket: Strat® Shape
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Contours: / Tummy Cut / Forearm Contour
3 lbs 15 oz

Neck:

Style: Stratocaster®
Construction: Vintage/Modern Construction
Orientation: Right Handed
Neck Wood: 3A Flame Maple
Fingerboard Wood: 3A Flame Maple
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Back Shape: Standard thin
Fret Size: 6105
Tuner Ream: Vintage Style (11/32")
Radius: 10-16" Compound
Scale: 25-1/2"
Fret #: 21
Mounting Holes: Standard 4 Bolt
Pre-Cut Installed String Nut: GraphTech White TUSQ XL - Standard Nut
Inlays: Black Mother Of Pearl Dots
Side Dots: Abalone Side Dots

Distressed hardware from Callaham
Wiring harness from https://www.artys-custom-guitars.com
Fender pure vintage '59 pickups

 

[bagman67]

Simple things are often the best.  Great show, Steve. 

 

[PhilHill]

Elegant. Very nice job.  :headbang:

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Thanks guys, I played around with lighting a bunch today and finally got a real good representation of what it looks like now (I've been yellowing the lacquer under a UVb lamp for a couple weeks now).  I put together this collage from when I got the bare body, neck, and parts to the final guitar as she sits today.  I'm having a blast playing her.  I'm building a '59 Princeton 5F2 tube amp (5w with Volume & Tone) to go with her as well.  It will be aged like this - patina but taken good care of and the same with a case.  I'll post pics of that stuff later when I get it done - it could be a few months for the amp.

I'm looking to go back to a very simple setup - just strat -> simple tube amp both built as close to 1959 originals as I can (with a couple exceptions - neck profile & radius and dot inlays).  I want to work on the tone coming from my fingers (the small nuances of a good vibrato, dynamics, efficiency of movement, etc) and not relying on the equipment so much.  Most all my other guitars have a lot of switching options and I play through a Helix to a DT25 tube amp - so probably trillions of possibilities and I think I'm kinda lost in it.