Modern Swamp Ash Strat

[NicosRebel]

Hello all !

Here is my modern strat project...

I wanted to build a strat able to cover a lot of musical styles with ease, not to heavy on shoulders and with no hum...

Parts :

Body : Warmoth "one piece" of light swamp ash (3lbs 12oz) in transparent blue.
Neck : Warmoth Pro canary with ebony fingerboard, 6105SS frets, 11/16, standard thin, abalone dots, TusqXL nut.
Mecha : Warmoth whitepearl pickguard, Schaller locking tuner, Schaller tremolo 2000, Warwick dome buttons, Fender jackplate, neckplate and screws...
Elec : Dimarzio pickups (Chopper Neck, Cruiser Middle, Chopper Bridge), standard CRL 5way switch, CTS 500Ko pots and Styroflex capacitors. Teflon coated custom wiring...

Here we go

 

[NicosRebel]

First I have to redrill the tremolo inserts to 10mm for the Schaller Trem 2000 that why I choose Wilkinson routing because with little modification it works perfectly !

 

[NicosRebel]

Pickguard holes drilling !!

For experts eyes you will notice that I widering the tremolo cut on the pickguard because the Schaller tremolo 2000 is wider on the left side

 

[NicosRebel]

Tremolo installation...

 

[Rob]

Looking good!

 

[Cagey]

It seems I may be a few days late, but you might want to review this thread on polishing necks before you install that one. Makes a lotta difference, and it's an inexpensive thing to do if you don't count your time.

 

[NicosRebel]

Ok few days later...

Electronic installation !

I choose CRL 5 way switch with standard pickup wiring, 500Ko CTS pots, treble bleed mod (300Ko resistor and 470pf cap), tone capacitors are 10nf for the neck and for the bridge pickup, and star grounding.

 

[NicosRebel]

And finally here comes the "beast"...

 

[bagman67]

That's a handsome instrument.  Nice work indeed.

 

[Cagey]

'Tis truly a lovely thing you have built, Mr. Rebel! You must be very pleased! She's gorgeous!

 

[stratamania]

Very nice guitar.

Can you give a little more information on the modification for the Schaller trem ?

 

[NicosRebel]

Thanks for your comments...

For the Schaller trem the mods are quite simple...

- First I choose the "Wilkinson" routing when I order the body.
- I redrill the inserts holes to 10mm
- Because the tremolo plate is little wider than the "American Standard" or the "Wilkinson", I cut the pickguard 6mm on the left side of the trem space. I made it with little files. (Warmoth should have this routing option on the pickguard page !!)

And that's it !

For me, the Schaller Trem 2000 is far more better than the "Wilkinson"... Better sound string separation, better sustain, and smoother to use !

 

[stratamania]

Thanks

 

[NicosRebel]

After few days of tests, I can say that is the best and most versatile guitar I ever play !

Unplugged this guitar is very resonant (I feel it in my right arm and chest) with lot of precision, bite, sustain, deep bass and rich harmonically highs, the neck is lightning fast !!!

When I plug in :

- Clean : I found the same quality when its unplugged. I love the 2,3 and 4 switch position very straty sound ! The Cruiser is like a real single coil with no hum. The 1 and 5 switch position add warmth with attack (nice for jazz and fusion)

- Crunch : The guitar is very dynamic and has a good response to right hand intensity, all pickups positions are nice and with the tone controls you can cover lot of musical style !

- Lead : I use the 1 and 5 switch position almost exclusively with my lead sound. The Dimarzio Chopper with this wood combo are excellent best of both world (humbucker sound with single coil feeling) Think about a Malmsteen meet Petrucci sound !

So.... After 2 other Warmoth build, I completely satisfied with this one. Its simple with best components, best wood, I re-use lot of the vol and tones control that give me ultimate tone and versatility !

Up to the Warmoth team !  :headbang:

 

[stratamania]

Good news, how are you finding the tremolo tuning stability ?

 

[NicosRebel]

I use it with Schaller locking tuners and the tuning stability is absolutely perfect ! No cracking noise or so. I suspect Warmoth has cut my nut perfectly too  :icon_thumright:

I can do dive bombing like Floyd-Rose trem with no problem ; but well ... I'm not using the trem like Steve Vai !

 

[stratamania]

Good to hear.

 

[MikeW]

Nice review on the Chopper. I've actually got one of those waiting to go into my next Strat and I was curious what I'd get out of it. Sounds like it's just what I was looking for. Humbucker power and single coil spank.

Nice guitar BTW. I really like the trans blue with the pearloid pickguard. Classy all the way around.

 

[6stringer]

I've never been too hot on dark blue guitars...but for this I must make an exception.That dye is great with that ash grain. Super nice work!

 

[Sp4zRX]

Great looking guitar! I have wanted a guitar in that color for sometime now. One of these days I will have one. That bridge looks sexy too!