My next Strat build: chambered Swamp Ash, Flame Maple top, Fireburst finish

[Johnfv]

...You sure got it together quickly. How many builds have you done?

This is my 3rd Warmoth build, I also did a build from Mighty Mite parts so I could better understand the "you get what you pay for" equation. I've been swapping parts on Fenders for a very long time but only recently wised up and started assembling my own guitars from the ground up. This one did come together pretty easy but I did plan ahead, for example I had the pickguard wired up and ready to go before the body and neck arrived

 

[DustyCat]

HOLY FLAMING TIGER, BATMAN! 

+1  :icon_thumright:

:kewlpics:

-DC

 

[samgoody]

Very nice to see your build come together so beautifully.  The pick guard looks a bit unusual without having the two traditional Strat tone knobs there, but I guess you might not need them with a chambered swamp ash body and goncalo neck?

 

[Johnfv]

Thanks! I have been doing master volume only on my Strats for a long time (but only recently started ordering pickguards that way). I rarely ever used a tone control on any guitar and I first scrapped them because they would accidentally get moved;  BUT I found I like the open punch of the minimal signal path. I typically disconnect (or re-purpose) the tone controls on any guitar and if I'm building one I never wire a tone pot. For example on a humbucker I would much rather make that tone control a variable split, with a dpdt switch on the pot it can do parallel and series with variable split. I think the only guitar I have currently that has tone controls connected is my Firebird. On some guitars (like this one) I will go with a 250k volume pot to help tame the high end a little and the chambered body with Goncalo neck adds a lot of warmth. YMMV...

 

[Updown]

Looks cool  :glasses9: great flame on it, very nicely matched up  :icon_thumright:

 

[tfarny]

Good lord that thing is pretty.

I have found that tone controls are very, very useful with a .01uf or smaller cap - they leave the midrange alone and just tame the treble response only. Smaller caps don't just "do less" - they affect the signal at different spots.

 

[Just Another Smith]

The fireburst finish on that flame maple is awesome.  Love the choice of neck, too.  Great build.

 

[Cagey]

I have found that tone controls are very, very useful with a .01uf or smaller cap - they leave the midrange alone and just tame the treble response only. Smaller caps don't just "do less" - they affect the signal at different spots.

Right. .01µF is fine and probably best, but I usually use and would never go higher than a .022µF cap. Anything more is just pointless overkill. Some will use a .047µF part, but It's not even useful. You roll off so much at the far extreme that there's little signal left.

 

[greywolf]

BEAUTIFUL !