VinceClortho
Junior Member
- Messages
- 104
This was the second Warmoth I built. I purchased the parts in 2000 and had it built up for years with an EMG 89 and an SA at the bridge with some fancy electronics. I was never terribly happy with the pickups, and I always had a bit of an issue with the lack of the middle pickup making the guitar look, well, a bit monotonous despite the beautiful grain and burst. So a few months back I decided to rebuild it.
First, I wanted to try a few different pickups so right now it has a GFS VEH in the bridge and a GFS 5.5K single coil in the neck. I coil tapped the VEH and tossed in a Compressor/Limiter for giggles. I love the VEH. The 5.5K is OK but I'll probably shop around for something a little smoother. I don't have an opinion on the electronics just yet but they are fun to play with and easy to remove if I decide to as it is controlled by a push/pull tone pot (middle) and a concentric tone pot (bottom).
Second, I had a new control cavity plate made up in polished aluminum with a built in battery box. I figured with a softish wood back anything I could do to preserve the screw holes would be a good thing.
Last, and most importantly, I couldn't decide on what to do about the front of the guitar. I tried a few different shape and color pickup mounting rings but wasn't 100% happy with any of them. Then I had the idea of doing the clear pickguard thing. Using a regular Strat pickguard as a template I found the only change needed was to extend the control horn and adjust the placement of the knob holes, so I drew up what I needed and had the guys at Terrapin cut me out a custom clear .080" thick acrylic pickguard. It fit perfect first time. Pots and the switch fit despite the extra thickness, though it is tight and as the control cavity was thickly coated inside with finish I did have to sand it down to the bare wood around the controls. I was very reluctant drilling the pickguard holes in the lovely maple top at first but after dry fitting and staring it for a couple weeks I was convinced I liked how the clear guard and extra chrome screws add just a little flair to the front of the guitar without hiding the beautiful grain so I went for it. I am very happy with the results and it is now getting a lot more use.
Its always great to rediscover a guitar that has been idle for a while.
Specs:
Neck:
24 3/4" Strat conversion Neck.
Birdseye maple w/ birdseye fretboard
Matching blue dyed quilted peghead veneer
Compound radius
6105 frets
Body:
Chambered Strat w/ turquoise burst quilted maple top and swamp ash back
Countoured heel
First, I wanted to try a few different pickups so right now it has a GFS VEH in the bridge and a GFS 5.5K single coil in the neck. I coil tapped the VEH and tossed in a Compressor/Limiter for giggles. I love the VEH. The 5.5K is OK but I'll probably shop around for something a little smoother. I don't have an opinion on the electronics just yet but they are fun to play with and easy to remove if I decide to as it is controlled by a push/pull tone pot (middle) and a concentric tone pot (bottom).
Second, I had a new control cavity plate made up in polished aluminum with a built in battery box. I figured with a softish wood back anything I could do to preserve the screw holes would be a good thing.
Last, and most importantly, I couldn't decide on what to do about the front of the guitar. I tried a few different shape and color pickup mounting rings but wasn't 100% happy with any of them. Then I had the idea of doing the clear pickguard thing. Using a regular Strat pickguard as a template I found the only change needed was to extend the control horn and adjust the placement of the knob holes, so I drew up what I needed and had the guys at Terrapin cut me out a custom clear .080" thick acrylic pickguard. It fit perfect first time. Pots and the switch fit despite the extra thickness, though it is tight and as the control cavity was thickly coated inside with finish I did have to sand it down to the bare wood around the controls. I was very reluctant drilling the pickguard holes in the lovely maple top at first but after dry fitting and staring it for a couple weeks I was convinced I liked how the clear guard and extra chrome screws add just a little flair to the front of the guitar without hiding the beautiful grain so I went for it. I am very happy with the results and it is now getting a lot more use.
Its always great to rediscover a guitar that has been idle for a while.
Specs:
Neck:
24 3/4" Strat conversion Neck.
Birdseye maple w/ birdseye fretboard
Matching blue dyed quilted peghead veneer
Compound radius
6105 frets
Body:
Chambered Strat w/ turquoise burst quilted maple top and swamp ash back
Countoured heel
ccasion14:
