simple 7/8th (super)strat ...

[rockandroller]

So, so, so very SLOW on this, but today I finally pulled all the parts out, and the first coat of conductive shielding paint is drying in the control cavity now. Resizing pics ( phone pics too big to post) ... Will add shortly!

(parts just laid in place)


(closer look)


Those are rubber knobs...


pretty much all the parts (I just have to round up some pickup mounting screws...)
** oh and come to think of it I do not have the "behind-the-nut" string lock - have to order another one!
Maybe I'll get most of this done before Monday (I don't really have a workbench to set up my soldering station, etc)

 

[teleme01]

Looks like a shred is bruin

 

[rockandroller]

Well, after sitting in my basement for nearly a year, I noticed a considerable amount of "fret sprout" (ouch!). So I made a quick trip to Canadian TIre to grab a small "mill bastard" and set to work cleaning it up ( along with my trusty-but-rusty Stew-Mac fret file ). Much better! But then I noticed that Warmoth actually put zero bevel on those frets! Out came the files ( and scotch-brite, etc) one more time to put a little bevel on them...

OK, certainly not "Dima Sushkov" quality fret-end work, but it'll hafta do!

 

[rockandroller]

aaand... got those locking Hipshot machine heads in (piece of cake).

 

[rockandroller]

and now I have to decide how best to orient the black metal logo...


or

 

[supertruper1988]

I would have the logo follow the curve of the headstock

 

[PFDarkside]

I would have the logo follow the curve of the headstock

After seeing Strats for most of my life it just seems natural to follow the bottom line.

 

[rockandroller]

Making a little progress... Finally got to pick it up and get a feel for it! A little neck heavy right now, should be perfect after loading with pickups, controls, and the Kahler

 

[PFDarkside]

This is going to be awesome.

 

[Eddie-Applegate]

This kicks ENORMOUS amounts of butt

 

[rockandroller]

more progress

Pickups are in... wiring next!


Tuned up!!!


Well, the modern construction is cool, but would be easier to put together if I had a workbench.
With much careful fussing, I got the Kahler placed and screwed it down.
Put a string on ... er - TRIED to put string on - discovered that Fender Bullets DO NOT FIT IN Kahler (doh!!).. I had to dig thru gigbags to scrounge some regular ball end strings .
Put a couple strings on, realized the Kahler needs more "break angle!".
Unless those saddles are cranked up a couple mm - it buzzes like a sitar!
So I shimmed the neck a few degrees (see last pic).

Got it tuned up, noticed the truss rod was very loose (way too much relief!)... OFF WITH THE NECK! (Again)
Cranked the main rod pretty good, neck back on, strung it up, tuned it up.. relief is much better now.
Probably the side adjust might be enough to tweak it to perfect - BUT I DON'T HAVE METRIC HEX KEYS (not small enough right-angled 3mm, anyway). Man, how I miss a truss rod that can be adjusted with the neck on (Maybe next 7/8th will have no neck pickup, and a big slot in the body for truss adjust!)

Anyway, plenty of work to do yet!
But the cool thing is how great this guitar sounds (acoustically!).

Even with the mid-fretboard relief sitting higher than I would like, I played it for about three hours tonight and am really getting to enjoy this thing. Neck feels amazing, (my first raw neck in decades!) and even though I haven't done any fret leveling at all, I can bend strings all over the neck and no fretting out.

 

[rauchman]

Kick Assness

 

[WarmothRules]

Oh man and a wizard neck!

 

[rockandroller]

Finally got it wired... didn't like the experiment with the 5-position schaller megaswitch. Took it out and put in a regular 3-position blade ( also Schaller). I find that the schaller switches are a bit annoying to solder, but have a very satisfying action to them.
Finished all the rewiring only to discover that I had neglected to install a STRING GROUND (oops)
So, off with the strings, off with the bridge, in with a bridge grounding wire, quick bit of soldering and sealed it up.



terrible lighting for these pics, but the dark metallic purple guitar is in good company now:


I have to say this little 'super-strat' has far exceeded my expectations.
The harmonic signature of this guitar is all "sweetness and sustain"
I'm looking forward to using it on a recording project soon!
Next up: placing the Warmoth decal, then it shall be complete...

 

[DGW]

I've been buying fabulous Warmoth guitar necks since the previous millenium, but somehow I never managed to complete a guitar
(lame excuse: too much moving from country to country).
Around a half-dozen years ago I did manage to put together one very nice five-string Gecko bass (for a one-off show).
And I've had a short-scale 4-string neck & body sitting in the boxes, with all the hardware and electronics ready to go ... for a couple of years now.
(Very possibly I will finally get that one assembled this year!)

But DEFINITELY, I will be assembling this 7/8th strat this autumn:

7/8 Warhead Guitar Neck Construction Modern Shaft Wood Roasted Maple Fretboard Wood Ebony Unique Choice No, Warmoth can choose for me. Nut Width 1.650" (42mm) - Vintage Medium Right / Left Handed Right-Handed Neck Back Profile Wizard Fretboard Radius 10" - 16" Compound Number of Frets 24 Binding None Fret Size & Material SS6230 - Vintage Small (Stainless) Tuner Hole Size Schaller/Modern Fender/Sperzel (25/64") Inlay Shape None Side Dots Moon Glow Side Dots (3mm) String Nut Standard Nut - GraphTech Black TUSQ XL Mounting Holes Standard 4-Bolt Neck Heel Shape Strat® Shape Finish None​	GN-78W​	1​	​
7/8 S-Style Guitar Body Construction Solid Core Wood Basswood Lam Top Wood No Lam Top Right / Left Handed Right-Handed Control Cavity Rear Rout Neck Pickup Rout Humbucker (Wood Mount) Middle Pickup Rout None Bridge Pickup Rout Humbucker (Wood Mount) Controls Volume 1, Tone 1, Blade Switch Jack Rout 3/4" (19mm) Side Jack Hole Bridge Rout Type No Bridge Rout Mounting Holes Standard 4-Bolt Neck Pocket Shape Strat® Body Contours Forearm Contour, Tummy Cut, Custom Contoured Heel Binding & Edge Decorations None Battery Box None Paint Category Metallic Top Color Purple Frost Back Color Purple Frost Satin or Gloss Gloss​ GB-78S​ 1​ ​ SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:​ ***KAHLER BRIDGE ROUT - I UNDERSTAND IT WILL ADD $10 TO THE COST*** (No Return/Refund/Cancel due to the off-menu nature) (for Kahler 2300 top-mount trem)

I've developed a bit of a fetish for pointy headstock superstrats in recent years (since stumbling onto a nice Carvin) but a couple months ago I sold off my three Jacksons, so I am now in dire need of something with "24 frets and a trem"! (I do have a strat with a reverse tele headstock, but it's only got 22 frets...)

Anyway, this one ticks all the boxes for me, and will be equipped with a couple of vintage humbuckers and a Kahler flatmount trem (and the 'no-tools' Kahler Pro Lock behind-the-nut string lock)...

Pics in the autumn... (build estimate was 16-17 weeks)

Vintage frets with a Wizard profile ?
How's that feel bending.
Didn't see that coming

 

[rockandroller]

The tiny frets work for me! I'm using 9s on this and bending is perfect.
This is the nicest-playing guitar in my whole arsenal

 

[teleme01]

Curious, what is the tonal quality as compared to gibson and fender scale. I have 25.5 and 24.75 and the 25.5 is brighter than 24.75 and am wondering if the 24 is warmer still.

 

[rockandroller]

Curious, what is the tonal quality as compared to gibson and fender scale. I have 25.5 and 24.75 and the 25.5 is brighter than 24.75 and am wondering if the 24 is warmer still.

Actually these 7/8th guitars are Gibson-scale, not mustang scale (I had it in mind they were 24" but they are not...)

 

[stratamania]

Actually these 7/8th guitars are Gibson-scale, not mustang scale (I had it in mind they were 24" but they are not...)

Although, a Warmoth Mustang neck will intonate on a 7/8 body and give you a 24" scale if you want that.

 

[TBurst Std]

Actually these 7/8th guitars are Gibson-scale, not mustang scale (I had it in mind they were 24" but they are not...)

That’s a function of so many other things. I have a 24 “ scale BMG. It is far brighter than any of my Gibby scale HB guitars. It’s more in line with a Strat. And the BMG has a hog body and neck.