Sonic Blue Hardtail Stratocaster

[GearBoxTy]

Finally! My First Warmoth Build!!!

My Sonic Blue hardtail Stratocaster Showcase Body was scheduled to be delivered on 3/19/2012.  I had it shipped to work so I'd be sure to get it but wouldn't you know a big storm on Sunday (3/18) meant flooding in my basement and I'd take 3/19/2012 off?!?!?!  So, when I got into work, this box was waiting for me!

I waited to get home to fully unpack it and here it is!  Sonic Blue Stratocaster body, Top Route, S-S-S, Solid Alder.

I also got:

W/B/W Pickguard cut for 3 single coils and standard Stratocaster controls
Chrome Vintage Flat Mount bridge
Chrome String Ferrules
3 250k Potentiometers, .047uF Capacitor, 5-way switch, mono jack, White Strat knobs, Chrome output jack plate
Chrome neckplate, neck screws, and neck plate pad

My plan is to get Dimarzio Injector Bridge, Area '61 Middle, and Injector Neck pickups.  I'll wire one Tone control to the bridge pickup and the other to the neck pickup.

I will get a Warmoth Pro Maple/Maple neck with a clear gloss finish.

So, I guess it will look fairly "traditional" with modern features.  This is pretty much my Dream Stratocaster!

Line6Man has convinced me to go with shielding paint over copper tape because it will be easier to do even though it might not be necessary since I'll be using stacked humbuckers.  But, I figure, go ahead and shield it in case I switch to true single coils in the future.

I'm really excited about this build!

 

[Cagey]

Opening a box from Warmoth is always such a treat, isn't it?

Nice body. I've been bad-mouthing old-line Fender colors since I first saw them 100 years ago, but that Sonic Blue is finally starting to grow on me. This one just reinforces that. Nice piece.

 

[Updown]

One clean machine coming up  :icon_thumright:

Yeah I'm one that used conductive paint in all my earlier builds ..... Not anymore thou.  :icon_biggrin:
Because I use Hum's and single Hum's mostly.
Comes down to whats ending up in there.

Some other guitars I have like RR Strat (Mex) + Aerodyne Strat (Jap) have NO shielding inside either ... just saying.  :toothy11:

 

[AutoBat]

If I were ever to get a non-black Strat, I'd get sonic blue (though H-H and doll it up akin to early Weezer looks)

 

[rapfohl09]

Sonic blue is definitely my favorite stock color, very nice :icon_thumright:

 

[GearBoxTy]

So, as far as ferrule installation (and I know there are a couple threads about this), what method does everyone suggest?  The soldering iron way or sanding/filing the holes to accommodate the ferrules?

 

[Cagey]

Press 'em in. If you don't have an arbor press (most people don't) then a drill press works equally well.

 

[GearBoxTy]

I finally got up the courage to install the string ferrules using the soldering iron method.  It was so easy!

Put a new clean pencil tip on my soldering iron, positioned a ferrule, inserted the hot soldering iron, and pressed them in!  No need to prime the holes with a countersink bit.

Here is a shot of me installing them:

And, here is the complete job:

I installed them in the following order: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 6.  I figured alternating would give them a little time to cool.

I guess I should start a "work in progress" thread.  I'll just keep posting pictures of things I get here.

 

[GearBoxTy]

Well, the pickups arrived at work today (6/4/2012)!

The vendor I bought them from on eBay always gives "FREE EXTRAS IN EVERY BOX!!!!!"...seen below...

Of course, tonight I get a UPS tracking email...so I guess I'll be posting pictures of the neck soon!!!

When it rains, it pours!!!

 

[Cagey]

Christmas in June! Too much fun!

 

[GearBoxTy]

Everything has been accumulated, now its all up to me!

The neck arrived at work yesterday:

Wamoth Pro construction
Flame Maple/Flame Maple
Compound Radius (10" - 16")
6100 Frets (not SS, sorry guys)
1-11/16" (1.686") nut width
Vintage Tuner ream (11/32")
Clear Gloss finish

It was one of 3 (at the time) in the Showcase and I thought it looked the best.  These pictures don't do it justice!

The box:

Front of Neck:

Back of Neck:

Gotoh Side:

Butt:

Back of Headstock No Flash:

Back of Neck No Flash:

Fretboard Closup:

The other parts were in this order as well...

Chrome Standard Strap Buttons:

Chrome Barrel String Trees:

One of the Tuners:

Tuner Bushings:

That's all for the parts.  I will continue posting in my work-in-progress thread as I get things done!

 

[Cagey]

Sweet! That neck is going to look fantastic on that sonic blue body.

 

[leo12.]

Thats gonna be a KEEPER always liked Sonic Blue, beautiful neck too nice one Ty.

 

[ezas]

I love the flame on the neck. I'm trying to convince myself to spend the extra for a flame neck on my next build.

 

[wombi8]

I agree, that neck is tops

 

[GearBoxTy]

In keeping with "Just Out Of The Box" but slightly cheating, here is what arrived today:

It is an Allparts Tapered Reaming Tool (http://www.allparts.com/Tapered-Reamer-Tool-p/lt-0815-000.htm).  Thanks to AprioriMark in this thread: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=19645.msg292270#msg292270

It did the job!  Check out my Work In Progress thread for more pictures!