Squier Strat Refurb - Not a Warmoth

[nexrex]

Hey All, thought someone might find this interesting. I am finally getting around to upgrading my old squier strat. This was the first (guitar & amp combo $400 AUD) I ever purchased, and didn't really play it that much as the body wood and pickups were crappy. Body is currently basswod, and the cheap pickups hum way too much, and really have no character or tone of their own.

The neck is definately maple, with a rosewood fingerboard, so I am keeping that, and i will be transplanted to the cheap swamp ash body I purchased on ebay.

 

[nexrex]

Here is the body as it is now. I also hate the metallic red, but as mentioned that is getting replaced by a tobacco burst swamp ash body I have.

 

[nexrex]

New body was only $68 AUD, and is a second. Looks like some fool drilled a hole in the neck pocket, and it has no neck screw holes. This will be filled with a dowel insert, and will also be covered up by the neck plate at the back

 

[nexrex]

OK, more ebay bits arriving. Purchased a set of GFS Boston Blues Alnico Strat Pickup Set Texas for $67AUD

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=400119873871#ht_8747wt_1022

I think they will sound OK, they should be hotter than the squier ones and they have clear covers. All other squier electronics will be moved over to the B/W/B pickguard I have.

Thinking about a vintage paper in oil cap as well, these are cheap ($15)

I also have a set set of black knobs and Gotoh locking tuners that will replace the old hardware. The old tuners are hopeless, and never stay in tune. Not sure who makes them, as they don't seem to have any branding on them.

 

[Patrick]

im diggin those pickups  :headbang1:
i think that hole was drilled to suspend the body for the finishing process  :doh:

 

[nexrex]

thanks, you are probably right about the hole, but it's pretty wide. I can actually put my pinky finger in it.

 

[nexrex]

Finally got the neck hole filled, and the screwholes drilled. It's now attached. Pocket was a little loose, but is straight. Next step is to transfer the electronics to my new b/w/b pickguard and shield everything.

 

[Dan025]

ive been curious about those pickups so when its finished give reviews and sound clips

 

[nexrex]

will do, once my BWB pickguard turns up

 

[nexrex]

Thinking about aging the squier satin maple neck (as it's as pale as a ghost). I've heard that sunlight will do a good job of this. It's winter here, so I was going to leave it sitting on my window sill for a few days.

Has anyone else had any luck with this?

Whats the time frame before I start to see the wood age and darken?

 

[shaggydawg]

Whats the time frame before I start to see the wood age and darken?

Doesn't that take like 20 years or so?  :icon_scratch:

But what do i know...

 

[line6man]

Thinking about aging the squier satin maple neck (as it's as pale as a ghost). I've heard that sunlight will do a good job of this. It's winter here, so I was going to leave it sitting on my window sill for a few days.

Has anyone else had any luck with this?

Whats the time frame before I start to see the wood age and darken?

Do you really think you can darken a finished Maple neck by leaving it in the windowsill for a few days? :icon_scratch:

 

[Mor Paul]

I think it was Tonar that leaves his necks in the sun before finishing.

 

[Cagey]

Whats the time frame before I start to see the wood age and darken?

Years. Literally. Many. If you want it to look aged RFN, you need to use a tinted finish.

 

[Cagey]

I think it was Tonar that leaves his necks in the sun before finishing.

He's probably going for the opposite effect - he wants the UV rays from sun to bleach it a bit. That happens on unfinished wood fairly rapidly. I built a couple small deck tables some years back out of walnut and teak, never finished them, and by the end of that summer they had bleached back to a shade of beige.

 

[Mor Paul]

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=4653.msg52620#msg52620

 

[nexrex]

not sure guys. I'm going to give it a try anyway, but 20 years is way too long .At that rate the neck might out live me. lol

 

[nexrex]

OK, so the shielding is done. 3 coats of copper based paint, and a few coper strips to make contacts with the aluminium backed pickguard.

Electronics and pickups are next. While I have the chance I will also be potting the pickups in wax. I have also replaced the vintage 6 hole saddles and string tees with graphtech black TUSX ones.

I am also thinking about changing the nut to Graphtech as well. Has anyone else tried this? After shaping the nut what would i use to secure it?

 

[elfro89]

time for me to be that guy who posts something not dealing with your questions! (don't you just love being that guy?)

I would scrap it all

save save save till you can buy a warmoth!

Peace

 

[nexrex]

time for me to be that guy who posts something not dealing with your questions! (don't you just love being that guy?)

I would scrap it all

save save save till you can buy a warmoth!

Peace

Yeah, i normally would, but its really only costing me $300 AUD to do all of this, versus the $1000 to get a Warmoth. Am trying to save for a house deposit right now, and the project is also keeping me busy, and keeping my mind off my heavy workload.