Starting a Ska band need a guitar for Ska

[Stratmaster458]

Hey guys i'm starting a ska band that will play a style similar to Streetlight Manifesto and original lineup Catch 22. I have a fender strat loaded with 1957 pickups. I want to make a guitar specifically for ska. what kind of pickups should i use, what body i was thinking of a dual f-hole hollow l5s with a gibson neck. Please give me some good suggestions thanks.

 

[kboman]

Hi there Stratmaster,

I've played some ska (including a band startup-attempt that ended in utter disaster...) and I think humbuckers are the way to go, or possibly some P90-variation. One of my favourite bands is Eskalator, a Swedish ska band, and the guitarist uses various Epis like ES-335 and hollowbodies - the tone is great and suits the music perfectly, so I think you're on the right track with the L5S. I've never really done ska with anything but a clean sound though, but hey - humbuckers usually sound just fine when overdriven!

Good luck with your build, I'll be following it with great interest!

/Karl

 

[dbw]

I like the idea!  If you're a big strat guy you should probably get a 25.5" neck as it will feel more natural to you... personally I always get lost on the short Gibson necks.  But you could get a '59 roundback contour on it, that would make it feel Gibsony.  Sorry I'm a little spacy right now :-\