S
Slylock Fox
Guest
So my strat project has been underway for about 2-3 weeks now, and I've just about worked all the kinks out. The delivery from warmoth was pretty speedy (at least half of the expected time they told me). Lets take a look at my work flow:
When the headstock came in, I gave it a nice overall look. I had a thin nitro finish put on it and it is a standard thin profile. Tusq nut was already put in because I'm lazy and really do not feel like making a bone nut. Plus I really hate the smell of ground up bone.
Now my Fender vintage tuning keys wouldn't fit into the pre-made holes.
Now, I went to Harbor Freight. This store is supposed to be awesome and have it all, but they didn't even know what I was asking for when I asked for a rasp. They didn't either at lowes. Am I the only one who calls it this? Nope! Ace Hardware to the rescue!
I taped off a few areas just in case.
I let the weight of the rasp take control to ground out the hole, I barely applied any pressure. I also made sure to clean out any wood particles before seeing if I had a nice fit.
After a few patient minutes, I had everything fitting with thumb pressure. What I mean when I say that is that I only used my thumb to insert each piece in, I didn't use a hammer or any other crazy device.
Now over a cup of coffee I was ready to start putting in the tuning keys.
Not only did the tape help my get a general line for the keys, but it also gave me a little extra protection.
I pressed a flat ruler against the keys to get a perfect line.
Then I made my screw marks:
Drilled a pre:
Tightened everything down while making minor tweaks to keep everything aligned.
Voila! headstock done!
This is a 57 SRV strat something or other pickguard I ordered. It was not pre-shielded:
So I bought some of this tape from my hero's at Ace Hardware, yet again!
I also set in my pots and switch. 3-way blade, and 250k pots. All fender parts. I did, however substitute the caps that came with them for what is in it now, an oil can.
After I shielded the PG, I set in the electronics.
Now I'm ready to put in the pickups into the pickguard,
After some useful tips from folks on this forum, and my tech buddy I deduced that it didn't matter which config the pickups were put in.
Now I'm ready to work on her body.
the holes were already ready for my trem claw:
Nice and easy install for the six screw bridge:
You can see where my bridge screws poked out into my trem springs. barely. No problems noted. Thanks to those on here for the advice.
Lets get wired!
Feels good so far:
Holes were not pre made for my output jack.
no big deal:
So after some wiring problems with my tone knobs acting like volume, we figured it was the lugs touching my shielding. Changed the caps about three times, and finally put in a oil can and clipped off the lugs on my tone pots. Works like a charm.
When the headstock came in, I gave it a nice overall look. I had a thin nitro finish put on it and it is a standard thin profile. Tusq nut was already put in because I'm lazy and really do not feel like making a bone nut. Plus I really hate the smell of ground up bone.
Now my Fender vintage tuning keys wouldn't fit into the pre-made holes.
Now, I went to Harbor Freight. This store is supposed to be awesome and have it all, but they didn't even know what I was asking for when I asked for a rasp. They didn't either at lowes. Am I the only one who calls it this? Nope! Ace Hardware to the rescue!
I taped off a few areas just in case.
I let the weight of the rasp take control to ground out the hole, I barely applied any pressure. I also made sure to clean out any wood particles before seeing if I had a nice fit.
After a few patient minutes, I had everything fitting with thumb pressure. What I mean when I say that is that I only used my thumb to insert each piece in, I didn't use a hammer or any other crazy device.
Now over a cup of coffee I was ready to start putting in the tuning keys.
Not only did the tape help my get a general line for the keys, but it also gave me a little extra protection.
I pressed a flat ruler against the keys to get a perfect line.
Then I made my screw marks:
Drilled a pre:
Tightened everything down while making minor tweaks to keep everything aligned.
Voila! headstock done!
This is a 57 SRV strat something or other pickguard I ordered. It was not pre-shielded:
So I bought some of this tape from my hero's at Ace Hardware, yet again!
I also set in my pots and switch. 3-way blade, and 250k pots. All fender parts. I did, however substitute the caps that came with them for what is in it now, an oil can.
After I shielded the PG, I set in the electronics.
Now I'm ready to put in the pickups into the pickguard,
After some useful tips from folks on this forum, and my tech buddy I deduced that it didn't matter which config the pickups were put in.
Now I'm ready to work on her body.
the holes were already ready for my trem claw:
Nice and easy install for the six screw bridge:
You can see where my bridge screws poked out into my trem springs. barely. No problems noted. Thanks to those on here for the advice.
Lets get wired!
Feels good so far:
Holes were not pre made for my output jack.
no big deal:
So after some wiring problems with my tone knobs acting like volume, we figured it was the lugs touching my shielding. Changed the caps about three times, and finally put in a oil can and clipped off the lugs on my tone pots. Works like a charm.
