Vintage Superstrat!

[FranzKappa]

Hi!

Fresh off the press my Body in Pearl Yam Flake, a color which was available during the Flakesgiving Promo end of 2025. I wanted to go with a more vintage vibing metallic colorway this time so I asked for an off menue order and there was some Pearl Yam left, so I went for it. I must say it's more gold looking than I thought it would be, I have expected something more brown looking but it looks more like a rustic/antique gold with a rich copper hue to it. But still it has a little bit of brown to it (?) depending on angle and lighting. Hard to describe. I still have to collect a few of the little parts, I have some special vintage vibing ideas and don't want to go all standard here.

Going with the classic DiMarzio Super Distortion -> Bridge, PAF Pro -> Neck combo. 1 Volume, 3 Way Toggle, thinking of Push/Pull Out Of Phase (always wanted to try this!). The Neck is a Musikraft Franky Neck, 5a Birdseye, 21 6100SS Frets, 12" Radius, Rosewood Dots I purchased months ago which will fit the Vintage aesthetics quite well, I made a test fit. Let's see how this turns out!

A little Video of the Color here !

Stratocaster® Replacement Guitar Body
Construction: Chambered
Core Wood: **EXTRA LIGHT ALDER**
Control Cavity: Rear Rout
Neck Pickup Rout: Humbucker
Bridge Pickup Rout: Humbucker
Controls: None
Jack Rout: 7/8" (22mm) Side Jack Hole
Bridge Rout Type: Tremolo
Bridge Rout: Floyd Rose (Angled Pocket)
Contours: Forearm Contour, Tummy Cut, Custom Contoured Heel
Paint Category: Flake
Top/Back Color: **PEARL YAM FLAKE**

Cheers!

 

[mayfly]

Pearl. Yam. Flake.


Baby!!

 

[Don O]

That’s a great flake color !

 

[Verne Bunsen]

Am I ee-vuhl? Yes I Yam! I don’t usually go in for flake finishes, but man that is really nice. It is flashy, yet subdued. I like it.

 

[FranzKappa]

As mentioned, I want this guitar to have a vintage vibe. Here are few of the vintage details and more special parts I already have in hand for this built.

Original Floyd Rose modded with a 42mm Brass Block, Brass Fine Tuners and a custom made FRT-5 Tremolo Bar like the 5th iteration of Floyds had in 1985.




I have 2 sets of vintage NOS Schaller M6 Mini Tuner, gold and chrome, made in West Germany which means these were built pre 1989. I think I will go with the chrome to compliment the brass chrome look of the Floyd Rose and the chrome Nut.




For the majority of the metal parts I will go raw brass. I have a set of vintage Charvel brass Strap Buttons which I have to polish up with steel wool.


Custom made Floyd Rose FRT-1 brass String Retainer, the first iteration of the Floyd Rose Tremolo which was commercially released in 1981 had these. Also to be seen on EVH Bumblebee Guitar.



Some of the other brass parts. I always preferred the look of a Telecaster Electrosocket "Cup" Jack Plate. The other parts are Switchcraft 3 way, Dome Knob and Switch Tip all raw brass of course.

 

[FranzKappa]

To get the idea I laid some of the parts together.


And of course it had to have my year of birth on a custom stamped Neck Plate, which fits the overall theme of this built.

 

[Tretgeraet]

I have 2 sets of vintage NOS Schaller M6 Mini Tuner, gold and chrome, made in West Germany which means these were built pre 1989.

I wasn't sure so I just googled it myself, but Schaller appears to have used the "Made in W. Germany"-Print until the mid 90's.

But much more importantly: This is gonna be such a beautiful build!!!

 

[FranzKappa]

OK I thought they abandoned the "W" right away. I've seen some from the transition era where they seemingly erased the W from their machines, identifiable by the gap between the words "in .... Germany". Later on they rearranged the letters.

 

[supertruper1988]

Those are awesome parts! You’ll need a play on “Charvel” for the logo too me thinks

 

[FranzKappa]

Hi Folks. Just a quick update on my plans.

I’ve decided to change direction with the guitar body. The original color was an attempt to try something special, but it’s not quite what I had in mind. I was hoping for a much darker, golden-brownish rootbeer look. Realizing over the last few weeks that I wouldn't be happy with this finish in the long run, I decided to go a different route. I just ordered a Fiesta Red body in a satin finish — a classic colorway with a twist. I expect it to ship around late July.

I will keep you posted.

 

[Spud]

Hi Folks. Just a quick update on my plans.

I’ve decided to change direction with the guitar body. The original color was an attempt to try something special, but it’s not quite what I had in mind. I was hoping for a much darker, golden-brownish rootbeer look. Realizing over the last few weeks that I wouldn't be happy with this finish in the long run, I decided to go a different route. I just ordered a Fiesta Red body in a satin finish — a classic colorway with a twist. I expect it to ship around late July.

I will keep you posted.

Here's what I would do............spray a black burst edge around that color as it is and it will "darken" it and make it even cooler!! Hurry!!

 

[FranzKappa]

Oh great... I'm completely confident that I can pull this off perfectly and won't make it worse!! Jokes aside, it just doesn't suit me. I was really looking forward to it, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Sorry guys!

If only the shade weren't so coppery bright goldish(?) - I just don't like that unfortunately. I understand the problematics with how colors are displayed, and how differently they look in videos and pictures. No blame intended!

Flakesgiving Promo for reference and what I was looking for:

There's just something about that satin Fiesta Red that I've fallen for:

I quite like the "toyish" look it adds, especially in that color, and I've never had a satin guitar before. Let's see if it fits the bill.

 

[Don O]

Sorry it doesn’t work for ya. Interested in selling the body?

 

[FranzKappa]

Thanks Don. Absolutely! BUT.. since I am located in Germany, I'd prefer to sell it locally or within the surrounding area. If someone is interested feel free to PM me.

 

[Don O]

Thanks Don. Absolutely! BUT.. since I am located in Germany, I'd prefer to sell it locally or within the surrounding area. If someone is interested feel free to PM me.

Well, if it doesn’t sell locally, I don’t mind paying for shipping. It’s only 1 DHL plane ride away. I’ve bought guitars and amps from Italy, Greece, Spain and the UK.