What'ya think? Little help requested

[heydenkm]

I have been tossing around a few ideas and would like a reality check on how they stack up to the wealth of experience on the board.  I currently have a couple of decent production guitars, but neither is nailing the tone/feel/etc. that I am hoping for.  I am contemplating building a single guitar that does what these two do but better.  Just for background, I play in two cover bands that do current rock radio stuff (Foo Fighters, Weezer, Jet, etc.) and some classics (Thin Lizzy, SRV, Skynyrd).  I want to have a "classy" looking guitar that can rock when needed.

I have some things that I like, but I am not sure how well they will go together.  Here's the specs:

Body - carved top soloist, korina with padauk top, HSS, Floyd
    ??--Do these two woods "look right" together?  Do their colorings jive?  Will the tones combine nicely--not too muddy or brittle?
Neck - 3A birdseye, no inlays, contemplating a Strat or Explorer headstock or maybe a custom 4x2 arrangement
    ??--Is the 3A really worth the money?  Which headstock would look best with the body above?  Will the Explorer look too "Kramer-y"?  Would a reverse head be too much?
Hardware - CHROME, Floyd with D-Tuna (requirement to be able to drop-D), Tremol-no (to help with D-Tuna), lock nut, Sperzels
    ??--Will the chrome go with the above-listed wood choices?  I am not a big fan of gold or black hardware.
Pickups - I have a friend who is a local luthier and winds custom pickups.  I'm planning on basic black.  Let me know if you think something else would look better.

I'd love to hear thoughts.  Obviously, there are a lot of people here that have better knowledge than I do.  I'd also like to find out (if anyone knows) how many times I need to kick myself for not buying this guitar before the prices went up.  I see that the body is up to $560.  Does anyone know how much it went up from before.  Had I had this idea a couple months ago, this decision might be a lot easier.

Thanks to all that can provide some input.

 

[Mor Paul]

Sorry, but I don't think you'll be able to get W to do a 4-2 headstock arrangement. Blame EB.

The woods should look fine together, I think. Try an ebony pinstripe.
The headstock is personal preference. I'd prefer a strat, non-reverse, but that's because I'm more of a classic rock/traditional instruments guy.
With a maple neck and korina body, you don't have to worry about muddyness or brittleness.

You know Weezer uses Warmoths?

 

[Orpheo]

Sorry, but I don't think you'll be able to get W to do a 4-2 headstock arrangement. Blame EB.

The woods should look fine together, I think. Try an ebony pinstripe.
The headstock is personal preference. I'd prefer a strat, non-reverse, but that's because I'm more of a classic rock/traditional instruments guy.
With a maple neck and korina body, you don't have to worry about muddyness or brittleness.

You know Weezer uses Warmoths?

there's no problem with 'a' 4x2 headstock, as long as it isn't EB's version.

 

[tfarny]

OK, relax:
Start with the sound - spend time on your pickups. The wood isn't going to make or break the sound, especially with a Floyd I imagine. It'll basically sound like the pickups, the strings, and the Floyd (and your fingers). Korina is a great wood, the top isn't going to do much of anything.
Looks: Well it's really up to you, I wouldn't rely too much on a bunch of wigged-out discussion board strangers to make personal aesthetic decisions. Google "kisekae" and you'll get a modeling thing to play with, or just copy/paste warmoth bodies and necks together and photoshop colors.
Since your friend is a luthier, think about ordering a paddle headstock and having him do a custom peghead shape for you and maybe even drill you a 4-2 arrangement if that's your thing.
As far as 'what goes with what', you don't even mention the finish. I assume the padouk will be clear gloss, so kind of red / natural for the top. That's a great start. Mess around with the modelers and see what you get.
Price: You are late to the party, what can I say.  Carved tops went up around $200.
Good luck! Post pics when you get the chance, please.

 

[big bob]

something like this

 

[dwayneed]

I have tried to build 'do it all' guitars over the years and found that "Jack of all trades, master of none." is just that. Classic strat wiring is the most versatile regardless of other factors... in my experience.

 

[heydenkm]

Thanks, guys.  Good to start getting some feedback.  As for the 4x2, I would just buy the paddle and cut it myself.  I forgot to mention that.  I like the look, but they certainly are not traditional.  Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.  I am leaning toward a Strat head, but am not sure if that will look best.  As for the finish, yes it would be just clear gloss all around.  The ebony pinstripe is really a nice classy touch.  Good suggestion.  Also, thanks for confirming that the maple neck and korina body will provide an even tone.  That is a big part of the issues I have right now.

I will look up the "kisekae" modeler.  I know that I can't rely on everyone's opinions from a board like this.  I was just looking for a general steering toward things that have worked or not worked in the past.  Do the orangey-red colors in padauk look good or bad with the browns and blacks in korina?  Do they go alright with birdseye?  Has the Strat head been used on a carved Soloist and does it look OK?  Stuff like that.  Personal opinions will range, but if I am headed down a road to create something that sounds like mud and ice picks or looks like a kids toy, I would hope that someone that has seen these mistakes before could offer some advice.

Also, I understand that the all-in-one guitar is usually hard to get right.  However, my requirements aren't that high.  I have one guitar now that sounds pretty good (not great) and another that has the D-Tuna.  That one sounds very muddy, but I need to use it for the many songs that we do in drop-D.  If I could build one guitar that sounds good but also has the D-Tuna, that would help.  Also, I don't have anything now with single coils, so I want to get the HSS to incorporate those.  I almost never use the neck 'bucker anymore.

Thanks to all for the feedback so far.  Keep it coming.

 

[Vol. Knob]

You should be able to nail the tones you need, if you can nail them on your current amp/effect rig.  The shape of the guitar has little to to with any of that.  And what you described in the way of looks sounds hideous to me.  But if that's what you like, then then there's nothing sexier.

Just kidding.  Itll look killer.  I'm just not a big fan of Soloist shapes.  I prefer singlecut themes and LPS.  And classic V shapes .

An all-in-one guitar is easier than you think, I get all I need in my p-90 loaded thinline.