New strat build project - Page 7

LonePhantom · #91 11-12-2012, 04:59 AM

It lives!!!!!!

Unfortunately my makeshift Wilkinson bridge is 2-1/8" screw spacing, so can only use the middle four screws. Will do for now.

chrisf · #92 11-12-2012, 06:26 AM

Nice job! I love it... I've got to get me one of these. How does it play?

chopstix21 · #93 11-12-2012, 07:39 AM

Good job! I want to build a strat now!!! I like the colors and hardware, just not sure about the zebra pickup but I totaly want it

LonePhantom · #94 11-12-2012, 03:23 PM

Well, I've only had a very short time playing it, but it's fantastic. The 10-16" compound radius is so natural and effortless. You don't notice the change in radius, just that everything is so easy and comfortable.

Getting used to the frets, they are thinner than I was expecting, height is great. Being stainless they may be a little brighter, but I'm also using Ernie Ball Cobalts, which are a bright string. I'm loving the tone, not too thin or harsh.

The Warmoth standard thin profile is really comfortable too. A little thicker than a Wizard or Wizard II, but still so nice.

The body is very light, the whole damned guitar is super light. When I get the titanium loaded bridge I reckon it'll be heaps lighter again!

Trying to work out the best way to change strings with the Magnum Lock Gotohs, but the guitar is holding tune nicely. I can't use the whammy bar really with the bridge only being held by four screws, but I'll see how tuning stability is with the new bridge when it comes in.

The guitar is very resonant, and has a great acoustic tone. Plugged in with the Tone Zone with swapped pole-pieces it has a great beefy and chunky tone, but there's still plenty of articulation. I have to get a push-pull pot so I can wire up a series/parallel switch, then it'll be pretty much perfect. The Tone Zone isn't the greatest for cleans when in series as many know.

11racksfx · #95 11-12-2012, 04:22 PM

Very nice, remind me of a Charvel SoCal.

LonePhantom · #96 11-12-2012, 04:51 PM

Yeah, this was a combo of a Charvel So Cal, Adrian Smith San Dimas and EVH all in one. I'm glad people are seeing this (and more!) in it.

11racksfx · #97 11-12-2012, 05:27 PM

The hardware color combinations is great, the only thing I would change is the zebra pickup to black. But, no doubt it is very nice.

LonePhantom · #98 11-12-2012, 06:01 PM

It was a spare pickup I had available. I'm probably going to switch to an all black one soon. I've got a black JB and a black Custom that I can put in there. Also thinking of trying a Seymour Duncan Custom Shop 78.

11racksfx · #99 11-12-2012, 06:11 PM

Can't go wrong with a JB. Is the SD Custom Shop 78, a 2 or 4 conductor? The SD Custom Shop 78 would give you EVH vibe.

LonePhantom · #**100** 11-12-2012, 06:42 PM

I'd get the 78 with four conductor. I want to be able to go from series to parallel.

LonePhantom · #**101** 11-14-2012, 04:59 PM

Dropped the JB and a push-pull potentiometer in for series-parallel switching. Sounds great!

guitvai1 · #**102** 11-14-2012, 06:15 PM

Nice build - I have a very similar neck from Warmoth on one of my builds, it has the stainless steel frets (which I love) and is super wide at 1-3/4 wide. The neck is just awesome and super stable. I must say I've tried the Cobalts on a couple of my guitars and liked them at first but the novelty has worn off - to me they are too harsh and make the guitar too distorted. They do keep they're brightness for a long time though.

For those considering a Warmoth neck, do not hesitate to pull the trigger - I would go for the Warmoth Pro. I've also built an EBMM Axis copy with a Wolfgang profile Warmoth neck and it is phenomenal - so easy to play with the ST.ST frets and Tru-oil and wax finish. Save some money by not getting it finished and just get the "Birchwood Casey Tru Oil and Wax" and finish it that way. The process is super simple and feels better than any gloss finish. This is what EBMM does with their Silhouette and Axis necks.

LonePhantom · #**103** 11-14-2012, 06:47 PM

One thing to remember with the Warmoth Pro is that it's quite a bit heavier than say the Vintage Modern that I went with. The weight might put some people off. I would have gone Pro on my build, but I got a good showcase deal with the neck I ended up with.

RGTFanatic · #**104** 11-15-2012, 08:52 PM

PUT THE ZEBRA BACK IN!!!!!!!!!!!

did I say that out loud???

LonePhantom · #**105** 11-15-2012, 09:03 PM

Ha ha, the Tone Zone had to come out for a short while so I could drop a Duncan in for some photos. I'm currently writing a blog post for the Duncan blog on building a great strat on a budget.