| Project by Pookwood | posted 07-22-2012 01:29 PM | 2424 views | 4 times favorited | 14 comments |  |
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This started 0ff as a bet from my Dad. You’ll never be able to make one, he says. Oh yeah?. I tried to make it as close to a fat strat as I could with a little vintage look to go with it. Of course, its not a real Fender strat, but I think its close. I started with a one piece Swamp Ash blank and routed the cavities for the pickups and electronics, jack, neck pocket. Then cut the outline of the strat body and shaped it. Its close, but not real close. The Neck, fret board are made from Rock maple, fretting and cutting the fret board was an adventure. I stained the body with Rustoleum Golden Mahogany stain,( I still don’t know if I should of done that or not) and finished with high gloss. The neck and fingerboard was finished with gun oil. Parts and electrics mostly aftermarket and a few Fender parts ( tremolo cover and tuning pegs), Pickups are from Dragonfire guitars and hardware from misc. suppliers. It takes alot of research to make one of these and patience…and lots of time. I think I might make another one, maybe….its was a challenge and a blast to make. And I won the bet.
-- Wayne
14 comments so far
Bob817
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677 posts in 2946 days
#1 posted 07-22-2012 01:58 PM
That is a B E A U T Y!!! How does it sound and play? You may have won the bet but you also got a nice little axe there. my age is showing, later.
-- ~ Bob ~ Newton, N.H.
sras
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5260 posts in 3693 days
#2 posted 07-22-2012 01:59 PM
Beautiful guitar! Nice work. I suspect your dad does not feel like he lost after seeing your result…
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
juniorjock
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1930 posts in 4329 days
#3 posted 07-22-2012 01:59 PM
Beautiful guitar! I really like the stain and finish. The majority of Strats I’ve seen are painted. I like to see the wood (stained, not painted). How heavy is it? My brother bought a Strat that was ash and it was pretty hefty. It was heavier than most Strats, but not any heavier than my Les Paul (feels like it weighs a ton). Is there a steel rod in the neck? All I’ve seen have a bar going from the body, through the neck and to the turning keys, with a place for adjustments (under a cover).
Like I said, beautiful. How does it sound?
SuburbanDon
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487 posts in 3558 days
#4 posted 07-22-2012 07:27 PM
Impressive.
-- --- Measure twice, mis-cut, start over, repeat ---
Pookwood
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41 posts in 2974 days
#5 posted 07-22-2012 08:31 PM
Thanks guys, sound and plays good…still might have to tweak it a bit. I ran a standard truss rod though the neck with the adjustment near the nut. Its heavy, but not as heavy as I thought it would be,( still have to locate my scale for an accurate weight).
-- Wayne
Steve
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177 posts in 2760 days
#6 posted 07-22-2012 08:58 PM
Wow, that is one beautiful guitar. I love the color and I think it is a great choice for featuring that wood grain. I’m working on a telecaster body and plan to buy a neck, because building one does seem like it would be an adventure like you said. Well done!
-- Steve in Lawrenceville, GA - http://www.TheCarmichaelWorkshop.com
bunkie
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413 posts in 3711 days
#7 posted 07-22-2012 10:36 PM
I love the look, I’ve never seen an ash Strat that color, it’s really striking! Very, very nice work!
I have a G&L Legacy tribute that’s ash with a transparent red finish. Everyone compliments me on it. My only complaint is that mine has a rosewood fretboard and I’m really a maple neck kind of guy.
I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of compliments when you play it.
-- Altruism is, ultimately, self-serving
devann
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2250 posts in 3256 days
#8 posted 07-22-2012 11:07 PM
ooh it’s a beauty, an impressive guitar you have made there.
-- Darrell, making more sawdust than I know what to do with
BigTiny
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1676 posts in 3452 days
#9 posted 07-23-2012 12:27 AM
Kool axe dude! If it plays half as good as it looks, it should be pro quality.
Now for the big question: how well can you play it? (grin)
Paul
-- The nicer the nice, the higher the price!
dkrice
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25 posts in 3613 days
#10 posted 07-23-2012 02:20 AM
Great-looking instrument! Congrats on winning the bet!
-- Keith in Texas
dnick
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986 posts in 2946 days
#11 posted 07-23-2012 03:21 AM
A really nice job. I’ve always been in awe of people who can build guitars. I mean, it’s got to do a lot more than look good, how can you tell if it will sound good, or be comfortabe to play?
-- dnick, North Hollywood, Ca.
SirSalamander
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13 posts in 2872 days
#12 posted 07-23-2012 04:56 AM
I work at a used music shop, and we get a lot of custom builds coming through the door (which is kind of a bummer), but I have to say, we would be speechless if we ever saw something of this caliber come through the door. Truly excellent work. PLUS, I think it’s way cooler that the design is not perfectly strat like.
JimDaddyO
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625 posts in 3643 days
#13 posted 07-23-2012 12:49 PM
nice job. Looks like a keeper.
-- my blog: http://watertoneworkshop.blogspot.ca/ my You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA5AretE3xPoVDV61AxUdUA?view_as=subscriber
WoodenFrog
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2737 posts in 3477 days
#14 posted 07-23-2012 11:05 PM
Great Job!
I think it looks wonderful, I like the color..Woodgrain is much better than paint.
Congrats on a very fine job.
-- Robert B. Sabina, Ohio..... http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoodenfrogWoodenProd
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