Rob’s Strat Project

[rv_bass]

Encouraged by Bill’s and Greg’s projects, I’m trying my hand at a guitar parts project.  I have a mahogany Strat body, maple neck with rosewood fretboard, and Alembic pickups and electronics.


I just applied the first coat of oil finish, I’m using Mike Mahoney’s walnut oil, 100% natural, nontoxic, and he uses it with his beautiful wooden bowls.


Next will be sealer paint for the electronics and pickup cavities.


I have to drill a bigger hole to get the 1/4” jack into the jack cavity (I don’t want to cut the wires). This is the biggest challenge so far.


I used a sheet of adhesive foil from stewmac to insulate the underside of the plastic cover. 


I still have to get pickup screws and adjustment springs, and pickup switch screws.  Does anyone know the correct sizes?  I’m mounting them to the underside of the plastic cover plate.


Onward! 

[lbpesq]

Nice looking body, Rob.   I use a coat of Walnut Oil to bring out the grain on raw wood, but I’ve never tried finishing a guitar in it.   Does it harden like Tung Oil (which is what I use)?  You can find the pickup mounting screws and springs over at Stewmac.  They give the size in case you want to run to the hardware store and save a buck or two.  You might also check out their “Stewmax” membership.  It’s like Amazon Prime.  Pay one fee and get free shipping along with some other discounts.   Have you decided on a bridge?  I’d strongly suggest the Babicz full contact bridges.  I really like the Z series.    Another thing you might want to consider is adding a Q switch to the Alembic guts.   Good luck with the project and please keep the updates coming.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

Go Rob, GO. 


I have got to get my issues sorted out with SuperTele. It's too good of a guitar to not go to 100%.

[gtrguy]

That will be a nice one! I have some kind of mahogany wood Strat style guitar as well. Weighs a ton!

[rv_bass]

Thanks, guys!

Bill, I have a 3-position Q-Switch to go with it, which will be nice.  I’ like the Babicz bridge/tailpiece, but I don’t have the string through body holes.  I’ve been looking at the Kluson separate tailpiece and bridge parts that I might go with. Thanks for the tip about stewmac for the screws/springs, I’ll check them out, their account offerings too!

Greg, get that tele 100%, it will be awesome!

Gtrguy, thanks!  Mine is pretty light, maybe because of all the routiing and the routes are pretty deep too.

Since I only have two knobs, I’m going to put the 1/4” jack where the third knob would go, eliminating the need to drill a larger hole to the jack cavity, and use the jack cavity as the battery slot, it fits perfectly, I’ll just put a little cover over it with two screws.  That will be a lot easier for replacing the battery than having to remove all of the screws to the large cover!

[StephenR]

Since I only have two knobs, I’m going to put the 1/4” jack where the third knob would go, eliminating the need to drill a larger hole to the jack cavity, and use the jack cavity as the battery slot, it fits perfectly, I’ll just put a little cover over it with two screws.  That will be a lot easier for replacing the battery than having to remove all of the screws to the large cover!

Nice project Rob!

\When I put activators in my old Strat I did the same thing, input jack where the third knob was and battery in the compartment for the jack. I was too lazy to ever make a cover for the battery so it looks pretty ghetto. I really should add a three-way Q switch. When I bought the pickups back in '86 I had no idea that you could add a Q-switch. I also was not aware at the time that no Q-switch meant there was a boost "baked into" the circuit.

[jazzyvee]

I have a strat with Alembic innards and an idea i used from member Bill tgo, was to put the jack mounting plate upside down and that makes enough space underneath for the battery.

[rv_bass]

Thanks, Stephen, good to know the jack cavity is a good battery holder!   I have a flat piece of walnut that I will oil up and use as a cover, to be held in place with two screws.  I’ll put a piece of foam in there to keep the battery snug.

Jazzyvee, cool guitar!  Using the inverted jack cover is another good idea, I might try that as well!

[cozmik_cowboy]

I have a strat with Alembic innards and an idea i used from member Bill tgo, was to put the jack mounting plate upside down and that makes enough space underneath for the battery.

I have passed that idea along o other guitar fora; every one seems to say something like "Really?? Cool!  I'm trying that."

Peter

[rv_bass]

I see that there is a little hole drilled in the top that leads down to the cavity.  Do I need to ground the bridge/tailpiece to the cavity insulation?  If I go with a separate bridge and tailpiece do I need to ground both or just the tailpiece?  Thanks.

[lbpesq]

If you are using Alembic guts, no need to ground the bridge.

Bill, tgo

[rv_bass]

Awesome, thanks, Bill!

[rv_bass]

Making progress

[edwardofhuncote]

Oooh, I like it! 

[cozmik_cowboy]

Me, too!

Peter