GUITAR BUILD PROJECTS, DRUM FETTLING, CUSTOMISATION & DIY TECH
I've had the Stratocaster finished and playable for about a month now. I did the project to build a new guitar, but also to learn a bit in the process. So what did I end up with? How well does it play? What do I want to change?
This is the real exciting bit. How is it going to play??
It's almost an alchemical experience. Wood and wire finished and shaped, and all to accept a simple electric circuit. With it, a guitar becomes electric and, as Frank Zappa puts it, "the guitar can be the single most blasphemous device on the face of the earth" - "The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time".
Tremolos. As a bass player I don't actually know how to use them properly. I bend notes with my fingers. Do I really want one of them there whammy bar things?
Joining the neck and body. This feels like a momentous moment. Things need to go right.
Checking the neck for level, finishing the frets and getting ready to attach the neck to the body.
Polishing up the headstocks and fitting the tuners - ready for assembly.
As work on the Jaguar neck continues - it's really convenient to carry out similar tasks on the Stratocaster neck at the same time.
Having worked on the finish, there's a point when work begins to prepare to make this project into an electric guitar.
Time to catch up with the Ash Strat body, which has been curing nicely. Planning ahead. First look at fitting the body hardware.
Garageland 