Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
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- Molly
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Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
I'm guessing very hard. Dipping my toe in and looking around at just how deep a rabbit hole it might be. Certainly if it was a one-off. Saw this template on AliExpress. Cheap crap or worth a go?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3297601 ... ltXjT&mp=1
Then there's this pretty inspirational series of videos from Fletcher Guitars.
Hmm, I just think I'll get about forty hours in and fuck it up so it ends up as scrap. I did a night school class a good thirteen years ago. Made a really nice mahogany body - a sort of slightly smaller Jackson Soloist body - and ruined it with one careless removal of the router whilst trying to do the neck pocket.
Anybody else here cack-handed but nevertheless succeeded? Any tips?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3297601 ... ltXjT&mp=1
Then there's this pretty inspirational series of videos from Fletcher Guitars.
Hmm, I just think I'll get about forty hours in and fuck it up so it ends up as scrap. I did a night school class a good thirteen years ago. Made a really nice mahogany body - a sort of slightly smaller Jackson Soloist body - and ruined it with one careless removal of the router whilst trying to do the neck pocket.
Anybody else here cack-handed but nevertheless succeeded? Any tips?
Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
I'm starting to look for alternative places to buy things from. The last three things I have orderd from AliExpress never arrived (a watch, a watch strap and a Chinese TV box for the MIL); despite me not receiving them the all three of the tracking said that they had successfully been delivered. No idea what happens to them, whether they're all just sitting in the corner of a depot somewhere or they ended up going back to the sender? I've never been denied a refund to date, it's just starting to become a PITA when you wait ages for something and then have to open a dispute because the seller can't be arsed to respond to your messages
Good luck Molly, does certainly look like a fun project
Good luck Molly, does certainly look like a fun project
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- Ashton
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
I know I'm only new and I hope it doesn't look wrong but - I have templates available
Should add that I will help when asked too, all while trying not to come across as a know-all
Should add that I will help when asked too, all while trying not to come across as a know-all
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
Mate they look good, what are you after for a set of them?ChAoZ wrote:I know I'm only new and I hope it doesn't look wrong but - I have templates available
Should add that I will help when asked too, all while trying not to come across as a know-all
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
Have you done a full assembly of one yet? If not, is that a better place to start? You'd get an idea of what's involved. Get the separate body, neck etc and finish them and assemble.
Alternatively, go for it. Winters coming and you have a woodburner
Alternatively, go for it. Winters coming and you have a woodburner
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
Template jesus I still just freehand stuff . Just trace around a strat and go from there
probably bad advice but I like to make things hard for myself
probably bad advice but I like to make things hard for myself
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
Easy !!!
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
I sell them for $99 incl postage - keen to swap for parts and woodBigreddog wrote:Mate they look good, what are you after for a set of them?
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
Yes, if you fuck it up, just fix it and paint it - paint hides a multitude of sins, even Adrian has done that.Molly wrote:Anybody else here cack-handed but nevertheless succeeded? Any tips?
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.
- Molly
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
They look cool. Was just looking at Fletcher's template set. Starts to add up once you get the contour templates etc. Dollar is pretty much at parity with the AU$ at the moment though which helps a bit.ChAoZ wrote:I know I'm only new and I hope it doesn't look wrong but - I have templates available
Should add that I will help when asked too, all while trying not to come across as a know-all
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
I've assembled quite a few and painted a couple but nothing involving woodwork.WellyBlues wrote:Have you done a full assembly of one yet? If not, is that a better place to start? You'd get an idea of what's involved. Get the separate body, neck etc and finish them and assemble.
Alternatively, go for it. Winters coming and you have a woodburner
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
Someone is reading the forum...
https://www.bidbud.co.nz/2597358562
https://www.bidbud.co.nz/2597358562
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
dont even consider the contour templates ....just get the rasp out and be creative!Molly wrote:They look cool. Was just looking at Fletcher's template set. Starts to add up once you get the contour templates etc. Dollar is pretty much at parity with the AU$ at the moment though which helps a bit.ChAoZ wrote:I know I'm only new and I hope it doesn't look wrong but - I have templates available
Should add that I will help when asked too, all while trying not to come across as a know-all
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
OK. Rule 1. Build a Telecaster. More straightforward, less to cock up and probably sounds better too.Molly wrote:I'm guessing very hard. Dipping my toe in and looking around at just how deep a rabbit hole it might be. Certainly if it was a one-off. Saw this template on AliExpress. Cheap crap or worth a go?
Start with decent wood. Shape accordingly, assemble straight and screw good stuff into it. You may get a brilliant guitar but at the worst, you've wasted a body and got all the good stuff to bolt onto the next promising Tele that comes your way.
And by the time you've got it right, you'll love building a Strat.
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- Gibson
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Re: Building a Strat. How hard can it be...?
You should just give it a go Brian. It''s not that hard to build one. If you have concerns, start with a bought neck and build around that. You've got the experience of putting partscasters together so you know how everything should fit, and you've done refinishing which is probably the hardest bit.