Saturday, November 19, 2011

Customize your Fender Stratocaster . . . . .

Eric Clapton 013

 I was reading some different blogs this morning and ran across something that I want to share with all of you.  This particular post was dated 12/19/06 and it was located in the Stratoblogster’s site. 

 

I thought it was great and full of priceless information if you are a Strat-O-Nut like the rest of us.  This is a huge post that is full of lots of resource links. Take your time because they've found some really cool stuff that you’ll want to modify your own Fender Strat with.


Strat Wiring Diagram Schematic?

Stratocaster guitar gear mods and parts upgrades.

strat_ocaster guitar wiring diagram schematic

(image: guitarnucleus.com)

Anatomical illustration of the reproductive system of one Stratus Castoris Erectus.


Free resources for guitar and/or amp wiring schematics:
Fender.com (support-wiring diagram pdf's including Eric Johnson config.)
Guitarnucleus.com -(includes orientation on how to read schematics & symbols)
Guitar-mod.com (wiring mods & tricks for tone geeks)
GuitarNuts.com (Tons of guitar maintenance and mod tips!)
Quieting the Beast (Strat shielding-grounding tutorial from GuitarNuts.com)
Strat Pickup Replacement - video tutorial by SEYMOUR DUNCAN!!!
STRAT PICKUP Installation & Adjustment by JASON LOLLAR
Strat Build Tutorial (Ron Kirn takes you Step by Step)
Ron Kirn Templates
Singlecoil.com (Premier Guitar contributor Dirk Wacker's site)
DIYguitarist
guitarrepairbench.com - Guitar maintenance & repair resources.
www.youtube.com/user/CuriousInventor - The absolute best soldering tech tutorial videos. Fill any gaps in your soldering savvy!!!
Fret MD (Forum & help on guitar-bass set-up issues)
CustomStratocaster.com (DIY Strat build documentary blog)
The Stagemaster Project (documentary project blog)
John Fisher builds a Strat "The Hard Way"
Wonderhowto.com (DIY, SRV Strat Video Series)
STRAT TREM SET-UP - Video by Italian wizard luthier Galaezzo Frudua showing how to make your standard Strat trem stay in tune like a Floyd Rose without locking nut or tuners. Watch for yourself!!!
CARL VERHEYEN TREM SET-UP - Watch how Carl set's up his Strat trems, plus full painstaking post video analysis by TGP members.


UPGRADE ITEMS & SUPPLIERS

Merchants, suppliers & links for all your Strat makeover, upgrade, hot rod, mods and hardware needs:

Gotoh Vintage SD91HAPM Locking Tuners
Tuning Machines Resource Link
Gotoh staggered locking tuners

A tuner upgrade that makes sense! Adjustable height staggered posts with locking capability but not the extra locking thumb wheel that ruins the vintage look.

TONE CAP RESOURCES - info. about tone capacitors, treble bleed kits and the easiest ways to find & test the right caps for your tone.

Sprague Orange Drop caps


Bodies, Hardware & Electronics

eric johnson strat body loadedNew genuine Fender pre-wired, loaded Eric Johnson Bodies. Convert your EJ RW to Burst!
(In Stock - The STRATosphere)

The STRATosphere
"Genuine Fender parts & worldwide shipping at The STRATosphere. Our store specializes in USA Fender Strat, Tele, Jazzmaster, & Bass guitar parts: necks, bodies, hardware, pickups, & cases. Buy deluxe, vintage, custom shop, & modern models 24/7. Get the best Fender quality only at The STRATosphere!"
Angela Instruments - "GENUINE FENDER USA PARTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR STRAT, TELE, JAGUAR, JAZZMASTER, PRECISION BASS, JAZZ BASS AND FENDER AMPS! TONS OF PREMIUM N.O.S. AUDIO TUBES, TRANSFORMERS, SOCKETS, CHASSIS, CAPACITORS, RESISTORS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE! SERVING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE SINCE 1977." Also stocking lots of Lindy Fralin pickups.
Picker's Parts - Denver based supplier for guitar hardware and electronics. Lots of Fender stuff, including necks and bodies. Other top brand components too. Long established with tons of good customer feedback.
DBG GUITAR aka stratconnection.com specializes in Strat & Tele parts. Musikraft necks too!
PRE-WIRED- LOADED Custom PICKGUARD SUPPLIERS
From Guitar Gear Stores - online directory of guitar and guitar parts dealers. Aged-relic guitars, parts & accessories included.

pre-wired voodoo gypsy Hendrix pickguard

Gypsy Pickguard from Metal Shop Music.

(see reverse bridge pup angle)

Metal Shop Music (premium replacement necks, loaded Strat, Tele & Jazzmaster pre-wired pickguards) Specializing in a large variety of loaded, pre-wired Fender factory and Custom Shop Strat pickguards. Pickup configurations typically include: Lace Sensor Holy Grail 54's, Samarium Cobalt, Texas Specials, TBX, Duncan 59's, Tex Mex, Lace Sensor Hot Gold SSS, etc. ALSO LINDY FRALIN loaded pickguards.

Slider's Vintage Classic 59's Pickups

Slider's Vintage Classic 59's

Slider's Vintage Classic pickups are available through their eBay user account: sliderspickups . Rod "Slider" McQueen builds one set at a time. The pickups are vintage reproductions with NOS wire, rounded edge bakelite covers and vintage magnets which Slider charges and matches to each set. Any sets that aren't pre-sold are listed at eBay. IF NONE LISTED, KEEP CHECKING BACK! McQueen has been featured at ToneQuest Report and is 100% rated at eBay, where his item descriptions are heavily detailed.

KGH Brass Strat Trem Block  

Killer Guitar Compents "KGC" machined bell brass hi-resonance trem blocks.

Killer Guitar Components - Specializing in hi-grade machined brass trem blocks for superior Strat tone & sustain. Tell 'em Stratoblogster sent ya!
GUITARFETISH STORE - Stocking a variety of guitar upgrade items. Check their Electronics section for interesting pre-amp and onboard mid-boost products for Strats!
Raw Vintage Trem Springs & Saddles
Guitar Parts And More hardware & guitar kits-- ALLPARTS Dealer.
Suhr BPSSC - BPSSC stands for Back Plate Silent Single Coil. This is a major upgrade for Stratocaster & Strat-type guitars. Removes all 60hz hum without degrading signal. Recommended by Scott Henderson.
Tremol-No Tremolno Guitar Trem Device 

No, Mercedes Benz hasn't started making disposable shavers...
Tricked Out Guitar is still selling Tremol-No units for under $50, including free shipping! That's the best deal-- check around yourself!

Abalone Stratocaster Pickguard

Dazbootman "Abalone" Pickguards

Dazbootman Pickguards
Dazbootman Pickguards is the one-stop shop for hard to find and unique guitar pickguards.

Hot Vintage Pin Up Guitar Decals

pin_up girl strat pickguard  Vintage Bomber Pin-Up Girl Guitar Decal

Rockin' Billy's                                 Decal and Re-finish Links!

Rockin' Billy's Guitar Parts - (aka Greasy Groove) Pin-up decals and thousands of graphics pickguards. Click pickguards in their menu, then Strat Pickguards subcategory!
Tricked Out Guitar has parts and hardware for tricking out your Strat. Product lines include: Allparts, Q-Parts, Stellartone, Lindy Fralin, TV Jones, Seymour Duncan, Wilkinson, Mighty-Mite, Fender, Gibson, Custom Shop and more. They're also a dealer for STELLARTONE TONESTYLER Pots. Be sure to check out TOG's custom prewired pickguard assemblies in several yummy flavors.

Birdseye maple Strat replacement neck

Birdseye Maple Replacement Necks at Metal Shop Music

Metal Shop Music (premium replacement necks, loaded Strat, Tele & Jazzmaster pre-wired pickguards) Specializing in a large variety of loaded, pre-wired Fender factory and Custom Shop Strat pickguards. Pickup configurations typically include: Lace Sensor Holy Grail 54's, Samarium Cobalt, Texas Specials, TBX, Duncan 59's, Tex Mex, Lace Sensor Hot Gold SSS, etc. ALSO LINDY FRALIN loaded pickguards.

Exotic wood Musikraft finish Strat-Tele Neck

Custom Musikraft exotic wood necks by Jamerson-Guitars

Jamerson-Guitars a Top-rated Seller, is Fender licensed Musikraft's Official eBay "Custom Shop". Besides maple, these guys make necks from striped figured ebony, zebrawood, cocobolo and more!

Pin-up Decal School Girl

"Schoolgirl" by artist Keith Garvey

2.5" x 6" clear vinyl static decal
Available at Hot Chick Stickers (directory below)
Vintage Pin-up Decals - Directory for classic waterslide decals, including How-To links for applying decals, graphics and refinishing your guitar.

Ouija Board graphic guitar skin by Fourth Floor Graphics

GUITAR SKINS by Fourth Floor Graphics- Just like the Skinit stuff for phones, iPods & laptops.
AXEWRAPS - More skins for guitars.

Protect your tone with good cable!

George L's Deluxe Purple kit w/black caps

George L's Deluxe Purple kit w/black caps - In Stock: Al's Music Source

Mogami 2524 Silent 10' w/Neutrik plugs

Mogami 2524 Silent 10' w/ Neutrik plugs - In Stock: NY Pro Audio Cables

Here's a couple suppliers for really good guitar cable who stock friggin' tons of the stuff! Or maybe I should say miles of it.
Al's Music Source - California based supplier, claims to have the largest George L's inventory "on the planet". The George L's deluxe kits are currently available in black, blue, purple & red with various combos of caps colors -- and Al's has it all in stock.
NY Pro Audio Cables - Huge East Coast cable outfit with lots of Mogami cable that they terminate in-house with Neutrik plugs. Other top cable brands also available.
Eric Johnson uses George L's, and Scott Henderson is a big fan of Mogami cable. Either way you can't go wrong. East or West Coast.

Guitar Builder & Luthier Tools & Supplies Complete eBay category results

Wilkinson WVC SB Chrome USA Strat Retrofit at AZ Guitar Parts

AZ GUITAR PARTS - Bridges, Pickguards, Pickups, Tuners, Plates, and Necks.
Pro Rock Gear - Parts source for Wilkinson & Floyd Rose bridge/trem systems.
GuitarGearStores.com
Guitar Gear Stores consolidates all the best eBay music instrument gear stores into an easy to navigate directory site helping you find the hottest guitar products on eBay.
ebay MIM Strat search
Cheaper, used "made in Mexico" or "MIM" Strats make great DIY upgrade projects!
VACUUM TUBES & AMP PARTS DIRECTORY - Includes NOS tubes suppliers.
PRE-WIRED- LOADED PICKGUARD SUPPLIERS
Fret MD: Electric Guitar and Bass Setup and Maintenance (DVD)


I found this post very informative and exciting being a such a Fender Strat-O-Nut myself, and I hope all you Strat-O-Nuts enjoyed it too.  I want to give all the credit to my fellow guitar enthusiast at www.stratoblaster.com for all of his hard work investigating the many custom options available for us Fender Stratocaster owners.  Thank You Again !!

Well, I want to wish everyone an enjoyable pre-Thanksgiving weekend and I hope you don’t work too hard preparing for the upcoming holiday festivities.  We will be traveling to Buffalo, New York to see our son Chris and his family.  We really miss them since they’ve picked up and moved there from the Maryland area a couple years ago now. Then shortly after that, I will be going into the hospital to undergo a surgery so I may drop out of touch for a short period of time until I can get back in touch with all of you.

Until next time, “Same Guitar Place; Same Guitar Channel . !”

Musician By Night . . .

MusicianByNight_01-Large

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