stratocaster SRV build

The Stratmangler · Post by **The Stratmangler** » Tue May 29, 2012 7:40 pm

That's a lovely looking neck for sure.
However, seeing as how the beautiful figuring is down to faults in the wood, I can't help but feel that it negatively effects resonance.

My first choice would be the quartersawn neck.

david C · Post by **david C** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:41 pm

there's been a bit of progress
the trems been fitted,

and the neck's arrived

one interesting thing, I wasn't charged VAT, does this mean guitar parts are exempt?

david C · Post by **david C** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:31 pm

now the loaded pickguard has arrived this morning, it's all coming together

I can't recommend these people enough, they were very helpful and really creative with the paperwork,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170793630358? ... 1423.l2648

I've had to order a neck straight edge to set the neck up, there's all sorts of things you need that you just don't think about,

sadly Fender won't let me have a SRV engraved pickguard, they want a serial number unfortunately that is on the neck and not the body, I am going to send them a begging letter to see if I can make them feel guilty,

The Stratmangler · Post by **The Stratmangler** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:51 pm

That's looking good David.
Now if I recollect correctly Fender originally supplied the guitar with two scratchplates (I don't think they do any longer), one like the one on yours and one with the SRV engraving.
And I prefer the plain one myself.
Stevie Ray himself preferred letters that had fallen off trucks

david C · Post by **david C** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:06 pm

I think you're right and the plain one is my choice, I am happy with it but I would like the option of the SRV just in case I ever sell it,

there were people selling copies but Fender put an end to it, maybe that's why Fender changed the style of the engraving to an outline,

andrew Ivimey · Post by **andrew Ivimey** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:00 pm

Ummmm, I'm probably missing something here but are you left handed David?

david C · Post by **david C** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:12 pm

andrew Ivimey wrote:Ummmm, I'm probably missing something here but are you left handed David?

no, I play RH but SRV had a LH tremolo because Jimi Hendrix played a
RH strat LH which put the tremolo arm on the top, the story is that SRV wanted to emulate JH
it's one of the quirks of owning a SRV stratocaster

it's one Fender's Artist series

andrew Ivimey · Post by **andrew Ivimey** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 3:41 pm

only human beings could think up such a thing!

david C · Post by **david C** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:10 pm

on the basis that you take one step forward and six back,
the 8 hole pickguard they supplied is the wrong one, how did I know that Fender make 2, the earlier 57 spec has the bottom hole about 2 inches further right in line with the middle p/u, apparently the one I have is a transition one which has the hole spacing the same as the 11 hole variety

so another one is on order from the States, more delay

also try ordering a lefthand tremolo cover with a slot like the latest strats, Fender make them but nobody stocks them why did SRV have to have a LH trem,

The Stratmangler · Post by **The Stratmangler** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:18 pm

david C wrote:also try ordering a lefthand tremolo cover with a slot like the latest strats, Fender make them but nobody stocks them why did SRV have to have a LH trem,

SRV didn't have a cover for the trem stuff on his own guitar - it's not a problem so long as you don't play the guitar nekkid and low slung

The Eric Johnson model doesn't come with a trem cover, as EJ prefers the sound of his strats without the cover.

That's a bummer about the screw placement.

david C · Post by **david C** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:29 pm

I think most people got rid of them,
the early ones were a nightmare to change strings through those fiddly holes, particularly on a dark stage,

something less to rattle as well

david C · Post by **david C** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:13 pm

found this guy on ebay looks like a good source of cold rolled steel tremolo blocks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steel-tremolo ... 231e4f244f

ps I've now ordered one of these, it's got to be made specially because it's left hand what's nice is there's no extra charge for this,

david C · Post by **david C** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:25 pm

small start this afternoon
some bits turned up so I fitted the tuners, I think I managed to get them in line

david C · Post by **david C** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:39 pm

everybody keep your fingers crossed I think I've got myself a pucker SRV pickguard

ps winging it's way from the States as we speak

david C · Post by **david C** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:25 pm

just got my cold rolled tremolo block from Kevin on ebay,
it looks very nicely machined it doesn't feel any heavier than the standard one but I don't spose that's a criteria I think it's all about pureness of the steel

audio-talk

stratocaster SRV build

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