Going to attempt to assemble my custom Strat, Panicking already, help!

[markbrad999]

Hi

I really want to assemble my own Stratocaster but am panicking about what I need to do and take into consideration. Basically I want to get the main bulk of the guitar assembled before I even consider Pups. So I am concentrating on getting the body and the neck first.

Do these look alright to start with?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200121446816&rd=1&rd=1

This is hopefully going to be the neck. I will put a new decal on as it says that the current one is damaged.

Here is the Body:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320127193732&rd=1&rd=1

I will spray this arctic white.

Just wondering will these 2 fit together alright.

Im panicking sooo much because I will buy them, then they wont fit. Well knowing my luck I am going to have loads of problems even if they do.

So could anybody give any advice, cheers

[azrael]

I would buy a neck that says it's a licensed Fender neck. So that way, the neck heel matches the right specs.

[Exothermia]

The body is fine but the neck is not fitting for a custom guitar with USA parts. It has no skunk stripe, the headstock shape is off, the tuners are junk, it is clearly a cheap imported neck that someone has put a Fender decal on. Consider at least getting a Mighty Mite, Allparts or Warmoth neck if not a Fender. They will all fit your body, they will have the correct features and their build quality will be far superior to a neck like that.

[spoonbadger]

firstly dude, dont touch that neck! i have a really bad feeling about that one dude, that is much too dark to be a rosewood fretboard and whoever took the pics obviously tried to avoid the headstock, its probably an encore or some other kind of cheapy neck. my advice to you is to get a licensed fender neck from mighty mite or musikraft, and then you will know its licensed by fender so it's going to be good quality, it wont be made of plywood and it will feel right. it really sucks to buy a neck and find out that it just doesnt feel right in your hand. and that ebay neck could easily be a weird heel shape, which might not fit into a fender guitar body.actually, now that i think about it, that looks exactly like the neck on my crappy old encore and its definitely not a fender, i can tell from the tint, the tuners and the shape of the curve on the headstock.but that body looks very nice and perfect for repainting. bear in mind that you will have to strip the paint off but those highway one's have very thin paint so getting it off will be easy. gl with your partscaster dude!

[markbrad999]

Is it best to go with this one then?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=160128812201&rd=1&rd=1

[spoonbadger]

that one certainly looks a lot better but its reserved, so the reserve could be much higher than you are willing to pay! you should just stop looking on ebay for necks, its a much better idea to get a neck new, at least thats i what i think.i would never buy something as sensitive as a guitar neck on ebay.but its up to you dude!

[DLR Guitars]

consider getting a squire neck too. They are great, and can be had for cheap.

[markbrad999]

The guy ended the neck early!!!!!!!!!

Well that’s messed things up for me. Has anybody got any other sites where I can buy licensed fender neck within the UK?

Cheers

[spoonbadger]

www.musikraft.com
its not in the UK but it has good shipping rates from what i remember and has excellent neck, custom made, for moderately good prices.

[markbrad999]

Ye I looked at that, I will investigate more

[markbrad999]

Update- 25/06/07

I have now bought the following

- USA Fender Highway 1 body made from alder
- USA Vintage style Trem block and bridge
- Wiring and pots.....
- CS Pick-ups
- All of the paint and Lacquer
- And a 4 hole vintage "F" neck Plate

Just need to buy:

- Neck
- Tuners
- Scratch plate and back plate

Then I have everything

[spoonbadger]

hey mark, just out of curiousity, what brand were the pots and components? my advice is to get some cts pots, they cost about 6 dollars but they will make a big difference to your tone, they're just about the best pots for sale.its better to get the best components and install them when putting the guitar together rather than wondering in 2 weeks time if it would sound better with better quality parts!(especially when its only 3 or 4 dollars extra :D). btw, you should get some shielding paint or adhesive copper tape to shield the inside of the guitar from RF interference. its easier to do it now than having to take the pickguard off later to shield it.

[markbrad999]

Hi

Thanks for the advice, I dont know what make they are. I might buy new ones anyway. I was thinkin about doing the sheilding but am unsure what to buy.

Have you got any info?

[markbrad999]

Here are the latest pics:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t31/markbrad999/IMG_0132.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t31/markbrad999/IMG_0131.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t31/markbrad999/IMG_0130.jpg

I messed up on the paint job big time. So I am just going to sand the areas that messed up. I have got slightly aged P-Up covers and volume and tone knobs. And I have a slightly aged scratchplate.

What do you think?