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In a couple months when I get some cash in my hands I plan on building a project strat. I'm just wondering how much I'll be spending doing this and if it wouldn't be cheaper to just buy a used strat on ebay. My specs would be...mexican body, vintage trem, SSL-1 pickups, warmoth neck.

Really just wondering which would be better to do since I'm on a budget.

Open Microsoft Excel or some other spreadsheet program. Jot down every single part you'll need right down to the pickguard screws and strap buttons. Everything. Then add it up. It all depends on where you get the parts. Final cost can vary a lot.

The few projects I have spec'd out right now are in the $500-$600 range. That's getting a new body from either Warmoth, USACG and a few other sources, not an MIM body.

With the prices that I've seen on ebay for MIM parts, you would be better off buying a complete MIM strat or better yet an American HWY1 for not much more. I guess it comes down to what your budget really is. On my MIM project(check out my avatar) I am currently up to $550(Those Ant's are a bit expensive) with a couple of more improvements to make. When it's all said and done, I figure that I will have about $700 into it. But when compared to a stock $700 guitar, it will simply blow it away. All that I have left are locking tuners and the Callaham bridge upgrades. Got to love strats and tele's for modding!


Originally Posted by TwitchIn a couple months when I get some cash in my hands I plan on building a project strat. I'm just wondering how much I'll be spending doing this and if it wouldn't be cheaper to just buy a used strat on ebay. My specs would be...mexican body, vintage trem, SSL-1 pickups, warmoth neck.

Really just wondering which would be better to do since I'm on a budget.

I think you'd be best off going to your local Fender dealer and trying out a bunch of the Standard (MIM) Strats that are under $400. Some of them are actually REALLY good and sooner or later you'd find one. You'd probably want to upgrade the pickups and pots, which might be another $150 or so (and you can sell the old ones -- I've done it). You'd be coming out with a really nice Strat for $500 or so, even less if you can find a good used Standard Strat.


Originally Posted by ErikHOpen Microsoft Excel or some other spreadsheet program. Jot down every single part you'll need right down to the pickguard screws and strap buttons. Everything. Then add it up. It all depends on where you get the parts. Final cost can vary a lot.

The few projects I have spec'd out right now are in the $500-$600 range. That's getting a new body from either Warmoth, USACG and a few other sources, not an MIM body.

Thats seems a little light. I spent over 400 on my USACG neck and body, which was hardly anymore exspensive then what I would have been charged at warmoth. Pickups, hardware, and finishing add up way quick.

I'm thinking of just trying to get my MIM that I loved back from the friend I sold it too a couple months ago. Then getting a job and buying the Larrivee that I've been gassing for in Jan/Feb.


Originally Posted by proxyThats seems a little light. I spent over 400 on my USACG neck and body, which was hardly anymore exspensive then what I would have been charged at warmoth. Pickups, hardware, and finishing add up way quick.

That's without paint. Just a plain ash Tele body is $170.00. Tele neck is around $160.00. No fancy options.

I think a good question to ask yourself is whether you want a solid, relatively inexpensive guitar that works for you as is, or whether you want to mess around with it, mount pickups, rewire, shim, load a Floyd, etc. I just bought a cheapo, namely for the body color, for the latter purpose. That said, by the time I get new pups, bridge and (maybe) neck, I'll have about 450-600 total invested into it, but I'll have gained a little satisfaction tinkering with it. You can get one helluva strat for $500 used.

I have my tele pretty much dialed in and I don't want to/need to monkey with it any more. This strat will ride in the back of my truck with no worries, and I'll probably tear it apart several times just for kicks.


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunI think you'd be best off going to your local Fender dealer and trying out a bunch of the Standard (MIM) Strats that are under $400. Some of them are actually REALLY good and sooner or later you'd find one. You'd probably want to upgrade the pickups and pots, which might be another $150 or so (and you can sell the old ones -- I've done it). You'd be coming out with a really nice Strat for $500 or so, even less if you can find a good used Standard Strat.

Ya.... I bought a used MIM Strat Standard and it has been a nice guitar! A 1999 model.... It is better then my other 2 Mexican Strats.. I snagged my 99 strat for the low low low price of $200 Canadian....

I kind of enjoy the MIM strats and i really like the new bodies with Alder in them... They do make a great base for a guitar to add better hardware to as you can afford to mod it... The local store has about 25 MIM Standard Strats and i tried a whole bunch one day and 2 of them really felt and sounded soooooo MUCH better then the rest.... you could feel the strings vibrating in the bodies. Wish i could of bought them.

But if you can afford a better guitar then a MIM Standard strat i'd buy something else instead of buy a guitar to tear apart... Go for the best you can afford..... then think about modding.. Parts guitars can be cool as you can choose every part and detail!!! But they can get costly.... One Warmoth i put together cost me $1800 Canadian.... but it is the finest guitar i own!

WHOFAN

I bought a brand new Squire Strat with Killer Neck and Cast machine heads: $130 Canadian.
Hardwood Body in Metallic Red: $30 US
Chrome covered JB: Trade for Black JB
Chrome Covered Tele Pups for mid and Neck: Parts bin from MIM Tele's
2 Point Strat Trem: $25 US
White Pearl Pickguard: $36 US (Warmoth, Beauty)
Chrome Dome Knobs (3): $8.50

Total outlay: $199.50 US

It can be done on the cheap, you just have to be patient and keep your eyes open

I'll post pics when it's done.

Trevor


Originally Posted by pinto79I bought a brand new Squire Strat with Killer Neck and Cast machine heads: $130 Canadian.
Hardwood Body in Metallic Red: $30 US
Chrome covered JB: Trade for Black JB
Chrome Covered Tele Pups for mid and Neck: Parts bin from MIM Tele's
2 Point Strat Trem: $25 US
White Pearl Pickguard: $36 US (Warmoth, Beauty)
Chrome Dome Knobs (3): $8.50

Total outlay: $199.50 US

It can be done on the cheap, you just have to be patient and keep your eyes open

I'll post pics when it's done.

Trevor

I've built guitars like that too.... Buy a cheap body and wait to find a neck that fits... I bought a Peavey Tele style body for $70.... the box it came in said it was ASH... They had a bunch of bodies where the glue line showed thru the Finnish and they replaced them for customers..... so i bought one.... No aftermarket necks or Bridges fit this body.... But i found an odd ball overseas Fender neck... found out it was off one of those Acoustic guitars shaped like a Strat!!!! It worked on this Peavey body.... that neck would of never fit a Fender neck pocket as it was much wider.. On the peavey it worked fine... After 8 years i had all the parts in place and made a custome tele out of it.... kind of cool..

i just ordered a body and neck from warmoth, that ran me $700.
Everything else i need is going to run about $450..... so i'm looking at about $1150

From what you have listed I'd guess you'll fall into the $800-1k ballpark. I built my strat w/ an MIM body, USA Customs neck (finished myself), and then went fairly nice with hardware (Sperzels, Callaham bridge parts, Graphtec saddles, Bill Lawrence pickups and custom mounting rings) and came in just over $1k.

just a suggestion. you can skim some with a fender licensed japan-made allparts neck. tried some and they are really good stuff for those on a budget.

I'm so used to American Strats that they've become my favorites, regardless of cost. I'm into buying only Am Stds and American Series, and then just modding them with the best pickups, and interesting pickguard.

Since there's so many Fender parts on Ebay, you can always swap out a component of your guitar, like a body, neck, or tuners. Everything always fits together perfectly, since it's only Fender USA.


Originally Posted by ErikHThat's without paint. Just a plain ash Tele body is $170.00. Tele neck is around $160.00. No fancy options.

You could put big coloured numbers on the plain wood and play Jason Becker covers too.


Originally Posted by Jonny RYou could put big coloured numbers on the plain wood and play Jason Becker covers too.

Hey, like that idea. Not sure about doing covers of his stuff but the numbers on wood is an option...lol. I may have to explore that option....lol