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Got some new pics from Ken (kmcguitars), and it's really looking sharp. The neck is done, and the body is now getting the nitro finish. I believe there is only one coat of nitro in these pics, perhaps two. I think we're going to end up with 5-6 coats max. Enough to protect it and get a deep shine, but thin enough to really let the wood resonate. 3-4 more coats of nitro, a couple weeks to cure and then a wet sand an polish. Looks like it may be complete by the end of the month.

Everything I bought for the project ( body and neck) is licenced Fender stuff, which is what I wanted.

Ken does great work, so anyone looking to have something done should definately get in touch with him.

Looks good Jeff!!! Great job Ken!!!! I am going to have to get in touch with you!!!!

I like that alot! Is that a Mary Kaye style strat... or in those pics the finish looks grayish? What pickups are you gonna be using when you get the guitar done?


Originally Posted by ArmotronI like that alot! Is that a Mary Kaye style strat... or in those pics the finish looks grayish? What pickups are you gonna be using when you get the guitar done?

Mary Kay has a little more of a cream to it if I'm not mistaken. This is a transparent white. Ken's camera is apparently not able to capture the true whiteness of it, but it's pure transparent white.

As for pups, I've got Vintage Flats (neck and mid) as well as APS Flats (neck and mid). I'm leaning towards the APS since the body is swamp ash. For the bridge, I'm undecided. I thought Twangbanger, but I may go SSL-6 or Texas Custom Hot. Not really sure, other than I want it to be slightly hotter than a vintage bridge.

that looks awesome......i've got a twangbanger for sale, if you think you might go with that, just shoot me a PM

Great looking guitar, Hags. It ain't a Hamer, but it ain't bad...lol

(I'm jealous.)

Here's a better pic It's White. The main problem with Translucent white is
White is not a color per say, But a shade and is very susceptible to different
lighting. This body has some amazing grain The Ash this is made from has
a lot of different Mid-tones in it that made it a Mo'fo cover even But
I think I got it !! Well it looks like rain the next few day's for the whole East
coast. No place to spray Nitro in the house. (Man, I miss my lil' work
shop from the old house) My 5 day forecast This week's a bust. But I promice to have to you B4 your B-Day. Hehe, it's nice to see the SD forum in the background.

I don't think I have ever seen a transparent white finish before. I think it works really well.

Damn, that's coming together VERY nicely.

that's HOTT!!!

Gorgeous strat Jeff! I love the color.

Duncan Hot for Strat in the bridge and neck should work real nice for a little extra beef with the ash body, and something more vintage for the middle (if ya use that position, I don't anymore when I have a strat). It'll still sound pretty stratty that way.

Or are you going for pure classic strat tonally?


Originally Posted by Jeff_HAs for pups, I've got Vintage Flats (neck and mid) as well as APS Flats (neck and mid). I'm leaning towards the APS since the body is swamp ash. For the bridge, I'm undecided. I thought Twangbanger, but I may go SSL-6 or Texas Custom Hot.

I really like the Antiquities in my ash strat. Through my tweed amps, every position has great tone, and I can hear small changes on the tone knobs. Very responsive....
I'd definitely go with the APSs

That's sweet Jeff....and good work Ken

That's probably my favorite color on a Strat....minus the gold hardware.

I'm diggin it, but what's up with the lighting and focus? Reminds me of Days of Our Lives.

This is definately going to be my quot;Classic Strat Soundquot; strat. I'm pretty locked in on the APS in the neck and mid. I don't really want an uber hot pup in the bridge. I'm thinking that even just a Texas Hot (Custom, whatever you call it) will be just fine. I keep thinking about the twangbanger, but I don't know that it's quot;vintagequot; enough.

I'll probably pimp out my Hwy 1 strat with some more modern pups if I dig the tone of this new strat. My Hwy 1 has Custom shop 54's in it now, and I'll probably jettison those for a set of duncans.


Originally Posted by Jeff_H

I keep thinking about the twangbanger, but I don't know that it's quot;vintagequot; enough.

Jeff, The Twangbanger's got a lot going on. It does the Tele thing,It has
some what of a vintage after taste and add some gain and it can get very
aggresive. Here's a clip I did clean with my Princeton reverb,Twangbanger

That sounds really good Ken...just what I expected from the TB...it sure can get twangy. Do you think it will be too bright and twangy with the Ash body? That's the only thing I want to avoid is TOO much twang.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HThat sounds really good Ken...just what I expected from the TB...it sure can get twangy. Do you think it will be too bright and twangy with the Ash body? That's the only thing I want to avoid is TOO much twang.

That was my 73' strat w/t a Ash body,And I was going for the twang thing
in that clip. Next time I get a chance I'll play it thru My Laney and chunk
out some power chords. Then I'll play thru the Champ and go for the vintage
thing.

Hey Jeff -

Here's an idea for the bridge pup that I used my fairly bright/thin MIM Strat: get a tapped Quarter Pound and put a metal base plate from Callaham under it. You would have to cut the ends off the plate if you get a tapped pickup, but it turned out to be a sweet setup with APS flats in the neck amp; middle. (Note: I did this while all the S-D guys were drooling over their Twangbangers but it wasn't in production yet.)

Going a step further - maybe more than you want - a master volume/master tone/ dial-a-tap gives you a lot of tone possibilities. You'd be surprised how much varying that tap changes the sound of the QP.

Ken, that's a fine looking guitar body!

Chip