I'm building a strat, I have some questions help me!!

Hey guys

I wanna build a custom strat for myself. I want it to be a hardtail strat, but does that mean I need to find a special hardtail body, or can i just use a regular body with a special hardtail bridge?

Thanks

I just finished bulding a charvel/strat. Sorry I don't think you can take any old strat body that has a trem bridge and convert over to a hardtail. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure you can't. You may have trouble finding a strat body with a hardtail. I'd check out ebay. Or you could have one built to your specs. Check out:

www.warmtoh.com

www.musikraft.com

Musikraft is considerably less expensive. That is where I bought my neck from.

It depends on how you plan on finishing it. I'm in the process of doing one now, that started as a Squier with a trem. My build process is in the electric guitar forum. Here's someone else's...

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/tht1.htm

Presently up to gluing the top & bottom together. Should update sometime this week. Here is mine...

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2039958

John

Hey guys thanks for the replys. I decided it would just be easier to just buy a regular body, and then just tighten the springs down all the way and maybe block the tremelo as well. So I've got a beautiful white strat body coming from ebay, can't wait!!

Now, on to the neck.... anything I should know before buying one?

vintage construction is not the hot ticket..look into Warmoth pro with dual action (or side adjust Gotoh) truss rod and an angled peghead without string Tees, and a good fretboard; I favor madagascar ebony with SS frets, Graphtec nut and sperzels

Couple options. First of all, yeah you need a hardtail body to do it properly but there are other options. You can use a regular body and regular trem. and block the trem bridge with a block of wood preventing the trem from moving. Otherwise you can rig a hardtail over the trem cavity if you don't mind possibly making some new holes. Best bet is to either use a proper hardtail intended body with a proper hardtail bridge or block the bridge of your tremolo equipped guitar (of course this won't increase sustain quite like using a real hardtail guitar would but it will help). Another option is to just put five tremolo springs in your bridge which will ensure the thing does not move. You can fill the tremolo cavity with a block of wood and screw the new hardtail bridge into that as well.

I don't think he knows what you are talking about. I prefer a bone nut and saddles without an angled peg-head (it looks dorky, sorry) and with string trees. I hate the ebony vibe, maple or rosewood works for me.

Get an untouched neck and then take it to somebody who knows what they are doing (not guitar center) and tell them to do a proper fret dress - and tell them to not let some amatuer learn on your neck. Get some fat old ugly man who looks dirty and single , he'll know what to do.

thanks for pre spotting his confusion...do post the bone saddle link...