Andy Eagle
Fractal Fanatic
As you may have seen in other threads I built a 54 replica which is ash/maple and I play this guitar all the time BUT I can't help wanting another in the other big strat category; alder/rosewood .
I recently spent a bit of time playing and assessing a couple of nice 64 Strats and decided that the only way I will get one I like is make it myself.
I want SS 57110 frets and a 16" radius for a start but the rest I want to be micrometer correct.
First problem is what year is the best speck for alder/rosewood ? IMO end of 60 to early 61 has the speck I like so that's the one.
The things that I like are the slab board the wax paper 50's cap the longer 2" neck bolts and the D profile neck ( this is what early Charvels are modelled on.)
Parts;
Single line Kluson ,Fender pat pend saddles bridge with tooling marks and a correct neck plate with right number in the right font stamped THEN chromed on the right thickness plate that is rough cut. 2"imperial cut neck bolts that look right. Nitrate pick guard with the right thickness black line and the right shade of off bluey greenish cream. Fender have helped recently with there 60's knobs and screening plate which are exact. Logo is always a challenge. Even Fender's own custom shop ones are not right. I do however have some restoration quality replicas that I save for actual vintage Fenders only. Thes are made in the exact same way as the originals an it needs to be the two pat member version.
I will probably use SD antiquity pickups in this as I like the alnico 2 magnet combined with a slightly hot wind.
I recently spent a bit of time playing and assessing a couple of nice 64 Strats and decided that the only way I will get one I like is make it myself.
I want SS 57110 frets and a 16" radius for a start but the rest I want to be micrometer correct.
First problem is what year is the best speck for alder/rosewood ? IMO end of 60 to early 61 has the speck I like so that's the one.
The things that I like are the slab board the wax paper 50's cap the longer 2" neck bolts and the D profile neck ( this is what early Charvels are modelled on.)
Parts;
Single line Kluson ,Fender pat pend saddles bridge with tooling marks and a correct neck plate with right number in the right font stamped THEN chromed on the right thickness plate that is rough cut. 2"imperial cut neck bolts that look right. Nitrate pick guard with the right thickness black line and the right shade of off bluey greenish cream. Fender have helped recently with there 60's knobs and screening plate which are exact. Logo is always a challenge. Even Fender's own custom shop ones are not right. I do however have some restoration quality replicas that I save for actual vintage Fenders only. Thes are made in the exact same way as the originals an it needs to be the two pat member version.
I will probably use SD antiquity pickups in this as I like the alnico 2 magnet combined with a slightly hot wind.
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