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EdwardMarlowe

1968 Stratocaster Project

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For years, I've been toying with the idea of building a partsacaster, especially since the likes of GFS now do very affordable, pre-loaded pickguards that would make it so much easier. The idea would be to build it out of bits I can easily  buy, second hand,. keep the spend down..... but for a bit of fun, here's the twist: I want to make a reasonable replica of Hendrix's black 68 Strat with the maple neck. Not looking to spend a fortune, but part of the fun will be in finding something reasonably correct - like a 21 fret maple neck without a skunk stripe, right shape machine heads and such. It'd be *nice* to also have the "correct" routing under the guard, but to keep it affordable I'll probably compromise on details like pick-guard screw placement and body wood- type as necessary. Money no object, I'd do it all perfect, BUT then money no object I'd probably just phone Fender and have them build me a CS of the whole thing.... This is intended just to be a bit of fun where I can get pretty close to the right look (think if you were going to go out with a tribute band, though if I ever play to an audience of more than one it's more likely to be cause I got the cat and the dog to setlle in the same room...), but keep it on a budget. A big part of the attraction is that I am a lefty myself (one reason Hendrix was always an influence) and it'd be fun to for once not have that be a limitation as it normally is when I go guitar shopping.

So.... looking for suggestions on any great websites out there that really break down the 68 so I can get an idea of what's involved in it. Also interested if anyone's aware of soecific models that could be a good source of bits.... like the Blackie-esque "Vintage" brand Strats (though I think that's way more reliced than Jimi's 68 was by 1970).

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It's likely going to take some time, but....

Looks like the tricky bit is going to be finding the right neck at a not too steep price - I want to keep the overall spend to sub £400 all done, as otherwise I might as well just go out and buy thed CIJ 68RI Strat. Got my eye out at the minute for a deal on a Vintage VS6 Icon in Boulevard black - surprisingly, looking at photos, thougfh that guitar is designed to replicate Blackie (obvs), the fake relicnig on it doesn't look a million miles away (per the rule of "from six feet and without looking for it specifically' ) from the wear patterns on Jimi's. Body on the Vintage is poplar rather than alder, but at least on screen they seem close enough as won't matter...  Unless I stumble across something else in the meantime,  a used VS6 might end up being a great donor base, with the advantage that the pickups are probably going to be  worth considering keeping (or saleable, given the Wilkinson name; I'm liking to look of the GFS 60s pickups).

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Found some great photos of the reqal Black Beauty here: http://www.electrichendrix.gobot.com/photo2.html

Clearly thebody is less reliced than the Vintage o than in the photos I saw befored (which I now realsie were a replica - an overdone one, clearly!), so probably won't go the VS6 route here. Nice detail: the cut-out Jimi put on the plate so asto be able to reach the truss rod adjustment srew without taking it off. Must remember to add that. I have afeeling I might just have to go all-out and order a neck to get the right spec, but we'll see what trusn up: I'm not in  hurry to have this done just yet. I think I've figured out where I'm gonig to gte most bits, though - just got to wait patiently for the right donor boy and neck.

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On 14/07/2020 at 12:03, Jazz Club said:

You said this regarding a simple 3 string box guitar kit ( intrigued by the kits, but I'm not sure I have what it takes for the assembly skills.)And you want to build a Strat ?😱

 

If it's all ready just to screw together, that's fine. Wasn't sure from the look of those box kits whether they needed more work than that.....

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