I never knew of the smaller nut until I saw the actual Frankenstrat in NYC at the Met. I have plenty of pics but if I remember correctly his nut was installed more on the treble side BUT he also had the neck angled in a way that made the high E string start out close to the edge of the fretboard at the nut but gradually got further from the edge of the neck as the string progressed toward the bridge. And of course the opposite for the low E, further from the edge at the nut and closer to the edge as the string got closer to the bridge. Genius actually!
Oh wow…I hadn’t heard of that setup technique, but you’re right, it seems like a genius way to do it! Leave it to Eddie to figure this stuff out! Ha!!! That’s cool you were able to see the real Franky at the MET!!!
Mate that neck is gorgeous! Musicraft are excellent at what they do. When I got my 5150 neck and held it I was grinning ear to ear. You can feel the quality!
Great video Brian! After a couple weeks of research and measuring, I found the R3 nut was not truly 12 inch radius.. I spoke with FR directly and they confirmed the tooling at the German plant was cutting 10 inch radius nuts and some of their paper work was not updated. I felt something off on my 12 radius necks. Solution - Floyd Rose Korean R3 nuts are a true 12 inch machined nut with good quality. Kate floyd rose staff assisted me with this solution. Hope this helps. Additionally Jackson has a BH43 locking nut that's 1 11/16 with R4 spacing and 12 radius.. Hope this helps..
Thanks for info and hits right in what i will probably do. My last traditional nut neck was 1 3/4 bone nut and guitar shop used blank nut an seems to have cut r3 size string spacing but for locking nut next project i hadnt thought of your solution. Nice
Man those where some great tips, I have a few parts guitars where the E string is so close to the edge of the neck, I hate that, this install by them is perfect, no worries about the strings, beautiful beautiful neck, awesome!!
Thank you so much! It is a gorgeous neck! Well worth the wait! Yes, I agree…I have a few partscasters too that have zero room on the high E side of the neck and edge of fretboard. This definitely solves it! If you don’t like the really wide 1-3/4” nut width, maybe try a 1-11/16th nut width with an R2 Floyd locking clamp (sized for a 1-5/8”). So you would get the same overall effect, but the neck would be slightly slimmer than this example.
are you glad did the 1 3/4 width? I've been wanting to build one for quite some time and always preferred the 1 3/4 on Martin acoustics and cannot stand when my gibson e strings fall off the edge of the fretboard, so i was especially curious how much you like your build. Thanks
Yes, the 1-3/4 width definitely makes a difference. The high E definitely has plenty of real estate on edge of the fretboard. It does take some effort to get used to since I've never played a neck this wide but I have enjoyed it so far!
Hello ! Little question : do you have issues (lot of neck truss rod adjustments) with the birdseye wood? For example when the weather has more humidity ?
Nice videos, i subscribed. What heel width did you order with this neck? I do wonder if the wider Charvel heel also helps keep the strings away from the fret ends.
Thanks for the sub! I greatly appreciate that! For this neck (and body), I used the standard heel width of 2-3/16”. Yes the wider Charvel heel, which is 2-1/4”, is 1/16” wider than a typical Strat neck. So, if all other variables are equal such as the Floyd string spacing and same nut width, then the slightly wider Charvel neck does give you more room between the E strings and the edge of the fret board. It’s slight…but noticeable.
Just found your channel, great information and presentation. Subbed, hoping to see more Frankenstrat content. I'm contemplatingon building one myself, do you still recommend the Musikraft Franky Neck?
Thank you very much!!! I appreciate it. Yep, absolutely...anything by Musikraft is top shelf. Also consider Locke Custom Guitars for bodies and necks. ;) They are both great IMO. Currently working on the Bee project so it will take some time before doing anything else Franky-related.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Yes! I've been looking at Locke Custom Guitars, looks like they're revamping the site and will be back up on Sept 1st. Thanks for the recommendations!
My formerly owned vintage Charvel with 1 3/4 fretboard was indeed wide, and tactile/playing experience took some getting used to. I didn't realize the nut install options, thanks for the tip! Does the FR R3 make the nut 1 11/16? Does string spacing vary on 1 11/16 nuts? At a glance, the spacing on this nut still seems wider than 1 11/16 but perhaps that's just a visual anomaly. Any input greatly appreciated!
Hi Greg! Yes, the FR R3 nut is 1-11/16th string spacing. So, anytime an R3 nut is installed on a neck regardless of the actual width of the fretboard, the string spacing remains at 1-11/16" all the way to the bridge. The wider neck on this project definitely takes a little bit of effort to get used to at first, like you mentioned. It's crazy to think that Eddie was using an R2 FR nut on a neck with a width of 1-3/4". So his strings were spaced accordingly at 1-5/8"....but on an incredibly wide neck!! In regards to your question about variations in string spacing between nuts marked with the same size, the technical answer is no. FR created the standardized system that all licensed and original Floyd parts utilize. You can refer to their chart which shows what the string spacing should be for each size...R2, R3, R4, R5...etc. Regardless of brand, they should all conform to this chart. I hope this helps! www.floydrose.com/products/original-locking-nut?variant=30511209490
Thanks for the input Brian, very helpful! I really miss my old Charvel, so am hoping to do a tribute build. I'm not really a DIY guy, so I don't have the chops you have, sadly! I have a start though. I was able to snag a really rare original Charvel 1977 brass tremolo from a seller who is super knowledgable about all things Charvel. He advised I get a body from KNE and to note that the bridge screw spacing is 2 1/4" which apparently is what the early Charvel spec was. He says string spread is 2 inches E to E, so I'm hoping that means I can install a vintage Dimarzio creme super distortion. I guess after that would be a MusiKraft neck. I'm not much of a purist, so I'd like to get it roasted with 1 piece Birdseye maple, then opt for 1 3/4 board and 1 11/16 phenolic or bone nut. I asked Mitch over at KNE about doing a bumblebee and he said no which I get. Know anyone who can do a killer Bee paint job? Ideally, I'd like to get in shot in nitro. Any input great appreciated!
@@gregpedersen6243 It sounds like you are doing all of your homework on the vintage Charvel specs! A tribute build would be totally fun!!! I am not 100% familiar with the bridge specs of a true vintage Charvel so it would be hard for me to comment on the fitment/spacing with certainty. I believe the standard string spacing for an Original Floyd is typically 2-1/8" from E to E so that Charvel bridge that you have is pretty close!! Knowing that, I would probably opt for a humbucker that was "F" spaced or "Trem-spaced" if you know what I mean? But either way, you can always install a Gibson spaced pickup in a Floyd/Trem equipped guitar without any issue...but the pole pieces will be slightly offset. Crazy enough, I'm actually in the process of spraying 2 Bumblebees as we speak (as a personal project). This will be my first attempt. I started a video tutorial series for the Bee project but have only uploaded 1 video so far. I'm still working on the primer and basecoat now, but hopefully I will be able to stay focused and make more progress in the next few weeks. I don't know of anyone who will spray one for ya...that's a tricky subject. But...if you were ever interested in buying the most accurate body for a Bee project, Locke Custom Guitars is the best option. I've ordered quite a few different bodies from both KNE and Locke over the years...they are both great at what they do. Mitch is probably the best option for a Charvel related replacement body, and Locke is probably the best option for anything EVH "tribute" related. Hope that helps you!!!
Thanks for all the info Brian, really kind of you to provide input. I hear you loud and clear on the "bee" tribute being a tricky and touchy subject. Honestly, the only reason I'm not buying an official one is I want to control the overall weight and keep it in the 6 something pound total weight when assembled. So a boutique builder can do that. After decades of being strapped in, standing and delivering, I have some back issues so gotta keep rocking but be smart about it. It seems like MusiKraft is the way to go for my Charvel replacement neck, any recent experience on wait times? I'd like to get this build done this century hahaha!!! Will you be using a 1 3/4 board for your bee tribute builds? Looking forward to those videos. Have a great day!@@CoffeeDrinker71
@@gregpedersen6243 It's absolutely a pleasure to provide help and input! 🙂 Man, I totally understand about the weight limit! A heavy guitar can wreak havoc on my back as well. My strongest recommendation would be to avoid using the heavier Northern Ash wood species all together. Both of the Bee bodies that I ordered from Locke weigh in at just over 5 pounds each! My KNE Franky body in this particular video was similar in weight as well...so it is just part of the equation when using Northern Ash. My recommendation would be something lighter like Swamp Ash or obviously basswood. I have a Locke 5150 body paired with a Musikraft neck. The Locke 5150 body is made from basswood and it barely weighs 3 pounds, if not less. So, just something to consider! The wood species makes all the difference in the world. I believe EVH is using basswood on all of their striped series models too. This particular Franky neck only took about 3 months to receive from start to finish. Scott and his team at MK offer great customer service! Plus, Scott really knows the details of the vintage Charvel necks as well so you can probably hit him up if you have any questions before ordering a neck. No, for this upcoming Bee project of mine, I plan to recycle the old Mighty Mite neck that I pulled from this Franky prior to this makeover! It fits the bill nicely and was reshaped by Lee at GMW Guitar Works to match the Charvel "Speed Profile" so it already has a great feel to it...I'd hate to not use it on something else!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 totally! I just received a Peavey Wolfgang clone neck from Musikraft last week. It’s the next project in line for me. First time buying/using Musikraft.
@@chandlerclement1365 I will probably apply a thin coat of Birchwood Casey gun stock wax, just like I would do for any other raw/oiled neck, Otherwise, it feels great!
Hello, nice video and nice neck ! I will order the same for my Charvel. Do you know the reference of the fret on a charvel so cal (i think medium jumbo but not 100% sure)? I have other question, the neck can stay with your finish ? Or it's better to take the thin finish proposed by Musikraft ? I want the neck stay with this awsome color all his life! Best regards!
Thanks for watching. The finish on this neck was the "Aged Oil" applied by Musikraft. The only thing I added was the gunstock wax to the back of the neck.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 hello Brian, today i have ordered the same for my Charvel So Cal US, with the same wood, 2 pieces, stainless frets, wheel trus rod at heel etc...the waiting will be long!!! I will make a video too
Well, due to the differences in the overall specs (mainly the nut width and profile) it's a little bit different playing experience. It's a fantastic neck, but obviously wider near the nut. I love them both and I can adjust easily to either neck.
@@MisterJones956 Ah! I don't think you'll be disappointed with any Musikraft neck! Just be sure to study the profile choices and make your selection based on what you like. The "Franky" profile is definitely thicker than the typical Charvel "Speed Profile".
I've personally only had one experience with a KNE neck and it was good. But Musikraft offers a much wider variety of woods, specs, and features. It's basically a custom shop experience...so it's hard to compare. I've had multiple Musikraft necks and they have always been great! Hope that helps!
Thanks for this I was watching a video on you tube earlier from a year ago where evh with fender was charging almost 2 grand for basically a unstriped Frankie and relicing the paint but here is one problem as was the 25 grand 2007 Frankie relics they were made of northern ash not basswood as is this current dumb idea which to me goes against the spirit of Eddie which is you don't need to spend 2 grand on a guitar and if they don't make it make it yourself. But it better pass my brutality test like getting dragged through a parking lot or plugging a guitar in and letting it feedback for a week on the floor. To make sure they pickup won't blow up. Anyway I was reading some of the comments were people were like I might consider this because I want Eddie's tone but not his stripes to which I responded you don't need to spend 2 grand to do it make one yourself. So to further ilistrate. My point I went on Amazon that had a, basswood body cut out already for a fender pick guard and to except a humbucker in the bridge and it was 56 dollars and then said you can order a fender neck for 300 dollars or you could buy a cheap neck or order one at kne but after seeing this it sounds like you could order one from music kraft and still pay less than a genuine fender neck. Then order a evh Frankie pickup get a can of torch red or Olympic white a genuine floyd rose meduim jumbo frets then remix the guitar by dragging it through a parking lot and you would pay less then that stupid fender idea. And after just watching your other video even though it's a northern ash body you proved my point so thank you for that. To me there are exceptions where spending that kind of money is warranted but for that kind of money I would rather build the guitar I want or 2 or 3 of them. Ohh and thanks to you discussing the japanese jackson performer necks I did find one on ebay for 140 dollars and a performer neck plate with a, serial number. So if it is still available I will buy it remove the binding and fretboard since it is worn and just with a new fretboard do a 14 inch radius VS compound raduis because that's what I like and one of my African mahogany bodies matches closely the performer strat style body. And that's my goal get 2 guitars up and running to my specs on my terms just like Eddie then get 2 basswood blanks do one jackson king v basswood body and profile my yamaha rgx 110 strat body shape down to the neck pocket and test with 2 diferent necks which tone I like better. And that's what I call the true Eddie spirit test and experiment with different wood combos from varoise guitars you have and profiles and build your own to get what you want. Again thanks for actually bieng willing to keep Eddie's spirit alive by bieng willing to do things more like Eddie without spending an arm and a leg and having the diy spirit that Eddie had.
Thank you very much for watching and commenting! I appreciate and understand what you are saying! Yes, I agree...keep the spirit of Eddie alive by building the guitar that makes YOU happy! Tribute guitars are great and a lot of fun to build (trust me I have my own fair share of EVH replicas) but it's also nice to put your own stamp on something. There's a different sense of connection that way! Enjoy what you play...play what you enjoy! ;)
@@CoffeeDrinker71@CoffeeDrinker71 And thanks to you I looked up mighty might necks for strats they have them on Amazon through stew mac and I may get them because I am going to have to tear apart the fretboards anyway to make 24 frets I am going back and forth too on the cheap Chinese knock offs too and by the way I do intend to do an exact Eddie replica too of the 5150 at some point but I really want to do a, fusion thing for a Eddie tribute with having a black pick guard basswood body and a neck but bring together something Eddie did without the telecaster shaped body with just 2 humbuckers and get one with the active emgs in it with the iconic stripes so I can honor the stienberger from the live without a net video without the headless design and all that plastic. And get into a a Frankie design and I am even willing to forgo my insistence on 2 volumes and 2 tones and settle for one volume 2 tones. So maybe I thinking a bit like his son wolfie a bit the second one I would do passive pickups maybe a evh Frankie in the bridge or if evh makes a kramer 5150 bridge pickup or a wolfie bridge pickup and a neck pickup and that's the beauty of Eddie. Is he left behind so many choices that most don't even think of and by the way I don't mind replicas if they are fully authentic but doing the cigerette burns is not my thing but roadtesting so it holds up and the tone aspect is important to me. And finally I have been looking at banana style headstocks too so I need to look again to see if the truss rod was a headstock adjust one or adjusted at the heel which I don't like and that's another challenge I am seeing on Amazon with the Chinese ones. But I do have 2 stew mac low profile truss rods lying around and while I won't put them on a jackson neck I am fully open to using them on a mighty might neck or a cheap Chinese strat style neck or banana headstock neck. And it is certainly a better quality VS those Chinese cheap truss rods I guess I am just bieng me. But I am willing to figure out how to use stuff I have to make something work just like Eddie. And that's the real spirit of Eddie bieng willing to try out different things and combos too. @CoffeeDrinker71
It could be caused by a variety of issues, or techniques. Are you using cans or spray gun? There are probably hundreds of videos on TH-cam that could explain it better than I could. But, I hope you are able to get it sorted out. Thanks for watching.
Thanks! It was about 4 months from start to finish. They sent periodic emails whenever the neck was moved from each department, so I could tell how far along it was moving at any given time.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Oh, nice. About to put in an order myself in that case. I was hearing upwards of 6+ months so, I held off. Can’t wait to see the rest of the build! I have a KNE GGG body and their work is super solid stuff.
It came with the "aged oil" finish from Musikraft, but during the "Frankenstrat is Back" video, I showed how I gave it a quick treatment with the gun stock wax after a very light scuff sanding.
I am accustomed to the flatter "D" style shape of the Ibanez Wizard necks, so I wanted to try something like that for my Frankenstrat...although this is much thicker than a Wizard profile by a mile. My favorite profile is the Charvel "Speed" shape...so, I tend to avoid the fuller "C" shaped Fender necks in comparison.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 I’ll be receiving a franky C soon and it seemed to look like a very thin neck. Even thinner than the franky D. Thanks for responding.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 i do wrap with real leather or snakeskin. I tried tolex but it’s a real pain to use and it doesn’t breathe like real leather or snakeskin…
@@DLR1976 That's awesome to know!!! Yeah, I follow your work on Reverb and the Charvel Classifieds group. I love your latest project with the black snake.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 i have a Musikraft neck reversed headstock and Warren KnE body on the way for a new build with a Python snakeskin with gold and green reflections and will have a green DiMarzio Paf Pro. Headstock will be matched with snakeskin too.
I never knew of the smaller nut until I saw the actual Frankenstrat in NYC at the Met. I have plenty of pics but if I remember correctly his nut was installed more on the treble side BUT he also had the neck angled in a way that made the high E string start out close to the edge of the fretboard at the nut but gradually got further from the edge of the neck as the string progressed toward the bridge. And of course the opposite for the low E, further from the edge at the nut and closer to the edge as the string got closer to the bridge. Genius actually!
Oh wow…I hadn’t heard of that setup technique, but you’re right, it seems like a genius way to do it! Leave it to Eddie to figure this stuff out! Ha!!! That’s cool you were able to see the real Franky at the MET!!!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Dude I stayed and stared for hours, I think I actually spent two whole days in that room looking at it haha
@@Tyler_Hodges I would have too!!! LOL
Highway one strat parts(bridge saddles do the same thing on fenders
Mate that neck is gorgeous! Musicraft are excellent at what they do. When I got my 5150 neck and held it I was grinning ear to ear. You can feel the quality!
Yes indeed!! I have the "Banana" neck too on my 5150...and it feels great! Thanks for watching!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 The pleasure was all mine!
You are going to use expensive brand cigarettes to put the Eddie burns on the headstock of course?🤣
@@sean1121970 Hahaha! I don't think I'll be in any hurry to put the burns on it! 🤣....if I ever do!
Great video Brian!
After a couple weeks of research and measuring, I found the R3 nut was not truly 12 inch radius.. I spoke with FR directly and they confirmed the tooling at the German plant was cutting 10 inch radius nuts and some of their paper work was not updated.
I felt something off on my 12 radius necks.
Solution - Floyd Rose Korean R3 nuts are a true 12 inch machined nut with good quality.
Kate floyd rose staff assisted me with this solution.
Hope this helps.
Additionally Jackson has a BH43 locking nut that's 1 11/16 with R4 spacing and 12 radius..
Hope this helps..
Ah, good info indeed! Thanks for sharing!!!
Very nice, I like mine although I have stainless frets on mine and they seem to sound fine. They don't were out. Congrats
Thank you very much! Yeah I was on the fence about the stainless frets. I do like them on a few other guitars.....
Thanks for info and hits right in what i will probably do. My last traditional nut neck was 1 3/4 bone nut and guitar shop used blank nut an seems to have cut r3 size string spacing but for locking nut next project i hadnt thought of your solution. Nice
Cool, I'm glad this was helpful. Thanks for watching!
Great video. Beautiful neck! Looking forward to the full guitar reveal video.
Thank you so much! Hopefully I will have the next “reveal” video completed in a few weeks! Thanks for watching!
Wow ! That’s a Beautiful neck! How does play? How does it sound? Would you recommend Musikraft?
Thanks! Yep, I would easily recommend Musikraft for anything...necks or bodies. It plays great.
Man those where some great tips, I have a few parts guitars where the E string is so close to the edge of the neck, I hate that, this install by them is perfect, no worries about the strings, beautiful beautiful neck, awesome!!
Thank you so much! It is a gorgeous neck! Well worth the wait! Yes, I agree…I have a few partscasters too that have zero room on the high E side of the neck and edge of fretboard. This definitely solves it! If you don’t like the really wide 1-3/4” nut width, maybe try a 1-11/16th nut width with an R2 Floyd locking clamp (sized for a 1-5/8”). So you would get the same overall effect, but the neck would be slightly slimmer than this example.
looking awesome! 🏆
Thanks!!
are you glad did the 1 3/4 width? I've been wanting to build one for quite some time and always preferred the 1 3/4 on Martin acoustics and cannot stand when my gibson e strings fall off the edge of the fretboard, so i was especially curious how much you like your build. Thanks
Yes, the 1-3/4 width definitely makes a difference. The high E definitely has plenty of real estate on edge of the fretboard. It does take some effort to get used to since I've never played a neck this wide but I have enjoyed it so far!
wow! stunning!
Thank you! Yes, they (Musikraft) did a fantastic job building this neck!
Hello ! Little question : do you have issues (lot of neck truss rod adjustments) with the birdseye wood? For example when the weather has more humidity ?
I have not noticed that issue yet with this particular neck.
Nice videos, i subscribed. What heel width did you order with this neck? I do wonder if the wider Charvel heel also helps keep the strings away from the fret ends.
Thanks for the sub! I greatly appreciate that! For this neck (and body), I used the standard heel width of 2-3/16”. Yes the wider Charvel heel, which is 2-1/4”, is 1/16” wider than a typical Strat neck. So, if all other variables are equal such as the Floyd string spacing and same nut width, then the slightly wider Charvel neck does give you more room between the E strings and the edge of the fret board. It’s slight…but noticeable.
Just found your channel, great information and presentation. Subbed, hoping to see more Frankenstrat content. I'm contemplatingon building one myself, do you still recommend the Musikraft Franky Neck?
Thank you very much!!! I appreciate it. Yep, absolutely...anything by Musikraft is top shelf. Also consider Locke Custom Guitars for bodies and necks. ;) They are both great IMO. Currently working on the Bee project so it will take some time before doing anything else Franky-related.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Yes! I've been looking at Locke Custom Guitars, looks like they're revamping the site and will be back up on Sept 1st. Thanks for the recommendations!
My formerly owned vintage Charvel with 1 3/4 fretboard was indeed wide, and tactile/playing experience took some getting used to. I didn't realize the nut install options, thanks for the tip! Does the FR R3 make the nut 1 11/16? Does string spacing vary on 1 11/16 nuts? At a glance, the spacing on this nut still seems wider than 1 11/16 but perhaps that's just a visual anomaly. Any input greatly appreciated!
Hi Greg! Yes, the FR R3 nut is 1-11/16th string spacing. So, anytime an R3 nut is installed on a neck regardless of the actual width of the fretboard, the string spacing remains at 1-11/16" all the way to the bridge. The wider neck on this project definitely takes a little bit of effort to get used to at first, like you mentioned. It's crazy to think that Eddie was using an R2 FR nut on a neck with a width of 1-3/4". So his strings were spaced accordingly at 1-5/8"....but on an incredibly wide neck!! In regards to your question about variations in string spacing between nuts marked with the same size, the technical answer is no. FR created the standardized system that all licensed and original Floyd parts utilize. You can refer to their chart which shows what the string spacing should be for each size...R2, R3, R4, R5...etc. Regardless of brand, they should all conform to this chart. I hope this helps!
www.floydrose.com/products/original-locking-nut?variant=30511209490
Thanks for the input Brian, very helpful! I really miss my old Charvel, so am hoping to do a tribute build. I'm not really a DIY guy, so I don't have the chops you have, sadly! I have a start though. I was able to snag a really rare original Charvel 1977 brass tremolo from a seller who is super knowledgable about all things Charvel. He advised I get a body from KNE and to note that the bridge screw spacing is 2 1/4" which apparently is what the early Charvel spec was. He says string spread is 2 inches E to E, so I'm hoping that means I can install a vintage Dimarzio creme super distortion. I guess after that would be a MusiKraft neck. I'm not much of a purist, so I'd like to get it roasted with 1 piece Birdseye maple, then opt for 1 3/4 board and 1 11/16 phenolic or bone nut. I asked Mitch over at KNE about doing a bumblebee and he said no which I get. Know anyone who can do a killer Bee paint job? Ideally, I'd like to get in shot in nitro. Any input great appreciated!
@@gregpedersen6243 It sounds like you are doing all of your homework on the vintage Charvel specs! A tribute build would be totally fun!!! I am not 100% familiar with the bridge specs of a true vintage Charvel so it would be hard for me to comment on the fitment/spacing with certainty. I believe the standard string spacing for an Original Floyd is typically 2-1/8" from E to E so that Charvel bridge that you have is pretty close!! Knowing that, I would probably opt for a humbucker that was "F" spaced or "Trem-spaced" if you know what I mean? But either way, you can always install a Gibson spaced pickup in a Floyd/Trem equipped guitar without any issue...but the pole pieces will be slightly offset. Crazy enough, I'm actually in the process of spraying 2 Bumblebees as we speak (as a personal project). This will be my first attempt. I started a video tutorial series for the Bee project but have only uploaded 1 video so far. I'm still working on the primer and basecoat now, but hopefully I will be able to stay focused and make more progress in the next few weeks. I don't know of anyone who will spray one for ya...that's a tricky subject. But...if you were ever interested in buying the most accurate body for a Bee project, Locke Custom Guitars is the best option. I've ordered quite a few different bodies from both KNE and Locke over the years...they are both great at what they do. Mitch is probably the best option for a Charvel related replacement body, and Locke is probably the best option for anything EVH "tribute" related. Hope that helps you!!!
Thanks for all the info Brian, really kind of you to provide input. I hear you loud and clear on the "bee" tribute being a tricky and touchy subject. Honestly, the only reason I'm not buying an official one is I want to control the overall weight and keep it in the 6 something pound total weight when assembled. So a boutique builder can do that. After decades of being strapped in, standing and delivering, I have some back issues so gotta keep rocking but be smart about it. It seems like MusiKraft is the way to go for my Charvel replacement neck, any recent experience on wait times? I'd like to get this build done this century hahaha!!! Will you be using a 1 3/4 board for your bee tribute builds? Looking forward to those videos. Have a great day!@@CoffeeDrinker71
@@gregpedersen6243 It's absolutely a pleasure to provide help and input! 🙂 Man, I totally understand about the weight limit! A heavy guitar can wreak havoc on my back as well. My strongest recommendation would be to avoid using the heavier Northern Ash wood species all together. Both of the Bee bodies that I ordered from Locke weigh in at just over 5 pounds each! My KNE Franky body in this particular video was similar in weight as well...so it is just part of the equation when using Northern Ash. My recommendation would be something lighter like Swamp Ash or obviously basswood. I have a Locke 5150 body paired with a Musikraft neck. The Locke 5150 body is made from basswood and it barely weighs 3 pounds, if not less. So, just something to consider! The wood species makes all the difference in the world. I believe EVH is using basswood on all of their striped series models too. This particular Franky neck only took about 3 months to receive from start to finish. Scott and his team at MK offer great customer service! Plus, Scott really knows the details of the vintage Charvel necks as well so you can probably hit him up if you have any questions before ordering a neck. No, for this upcoming Bee project of mine, I plan to recycle the old Mighty Mite neck that I pulled from this Franky prior to this makeover! It fits the bill nicely and was reshaped by Lee at GMW Guitar Works to match the Charvel "Speed Profile" so it already has a great feel to it...I'd hate to not use it on something else!
Scott Smith🫡Good Dude.
Yes indeed!
Right on!!!
Thanks man!!! :) ....notice how I threw the Charvel headstock comparison in there?? 😆
@@CoffeeDrinker71 totally!
I just received a Peavey Wolfgang clone neck from Musikraft last week. It’s the next project in line for me. First time buying/using Musikraft.
@@GeneSchmidt I hope you create a video with it, once your project is done!!!
Looks sweet! Sorry if I missed this in the video, but did you order it with a finish on the wood? If so, which kind of finish did you choose
Yes, sorry for not mentioning...it is the "aged oil" finish option which is actually the default finish for this neck.
No problem, thanks! Going to order one of these necks soon, and was wondering how the oil looks and feels, and this looks great.
@@chandlerclement1365 I will probably apply a thin coat of Birchwood Casey gun stock wax, just like I would do for any other raw/oiled neck, Otherwise, it feels great!
Hello, nice video and nice neck ! I will order the same for my Charvel. Do you know the reference of the fret on a charvel so cal (i think medium jumbo but not 100% sure)?
I have other question, the neck can stay with your finish ? Or it's better to take the thin finish proposed by Musikraft ? I want the neck stay with this awsome color all his life!
Best regards!
Thanks for watching. The finish on this neck was the "Aged Oil" applied by Musikraft. The only thing I added was the gunstock wax to the back of the neck.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thanks for your reply
@@CoffeeDrinker71 hello Brian, today i have ordered the same for my Charvel So Cal US, with the same wood, 2 pieces, stainless frets, wheel trus rod at heel etc...the waiting will be long!!! I will make a video too
That’s a beauty. Was looking at it just yesterday. How does it compare to the charvel Japan neck?
Well, due to the differences in the overall specs (mainly the nut width and profile) it's a little bit different playing experience. It's a fantastic neck, but obviously wider near the nut. I love them both and I can adjust easily to either neck.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 thanks for the response. I have a mij charvel and i love the neck. Thinking of getting a franky neck for a future build
@@MisterJones956 Ah! I don't think you'll be disappointed with any Musikraft neck! Just be sure to study the profile choices and make your selection based on what you like. The "Franky" profile is definitely thicker than the typical Charvel "Speed Profile".
How do you compare their necks to KNE? Is this the best aftermarket neck you have bought?
I've personally only had one experience with a KNE neck and it was good. But Musikraft offers a much wider variety of woods, specs, and features. It's basically a custom shop experience...so it's hard to compare. I've had multiple Musikraft necks and they have always been great! Hope that helps!
Thanks for this I was watching a video on you tube earlier from a year ago where evh with fender was charging almost 2 grand for basically a unstriped Frankie and relicing the paint but here is one problem as was the 25 grand 2007 Frankie relics they were made of northern ash not basswood as is this current dumb idea which to me goes against the spirit of Eddie
which is you don't need to spend 2 grand on a guitar and if they don't make it make it yourself. But it better pass my brutality test like getting dragged through a parking lot or plugging a guitar in and letting it feedback for a week on the floor. To make sure they pickup won't blow up.
Anyway I was reading some of the comments were people were like I might consider this because I want Eddie's tone but not his stripes to which I responded you don't need to spend 2 grand to do it make one yourself. So to further ilistrate. My point I went on Amazon that had a, basswood body cut out already for a fender pick guard and to except a humbucker in the bridge and it was 56 dollars and then said you can order a fender neck for 300 dollars or you could buy a cheap neck or order one at kne but after seeing this it sounds like you could order one from music kraft and still pay less than a genuine fender neck. Then order a evh Frankie pickup get a can of torch red or Olympic white a genuine floyd rose meduim jumbo frets then remix the guitar by dragging it through a parking lot and you would pay less then that stupid fender idea. And after just watching your other video even though it's a northern ash body you proved my point so thank you for that.
To me there are exceptions where spending that kind of money is warranted but for that kind of money I would rather build the guitar I want or 2 or 3 of them. Ohh and thanks to you discussing the japanese jackson performer necks I did find one on ebay for 140 dollars and a performer neck plate with a, serial number.
So if it is still available I will buy it remove the binding and fretboard since it is worn and just with a new fretboard do a 14 inch radius VS compound raduis because that's what I like and one of my African mahogany bodies matches closely the performer strat style body. And that's my goal get 2 guitars up and running to my specs on my terms just like Eddie then get 2 basswood blanks do one jackson king v basswood body and profile my yamaha rgx 110 strat body shape down to the neck pocket and test with 2 diferent necks which tone I like better.
And that's what I call the true Eddie spirit test and experiment with different wood combos from varoise guitars you have and profiles and build your own to get what you want.
Again thanks for actually bieng willing to keep Eddie's spirit alive by bieng willing to do things more like Eddie without spending an arm and a leg and having the diy spirit that Eddie had.
Thank you very much for watching and commenting! I appreciate and understand what you are saying! Yes, I agree...keep the spirit of Eddie alive by building the guitar that makes YOU happy! Tribute guitars are great and a lot of fun to build (trust me I have my own fair share of EVH replicas) but it's also nice to put your own stamp on something. There's a different sense of connection that way! Enjoy what you play...play what you enjoy! ;)
@@CoffeeDrinker71@CoffeeDrinker71 And thanks to you I looked up mighty might necks for strats they have them on Amazon through stew mac and I may get them because I am going to have to tear apart the fretboards anyway to make 24 frets I am going back and forth too on the cheap Chinese knock offs too and by the way I do intend to do an exact Eddie replica too of the 5150 at some point but I really want to do a, fusion thing for a Eddie tribute with having a black pick guard basswood body and a neck but bring together something Eddie did without the telecaster shaped body with just 2 humbuckers and get one with the active emgs in it with the iconic stripes so I can honor the stienberger from the live without a net video without the headless design and all that plastic. And get into a a Frankie design and I am even willing to forgo my insistence on 2 volumes and 2 tones and settle for one volume 2 tones. So maybe I thinking a bit like his son wolfie a bit the second one I would do passive pickups maybe a evh Frankie in the bridge or if evh makes a kramer 5150 bridge pickup or a wolfie bridge pickup and a neck pickup and that's the beauty of Eddie. Is he left behind so many choices that most don't even think of and by the way I don't mind replicas if they are fully authentic but doing the cigerette burns is not my thing but roadtesting so it holds up and the tone aspect is important to me. And finally I have been looking at banana style headstocks too so I need to look again to see if the truss rod was a headstock adjust one or adjusted at the heel which I don't like and that's another challenge I am seeing on Amazon with the Chinese ones. But I do have 2 stew mac low profile truss rods lying around and while I won't put them on a jackson neck I am fully open to using them on a mighty might neck or a cheap Chinese strat style neck or banana headstock neck. And it is certainly a better quality VS those Chinese cheap truss rods I guess I am just bieng me. But I am willing to figure out how to use stuff I have to make something work just like Eddie. And that's the real spirit of Eddie bieng willing to try out different things and combos too. @CoffeeDrinker71
Having trouble with paint wanting to orange peal . Any suggestions on what I can do to prevent that as I’m painting my guitar bodies
It could be caused by a variety of issues, or techniques. Are you using cans or spray gun? There are probably hundreds of videos on TH-cam that could explain it better than I could. But, I hope you are able to get it sorted out. Thanks for watching.
Looks great! How long was your wait?
Thanks! It was about 4 months from start to finish. They sent periodic emails whenever the neck was moved from each department, so I could tell how far along it was moving at any given time.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Oh, nice. About to put in an order myself in that case. I was hearing upwards of 6+ months so, I held off. Can’t wait to see the rest of the build! I have a KNE GGG body and their work is super solid stuff.
@@michaelnugent9758 Yes indeed! Everything I have ever received from KNE has been top shelf!!! Mitch does fantastic work! Good luck with your project!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thanks, buddy! Likewise, 🤘🏻
Looks Great! what kind of finish have you used on it? if any?
It came with the "aged oil" finish from Musikraft, but during the "Frankenstrat is Back" video, I showed how I gave it a quick treatment with the gun stock wax after a very light scuff sanding.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 looks Great! I'm planning on getting a neck Musikraft and a Body from Warmoth for my Strat build
@@Matan2222222 Cool! ;) Good luck with your project! I've had great experiences with both companies!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thanks Man!
Thank you so much ! Do you think we can still order a Franky neck still today ?
Yes of course! Just head on over to Musikraft's website and select the option to build a "Franky" neck!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thanks so much Brian for your input ! New sub here from Quebec !
@@lousekoya1803 Thanks Lou! Cheers!
Hey brian, Im trying to plan out getting this neck, could you tell me how much Musikraft charges for shipping in the US
$26 for UPS Ground to my zip.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 thanks a lot
Why’d you choose to go with the Franky D over the Franky C?
I am accustomed to the flatter "D" style shape of the Ibanez Wizard necks, so I wanted to try something like that for my Frankenstrat...although this is much thicker than a Wizard profile by a mile. My favorite profile is the Charvel "Speed" shape...so, I tend to avoid the fuller "C" shaped Fender necks in comparison.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 I’ll be receiving a franky C soon and it seemed to look like a very thin neck. Even thinner than the franky D. Thanks for responding.
I have one coming soon ;)
Awesome!!!
Are you the person that wraps Charvel bodies with snake tolex or snakeskin???
@@CoffeeDrinker71 i do wrap with real leather or snakeskin. I tried tolex but it’s a real pain to use and it doesn’t breathe like real leather or snakeskin…
@@DLR1976 That's awesome to know!!! Yeah, I follow your work on Reverb and the Charvel Classifieds group. I love your latest project with the black snake.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 i have a Musikraft neck reversed headstock and Warren KnE body on the way for a new build with a Python snakeskin with gold and green reflections and will have a green DiMarzio Paf Pro. Headstock will be matched with snakeskin too.
Awesome video. Very educational. Ty
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!