I have shoulder tendinitis which was exacerbated by playing a tele which would bring my shoulder forward on my picking side. This was especially the case when doing hybrid picking. It got to the point last year where I was questioning whether I’d long term be able to play guitar (which is my living). I custom ordered a body from guitar build and honestly have never looked back! I have a super light tele with Strat contours on the body. The finish is more than questionable as it was my first go but it’s meant I can keep playing! It’s even started to calm down the tendinitis. A partscaster is a lot more fun than waiting a year for a custom build!
Great post JNC! Building...& building, & ....my "Travelcaster" easily makes my Top 5 Joys of Guitar list. The mods, far too many to list here, delivered for me a guitar to disassemble, drop into luggage, and travel the world. The experience to assemble and play on the road--by far--exceeds that delivered by the three true "Travel" guitars that I've owned over the years. Add the Boss Waza-Air...or your wireless product of choice...to complete your travel rig. Love this travel solution over risking damage or theft of my Line6 Variax or other quality instruments. Build your own parts guitar everyone; highly-recommended.
My first quasi-partscaster was a beat-up Squier I got for $100 at a Chicago music store in my neighborhood, when I was in a grad student in the late 80s, with limited guitar funds. Over a year or so I upgraded the pickups to SD JB's with a custom circuit that kept the 5-way switch, but let me also do other configs (including series). I also added a Kahler trem (taking a router to the body in my studio apartment kitchen-lots of dust everywhere!). I really enjoyed that guitar, but after a couple years the neck developed a twist that made it challenging to play. I more or less abandoned it when I got a Yamaha SA 1100 semi-acoustic. In 2009 I decided to make a Frankenstrat with Warmoth parts, intending to recycle the bridge from my Squier mod, but wanting to try Strat pickups. I spec'd it out, and on a whim, before ordering parts, checked eBay, and found a Warmoth strat with pretty much exactly what I'd spec'd out, but at a good discount (this was during the 2008ff financial crisis; maybe someone was unloading it for cash). I got it and added the Kahler to it (this time having a really talented local luthier do the routing). It has Fralin pickups in it. They're too bright for me. Also, my 120-yr-old house has old wiring and the hum is pretty unbearable with single coils. So it's been largely ignored, with the SA 1100 still filling my electric needs. I've been wanting a Strat-like guitar, so I just picked up some humbucking Strat-style pickups (a Wilde Lawrence L45S set). I'll swap them in for the Fralins when I get the time, and maybe I'll finally have that guitar in a usable form. I do really like the Warmoth compound radius neck. And I've missed having a whammy. -Tom
For the world's best relic guitar bodies and necks I recommend Scott at Golden Era Guitars in Northern Ireland. Unbelievable attention to detail and quality. Probably the best in the world right now.
The guitar sounds and looks ok but it plays well. Yeah, change the pickups. It does sound pretty good but you know what I’m saying. I’ve built a few Strats but I always seem to start with a painted used Fender body with the tremolo in it. I’ve had a couple Warmoth necks, unfinished, and oiled them once and never had a problem. Mostly though, I find a Fender neck, the last generation of the Standard series made in Mexico necks, with medium jumbo frets, 9.5” radius, 21 frets, satin finish and roll with that. Fender guitars and the aftermarket parts available makes it fun and easy to put something together.
I like a thick neck, but agree that a pronounced V has a big effect on how you play. They tend to be less comfy for a "proper" thumb position and really encourage you to wrap your hand all the way around.
This guitar sounds great, love the pick up set and the body, only thing i might change would be the pick guard, i think i might go with a pearloid guard to make the guitar pop😁 just kidding.
I have 5 warmoth partscasters and love them. Favorite finish for necks is tru-oil like musicman, super smooth. Bodies either tru-oil or nitro. Necks round back 59, Wolfgang and modern standard all with stainless steel frets. Wilkinson trems and various pickups. Finishing off latest lightweight swamp ash strat build with tone hatch USA hand wound pickups ( $35 each ) bridge & middle and Evil Sheep uk hand wound neck pickup fantastic. If I ever sell one break it down and sell parts separately so don’t lose much money 👍🏻
Made my first tele partscaster around the same time as you. I got a swamp ash body from guitarbuild, neck from mightymite and pickups and hardware from Axesrus. Things I would do differently - 1. spend more money to get a lighter weight body. Mine was 2.2 kg, which makes the guitar Les Paul heavy. 2. Try the neck first. I didn’t like the neck profile at all so I re profiled it to match my existing tele. 3. Keep an eye on costs and look out for second hand parts. The guitar cost me about £500 in parts, and while I think it plays and sounds good, it’s not got any resale value, and is probably no better than a S/H Mexican tele with an upgraded bridge and pickups.
I built 3-4 guitars in lockdown. Forget baking sourdough. Sure they have zero resale value but honestly my favorite guitars. If a first time my tip would be to choose a really easy finish. Like wipe on tru oil or a wipe on poly. The hardest and most time consuming part of a diy guitar is the finish. If you want a solid colour just know that it's going to need grain filler, tonnes of coats and sanding and wet sanding again and again then gloss etc. wear a mask. But yeah I wouldn't recommend it. Just do an oil wood finish.
My Reissue Strat became a "Partscaster" when I discovered how many things I didn't like about it. I've made dozens of mods to it, and it's awesome now. 😎 I strongly suggest watching this YT video "Tutorial: Quick-Swap Pickguards for Strats", as it would have my progress easier and faster.
I’ll say if you make a parts caster give it time for you to get used to the guitar it’s not gonna be perfect as soon as you make it overtime if you stick with the guitar and continue to change it, it will be
I'm gonna call every strat made in the UK a twatocaster now
I have shoulder tendinitis which was exacerbated by playing a tele which would bring my shoulder forward on my picking side. This was especially the case when doing hybrid picking. It got to the point last year where I was questioning whether I’d long term be able to play guitar (which is my living).
I custom ordered a body from guitar build and honestly have never looked back! I have a super light tele with Strat contours on the body. The finish is more than questionable as it was my first go but it’s meant I can keep playing! It’s even started to calm down the tendinitis.
A partscaster is a lot more fun than waiting a year for a custom build!
Great post JNC! Building...& building, & ....my "Travelcaster" easily makes my Top 5 Joys of Guitar list. The mods, far too many to list here, delivered for me a guitar to disassemble, drop into luggage, and travel the world. The experience to assemble and play on the road--by far--exceeds that delivered by the three true "Travel" guitars that I've owned over the years. Add the Boss Waza-Air...or your wireless product of choice...to complete your travel rig. Love this travel solution over risking damage or theft of my Line6 Variax or other quality instruments. Build your own parts guitar everyone; highly-recommended.
My first quasi-partscaster was a beat-up Squier I got for $100 at a Chicago music store in my neighborhood, when I was in a grad student in the late 80s, with limited guitar funds. Over a year or so I upgraded the pickups to SD JB's with a custom circuit that kept the 5-way switch, but let me also do other configs (including series). I also added a Kahler trem (taking a router to the body in my studio apartment kitchen-lots of dust everywhere!). I really enjoyed that guitar, but after a couple years the neck developed a twist that made it challenging to play. I more or less abandoned it when I got a Yamaha SA 1100 semi-acoustic.
In 2009 I decided to make a Frankenstrat with Warmoth parts, intending to recycle the bridge from my Squier mod, but wanting to try Strat pickups. I spec'd it out, and on a whim, before ordering parts, checked eBay, and found a Warmoth strat with pretty much exactly what I'd spec'd out, but at a good discount (this was during the 2008ff financial crisis; maybe someone was unloading it for cash). I got it and added the Kahler to it (this time having a really talented local luthier do the routing). It has Fralin pickups in it. They're too bright for me. Also, my 120-yr-old house has old wiring and the hum is pretty unbearable with single coils. So it's been largely ignored, with the SA 1100 still filling my electric needs.
I've been wanting a Strat-like guitar, so I just picked up some humbucking Strat-style pickups (a Wilde Lawrence L45S set). I'll swap them in for the Fralins when I get the time, and maybe I'll finally have that guitar in a usable form. I do really like the Warmoth compound radius neck. And I've missed having a whammy. -Tom
Glad to hear it still has 8s on it.
Love what you did with the color and finish, though. Like a Natural Grey burst ❤
Great build! I’ve bought 3 F-style necks from Musikraft, New Jersey. (Fender licensed builder) nice finish and lots of options.
I think the guitar looks really cool, the body didn’t come out how you expected but I think it looks really unique
For the world's best relic guitar bodies and necks I recommend Scott at Golden Era Guitars in Northern Ireland. Unbelievable attention to detail and quality. Probably the best in the world right now.
I've recommend pure vintage 59 ( fender) pickups
That cannot be Elodie's 1st Guitar not with that name.. Of Course JOhn Rips up and Sounds GREAT!!!
The guitar sounds and looks ok but it plays well. Yeah, change the pickups. It does sound pretty good but you know what I’m saying. I’ve built a few Strats but I always seem to start with a painted used Fender body with the tremolo in it. I’ve had a couple Warmoth necks, unfinished, and oiled them once and never had a problem. Mostly though, I find a Fender neck, the last generation of the Standard series made in Mexico necks, with medium jumbo frets, 9.5” radius, 21 frets, satin finish and roll with that. Fender guitars and the aftermarket parts available makes it fun and easy to put something together.
I like a thick neck, but agree that a pronounced V has a big effect on how you play. They tend to be less comfy for a "proper" thumb position and really encourage you to wrap your hand all the way around.
This guitar sounds great, love the pick up set and the body, only thing i might change would be the pick guard, i think i might go with a pearloid guard to make the guitar pop😁 just kidding.
I have 5 warmoth partscasters and love them. Favorite finish for necks is tru-oil like musicman, super smooth. Bodies either tru-oil or nitro. Necks round back 59, Wolfgang and modern standard all with stainless steel frets. Wilkinson trems and various pickups. Finishing off latest lightweight swamp ash strat build with tone hatch USA hand wound pickups ( $35 each ) bridge & middle and Evil Sheep uk hand wound neck pickup fantastic. If I ever sell one break it down and sell parts separately so don’t lose much money 👍🏻
Made my first tele partscaster around the same time as you. I got a swamp ash body from guitarbuild, neck from mightymite and pickups and hardware from Axesrus.
Things I would do differently -
1. spend more money to get a lighter weight body. Mine was 2.2 kg, which makes the guitar Les Paul heavy.
2. Try the neck first. I didn’t like the neck profile at all so I re profiled it to match my existing tele.
3. Keep an eye on costs and look out for second hand parts. The guitar cost me about £500 in parts, and while I think it plays and sounds good, it’s not got any resale value, and is probably no better than a S/H Mexican tele with an upgraded bridge and pickups.
i have 2 warmoth strats. one has the wizard neck. i thought i would hate it but it has grown on me.
This might be a good guitar to try some noiseless pickups on for those troublesome venues. DiMarzio Areas maybe?
I built 3-4 guitars in lockdown. Forget baking sourdough. Sure they have zero resale value but honestly my favorite guitars. If a first time my tip would be to choose a really easy finish. Like wipe on tru oil or a wipe on poly. The hardest and most time consuming part of a diy guitar is the finish. If you want a solid colour just know that it's going to need grain filler, tonnes of coats and sanding and wet sanding again and again then gloss etc. wear a mask. But yeah I wouldn't recommend it. Just do an oil wood finish.
My Reissue Strat became a "Partscaster" when I discovered how many things I didn't like about it. I've made dozens of mods to it, and it's awesome now. 😎
I strongly suggest watching this YT video "Tutorial: Quick-Swap Pickguards for Strats", as it would have my progress easier and faster.
You dont need to scrape nitro. Get some nitrocellulose thinner and you can just wipe it off with a cloth
if that is a rosewood board better throw on a mask if your going to sand that nitro off, rosewwod dust in the lung is nasty stuff.
Take it to a luthier to play smooth like butter.
I hope you never get good at video editing, it adds to the charm
John, genuine question. Sounds you're playing at a fairly high volume, do the neighbors ever complain?
You should age the plastics. Submerge the in coffee, or tea, or turmeric.
the back looks better than the front (giggity)
I’ll say if you make a parts caster give it time for you to get used to the guitar it’s not gonna be perfect as soon as you make it overtime if you stick with the guitar and continue to change it, it will be
008 gauge strings, I thought it was just me. How c people play 10's, 11''s ad higher, my fingers just cant do it