Partscaster thread

[Markus]

I've had Strat GAS for a while, but haven't really found any models on the market that tick all boxes (black hardware is a must). Then I got the urge to build a partscaster - and have spent a few nights making mockups and looking for parts. I'm now debating between a Lake Placid blue and Surf green body, something like this:




Which one is cooler?

[Mike]

Surf Green with the white guard and black pickups is <chefkiss>.

Correct poll answer selected, however.

[Drew]

Surf green, for sure.

[James]

Absolutely has to be the surf green, maybe with a pearloid pickguard

[sgjackson]

Lake Placid Blue and Surf Green are my favorite Fender colors but I prefer the blue by a hair.

[Markus]

This poll result is pretty much what I was expecting.

[Drew]

FWIW, I'd have expected Daphne Blue, not Lake Placid Blue, to be the other option here.

[Toshiro]

Blue, but not with that pickguard.

[Markus]

Blue, but not with that pickguard.

What colour combo would you put on it?

[Toshiro]

What colour combo would you put on it?

Black, or even black brushed aluminium.

[Webdood]

surf green is always the correct answer

[Ryan]

Gotta be Surf Green.

[sgjackson]

Black, or even black brushed aluminium.

seconded

[Überschall]

Mike is correct.

[DonBot]

Lake Placid blue. I feel like surf green is too common on strats.

[Josh]

Surf Green is my choice, but LPB with a tort guard is nice.

[Markus]

So I've found some pretty nice parts, I think.

One thing I'm wondering if it would be smarter to buy a pre-drilled neck, or do the drilling myself. The body I'm looking at (Hosco) has pre-drilled holes, but the Hosco necks don't. Buying a neck that has the holes ready make things a bit easier, but on the other hand, ifI get a neck without holes, I guess I can make sure the neck lines up properly (if I don't screw things up). So I guess the question is that do things usually line up? I see that people make a lot of partscasters out of random used parts, so I'd assume they do well enough at least?

I do have access to a drill press at work, so I wouldn't need to freehand the holes.

[Josh]

So I've found some pretty nice parts, I think.

One thing I'm wondering if it would be smarter to buy a pre-drilled neck, or do the drilling myself. The body I'm looking at (Hosco) has pre-drilled holes, but the Hosco necks don't. Buying a neck that has the holes ready make things a bit easier, but on the other hand, ifI get a neck without holes, I guess I can make sure the neck lines up properly (if I don't screw things up). So I guess the question is that do things usually line up? I see that people make a lot of partscasters out of random used parts, so I'd assume they do well enough at least?

I do have access to a drill press at work, so I wouldn't need to freehand the holes.

Up to you! What are you most comfortable with? Do you have experience with woodworking? The neck join is a major part of the construction, so if you do it yourself you'll want to spend the requisite time setting up the drill bit depth stops (or using painters tape) and triple-checking hole locations (maybe using the body as a template, assuming you can clamp the body and neck together so they won't move).

Many people buy Fender-compatible predrilled stuff so that it all bolts together more easily. Warmoth, musikraft, allparts, etc. I'd go predrilled myself, but that's because time is at a premium for me right now and I'd rather have something designed to just work than worrying about the extra drilling.

[Markus]

Hosco makes Allparts bodies, so if Allparts are Fender compatible, I'd assume the Hosco branded ones are as well.

[mpexus]

Absolutely has to be the surf green, maybe with a pearloid pickguard

This, white pickguards only look nice on white guitars.

[Markus]

I finally got around to ordering a body. I'm sort of starting to lean towards a (dark) rosewood or ebony fretboard, though. Does this sound like a terrible idea for a surf green strat? Somehow, I think the darker wood would match the black pickups nicely.

[Drew]

I'd go rosewood over ebony on a strat, personally. I'd also go maple over either, but that's very much a reflection of personal taste.

[Markus]

This look somehow calls to me. Possibly without inlays - of course, that would mean a custom neck from Warmoth or something.

A cool option if I end up finding one would be a non-AANJ 22 fret Ibanez neck.

[Markus]

I just found the perfect neck for this!

https://reverb.com/item/26386148-198...lerton-vintage

[Josh]

This look somehow calls to me. Possibly without inlays - of course, that would mean a custom neck from Warmoth or something.

A cool option if I end up finding one would be a non-AANJ 22 fret Ibanez neck.

Late to the party on this, but for fingerboards that don't match the headstock I always prefer matching the headstock face to the body color.