Question about building a Super Strat

[Aristocat]

So my father in law have me a Mexican Strat for Christmas and I wanted to know what you Strat/Super Strat guys like to do to yours.

So far, I'm gonna order a Mighty Mite neck; put a roller nut on, and install a single hum pick guard.

What else do you guys recommend?

I'm thinking a vintage style Trem and locking tuners. I'm used to my Lester so I want to add a brass block as well.

 

[EyesOfTheSouth]

I usually add an H/S pickguard and do a single volume control in the bridge tone hole......further away from bridge. No tone pot.

Getting rid of the middle pup reduces string pull and adds a bit of sustain IMO. My American Standard is set up this way with a Duncan DeMartini custom in the bridge and a Quarter Pounder in the neck. It kills the Pro Mod San Dimas that sits in my closet.

Be careful if your MIM has a single in the bridge.......most of them are routed S/S/S wheras the MIA are H/S/H under the guard.

 

[Anonymous]

Roller nut is a total bitch to install, you need to carve into the wood
I'd try to find a used Warmoth neck instead of a Mighty Mite
I use mostly the neck pickup on a strat, but that's personnal preference
Other stuff you could consider: trem block, graphtech saddles, better wiring, CTS pots, switchcraft jack and pots, and 5 springs to lock your trem if you're not going to use it

 

[barnesjd]

Be careful if your MIM has a single in the bridge.......most of them are routed S/S/S wheras the MIA are H/S/H under the guard.

Whoa, wait... What? American Strats are routed HSH? What about hardtails? Once I'm done hot rodding my LP, my next project is to build a Fender hardtail HSH.

 

[Aristocat]

Thanks for the cool suggestions so far.

Mine is a Mexican made in 2000. I already checked the neck pocket and the neck date. It's an HSH and while I'm open to a neck pup, I want this to be a no frills, hot rodded Strat. My Lester has a lot of mods and options but I want this to be a work horse.

I don't mind routing for a roller nut. I am open to better tuning options for Trem use though.

 

[Badronald]

I think you're on the right path. Make sure you have large frets.
Rosewood or maple board?
Mine have either Suhr Aldrich or Super Distortion. I LOVE them both, but lean toward the Aldrich.
I dig the Quarter Pound at the neck and have a Injector ready to be installed in the vintage white Strat. Those are recommended if you elect to go with a single at the neck.
Definitely a vintage trem.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Did mine with jumbo frets, one pup and filled the route and did a Hipshot bridge. Thing is a monster.
It's definitely a workhorse; I've gone from drop C to standard tuning and the neck doesn't even move.

I've heard horror stories about Mighty Mite necks, and played a couple really bad ones. If you can swing it, do a Fender neck or a Warmoth. I picked up my last Warmoth on eBay for $100; ebony, stainless jumbos, and Paua dots. Deals are there if you look. Good luck Dom; Strats are always a blast to make your own.

 

[Aristocat]

Great looking Strats guys!

I'm open to Musikraft and Warmoth too. I'm just trying to keep the costs down, ya know?

I'd love to add a Floyd. Could I without routing provided that I just want to dive?

Happy new year too!

 

[Aristocat]

Great looking Strats guys!

I'm open to Musikraft and Warmoth too. I'm just trying to keep the costs down, ya know?

I'd love to add a Floyd. Could I without routing provided that I just want to dive?

Happy new year too!

That's how I did mine

Done and done.

Thanks Reza!

 

[moronmountain]

I like the volume knob in the middle tone position with no tone knobs at all. Even with a single pickup in the rear, I would at least want a kill switch for the Ace toggle on/off/chirpy thingy. All my current guitars are Gibson style 2h's with a 3 way toggle. With them I make the middle toggle position silent/off, so I can use it as a kill switch as well. I'm not sure I would get along much without a front pickup these days as I use mine alot for soloing, but I get what you're after. Good luck!

 

[Aristocat]

I like the volume knob in the middle tone position with no tone knobs at all. Even with a single pickup in the rear, I would at least want a kill switch for the Ace toggle on/off/chirpy thingy. All my current guitars are Gibson style 2h's with a 3 way toggle. With them I make the middle toggle position silent/off, so I can use it as a kill switch as well. I'm not sure I would get along much without a front pickup these days as I use mine alot for soloing, but I get what you're after. Good luck!

I dig having a neck pup but since I'm trying to keep costs down, I'm forgoing one at this time. Only reason I'm doing a 1 Hum is that I have my Godwood laying around.

It's gonna be a black Strat with a Maple neck. 1 Hum and 1 Volume. Vintage Trem for now with locking tuners and a big brass block. I plan on refinishing it to Tobacco Burst later on.

I really like the idea of a no frills guitar that I can just play for days. I love my Lester, but that damn thing is beat to shit and I have no tremolo on it.

 

[barnesjd]

It's gonna be a black Strat with a Maple neck. 1 Hum and 1 Volume. Vintage Trem for now with locking tuners and a big brass block. I plan on refinishing it to Tobacco Burst later on.

How much do you think that refin job will put you out? I'm surprised to see that since you want to keep costs down.

I really like the idea of a no frills guitar that I can just play for days. I love my Lester, but that damn thing is beat to shit and I have no tremolo on it.

Pics? I call that "character"

 

[Aristocat]

It's gonna be a black Strat with a Maple neck. 1 Hum and 1 Volume. Vintage Trem for now with locking tuners and a big brass block. I plan on refinishing it to Tobacco Burst later on.

How much do you think that refin job will put you out? I'm surprised to see that since you want to keep costs down.

I really like the idea of a no frills guitar that I can just play for days. I love my Lester, but that damn thing is beat to shit and I have no tremolo on it.

Pics? I call that "character"

Oh, I do my own finish work and have a bunch of materials at home. I'm sick of doing refins though to be perfectly honest.

 

[JohnSykes]

Id say dont go with the roller nut, man. Not worth it IMHO.

Vintage trem of course (gotoh), locking tuners optional, H/S for variety, 3 way switch, a single volume and if you want, a tone just wired to the neck pickup.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Id say dont go with the roller nut, man. Not worth it IMHO.

Vintage trem of course (gotoh), locking tuners optional, H/S for variety, 3 way switch, a single volume and if you want, a tone just wired to the neck pickup.

I agree on the roller nut. Gotoh is the way to go for a vintage trem.

 

[Aristocat]

Thanks for the cool suggestions.

I've been a Paul guy for a long time so using a Trem will be fun. I think I'm gonna keep the guitar black too. There was an old thread about intensejim's Luxxtone utilizing a hidden neck pickup. I think I may do that on mine since it sounds pretty cool.

Definitely going for a Joe Holmes vibe too. I'll use a vintage Trem for now then I'll go Floyd after a while. I hate recessed trems so this will be wicked nice.

Parts wise, I just need to get a new neck with the trimmings and a pick guard. I have tons of extra pots and things of the sort. Oh, and the new bridge. Probably gonna throw a brass block in too to give a little more mass.