Build #14 - Frankenstrat v2

[m0j0]

Clear coats have been curing for a couple of weeks on the body. While waiting for that, I started working on the neck/headstock. I was considering doing something like a Kramer beak headstock shape but there doesn't appear to be enough meat on the paddle to get the desired length so I stuck with the tried and true ST style. Modeled it on an Eric Clapton shape with some minor tweaks.
I learnt my lesson from the last couple of efforts and drew the template on both sides to get more even/straight edges.

[m0j0]

Hacked away at it with a coping saw to get rid of the bulk of the excess.

[m0j0]

Performed the fine detailing with a variety of files and sanding pads. Didn't bother with a rasp as the bastard made light work of what was there.

[m0j0]

Whacked together a bit of a black/white/red pattern on the face. Didn't put too much thought into it but just wanted to make sure I left a big white area to put my logo on. Since I can't print white, I wanted a white background to fill in the blank bits in the logo. Also dropped the Made In Australia and Serial Number waterslides on the rear. Now it's time for the clears.

[fender3x]

Very nice! I hope you'll put it on the headstock thread!

[Trevor Davies]

The logo looks great!

[m0j0]

Alrighty, this thing is taking longer than an a new Extreme album. I've been walking past the wet-sanded but unpolished body every day for a couple of months and lacking the motivation but I finally pulled my finger out and got out my trusty drill mounted polishing kit (nothing but the best in my arsenal of build equipment).

I noviced my way through a half-arsed polishing job and decided it was good enough and started putting bits together. The neck is on, but I'm sure I'll have to revisit it to add a shim when I work out how bad the action is with the surface-mounted FR. The Floyd is on and I'll string up the low and high E's so I can line up the pickups since I'm screwing them straight into the body.

I've hacked away at the budget pickguard with a Stanley knife and I was going to position it and mount it but I figured I'd put the pots/switch on first to ensure I position it correctly. I didn't want to re-use the kit pots and switch since they're pre-wired and the wiring I have planned means I'd have to desolder and resolder everything which is just messy. I thought I'd already bought all of this but a couple of searches through my half a dozen boxes of miscellaneous guitar parts yielded nothing - obviously I didn't get them. So, I started putting together a shopping list and that's when I realised why I hadn't bought them - I have no idea what I need to get. Which brings me back here because there is so much combined knowledge amongst you all.

So, here's a rundown of my parts and the dilemma I face.
1) Seymour Duncan 78 Model bridge humbucker
2) Suhr V63+ neck single coil
3) 5 way switch
4) 1x volume, 2x tone.

Yes, I know this is nothing like a Frankenstrat clone. As time went by, this evolved into a bit of an experiment.

See planned wiring diagram below. I'm going to use A pots for the lot, but the issue I have is from what I understand, one would generally use 500k for humbucker tone pots and 250k for single coil. Given the proposed wiring diagram, is it conceivable to use a 500k for the bridge tone and a 250k for the neck tone? Considering switch position 3 & 4 incorporates both pickups, is it an issue having different resistances on these pots or do they work independently even when both pickups are in use? Or would it be best to stick with the same for both tone pots (if so, I'd probably stick with 500k as I would probably play in position 1 80% of the time anyway)? Considering all of that, and based on the best option for the tone pots, what should I get for the volume pot or does it not really make any real difference?

As for the capacitor, I'm going with a .022uF unless there's a reason I should consider otherwise.

[m0j0]

Oh, and here's a progress photo.

[Trevor Davies]

Looking very nice.