The sticker on the pickguard reads “American Special Stratocaster”, like this. So actually one step below the American Standard Strat.
Hmm - interesting; as always, you are very observant sir. I bet the vid shows a neck getting some final sanding, then, after a CNC does the bulk of the shaping…
So I got the collection out for some pics (insurance reasons) and I figured some of you might be interested. In order of how often I play them:
Esquire Parts-caster:
Assembled from spare parts and a double bound Classic Vibe Deluxe Tele body I found on ebay for cheap. The parts came together to make a great guitar. I use it most often because it’s tone fits with a lot of my band’s songs.
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple/Rosewood
Pickup: Seymour Duncan bg1400
**
Homemade Korina Strat:**
One of the first guitar bodies that I shaped myself from scratch. I really love this guitar. Really versatile and great tones all around. Use it whenever I need that glassy strat tone.
Body: Black Korina
Neck: Canary/Ebony
Pickups: Seymour Duncan JB Jr. in the bridge / Fender Texas Specials in the neck and middle
'72 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe:
This is the guitar that I’ll never EVER part with. I’ve had it so long, I’d be lost without it. It actually has my DNA embedded in the fretboard wood from me bleeding on it a few times. For my current band, I use it for slide work mostly and have it tuned to open G.
Body: Mahogany (pancake)
Neck: Mahogany/Rosewood
Pickups: Gibson PAF’s
Homemade Telemaster:
Another body that I shaped myself. Probably the best finish job I’ve ever done considering the tools I had at my disposal. Great for country licks as well as that early Zeppelin tone. Really well balanced when strapped on
Body: Alder
Neck: Birdseye Maple/Rosewood
Pickups: Bare Knuckle Yardbird set
Homemade Cabronita Tele:
Originally made this as an Esquire but when I played my first Fender Cabronita I was hooked and decided to make my own version. Turned out well, I guess. Decent blues and rock tones.
Body: Walnut
Neck: Goncalo alves/Pau ferro
Pickups: Filtertron Classic Plus
'96 Fender Loanstar Strat:
This guitar brought me back to Fenders after many years as a Gibson man. Bought it new and haven’t changed a thing on it. Just a great playing and sounding guitar
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple/Rosewood
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge / Texas Specials in the neck and middle
Black Partscaster:
This is actually the guitar I’ve owned the longest, in a way. The body is from a Japanese Squire strat that was my first real guitar back in '84. I sold it in college to a friend and a couple of years ago got it back from him in horrible condition. A new neck, homemade pickguard, and a little elbow grease and it’s back. I made a superstrat out of it - my “EVH” guitar. I can even do divebombs on the tremolo without it going too far out of tune.
Body: Basswood
Neck: Maple/Ebony
Pickups: Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge / SH-5 in the neck
Ibanez Artcore:
This was an impulse buy. One of those times when you pick up a guitar and it just feels right - plus it was relatively cheap. It’s got some decent jazz tones and gets ok dirty blues tones as well.
Body: Spruce top / Maple back and sides
Neck: Mahogany/Rosewood
Pickups: Ibanez ACH1 and ACH2
Taylor 614-CE:
My one acoustic is a good one. It cost a pretty penny when I got it back in the mid 90’s, but it was worth it. Sounds better and better the older it gets. The tone really fills a room nicely.
Body: Spruce top / flame maple back and sides
Neck: Maple/Ebony
Fishman electronics
BigShooter I am at the airport - early leave for a Sprimg Break family trip. I looking forward to checking your post out when I get back…
To be honest, I don’t really understand why hand-shaping is supposed to be superior to CNC. It’s not like a violin, where you’re tuning the body as you shape it. It’s a Fender big ol’ slab of wood with some holes routed into it.
I’ve got one of those, except in orange (Kim w. AF75DTOR). When I first saw it, I was immediately drawn to it because it was the best looking guitar in the shop. Since then, I’ve discovered it’s a pretty versatile guitar. The sound might not immediately grab you (and lots of people swap out the stock pickups), but it sits nicely with pretty much anything. It was my number one guitar for a while.
You can see the whatchamacallit at :34. The two slabs of wood that were picked out at the beginning are magically a blank neck and body after that.
BigShooter nice collection! Thanks for sharing. I especially like the Esquire, that is a handsome guitar.
Hey, Shooter, one thing I just noticed was the knobs on that Esquire. Why the amp knobs? They seem to fit in, but I saw the usual barrel knobs on your other homebrews, so it begs the question.
Fender quite often uses those kind of knobs. They’re on the Telecaster Deluxe, and most of the Blacktop series.
[googles] Wow, so they do. I’d never noticed that type of knob before on a Fender. Thanks for pointing that out.
I just like the look of 'em…
They are pretty, aren’t they? Great value for the money…
I like Ibanez Artcores a lot. Good guitars. I don’t own one but I’ve tried a few.
Nice collection BigShooter, and I particularly wish to congratulate you for not putting fake Fender decals on your parts guitars. The only thing lamer than doing that is removing a Squier decal and replacing it with a Fender decal.
Trouble’s got a cousin!
Gorgeous collection, especially including the ones you made yourself. Ever consider getting involved in the tdpri.com annual build-a-tele contest?
Ah, Shakester, everything is just this side of being lame to you…I enjoy your insights and agree with most of your conclusions but am inclined to live and let live.
BigShooter - I love your work and your playing when you’ve shared clips. I wish I could work with wood the way you do; assembling and tweaking my Teles was a great exercise for me; actually building bodies and necks is that next step of getting close to your gear.
Nice obit in the LA Times today for Jim Marshall, the Lord of Loud, who passed away yesterday in England.
Yeah I noted the news, but since I am traveling and only grabbing a few minutes of wi-fi access while the family siesta’s at the hotel, wasn’t ready to geek out obit-wise. The guy made a huge contribution - who knew that (and I say this with respect) ripping off Fenders Bassman circuit and adapting it to UK tubes, er, valves would be so innovative. But coupled with the Brit blues explosion, it was the perfect tool at the perfect time.
Thank you Mr. Marshall.
Oh, there are many things I love unreservedly. You have a valid point, though.
no worries. When I started assembling my Teles, I hated having a blank headstock; not sure why, just found it looked unfinished. But then I figured out how to make my own one-off decals and did my own…
Custom decals are cool.
On the other hand, the headstock of my “strat” is entirely blank. I’m a fan of mysteriousness.