EVH Frankenstrat build threat

[LPfanatic]

So, for some reason lately, Ive had this nagging need to try to refinish a guitar. Ive never done it before, but I figured what the heck. So, I did some research, and a lot of reading, and decided the master of garage built guitars was EVH. So I decided to try a a Frankenstrat. Im gonna try to make it as "period correct" as possible, but I want a floyd. A strat gives me the biggest margin for error, and starting with a cheap squier will keep my wallet happy. So the other day, I went to the store, and plunked some cash down on a brand new Squier HSS, and went to town. Ill keep the pictures updated as much as I can. Heres the progress so far!

 

[LPfanatic]

I promptly disassembled it down to the bare body, and bagged up all the extra parts. Basically, the only thing Ill be using from the original guitar is the body. Anyone need parts??

 

[LPfanatic]

Im using aircraft stripper, a scraper, and some steel wool to get the finish off. Man, this poly crap is a bitch. To anyone who is considering a project like this, a replacement bare body is worth the extra money. Poly is on there good.

 

[LPfanatic]

Progress is slow with just the stripper. Im told with better finishes, you can have the finish off in an hour. This has defintely taken me a few hours, over a few nights. I found the best way to get it off, is to apply the stripper, let it sit for 45-60 mins, then scrape as much as you can off, and repeat the process. Im only applying the stripper in the areas I intend to scrape, about a quarter of the body at a time. Be sure to use some sort of gloves to do this. Stripper is nasty stuff.

 

[LPfanatic]

I finally have all the finish off, and wiped down the body with mineral spirits. Here are the current shots of the guitar drying. In a few hours, Ill spray the first coat of shellac, let that dry for an hour, the respray and let it dry over night. More pics to come!

 

[Belzeebub]

I promptly disassembled it down to the bare body, and bagged up all the extra parts. Basically, the only thing Ill be using from the original guitar is the body. Anyone need parts??

Interesting...I'll be following this and if you don't mind and don't need it, what do you want for the bridge and pup selector switch tip?

 

[wemedge]

Good stuff. Which version of Frankie are you going for?

 

[LPfanatic]

Belzeebub - 20 bucks? Hows that sound?

Wemedge - I want a black and white one. The red one isnt exactly my taste. I still want it to look like a guitar lol. Im going to finish the guitar in nitro so it looks nice. Like I said, I want it as period correct as possible, although I will have a floyd and his white/black frankenstrat still used a Fender bridge with the 1971 quarter. Im also gonna use the Duncan Custom Custom that he used instead of the EVH sig pickup

 

[wemedge]

Belzeebub - 20 bucks? Hows that sound?

Wemedge - I want a black and white one. The red one isnt exactly my taste. I still want it to look like a guitar lol. Im going to finish the guitar in nitro so it looks nice. Like I said, I want it as period correct as possible, although I will have a floyd and his white/black frankenstrat still used a Fender bridge with the 1971 quarter. Im also gonna use the Duncan Custom Custom that he used instead of the EVH sig pickup

This may be helpful for the Floyd install; you probably don't need it, but just in case:

Strat & Floyd Rose Installation

 

[SlashAppetite]

This looks like it could be nice.

 

[LPfanatic]

First two coats of shellac are on, and drying. Tomorrow morning the body will go to the luthier to route the floyd cavity. This is the only part I wont be doing, as I dont have a router, or the skill to pull that part off! When it comes back, Ill block sand with 220 and 320 and apply two more coats of shellac. Then comes color!

 

[Benjammin]

is that Squier neck up for grabs?

 

[Hawiian2]

Interesting thread, I am following ...

 

[LPfanatic]

I sold the neck 2 days ago. Sorry.

 

[hbucker]

A friend of mine and I are making our own Frankenstrat. But we're making a replica of the red & white striped version, as accurately as we can, down to every scratch nick, smudge and '71 quarter.

We're currently relicing the black & white version of the guitar since he sprayed red over the top of that. We also did not add the narrow black pinstripes because they are not present on the red version. I suspect he used black striping tape for these when they were on the white version.

Anyway, below are photos of ours before we started putting wear on the paint.

 

[Benjammin]

I sold the neck 2 days ago. Sorry.

no worries, cool project, I look forward to seeing the finished product

 

[RobP]

Looking good so far!

 

[LPfanatic]

Progress: I dropped the body, and floyd off at Rock Block guitars in Nashville to have them rout and fit the floyd. Ordered the neck today, and will have them make sure my clearances, and angles and everything line up nice and straight. Hope to have it back by the weekend.

 

[JonMan94]

you going for surface mount or recessed?

 

[shtdaprdtr]

A friend of mine and I are making our own Frankenstrat. But we're making a replica of the red & white striped version, as accurately as we can, down to every scratch nick, smudge and '71 quarter.

We're currently relicing the black & white version of the guitar since he sprayed red over the top of that. We also did not add the narrow black pinstripes because they are not present on the red version. I suspect he used black striping tape for these when they were on the white version.

Anyway, below are photos of ours before we started putting wear on the paint.

you should scrape that black paint off the neck pocket....no good for tone.