Introduction


I have always desired to have something unique, and of my own making, rather than something that anyone could buy. Also, I am very value-conscious and as a result, have rarely paid the same prices that others typically pay. I have been purchasing new and used guitar parts and have been building my own custom Strats for years. I enjoy every aspect of this process, but most of all, I love to play a one-of-a-kind Strat that I built myself.

My objective in putting this site together (including the accompanying resources) is to document my learnings and share them with others such as yourself. It is my hope that I can provide useful information as well as inspiration to you so that you will go beyond just wishing you could build your own dream custom Stratocaster.

My approach is to present this information to you in the easiest and most concise form possible, including outlines, lists, links, photos and diagrams. The order of this material is in a linear (mostly) and logical sequence from beginning to end (best accessed using the navigation on the right of the page).

Here is the outline of the site:
  1. Introduction
  2. Planning and Design - Custom Stratocaster Project
    a. Considerations - Look, Feel, Sound, Durability and Resale
    b. Components – Fender USA and Import, Licensed
    c. Constraints – Tools, Skills, Workspace and Time
  3. Purchasing - Custom Stratocaster Parts
    a. Budget - new or used, finished or unfinished
    b. Resources - retail, Web stores and auctions, eBay, pawn shops, swap meets, friends
    c. Purchasing Strategy
  4. Preparations
    a. Body - sanding, filling, priming, painting, clear coating, wet sanding, polishing
    b. Neck - sanding, staining, finishing, hardware, decals, frets dressing
    c. Electronics - layout, soldering, testing
  5. Assembly and Setup
    a. Action - Neck Angle, Truss Rod,
    b. Tone - Intonation, Action, Pickups
  6. Related Topics
    a. Cases - hard or soft, vintage or modern
    b. Resale - ethics, pricing, marketplaces, ads, photos

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is a beautiful looking neck with all that birdseye. Is this a custom neck? How custom?

James M. Sims said...

Thank you. It is a custom ordered Warmoth neck with a thin profile, 6105 frets. I finished with a light stain, many coats of nitro lacquer, 62 Strat decals and vintage Kluson tuners.

Unknown said...

Excellent site. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

James M. Sims said...

Dear Jim,

Thank you so much for your kind recognition.

Painting Companies said...

Thank you. It is a custom ordered Warmoth neck with a thin profile, 6105 frets. I finished with a light stain, many coats of nitro lacquer, 62 Strat decals and vintage Kluson tuners.

Industrial Painting said...

Wow, that is a beautiful looking neck with all that birdseye. Is this a custom neck? How custom?

Anonymous said...

An Excellent and Inspiring Resource - Thank You!