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Building a custom hardtail Strat body

Building a custom hardtail Strat body

I wanted to feature something a little different to the usual content on the blog, so have decided to document my process of making a guitar body. I'll may follow on with more like this if it's of interest! Within this article I'll be making a hardtail Strat body for a project, there are of course some superb pre-made bodies available these days, including custom specs but when you've got a workshop full of tools they need to be put to use don't they! So let's get busy and I suspect as a result the final product will be more meaningful too. I have a few spec ideas that will make this body a little unique, something that has been bouncing around my head for a while so will be nice to bring it to life.
01 February, 2023 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Dudley guitar setup Dudley guitar tech guitar & bass build router template guitar & Bass build router templates guitar & Bass build templates Guitar Build Guitar Builder guitar project guitar repair stourbridge guitar setup stourbridge guitar setups stourbridge guitar work stourbridge Home of Tone Home of Tone Blog Home of Tone News James' Home of Tone James' Home of Tone Blog Strat build Strat project
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A partscaster build for Nik

A partscaster build for Nik

Nik first reached out to me to inquire about some pickups and wiring for a partscaster project he was starting. Cut a long story short, he kindly opted for a loaded pickguard from myself, including the awesome McNelly 'S-Bar' hybrid strat pickup design, wired to a 7-way Strat harness and all mounted to a nice pearloid pickguard w/parchment plastics to soften the colours a little. Whilst we waited for the pickups to be made and arrive, we discussed his project further and he kindly asked me to assemble the whole guitar when everything was ready.
04 January, 2023 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Dudley guitar setup Dudley guitar shop Dudley guitar tech guitar setup stourbridge guitar setups stourbridge Guitar shops stourbridge Home of Tone Home of tone customer service Home of Tone harness Home of Tone Harnesses Home of Tone pre-wired harness Home of Tone wiring James' Home of Tone Blog James' Home of Tone setups McNelly S-Bar pickups McNelly S-Bars Partscaster Partscaster assembly Partscaster assembly west midlands Partscaster build Partscaster building Signature Series wiring Stourbridge guitar Stourbridge guitar repair stourbridge guitar setup stourbridge guitar setups Stourbridge guitar tech Vega-Trem Vega-Trem install
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A tidy up for this very cool Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

A tidy up for this very cool Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro

Wrapped up the setup on this cool Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro today (Photos were taken after the initial rough in of the setup the prior day). It has had some Duncans fitted previously, and with their open cover style and no pickguard look on the guitar, gives it a cool vibe for sure. Wiring needed a look over as there were some tone pot issues, seems that was just wires touching places they shouldn't so tidied that up and it sprung to life. New control knobs will be on via the owner I'm sure. Frets needed some TLC with multiple high spots, but overall this one came out great and looks ace too. Custom requested a low action set-up on Rotosound 10s, and thanks to the fretwork and good neck angle/alignment that was all achievable. Nice guitar! 
15 November, 2022 by James P Gascoigne
Tags: Epiphone Les Paul Custom pro Guitar shops stourbridge James' Home of Tone James' Home of Tone Blog James' Home of Tone customer service James' Home of Tone reviews James' Home of Tone setups Stourbridge guitar setup Stourbridge guitar setup work Stourbridge guitar tech West Midlands guitar setup
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