NGD Strat Select

[Crane]

Got it today in pristine condition with OHSC off the 'bay.
I intend to put in SCNs in neck and mid, and maybe an AP2 in bridge.

[Jeff_H]

Nice looking strat. Is that mahogany or ash?

[Crane]

thnx

mahogany

[beandip]

Sapele, actually.

Now, on to more important things. I could see that becoming a number one.

[Jeff_H]

Sapele, actually.

Now, on to more important things. I could see that becoming a number one.

Just because you got a new job and are on a mini paid vacation doesn't give you the right to be a smartass.



















Knowing what you're talking about does....Dustin.

[beandip]

HAHAHA, I actually laughed out loud on that one.

In reality, it's known as Sapele, but also African or Tropical Mahogany. Doesn't matter what you call it, still sounds good.

[Jeff_H]

My old Taylor 314ce was a spruce top with sapele sides and back. Really nice sounding wood.

[JaySwear]

really cool! normally i think a black painted headstock kind of takes away from strats, but it only adds to the badassery on this one

[elscorcho]

Never seen one in Mahogany/Sapele....looks GREAT!

Is it a little heavier & darker sounding than a traditional strat because of that wood?

CONGRATS!

[Fikealox]

Dig it! The body wood, the finish, the humbucker in the bridge. Totally kickass.

[astrozombie]

paging ganzosrevenge...

[ganzosrevenge]

WELL WELL WELL....

a nice shiny new american select mahogany stratocaster HSS.....

Basic knowledge:

• It is HSH routed, so if you want to put in a dual HB set... by all means
• That contoured heel is NOT just for show, it DOES make it feel a bit easier to weedle
• Crane, DO NOT put into it 3 single coils. This is a mahogany / sapele guitar. It begs to be gibsonized a bit.

Personally, I hacked the nards out of one. I love it because it's a strat, but it has a deeper voice. It's a strat that if you like Humbuckers, but wanted a bit less "strat" and a bit more "gibsonish" from a strat, this is the PERFECT strat. I would also get rid of the S-1 switch. While the intention of it is good (more switch options), repairing one or rewiring it is nothing short of a nightmare. Fender doesn't sell that switch. A simple 5-way, or if dual HBs, even 3-way, is perfect for getting all the HB goodness out.... while allowing to keep a single coil in the middle.

This strat is a SORELY underrated strat, but if you'd like to learn more, ask away.

Jason

[astrozombie]

(since ganzo has one modded to the teeth).

[loudriver23]

Awesome looking guitar brother!
I've always been a little afraid of the mahogany strats not being straty enough. The idea of HSHing something like that has me rethinking my position.
In any case, that is one sexy guitar, congrats!

[ganzosrevenge]

I wouldn't call the mahogany selects "not stratty". Conversely, I wouldn't exactly call them a Les Paul. I would consider it to be a breed of strat, with a bit more bassyness. That said, things like APS-2 pickups that may be fine in an alder or ash strat may provide too much bassyness in a mahogany strat. Unless you want a low-end stumppuller, the APS-2 should perhaps ONLY go in the bridge (which you've smartly done). Personally speaking, keeping it HSS with an autosplit in position 2, and giving the HB its own tone control has its own set of benefits. First, if you build a HSS where the S-S are identical pups, (ie: SSL-1s), you can allow those pickups to maintain their stratlike properties without having the Single-Coil tone control affecting the behavior of the Humbucker (Use a double super 5-way for this). Second, separating them allows you to put a 500k for the HB, if you upgrade to an especially hot pup (C8, Alt 8, DD), you can alleviate the "choking effect" associated with highpower pickups and a 250k pot. You can set up the Single Coils to get a nice "rolled back jazzy rhythm control", and then dime the HB's tone control and not only get a more cutting sound, but if the pickups are balanced right a bit of a "signal boost".

[Uk Ant]

I think you have just got my Ideal strat.
That is the business.

[Gearjoneser]

I've always sorta wanted one but never stepped up to the plate. I'd probably give the stock pickups a chance for awhile. If I were to specifically buy pickups, I'd probably go for a tremspaced 59b or C5, then use this guitar as my first Duncan YJM test bed for the singles.

[Bass_Medic_05]

Yeah that sweet, I love the finish on it.....

[GuitarDoc]

Strat Select???

I'd call it a "Strat SG" and put a P-90 in the neck.

[Crane]

got the scns today
about half way done
this pic is with the neck scn in, the mid should be easy too, but
the hummer must be taken apart !
and scns have 3 conductors, green wire must be ground ?