Mark Knopfler Strat Build Thread

[The Dali]

Hello, I'm finally ready to start my Mark Knopfler strat project. A while back I landed a very nice MIM Stratocaster in Fiesta Red. That color is fairly rare, and I have been thinking of doing another guitar build anyway, so I picked it up. The guitar is a "Squier Series" MIM strat from the mid-1990's.

I'll get photos up later today, but the guitar is generally in very nice condition. I'd consider it a "light relic" with some minor scratching, but no dents and very little fretwear.

The neck has a rosewood board and white dots. The actual maple has aged to a nice amber.

The deal with these guitars (the "Squier Series") is that they used very cheap hardware. I took off the bridge, tuners and pickguard. I'll be replacing with standard Fender vintage tuners, big-block trem, and a custom-wired pickguard with a set of Texas Specials.

FYI, here is the guitar I'm building:



More to come!

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Looking forward to it man

I love Knopfler's strat, it's beautiful!

[The Dali]

Thanks - I'll get those pictures up tonight. I did take a bunch, and did some preliminary work on the guitar but I didn't get a chance to post my progress.

[The Dali]

OK, here are some pictures!

Here is a photo of the body and neck as I began:








Back of the body:









Headstock:

[The Dali]

Ok, so here is the replacement bridge:





Some of the other equipment:





I removed the tuners. You can see how the maple has ambered:





Ok, so I started working on the headstock. I figured that the headstock is going to be the most work so let's get started. I have a 50's logo for the headstock, so I needed to remove the existing logo. I tried to "rub" the logo off, but it didn't budge. I used my Dremel tool to buff the logo (with a fabric disc) and the logo came off with little effort (a little smudging of the poly is the only by-product). The issue? Well...




As you can see, the logo blocked the light and the poly didn't "amber" under the logo. Ok, so I guess I'll need to strip/sand the headstock and re-spray. Well, at least I'll be able to re-use the tuner bushings when I put on the new Gotoh tuners, right?



ok, I guess not. So, now I have to remove the bushings and then strip the headstock. I'll also have to ream or drill-out the holes to accommodate the larger bushings. In addition, I might as well strip the back of the headstock and fill the screw holes in preparation of the new tuners. I'll start that tomorrow.


In the meantime, I assembled the pickguard. I went with parchment instead of mint-green.






Full set of Texas Specials (middle is RWRP). CTS pots, USA switch. I am ordering a Mallory cap (possibly a Russion PIO, not sure yet) and will likely wire it with a blend-mod. More to come on that.


Here is a mock of what she'll look like:





In addition, I'll be fully shielding the electronics cavity. I should get the tape tomorrow, so I can probably start on that as well.

[Travis H]

love your threads man keep it up

[The Dali]

Well, a change in plans. I was sizing up the existing neck and while it is a very nice MIM neck, it is a bit off for the project. For one, it has the truss-rod adjustment at the nut and not the heel. Secondly, the tuner holes are too small and would need to be reamed out. Plus, I'll need to refinish the headstock now that I've removed the logo... everything else on the guitar will be so nice and tight that I feel that this neck might compromise the project. Sooo....

I found a 60's reissue neck that fits the bill and won't have the issues I mentioned. Here is a photo of that neck:





This new neck is a slight relic and should really fit in nicely. The big deal is the truss-rod at the heel - I think that will add to the vibe. I was thinking of buying a new Warmoth neck and doing the logo myself, but I'd need to finish the neck (the entire back) and my equipment is tied up at the moment (house remodel) so the effort was a bit of stretch without the tools. Plus, the Wamorth neck would have been $200+ and would still require work. I got this neck for less than that and it is ready to go.


I guess I'll refinish the neck I have and try to sell it to offset the cost of this one once I have my tools.

[Sanford]

Full set of Texas Specials (middle is RWRP).

I believe the pickup with the red dot is the bridge pickup and the pickup with the yellow/black wires is the middle.

[timhatimay]

I think Sanford is right! The yellow lead signals the RWRP pickup. I have a RWRP Texas Special in a Fiesta Red Fender as well, but my guitar (jag-stang) looks much more orange. Your strat is a great project, and the guitar looks excellent! Quack quack!

Tim

[The Dali]

Thanks - I hadn't used the multimter on it yet so I just used the longest-->shortest leads. I'll check that tonight. Thanks for the information!

[DonP]

Where do you get the decals from? I have a MIM neck that need the "Original Contour Body" and "Synronized Trem" decals.

[The Dali]

Ok, update time! I'm still waiting for the neck to come in, so in the meantime I took the guitar apart and started shielding the cavity.














I got some adhesive-backed copper foil off the net and it worked pretty well. The shielding came out very nice and clean. I've seen the output jack cavity shielded on some guitars... I've never done it there, I wonder if it helps?

Anyway, I installed the new bridge with the extra thick block. Very nice.









Tonight I'll be wiring up the pickguard and will install it. I hope to have the neck tomorrow.

[Travis H]

I I've seen the output jack cavity shielded on some guitars... I've never done it there, I wonder if it helps?

I think it helps A lot if you have some left do it

[timhatimay]

Does the copper shielding have conductive adhesive? If not, you may have to fold over the edges or solder the edges together to ensure its continuos. You can check it with a multimeter for continuity. Also, in regards to ground loops, you created quite a few with the shielding. It should overlap in only one place. You basically created several mini circuits through the shielding to the pickguard and then back. Don't forget to ground the trem block! Still looking good!

Tim

[voggin]

Well, a change in plans. I was sizing up the existing neck and while it is a very nice MIM neck, it is a bit off for the project. For one, it has the truss-rod adjustment at the nut and not the heel. Secondly, the tuner holes are too small and would need to be reamed out. Plus, I'll need to refinish the headstock now that I've removed the logo... everything else on the guitar will be so nice and tight that I feel that this neck might compromise the project. Sooo....

I found a 60's reissue neck that fits the bill and won't have the issues I mentioned. Here is a photo of that neck:





This new neck is a slight relic and should really fit in nicely. The big deal is the truss-rod at the heel - I think that will add to the vibe. I was thinking of buying a new Warmoth neck and doing the logo myself, but I'd need to finish the neck (the entire back) and my equipment is tied up at the moment (house remodel) so the effort was a bit of stretch without the tools. Plus, the Wamorth neck would have been $200+ and would still require work. I got this neck for less than that and it is ready to go.


I guess I'll refinish the neck I have and try to sell it to offset the cost of this one once I have my tools.

I have a 60's vintage reissue strat. You won't regret that neck, it's awesome.

[The Dali]

Does the copper shielding have conductive adhesive? If not, you may have to fold over the edges or solder the edges together to ensure its continuos. You can check it with a multimeter for continuity. Also, in regards to ground loops, you created quite a few with the shielding. It should overlap in only one place. You basically created several mini circuits through the shielding to the pickguard and then back. Don't forget to ground the trem block! Still looking good!

Tim

What do you mean? Should I only have one tab on top connecting with the pickuguard? (regarding the ground loops)

Regarding the first point, the edges all overlap.

Yes, grounded the trem block last night, thanks!

[GuitarStv]

What do you mean? Should I only have one tab on top connecting with the pickuguard? (regarding the ground loops)

Regarding the first point, the edges all overlap.

Yes, grounded the trem block last night, thanks!

Some copper shielding tape doesn't have conductive adhesive, so even laying the pieces one on top of each other might not make a connection. If you're not sure, take a multimeter and measure the resistance from the neck pickup foil to the bottom of the control cavity foil. If it reads 0 you're OK.

I love to see a shielded strat pickup cavity . . . nice job! They really make things soo much quieter that it's crazy they don't come stock like that.

[JordanM82]

looks great man, can't wait to see the finished product...

[The Dali]

Thanks Steve - I'll check with a meter tonight.

[JOLLY]

Great job on the shielding.