From the top - this is my 'Entry' to the 2012 Music Radar £100 Challenge, where you are aiming to produce or pimp a guitar for a £100 or less. With a little help from my friends, I've just about managed it.
But the guitar:
It is based on an old and battered Squier Strat, of indeterminate vintage, pedigree and character.
The body is solid wood though, always a bonus, and the maple/rosewood neck is decent quality now that the frets and 'board have had a bit of TLC.
Pickup-wise, there is a lovely sounding Gretsch humbucker at the neck. This was taken from a Gretsch 5120 and really does the business, from twanginess to hot and heavy.
Wiring is a pair of pots and a switch I got given by Simon at Fusion - out of a Les Paul, I believe.
The trem is half a pound of brass that has been chromed and was taken from a 70s Japanese Strat copy. It really sings, I'm seriously impressed with it. The jack plate is from the same place too.
The tuners are some pre-aged Wilkinson ones, which work great and look good, and a finishing touch in the shape of some Gretsch knobs was a bit of an extravagance, but there we are.
As for the finish, the body has a lovely rough and glittery paisley, with the scratchplate being veneered with walnut burr and a bit of rust here and there for ageing perps.
And there we are, it looks great and sounds better and is a bit of a joy to play.
Cheers for the freebies to Marc at Mojo Pickups, and Simon at Fusion Guitars.
As for the £100 Challenge aspect, my updated numbers are:
Donor Squier Strat: £44.50
Gigbag sold: -£20
Squier parts sold: -£20
Body & Neck Net Cost: £4.50
Gretsch pickup: £12.50
Old '70s Bridge, Jack Plate, Claw, Springs: £10
Scratchplate: £12
Paisley fabric: £5
Walnut Burr Veneer: £1 (Ten sheets for £5, using 2 sheets " 50p each)
Finishing stuff: £12.95
Jazzmaster pickup: Free
Pots, Wire, Jack, Capacitor, Switch: Free
Knobs: £8
Tuners: £20
Grand Total: £85.95
La la laaa
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