Another MJT Build - a Strat this time.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:21 am

Well hello there shortscale. A few people know about this already, but since I've just this moment paid the deposit, I thought I'd bring you all up to speed. Flushed with the success of my tele build last year, I'm going to make an MJT strat. As discussed in the diary thread a while back, I've been trying out various strats for the last few months (I still rue the day I sold Rhys's old Tokai), but can't find any with a neck that I like. I used to be a big fan of the MIM 70s Classics, but they've wussed out and made their once fantastic U-shaped neck profile into some wussy generic same-as-every-other-Fender profile. My hesitation in getting a kit strat was due to the fact that, while a tele just bolts together and is fairly idiot-proof (although look at the trouble I had with the pickups...), a strat has moving bits and springs and stuff and I was concerned I'd fuck it up. I watched a few project videos on Youtube, though, and I reckon I can do it.

You watch me fuck it up now...

So, the spec runs as follows:

- Alder strat body, as light as possible - aiming to get the finished guitar to weigh in at under 6.5lb.
- Finished in Ocean Turquoise, closet clean finish (as per my tele last year).
- Musikraft CBS Strat one-piece maple neck - 1 3/4" nut, 7 1/4" radius, 6105 frets, Boat V .95"x.95" profile, I'm going to get Musikraft to a install slotted bone nut, because that's a ball-ache.
- Closet clean neck finish to match my tele (and Jazzmaster) - this was our reference image last time.
- Gotoh 6-in-line vintage keys nickel fitted, closet clean finish.
- Vintage tort strat pickguard and Vintage tort trem spring cover.
- All other hardware closet clean, mint/white knobs, pickup covers, switch and trem tip, two butterfly string trees, jack cup, strap pins, plain neck plate and all screws.
- MJT are going to drill the neck holes, holes to mount the bridge and holes to mount the trem claw for me because these are the ones that scare me.

So there we go. A nice light strat, with a big CBS headstock, wide nut and ognormous V neck profile for about the same price as a MIM Classic. All I have to provide is the electrics and the pickups - might try a set from Rose Pickups, since they seem to do good stuff for cheap. All finished off in my favourite Marmite colour scheme, OTM with a tort guard. Here's an artist's impression (admittedly with reliccing and a rosewood neck):

Deposit's paid, 6-8 weeks turnaround. Last time, the kit even avoided comedy tax (which obviously, I've now jinxed). Am excite.

PS. So I don't sound like some hideous toff, the money was raised by selling off my one bit of 'Cash in the Attic' - I had an old, obscure 70s hifi turntable that it would appear hifi buffs go crazy over.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:49 am

What does closet clean mean?

Looks nice. To be honest, reading your description I wasn't convinced, but reckon that looks well. I don't usually like tort, but that seems to work. Maybe it's because Ocean Turquoise is a pretty string colour.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:56 am

'Closet clean' means no reliccing - MJT usually relic their kit a bit. What do you mean by "pretty string colour"?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:01 am

Ha, pretty strong colour. Strong. Not string.

Although I'm sure strings would look very pretty in it too.

Edit: So a six screw trem rather than a more modern two-post?

gusman2x · Post by **gusman2x** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:10 am

Build for aorund the same price as a MIM classic? Does that mean the build could be under Â£500?

If it does, then I might just be getting on with a jazzy...

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:17 am

BacchusPaul wrote:So a six screw trem rather than a more modern two-post?

Yep - the string spacing on a six screw is a bit wider, and since I'm an agricultural type (see: nut width) I like it roomy. Plus, I'm not so keen on the look of the two screw trem. Which is a shame, since bunging a big neck on one of the CP strats was another of the options I was considering.

gusman2x wrote:Build for aorund the same price as a MIM classic? Does that mean the build could be under Â£500?

If it does, then I might just be getting on with a jazzy...

Not quite under Â£500 - cheapest full builds are Â£515-odd, and I've specced mine up a touch (Musikraft rather than Allparts neck, having the nut fitted, posher trem), but I think MJT's stuff is amazing value.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:24 am

benecol wrote:
BacchusPaul wrote:So a six screw trem rather than a more modern two-post?
Yep - the string spacing on a six screw is a bit wider, and since I'm an agricultural type (see: nut width) I like it roomy. Plus, I'm not so keen on the look of the two screw trem. Which is a shame, since bunging a big neck on one of the CP strats was another of the options I was considering.

Didn't know that about the string spacing. Lookswise, I'm the same. I'd rather look at a six screw bridge with the middle four screws taken out than a two screw one. Given that you've considered using an MIM as a donor for a body and hardware, would you not then think about a Squier CV? They're alder, well done, and already have all the hardware and pretty good pickups with them. You could always then upgrade the pickups at some point, but you'd have the option of not having to straight away.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:48 am

I'd still have had to change the neck out on the Squier, although funnily enough it was the ex-Lorez and timhulio Squier strat that started me thinking about a strat earlier this year. Plus (unashamed corksniffer alert) I like the fact that the MJT stuff is nitro finished, and that he'll pick out bodies to your spec. I'd promised myself a nice strat for my fortieth <<franlols>> (only a couple of years away now, factfans), I got it together to do up my Cash in the Attic turntable so had the cash, and it's nice to have nice things and all...

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:03 pm

Fair enough. There's absolutely no point getting something you don't want, like. I meant to use the Squier for the body just, mind, and stick the MJT neck on it. I can see the appeal of having the whole thing MJT though, and it means you get the colour and finish you want, which is worth definitely worth something.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:11 pm

benecol wrote: the ex-Lorez and timhulio Squier strat

Ooh have you got this one now? The closest I've ever got to a 'keeper' strat. Til I sold it!

The quality of the MJT work is really impressive, and I like the colour you've specced up there. However I'd go for a white guard, maybe even one-ply. Also I like skinny necks.

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:13 pm

No need to justify it Tim.

If you:

Want it

Will use it

Have the money

Have the space

That's all the justification required IMHO

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:25 pm

No guilt involved at this end; just well aware that I'm revelling in it having a nitro finish in the same week I've received a nitro finish.

(there was talk of me putting a Callaham bridge on this one, too).

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:20 am

TALLY HO!!!

[youtube][/youtube]

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:14 pm

Bump: Mark sent me pictures of the finished body today; I like it a lot.

► Show Spoiler

DasBeef · Post by **DasBeef** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:36 pm

I love that colour scheme..... but needz moar maple fingerboard

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:37 pm

It's having a maple neck.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Fri Sep 07, 2012 3:38 pm

Man, this is gonna be sweet!

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:36 pm

BUMPDATE: (while I try to stay away from this bumping this thread every five minutes with polls to determine what colour strap I use etc., I'm aware that my last two build threads consisted of me receiving something, then building it within a couple of posts; I'm trying to string you cats along a little...).

Firstly: my pickups have arrived. The strat pickups I've loved the most in the past have been the U-stamped pickups in my old Tokai strat. Had looked at just buying a set of these, but they're pretty expensive when they do come up; a set recently went for Â£84 on UK eBay. So I went out looking for alternatives. Much as I usually dislike overwound pickups, that's exactly what the U-stamped pickups are (mildly - they're about 6.2ohms each). Did a bit of searching around, and Rose Pickups had their Robustas in the sale. I'd linked to Rose Pickups a while back (they're the ones who make the Jazzmaster pickups in a humbucker sized enclosure), and thought that for $60 for a set of handwound pickups I couldn't go far wrong. That the specs are almost identical to the Tokai Us sealed the deal. Ken even agreed to make me a set with a non-RWRP middle pickup, so I can trade some spank (haet the inbetween positions on a strat) for some toen. And hum. Turnaround was quick, and Ken's a gent.

Secondly: got a mail from Mark at MJT this morning, and my kit is ready to ship. Just need to pay the balance, and he'll stick it in the mail. Have asked for some pics of the neck, especially its monster profile, to tide me over in the meantime. We'll see what happens with the comedy tax this time...

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:00 pm

Fully aprove of every single element of the design here. Nice one Tim. If I had that with a puny hands A-width nut, I'd be stoked.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:18 pm

PISS. Got home this evening to some lovely pictures of my neck. Only to discover that although MJT had specced it as a CBS headstock when they ordered it, Musikraft made it with a regular headstock. Oops. Mark at MJT was good as gold about this and offered to send me the kit, then post out the new neck when it was done, but I'm in no massive hurry. So we're waiting again...