• From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
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Topic: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

I've been messing around with my favorite stratocaster doing things both rewiring and cosmetic.  It started off a 2001 american series strat made June 6 2001 on the neck.  Since then I've changed it 100 times I'm sure.  I now have the original neck back on it because I wanted the 9.5 radius fretboard instead of the vintage stlye neck I had on it for a while, Fender Custom Shop 69's, a Gold pickguard, and black hardware, last a custom bridge block that is 1080 cold rolled steel.  What do you think?  I had white on covers and knobs but a friend told me it Trans Am Firebirds don't have gold black and white and neither should this guitar.  After sitting on it a day I think I like it, and the same friend asked me "whats not to like it looks like its doing 100mph!"  I wanted to put a vintage tint neck on it but I really wanted a 9.5 radius because I don't play as much anymore and need all the help I can get bend those strings.

Here is an old picture the day the paint got knocked off the sides http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 … 240819.jpg

Here it is today http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 … 040032.jpg

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 … 040038.jpg

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 … 040037.jpg

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 … 250107.jpg

http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 … 040035.jpg

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  • Registered: 2011-05-19
  • Posts: 113

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

looks purdy.  cool

  • From: Cambridge
  • Registered: 2011-01-15
  • Posts: 912

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

damn that's cool:)

Jonny L

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  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

I dig.  Looks cool!  I like the maple neck too and the missing paint.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

Thanks guys!  The missing paint was from an angry wife that didn't care for band practices.  I showed my tail and she showed hers.  It was another reason why musicians have trouble staying married.  I loved the wife way more then a piece of wood and 6 strings so I left the group a few months after that.  Basically it went for a pile driver in my drive way then thrown down the drive way around 20 feet or so bouncing around and dinging it up.  It took me a while to get the guitar back in working order but it wasn't much work.  The neck has a crack in the head stock that still needs some TLC which is why I swapped necks in the first place.  Ok so I guess it settled then its going to stay the way it is.  Thanks guys!

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6 Reply by dknight16 (edited by dknight16 2011-08-05 19:52:19)

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

I love the look too.

Don't love the battle scar though.  I'm way to anal to live with that, although not sure what I'd do either.  Wood dough?

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  • Devan
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

That's a very pretty Strat!!

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  • Registered: 2009-10-10
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

That looks real sharp.  Kind of a "retro relic."

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

I've thought about redoing the paint and fill in the bad spots, but I thought about it and all my favorite guitar players have beat up guitars and all those little guys on the back looks kind cool.  I wasn't sure black or white for the plastic, but all my friends said the same thing without me telling them what anyone else said.  They all said the black would bring out the black in the burst.  I think the original neck looks good with it but the vintage tint neck I had on it looked better with the amber in the burst.  I'm thrilled to death people like it like this, so I guess its going to stay.

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10 Reply by macg1 (edited by macg1 2011-08-11 19:46:28)

  • macg1
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

AD3THREE wrote:

Thanks guys!  The missing paint was from an angry wife that didn't care for band practices.  I showed my tail and she showed hers.  It was another reason why musicians have trouble staying married.  I loved the wife way more then a piece of wood and 6 strings so I left the group a few months after that.  Basically it went for a pile driver in my drive way then thrown down the drive way around 20 feet or so bouncing around and dinging it up.  It took me a while to get the guitar back in working order but it wasn't much work.  The neck has a crack in the head stock that still needs some TLC which is why I swapped necks in the first place.  Ok so I guess it settled then its going to stay the way it is.  Thanks guys!


hope I don't offend, but since when did the mutual respect that is supposed to exist in a marriage was overcome by what amounts to property damage, and "spousal abuse"?  I would have divorced just because of the lack of respect.  anyhow, all is well that ends well, and everyone has their personal opinions/goals/freedom.  Guitar looks great, but are those new PUP's or just covers.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

I'm not offened at all.  I don't expect anyone to do the same thing given the same situation I had.  We had a lot of bad things going on in our life at the time and it was a very dark period for both of us.  I used the "D" word around that time a lot when we fought and to be honest our kids heard thing I know I'll never get to take back.  But by Grace we worked for a long time to work our problems out.  Its been said that in my marrage we've gone through more things in 5 years then most people go through their entire lives.  3 kids back to back, a marrage on the rocks, a near death experience for my wife, I had more then 16 guitars and dropped down to 2 Strats due to paying for medical bills.  The pitty party goes on and on, but the facts were we loved eachother very much and our kids as well.  With God and the help of a lot of friends and family we pieced back our lives and we are stronger in so many way for going trhough this.

As for the guitar it has new pickups in it.  They are Custom Shop 69's.  The covers I had on it were Off white but everyone told me to go black so I did.  I wasn't sure about it at first becasue my dream guitar would be a 56' Stratocaster wth a V shaped neck 2 tone sunburst with a white pickguard just like the Stratocaster Eric Clapton used on his solo album in 1970 which is on the cover, and Derek and the Dominos which is on the back of the album.  That is the guitar I always grew up as a kid dreaming of and wanting to be just like eric clapton.  This guitar is totally a step away from that path.  Its got the tone and the power to do exactly what I want, but looks wise its nothing like I ever wanted for it. 

Guitars are replaceable, love is unconditional.  I keep the guitar banged up to remind me and my wife how dumb we can be if we allow it to be.  That day was totally avoidable, but I wouldn't have changed the outcome one bit.   wink

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  • macg1
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

AD3THREE wrote:

I'm not offened at all.  I don't expect anyone to do the same thing given the same situation I had.  We had a lot of bad things going on in our life at the time and it was a very dark period for both of us.  I used the "D" word around that time a lot when we fought and to be honest our kids heard thing I know I'll never get to take back.  But by Grace we worked for a long time to work our problems out.  Its been said that in my marrage we've gone through more things in 5 years then most people go through their entire lives.  3 kids back to back, a marrage on the rocks, a near death experience for my wife, I had more then 16 guitars and dropped down to 2 Strats due to paying for medical bills.  The pitty party goes on and on, but the facts were we loved eachother very much and our kids as well.  With God and the help of a lot of friends and family we pieced back our lives and we are stronger in so many way for going trhough this.

As for the guitar it has new pickups in it.  They are Custom Shop 69's.  The covers I had on it were Off white but everyone told me to go black so I did.  I wasn't sure about it at first becasue my dream guitar would be a 56' Stratocaster wth a V shaped neck 2 tone sunburst with a white pickguard just like the Stratocaster Eric Clapton used on his solo album in 1970 which is on the cover, and Derek and the Dominos which is on the back of the album.  That is the guitar I always grew up as a kid dreaming of and wanting to be just like eric clapton.  This guitar is totally a step away from that path.  Its got the tone and the power to do exactly what I want, but looks wise its nothing like I ever wanted for it. 

Guitars are replaceable, love is unconditional.  I keep the guitar banged up to remind me and my wife how dumb we can be if we allow it to be.  That day was totally avoidable, but I wouldn't have changed the outcome one bit.   wink

well said, and glad it all worked out.  now post some clips of that bad boy!

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
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  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2011-01-01
  • Posts: 411

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

macg1 wrote:

changed

Love the guitar......love what it signifies much more.....congrats on both and much respect for you and your wife.  About kids....you both have taught them such a valuable lesson in how you were able to push through.  God Bless ya for sharing

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  • RickB
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Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

I remember that day. Congratulations on hanging tough and making it work. You Da Man AD3THREE! cool
Rick

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  • From: Essex
  • Registered: 2010-01-11
  • Posts: 2,119

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

....looks like you done a fine job bud!...if you take some pics in daylight you'll lose that yellow cast from the light bulbs!  wink

...been meaning to attack my Charvel Model 6 Bob Marley'burst for ages..probably will never get around to doing it!?  hmm

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

Here is the clip I showed with some stomp pedals I recently purchased. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4buUHqHuBE

macg1 wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

I'm not offened at all.  I don't expect anyone to do the same thing given the same situation I had.  We had a lot of bad things going on in our life at the time and it was a very dark period for both of us.  I used the "D" word around that time a lot when we fought and to be honest our kids heard thing I know I'll never get to take back.  But by Grace we worked for a long time to work our problems out.  Its been said that in my marrage we've gone through more things in 5 years then most people go through their entire lives.  3 kids back to back, a marrage on the rocks, a near death experience for my wife, I had more then 16 guitars and dropped down to 2 Strats due to paying for medical bills.  The pitty party goes on and on, but the facts were we loved eachother very much and our kids as well.  With God and the help of a lot of friends and family we pieced back our lives and we are stronger in so many way for going trhough this.

As for the guitar it has new pickups in it.  They are Custom Shop 69's.  The covers I had on it were Off white but everyone told me to go black so I did.  I wasn't sure about it at first becasue my dream guitar would be a 56' Stratocaster wth a V shaped neck 2 tone sunburst with a white pickguard just like the Stratocaster Eric Clapton used on his solo album in 1970 which is on the cover, and Derek and the Dominos which is on the back of the album.  That is the guitar I always grew up as a kid dreaming of and wanting to be just like eric clapton.  This guitar is totally a step away from that path.  Its got the tone and the power to do exactly what I want, but looks wise its nothing like I ever wanted for it. 

Guitars are replaceable, love is unconditional.  I keep the guitar banged up to remind me and my wife how dumb we can be if we allow it to be.  That day was totally avoidable, but I wouldn't have changed the outcome one bit.   wink

well said, and glad it all worked out.  now post some clips of that bad boy!

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

Denbon18 wrote:
macg1 wrote:

changed

Love the guitar......love what it signifies much more.....congrats on both and much respect for you and your wife.  About kids....you both have taught them such a valuable lesson in how you were able to push through.  God Bless ya for sharing

Thank you very much for your kind words.  We are very dedicated to making our marrage work for the kids, but we also learned along the way we want to work this out for us.  Its something you have to work at every day.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Changed the Look of My Guitar. What do you think?

RickB wrote:

I remember that day. Congratulations on hanging tough and making it work. You Da Man AD3THREE! cool
Rick

I still regret all the words I exchanged with you that day.  I'm glad we can to an understanding.  I wasn't thinking very rational when I first posted about that old guitar.

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