Hello Again!

In our second part in the HOW TO BUILD A CUSTOM STRAT OR TELE series we are going to focus on NECK SELECTION.

If you read our previous guide about starting your project you will remember we said to play many strats and teles to find what you like and dislike as a professional player and to take notes of your perfect features. To expand upon that I will first point out, you don't have to know all the technical aspects of the radius, fret size and all that jazz. All you need to know is what you like and let the "information superhighway" do the rest for you.

For example, I really like the feel of the Eric Clapton strat model. Look up the specs of the EC Strat and see that is has a 9.5 inch fretboard radius, a soft V shaped profile and vintage frets. Maybe you like everything about that neck EXCEPT the frets. The you look for a neck to that spec, but you think the fret could be larger. Seek out a neck with that feel, but a larger fret like medium or jumbos. Once again, not rocket science, jumbos are bigger than mediums. We can all figure that one out!

Woods are important too, not only for looks but tone and resonance. The darker fretboard woods offer a deeper tone and slightly more resonance, while the maple boards make a very short and poppy twang while remaining more elastic. The other aspects just are ther for aesthetic purposes, ie birdseye or flamed maple. Maple is maple, but it is up to you if you want PRETTY maple.

BY THE WAY. Many people use these descriptive words, as I did above (elastic?LOL), WAY too freely. Honestly, you can describe it any way you want and BE RIGHT. There is no dictionary for these terms and those who believe there is are full of themselves and quite pompous in my opinion. I read a Guitar World review the other day of a new guitar where the writer described the tone WOODY. A guitar made of wood that sounds WOODY. WOW, what a concept.

Dimensions are not an issue. Every Fender or Aftermarket Fender Licensed neck has a 2 3/16ths heel so do not worry about this aspect. Any Strat bolt on neck will fit any body and vice versa. Same goes for Teles. You can even put Tele necks on Strat bodies and Strat necks on tele bodies. It is not recommended, and some adjustments are required, but the dimensions are the same and it can be done.

Back on subject, use what is out there as a template for your DREAM NECK. Also take into consideration your budget. If you find a neck that is ALMOST exactly to your specs that is half the cost of the EXACT one, BUY IT. Then build another one later with your spare cash. You can build 10 REAL custom handmade strats for the price of a factory strat that has the word CUSTOM written on it.

Thanks very much for indulging us in this step by step process. I hope you find it both helpful and entertaining. We are having fun with it and hope you are too. Remember this whole process is supposed to be fun and if it is not then you should not be doing it.

Thanks again and STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

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