Parts Stratocaster

[GuitarAttack Forum]

I got a call from a long-time customer last week that he had bought a new Stratocaster. Well, it turned-out it was not a new Stratocaster; rather, it was a "new to him" partscaster. He said the volume knob fell off and the split-shaft pot had one of the prongs broken-off. He attempted to change the pot but was having problems.

I met him nearby and picked-up the guitar. I got it back to the shop and I really liked the look of the guitar - Daphne blue, rosewood neck, mint guard. I put it on the bench and the problems started. It had some significant electronic and intonation challenges and it wound up being a lot of work. It was much more than that damaged pot!

I continue to learn one of the big Tele/Strat lessons: When you buy, or put together a Partscaster, the parts may look good but may not be compatible.

You never know what you'll find when you look under the hood (bonnet).

Have any of you run in to a similar problem?

John

[Deleted]

May 2, 2022 8:11:24 GMT -6 GuitarAttack Forum said:

I got a call from a long-time customer last week that he had bought a new Stratocaster. Well, it turned-out it was not a new Stratocaster; rather, it was a "new to him" partscaster. He said the volume knob fell off and the split-shaft pot had one of the prongs broken-off. He attempted to change the pot but was having problems.

I met him nearby and picked-up the guitar. I got it back to the shop and I really liked the look of the guitar - Daphne blue, rosewood neck, mint guard. I put it on the bench and the problems started. It had some significant electronic and intonation challenges and it wound up being a lot of work. It was much more than that damaged pot!

I continue to learn one of the big Tele/Strat lessons: When you buy, or put together a Partscaster, the parts may look good but may not be compatible.

You never know what you'll find when you look under the hood (bonnet).

Have any of you run in to a similar problem?

John

back in AZ when I was doing a lot of guitar set ups, I was always coming across parts guitars. People would buy the parts put them together and once they put them together they could not get the guitars to play right. So, they would bring them to me. there was only one that I can remember working on that it had to have the neck replaced because it was a bad fit and the neck had a twist in it.

 But most of the time the necks where not lined up properly and the action was way off, stuff like that. Now thinking on it I also had one that had a bad truss rod in it. But I was able to fix it.

  the worst one I worked on was a Gibson LP Special that some had put in 2 1967 Gibson humbuckers in. It was a mess! I wound up putting in all new pots, because who ever (Tired) to solder in the pickups fried the pots. The work done to this guitar was supposed to be done by the shop in that town that you all have seen me rant about before. But I was able to save the guitar and turn in into the guitar anyone would have loved to play.

 But I do have a whole lot of stories on guitar nightmares. Some guitars I have worked on I thought... What where you thinking???!!!

I had one once that came in that had no sound coming out of it. I was told by the owner, that he had put in some new pickups and that he wired it up just like the old ones. LOL! Once under the hood He not only had most of the wires crossed up but He never did attach the hot wire to the out put jack. HA!

 I fixed it. He was so relived that the new Fender custom shop pickups where not bad.

 Well,I could go on. But I'll stop here. I guess if were not for people doing odd things with guitars then there would be no need for guys like us!

EB

[GuitarAttack Forum]

Had to post a photo.

John

[Deleted]

That is a nice looking parts guitar!

EB

[Deleted]

Here is the Parts Caster I made for myself. It has a hard tail bridge. The first Strat I have owned with a hard tale. I really like it a lot.

I was playing it today.(5/4/22) I was playing it through my Fender Twin tone master. It sounds really good! I think I did post about the build in the forum.

EB

[dnic]

I like that blue a lot John! And that yellow with the black guard is sticking as well.

I don't think I've ever had a parts caster in the shop. I went many years for whatever reason never getting any Strats in the shop for repairs or set ups. But once I had a couple come in I got the bug to build some.

I have however built two conversion necks for of my clients. One Strat and one tele.