The Partscaster Thread

This is the latest one I put together...you may have seen it in Will's mailbox thread.

I spotted this Squier Custom Esquire that was part of an auction for a music museum in the UK. The price was low, it included a HSC, and the double-bound burst had tickled my fancy. I simply had no choice!
The indian laurel FB was pretty dry and needed some TLC, but I had already decided a maple would be a better fit for this one. I decided to try a Fender replacement neck (MIM). I've heard good and bad about these, but this one is just fine so lucky me I guess. It was very playable out of the box, but I polished it up for posterity, added a wee shim at the back of the pocket, Fender-locking, and screwed 'er in.
The original pickup was replaced with a Ellis 52T (amazing) and the bridge with a Babicz. I kept the original Jin Sung pots and switch as they were perfectly fine.

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Okay- I'll play...

Partscaster - I actually need to get an updated photo of this as I've changed out the bridge to a Fender Ultra bridge, but MIM body, US neck, EMG DG20 pickups...

Fender Strat - EMG DG20 rotated.jpg

... and because I loved the Noventa Jazzmaster, but wasn't keen on any of the bodies... Warmoth body, US bridge, Noventa neck and pups, 6-way switch and upgraded jack, carbon fiber pick guard...

BCB Jazzmaster Finished - 01.jpg
 
Fingolfen said:
Okay- I'll play...

Partscaster - I actually need to get an updated photo of this as I've changed out the bridge to a Fender Ultra bridge, but MIM body, US neck, EMG DG20 pickups...
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Beauties! How do you like the Gilmour setup?
 
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1965 body (original finish)
1959 tailpiece, pickups, pickguard
1980 neck
Staytrem bridge and vibrato arm/collet
 
fig said:
Beauties! How do you like the Gilmour setup?
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I like it, but it's very different. I have to set up my amp and pedal train differently for the active vs. passive pickups - which is why I have it on my upstairs amp... :D
 
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Basscaster?

This bass was nearly 20 years in the making. I guess you could say that it started as an SX fretless jazz bass. I then upgraded the pickups to Quarter Pound Basslines, in probably about 2003 or so. I traded the fretless neck for a fretted a few years after that and also bought new hardware as well as a Bad Ass II Bridge, then I got rid oof the body for this Warmoth with 60's pickup spacing. So there's nothing oof the SX left.

It doesn't get played very much as I prefer my P bass, but it was my backup when I played live and if I ever need that J burp it's right there on the wall.

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Any tips for the aspiring partscasterator? Never been a fan of strats, though I am strat-curious…
 
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Im very tempted in going down this rabbit hole too. Desperately trying not too!
Im on the look out for a 60's style strat body. A fender USA one. Any thoughts? I can find a lot of MIM but im more interested in the USA made ones.
 
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Coda said:
Any tips for the aspiring partscasterator? Never been a fan of strats, though I am strat-curious…
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Buy a string tree, and put it in a drawer.

Eventually, that string tree will be bugging you because it doesn't have a home, so you gotta buy a neck. Then that neck can't do anything on its own, so you need a body. Next thing you know, you'll have a few partscasters.

I can send you a string tree if you'd like :)
 
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Phil hodson said:
Im very tempted in going down this rabbit hole too. Desperately trying not too!
Im on the look out for a 60's style strat body. A fender USA one. Any thoughts? I can find a lot of MIM but im more interested in the USA made ones.
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If you're familiar with Stratosphere, it's a store that sells parted out guitars (their storefront seems to have closed, but they still sell on ebay). If you watch them enough, one will eventually pop up.

Every so often I build a "virtual guitar" while browsing their inventory (but a couple of times I ended up with an "actual guitar" too), so I've seen great looking options come and go. Be cautious when you have gas. When I really get gas, I'm hoping somebody buys it before I do (and they usually do, the good stuff goes quickly).
 
spi said:
If you're familiar with Stratosphere, it's a store that sells parted out guitars (their storefront seems to have closed, but they still sell on ebay). If you watch them enough, one will eventually pop up.

Every so often I build a "virtual guitar" while browsing their inventory (but a couple of times I ended up with an "actual guitar" too), so I've seen great looking options come and go. Be cautious when you have gas. When I really get gas, I'm hoping somebody buys it before I do (and they usually do, the good stuff goes quickly).
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I have been keeping an eye on them and hoping that one doesnt come up soon :-) I did notice that their reverb and web site were not showing anything at the moment.
 
Phil hodson said:
I have been keeping an eye on them and hoping that one doesnt come up soon :) I did notice that their reverb and web site were not showing anything at the moment.
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I'll keep an eye out as well. Any color preference?

Edit: There are US Fender licensed body makers, or do you prefer it made at the Fender facory?
 
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