Squier Affinity

Posted on April 6, 2014 by mattICT in Rebuilds | Leave a comment

Squier Affinity Stratocaster

Christmas 2012
SOLD

Model Name: Squier Affinity
Color: Arctic White
Body Material: Bass Wood
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Body Finish: White Nitrocellulose
Neck Style: 70’s CBS style headstock, oiled finish
Neck Shape: Modern “C”
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5″
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium
Full-body String Nut: White Plastic
Nut Width: 42 mm
Fingerboard Inlays: N/A
Side Inlays: White dot
Neck Plate: 4-bolt Standard Chrome
Pickup Configuration: HB Bridge
Bridge Pickup: Unknown Dimarzio Humbucker
Middle Pickup: N/A
Neck Pickup: N/A
Controls:

Master volume

Pickup Switching: N/A
Bridge: 6-Saddle fixed bridge
Hardware Finish: Black
Tuning Machines: Squier
Pickguard: 3-Ply Mint/Black
Control Knobs: Black knurled
Switch Tips: N/A
Unique Features:

A good friend of mine requested that I build him a white stratocaster style guitar after he had seen the ‘Duck’ guitar I built for my brother Lee. Using a spare Squier neck I had temporarily fitted to my first guitar (Encore unknown model), I just needed to source a body and use a few spares. This was not intended to be a playing guitar and was planned for a wall hanging, although I wanted it to play and sound well regardless.
After searching ebay I managed to find a cheap early 90’s Dimarzio humbucker and a thin Squier Affinity body. Utilising the spares box, I built and wired up this guitar over eggnog and Christmas music during the Christmas break.

I had decided to go for a very minimalist build, and opted for the Tom DeLonge style single Volume pot placement.

The neck is quite fast, although it would benefit from a re-fret. The unknown pickup was god-awful and reminded me very much of my first Encore guitar’s sound.

Duck Copy

Posted on February 13, 2014 by mattICT in Rebuilds | Leave a comment

LDG ‘Duck’ Stratocaster

Winter 2007 – Christmas 2009
PERSONAL COLLECTION

Model Name: LDG Stratocaster duck2
Color: Olympic White
Body Material: Alder
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Body Finish: White Nitrocellulose
Neck Style: 70’s CBS style headstock, oiled finish
Neck Shape: Modern “D”
Scale Length: 25.5”
Fingerboard: Full scalloped maple
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5″
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium
Full-body String Nut: White Plastic
Nut Width: 42 mm
Fingerboard Inlays: N/A
Side Inlays: White dot
Neck Plate: 4-bolt custom ‘LDG’ design
Pickup Configuration: S-S-S
Bridge Pickup: Unknown Single Coil
Middle Pickup: Unknown Single Coil
Neck Pickup: Unknown Single Coil
Controls:

Master volume
Tone 1 (Neck pickup)
Tone 2 (middle and bridge pickups)

Pickup Switching: 5-Position blade:

Bridge only
Bridge & middle
Middle only
Middle and Neck
Neck only

Bridge: 6-Saddle vintage style tremolo
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Gold
Tuning Machines: Vintage Kluson style
Pickguard: 3-Ply white
Control Knobs: Aged white plastic
Switch Tips: White
Unique Features:

Fully scalloped fingerboard
Custom designed ‘Lee Daniel Guest’ neck-plate

My first project; my brother Lee had been a fan of Yngwie Malmsteen’s since the early 90’s and we had both talked and dreamed about one day having enough money to buy one of Fender’s signature models featuring a fully scalloped fretboard. A scalloped fretboard like Yngwie uses is incredibly difficult to source on a retail guitar for less £1,000 so I decided to build my own ‘Partscaster’. The ‘Duck’ tagline refers to Yngwie Malmsteen’s original Strat copy which he scalloped himself in the late 70’s. The headstock of this guitar had a Donald Duck sticker and the nickname reference is generally used.

Sourcing components primarily through eBay, this was my first experience of creating a working guitar on a tight budget that played like a pro. I was a little green at the time and so I bought a second-hand, ready wired scratch-plate and just connected the jack-plug.
I commissioned the production of a unique neck-late featuring the owner’s signature and Nordic hammer design.

Plays very well, it’s let down slightly by the stock-pickups however. It would definitely benefit from a set of DiMarzio YJM Fury’s.
The neck, which was sourced from China, is very thick and is an acquired taste but excellent for big bluesy bends.