Fender Stratocaster Plus 1989 Stainless Steel Fret Project

[@steviekiu4533]

So, I’m the actual owner of this particular instrument. I’m not sure that words can express my gratitude and what a spectacular job John did on it. I’ve never done much video-wise, but I’m inspired enough by this to give it a shot in the near future. If anyone has any questions concerning this, feel free to hit me up. Superb job John! I can’t thank you enough- Stevie

[@theNextProject]

Stevie! WOW man, thanks for watching and the really nice comment too. I'm really glad you're happy with the Strat! Thank you, thank you!

[@betterl8thannvr]

Great looking strat man, glad you are taking good care of it.

[@iamcruce]

This is the only strat I’ve ever seen like mine. But mine is a 88. I’ve played a lot of strats but I’ve never played one that comes close to how well this thing plays. I would love to hear from you and tell me how your’s plays.

[@steviekiu4533]

@@iamcruce It plays "like buttah"! I was lucky enough to find this baby hanging in a pawn shop back around 98 or 99. I'd had some basic work done on it, and always kept the strings fresh. It always played really well and hardly ever goes out of tune. It wasn't till John got ahold of it and performed some "major surgery" that I'd understood its full potential.

[@mikestecherart3595]

As usual, you make it look so easy. It´s always a great pleasure to see your work. Thank you once more for your channel!

[@theNextProject]

Mike, thanks for watching! Glad to hear you're enjoying the projects. I guess I'm getting enough practice at some tasks to give the illusion it's easy, then I can edit out the pain and blood ... Smoke and mirrors, LOL Thank you for riding along with these projects. Be safe and take care!

[@Cymbaline713]

It never would have occurred to me to use CA glue as a finish, applied with a paper towel lol. Genius!

[@theNextProject]

Cymbaline, thanks for watchin! There is probably a better applicator to use, but I never think to figure that our before I start working.... someday perhaps. The paper towel works well, as long as you move quickly. Don't worry about "brush marks", they will sand out. If you move too slowly, the paper towel will stick, and that's more work to clean up. It happens, yep. Overall, it's a pretty tough finish. I've seen others apply CA to fingerboards, they typically use a "flood" approach. Not sure if the end result is any better, and I question how much CA they are getting in the fret slots and other parts of the neck. CA is really hard to remove from places you don't want it. Thanks for the note, be safe and take care!

[@finaljesus]

he does superb work love this guitar

[@theNextProject]

Thanks for watching and the kind words. Be safe and take care!

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

Love your videos! They are so interesting. I wish that I had luthier skills to mod and repair. 👏 👍

[@theNextProject]

Sweet n Sour, thanks for watching! Glad the projects are interesting. I'm glad to share the process and projects, hoping others will get ideas, maybe learn a trick or two, and maybe start with a small obtainable task and build from there. I'm learning everyday, and have blind courage at times, often getting myself in a bad situation....gotta learn my way to safety. Kinda fun, surviving a challenge. You may have more skills than you know, we probably all do. Just take one step at a time, and before you know it, you'll be so busy you won't have any time, LOL Be safe, take care, and have fun!

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

@@theNextProject Thanks! 😃

[@CharlesSummers-d1v]

I bought a natural version of this same year when it was new and still have it. Geez, I could use a refret as well. I did get rid of the Lace Sensors though, just wasn’t a big fan. I put some high quality, hand wound pickups on it and it sounds fantastic. I probably should shield it better as well. Great video…wish I had your skills. Guitar player in Georgia.

[@theNextProject]

Thanks for watching! Very cool, and sounds like you've got the guitar modded to your liking. Glad you enjoyed the projects, and my skills are forever growing. I love a challenge, not sure why, LOL. Hope all is well for you, be safe and take care!

[@Hans_914]

Great content with quality presentation as has become the expected. Keep up the good work. I know lots of us appreciate it for sure.

[@theNextProject]

Hans, thanks for watching and good to hear from you! I appreciate the word, I'll try to keep sharing the projects and quality of presentation. Hope all is well, be safe and take care!

[@steveroberts]

As I say each time, you get better and better. Still smiling

[@theNextProject]

Hey Steve, good to hear from you and thanks for watching! I always try to do my best, sometimes it's a struggle. I may need to step back and start again. It's all good, even the challenges are fun, so I smile. Hope you are doing well, be safe and take care!

[@MattCaffell]

As always a cracking job. Rarely do I like a silver guitar, I don't know if its the over all look, but I'd rock that beast, but would need a humbucker in the bridge.

[@theNextProject]

Hey Matt, good to hear from you and thanks for watching! There's room for a humbucker in this machine. Got the swimming pool cavity routing. Hope all is well, take care my friend!

[@badscrew4023]

Got my own "E9" Strat plus. It's in a need of a refret too, what a coincidence!

[@theNextProject]

Badscrew, thanks for watching! Cool you have an E9 also. I like the Wilkinson roller nut, and how it can be pretty easily adjusted, kinda like a Floyd locking nut. No string trees is a good look too! Anyway, I know a guy who can do fret work.... Be safe and take care!

[@badscrew4023]

@@theNextProject lol I wish I wasn't 8000 miles away :D My nut had two metal shims under it when I bought the guitar but I had to remove one (I keep it! ) - the first fret height was too much otherwise with its worn and leveled down frets...

[@gregoaks4413]

Nice work !

[@theNextProject]

Greg, thanks for watching, much appreciated. Be safe and take care!

[@steveharris1974]

Looks great, nice job!

[@theNextProject]

Steve, thanks for watching! Be safe and take care

[@raymondtircuit8678]

I had a 91 plus watched vidio brought back memorys great job

[@theNextProject]

Thanks for watching! These Strat Plus guitars sound like they are pretty good picks. Be safe and take care!

[@laurababiarz7672]

Nice job, it looks great! I'm sure he'll love it and appreciate your hard work.

[@theNextProject]

Hey Laura, thanks for watching! It turned out great, and the owner is happy, happy! Take care!

[@kmichaelp4508]

Good job buddy.

[@theNextProject]

Hey Mike, good to hear from you and thanks for watching! I'm thinking this FL heat has got to go. Hope you're staying cool by the pool. Take care my friend!

[@kmichaelp4508]

@@theNextProject , it’s not any worse than most places! Unless you’re up in the mountains somewhere. If I had the option, which I don’t, I would be up in the Georgia, Tennessee or North Carolina mountains as high up as I could get. Away from everything!!! But even then it’s not cool. Hi Laura 😊

[@oldmanzen6682]

Damn, that's very nice work.

[@theNextProject]

OlmManZen, good to hear from you and thanks for watchin! Thank you, it really did turn out nice. The owner is happy, so I'm happy. Hope you are doing well, be safe and take care!

[@achimdg6335]

Another fun and entertaining video. I didn't care for the fret file video, so I didn't watch it. Glasses, I still have to take mine off, to see what's right before me. But therefor I can see three-dimensional what's at distance. Had to get over 40 years old to finally enjoy three-dimensional vision. I had the suspicion that I can't see 3D, but I was not sure. I finally found out my suspicion was right when I had the kit-glasses of the optician on.

[@theNextProject]

Achim, good to hear from you and thanks for watching - this video ; ) Eyesight is a mysterious thing. My eyes are growing more tired everyday, crap happens. Interesting your story of seeing 3D, my son may have similar vision as yours. He struggled all through school, and his reasoning was all over the board. The school system never caught, nor mentioned that he has an eye sight issue. Previous eye exams never mentioned anything... I just recently took him to an new eye doctor...and what do you know, he needed some serious correction. He now has depth perception. Everything was "flat" to him before. I feel awful never knowing what he had been missing. He thought it was normal, so he never knew any different. A new world for him, and you now! Glad you can see better. Take care my friend!

[@bsharp55]

I need some of that mag polish for the top of my bald head.

[@theNextProject]

LOL, it any cool if your chrome don't shine! Thanks for watching, hope all is going well. Be safe and take care!

[@ver251209]

Great work thanks.

[@theNextProject]

Thank you, and thanks for watching. Hope you enjoyed the project. Be safe and take care!

[@hueffel987]

Hi John, great work as always. Did you run out of color at the beginning of the video? I am looking forward to the next project. Take care Jens

[@theNextProject]

Jens, thanks for watching! Yes, I hate when I run out of digital color, LOL 😆😆😆 OH, then I forget to turn the microphone on too . I'm a wreck. Take care my friend!

[@MonchkinLand]

John is the best!

[@theNextProject]

- that's what I keep telling everyone...LOL When I get the "eye roll", I now consider it acknowledgement of fact, Hahaha! Good times. Thanks for watching, be safe and take care!

[@ranman58635]

FYI, my 86 Squier stratocaster contemporary bullet 1 has a straw tint. Very hard to match. I'm keeping the dents! Lol 😂

[@theNextProject]

Straw lint? That's a new one to me. Doesn't sound good, but maybe I'm miss reading the the context. Let me know more!

[@ranman58635]

@@theNextProject , it says, tint. Yeah, you misread. Strw mac has straw color tone. Lol

[@theNextProject]

Ah, hahah, yes I did mis read. I probably shouldn't try to look at comments on my phone ... Darn type is too small 😂

[@ranman58635]

Nice! Something I just learned. Maybe this will benefit you too. Fret level with strings on. Gets you that 1.5 action. Ask me how?

[@theNextProject]

I hear what your saying. Been thinking along those lines for some projects.... So, "how do you know?" Please share your experience, thanks !

[@ranman58635]

@@theNextProject, it started cause I couldn't get those slopes to go away. I leveled and all and the action was still high for me and buzzing. The kitana was my first clue. That is too expensive so I thought get a different one. Nope, nobody has that. You gotta make one. Stew mac sells the u shaped truss rod. You use 3 same size round head dome nuts to calibrate the truss rod on the neck. Almost dead flat with a tiny bit of relief. Set the truss rod on both. Get the nut right and low. Basically set the action how you want and then start from the high e and do one string path at a time creating the banana. Then set intonation and then crown. Once the frets are all in line, buzz will go waya and you'll get that 2.0 action. It levels the slopes while under tension. Only way. Stew mac does it. (But they level the whole board) what if the whole board doesn't need it? Yeah, answer's that too. Doing one path at a time gives you the choice to keep the frets as high as possible without taking more than is needed. Sam something or other has about 1,000 hours of boring recorded video on exactly how he does it. Each video is 1 to 2 hours long. Has a book too.

[@theNextProject]

One been looking at the Katana, and as you say "too expensive". I like the idea of the SM "U" shape truss rod - clever! I will probably revisit this process again soon. Thanks!

[@ranman58635]

@@theNextProject , lol, right! So, the Martin rod is only 20 bucks. You create the relief you want, that's the idea. Once you get used to the finesse of it, it's a great tool. I'm creating one now. Some Elmer's tack spray, some 300 grit sandpaper and an allen wrench. The guy always buys a tusc nut as do I because they're priceless. I take it down instead of file the slots. Get that good old marker to find the highs and lows and focus on those area's. I like the idea of doing one string path at a time cause you can isolate those hills and valley's way easier. Now you 👀see me, now you don't

[@ranman58635]

Sam Deeks is his name. He says it takes years to perfect this skill but I think it can happen much sooner by learning from him. The thing that takes time is the feeling part. Skillet too.

[@kmatax9237]

Great video as always with the descriptions of your process! I have a neck with exact situation, im going to try that CA finish on top. Have you had any problems with the stainless frets sitting in because they’re much stronger and springier than normal ones? I had to use the vice fret clamping tool with ca glue to get them to stay in and not pop up at the ends

[@theNextProject]

K Matax, thanks for watching and good to hear from you again. If the "ski jump" is the situation, sanding in a little fall-away from the board and a bit from the frets worked really well for this project, and another I just finished up. I think I took about 0.015" off the tail of the board, roughly starting at 11th/12th fret area. Probably another 0.005" off the 22nd fret again roughly ramping back to the 11th/12th-ish fret area. Sorry, that's not too scientific of a description. As for the CA, FIRST, make sure you have good ventilation. The fumes can make your eyes water and sting your sinuses. A fan blowing is a good idea. I use THIN CA. Soak a paper towel (blue shop towels typically). As soon as the paper towel is "soaked" I move fast, typically in 2 passes barely overlapping in the center. This should leave a super thin coat of CA that should flash off really quickly. After +/-6 thin coats, give it a few minutes to dry. get some 400 grit paper and very lightly sand any dust specs, raised grain or such away. Don't sand too much, or you'll be back to the fingerboard. IF/WHEN, the paper towel sticks to the fingerboard (it can happen). STOP for a moment. Make sure everything is dry to the touch. Use a fresh single edge razor blade and gently scrape the paper towel away. A gentile sanding may be warranted, just go slow. Take a breath ( of fresh air ), soak another paper towel and jump back in. With each group of +/- 6 coats, you'll have a thicker build, and will be able to gently sand a smoother finish, but again, don't try to take too much off. These are really thin coats still. Once you have a total of 20 - 30 coats. I typically don't sand or polish until I'm ready to fret the neck. Just set the neck aside until its fretting time. On this project, I gently sanded the final finish up to 3000 grit, starting with 1000 grit paper. It has a really nice dull shine, doesn't look plastic. Hmm, what else. Oh. all the spent paper towels that had been soaked and wiped... as soon as I use them, I toss them in a bucket of water. If you don't do this, you'll soon see them smoking, off-gassing the cure. They will get warm, not sure about a fire, but hot chemical reaction. So, a bucket with water does the trick. Use disposable nitrile or latex gloves. If things go sideways, just stop, step back, think about what happened and what to do next. After you've done this a couple times, it actually is pretty easy. Just a little intimidating the first time up. Oh, don't bother trying this on a rosewood fingerboard. I've tried. It will be a PITA, and end up lookin like plastic wood. The CA sanding dust will get in the wood pores and just be a nightmare. If you fill the wood pores first that will help, but the end result just looks like plastic wood. If you have any questions, or something I've glossed over, please feel free to ask. If it goes south, just sand it off and try again! Good luck with your project!!! You can to this...

[@GargantuanMetal]

For someone in the process of learning, and acquiring all the tools necessary to properly do my own frets, what tool would you recommend on a budget specifically for scraping the correct tang width/depth? I know there's cheap saws for $20 and I noticed your drilled guide on your saw, really good idea. However while I'm practicing I'll be dealing with variations of tang width/depth, and was hoping to not have to buy 5 saws out of the gate.

[@theNextProject]

Gargantuan, thanks for watching! Great question, I actually use an X-acto razor saw with a modified blade, or a Zona Fine Tooth Saw quite often. To be honest, the full size fret saw often gets in the way for fret-slot clean up. Here's the modified X-acto cleaning fret slots. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGLYqHuPlL-YZ6Msi=ACfQv9-eBdIM3ki8&t=96 As for checking depth, I typically use an old single-edge razor blade, tape a depth gauge on it and slide it though the slots. You'll see and feel if there is something in the slot. The X-acto is around $10, the Zona is maybe $15. X-Acto: www.amazon.com/Xacto-X75300-Precision-Razor-Saw/dp/B00004Z2U4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UECZN4BO74YE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YgvUD4K3LNhjiGRza9HbRJ55XwsEMANvDs2jpr31bRtd5ACZBAttZ8g5GSQwGuoIGHSLaw6VQDlvb3RrdY3Mar82C9TtpEWxxBqlxdMPsChNmJlKTNZUaPpxcgL4RXMSlaatBcYuzIYhcjNLqAdxdurFXbCon4iqD7_d6AqTSJxRqXja0MX5ie78AMEEE29bBtPcLSVQsFBX_1-DsjLLD0xEvgtj_-wwhhtOVUHkHXpmiOd2NwRoPI-UoWNFSV58J08ABdEJxwXyocGKYQLy8L0OYzLCk0gAzynA35PHQfQ.ZNXxtSMbVMtVa_7iubZQCEARGlcL561Jw45dotdD0o0&dib_tag=se&keywords=x-acto%2Brazor%2Bsaw%2Bblades&qid=1729873216&sprefix=X-Acto%2Bra%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1&th=1 Zona: www.amazon.com/35-550-TPI-010-Inch-Length-2-Inch-16-Inch/dp/B000BRESQY/ref=asc_df_B000BRESQY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693601911088&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1826170825398344544&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051961&hvtargid=pla-456520793492&psc=1&mcid=a8c5a5a6a304349ca21244f552089014 Hope this helps, good luck with your projects and keep me posted! Be safe, take care and have fun!

[@GargantuanMetal]

@@theNextProject Thank you for listening, I appreciate your help and inspiration. First guitar is a Schecter omen-7, the second is a Jackson JS6 Warrior, then my dads 1990 strat. My job was machining T6061/cerakoting, hand polishing abalone, pearl, and stainless steel, and small electronics assembly for 8 years. I hope it translates to luthier skills somewhat as I learn. 🤞

[@theNextProject]

Sounds like you have plenty of attention to detail training, you'll do great! Good luck with everything!

[@Markleford]

*24* coats of CA? One might suspect that you actually *like* sanding!

[@theNextProject]

Hey Mark! You know me too well. I create situations that require sanding, and more sanding. Luckily, I only have to sand in between sets of coats. Mostly. Hope all is going well for you. Be safe, take care!

[@sgtrutters5892]

How do you like the StewMac fret tang cutter?

[@theNextProject]

SgtRutters, thanks for watching! I don't like the price of the SM tang cutters, but the actual tool works really well. I had been using a converted set of Case Nibblers, which is basically the older version of SM tang cutters. The Case Nibblers work really well - for the price, and I do still use them on nickel fretwire. Stainless wire is a bit tougher to cut, and while the old cutter I have will do the job, it took more out of me to get the job done. The new SM tang cutters have longer handles, better leverage. A good cutting head too. I've read that some users are getting their palm pinched by the SM tang cutter, but I haven't had that issue. Here's a link to the Case Nibbler conversion, kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5nYkpuwp6mChLs Just the case nibbler on amazon: www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Nickel-Plated-Nibbling/dp/B0002KRACO/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1OP7E6QOAMC6K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8hUFqDv13JF2ecrGDG010GqhWWE-CF7sgN470e3YUNiSF91EndQ1obcgvODPxbFoeoSVIrTW3nRT54ZCeJQRsgMCApAmSZlj7xBQvYoF2KVKwNw8vXvMhZPw55CnE6QjncDXKUFweUcMIxluQeNn8ZX2cLXTBL086Uqa3fWlAhIy5VAijEwzLfQ7M7-u1Ozdb-K9QkqxRzF-w6GynvnWNMiQDo3rQ5Jy0nRpC2BOLkys95y_9JK83sbAXhv7m3O8Bc7HacA6X6bfV8eQBUZEpbqArAwC8OST8px4rvO4MaQ.Yz0AosoaF_j9zFnfNeOz6O18k8lJkIxsgPHU-ddeFcg&dib_tag=se&keywords=fret+tang+nipper&qid=1717785167&sprefix=fret+tang+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-4

[@sgtrutters5892]

@@theNextProject yeah I have a modified nibbler tool for mine but do like the idea of that stewmac one...but yeah like all their stuff the price...🤣

[@badscrew4023]

I don't think the original neck finish is lacquer. I believe these are polyester and no one's drooling over "vintage polyester". YET.

[@theNextProject]

LOL "vintage polyester" , I love that! I have an image of "Herb Tarlek from WKRP in Cincinnati" in my mind now , if you know the reference. I wonder if polyester will age/discolor like lacquer. Interesting. 👍

[@badscrew4023]

@@theNextProject Mine is quite dark actually - the one in your video looks like it's lighter.

[@theNextProject]

I just received another fender neck to work on, minor stuff. Pulled the tuners and there is clearly a suntan line, then I realized the guitar must sit in a special place with one side more exposed to sunlight than the other. Once i notice the difference, it's hard to not see. Interesting how the finish, and lumber are reacting. Maple alone will change color with exposure to light and air, then we add a "protective" finish which also reacts. LOL, it's maddening.

[@badscrew4023]

@@theNextProject Yeah, I owned an late 90's Vintage White Fender Precision that sat 5 years in a store window - it had one side's color closer to Butterscotch than V.W.

[@ranman58635]

Fret damage, they use a wool wheel that's too hard. Happened to me once.

[@theNextProject]

I've been thinking that is the case. I know StewMac sells some little Dremel polishing pads, and I think the come in a couple "grits". What? I just never know what others are using, or how they are using what they have. Hope you are doing okay, be safe and take care!

[@johng9562]

If you did 9.5 radius you ruined it as the strat plus is a 12

[@theNextProject]

Hey John, thanks for watching! This '89 Strat Plus left the factory with a 9.5, I just freshened up what was already there. I believe that was the standard radius for this model, at least for '89. Other strats have various board radius' 7.25, 9.5, compound/conical ... Here's a really great website, loads of info on the Strat Plus, and many other Strat models: xhefriguitars.com/index.html Hope all is well, be safe and take care! Edit: Ah, the Strat "Player Plus" has the 12" rad neck. Google is my dirty little friend.

[@badscrew4023]

@@theNextProject My 89 'Plus is 9.5 too

[@johng9562]

Man I've owned multiple strat plus's and they are all 12" radius man ~ believe it.

[@badscrew4023]

@@johng9562 My '89 is 9.5. I have it literally on my lap now, and I don't need to believe a rando from internet because I own it.

[@theNextProject]

John, are/were your guitars Strat Plus, or Strat Player Plus models? Also curious of the year(s). This '89 is documented by Fender as a 9.5". That's what my radius gauge found too. Interesting.