Mystery Telecaster Goes To Rehab (Pine Neck Twang!)

Troubled Parts-Caster of unknown origins get DR'd back to Rock!
Contact Me: [e-mail]

[@greglanham9678]

I completely enjoy seeing someone do everything the "wrong" way, and get great results! I applaud the "let's see what the parts box has" approach to making repairs, or even building from scratch. I've been on my own journey of sorts the last few years, and always chuckle when I uncover another wife's tale, or marketing gimmick, just got ole country boy common sense always seems to prevail. Keep it up, and thanks for sharing it with the masses.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave such a kind comment Greg. As soon as I got this guitar in my hands, heard the story behind it and took a good look at it I decided I would fix it for free if at all possible. Kept it close as I could to the way Grand daddy put it together but got it back into service with a bang... or more of a Twang! like the best twang Ive heard yet. My prized possession a gorgeous burl top Tele with gold hardware must have been siting in the case crying of jealousy when I cranked this one up on the bridge pickup. Its got snap but not nearly like this. Thanks again for your time and kind words Greg. Much appreciated.

[@brownobservablephenomena]

Cosign!

[@Csartreweghhgf]

It's awesome, love the way he approached it.

[@AlexSMarie]

Never cease to amaze me, not only funny as heck, but very knowledgeable and generous, good on you doing this for her 🤘🤘🤘 We need more video of you, keep up the good work!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave such kind words Alex. I dont know about the knowledgeable part... but I can rig up stuff with the best of em Hahaha! I'm back at it again I should be doing a lot more stuff.

[@AlexSMarie]

@@heavymetalATC awesome, really glad you are back brother

[@leoburton642]

I'd have trimmed the saddle screws back ..Compensated adjustment screws and springs ..are actually a thing..

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment Leo. Yes I considered that and mentioned it in the video but looking out for the next guy or future mods I thought well, you can remove washers for free but you cant regrow screws. Not that they are expensive, even a new bridge but it sucks having to put a repair on hold for such things.

[@JimWright1950]

I think Magnum is a Korean brand.

[@heavymetalATC]

Could be, I was shocked to find it had no truss rod adjustment but honestly was a very easy playing guitar.

[@allannoah9675]

We missed you Clem, welcome back. Hope you are fully recovered from your previous mishap.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you sooo much Allen, yeah bro Im fully recovered from that but Im still in a wrecked up, over used abused body and I often spend a few months bed ridden every year regardless. but Im up and going full blast! I really appreciate the support Allen. You guys watching the vids is what keeps the groceries coming and lights on when I'm down. If not for my wife I would be totally screwed but, Yall are what keeps the machine turning. I'm sure I disappear and re-emerge just about the same time next year but I kick ass and go 90 to nothing when I am up. Workout 15 hr a week to lose 90 days of sedentary fat and play catch-up on cars, land, business etc, etc. Thanks brother truly.

[@andrzejkoecki5431]

​@@heavymetalATC Trzymaj się Bracie,wiem jak to jest w życiu. Pozdrawiam z Polski 🇵🇱 🎸✌️...

[@Pizza_Master]

You are what I call an " Apocalyptical Luthier" ... When TSHTF i want you in my Clan...

[@heavymetalATC]

I completely understand what you are saying. I'm like that about everything. As a result of growing up redneck, poor and curious + plus just hating the current monetary system LOL. Just like you see me build and repairing guitars amps and gear. I grow a good portion of my own food. I build race cars and bikes as a poor person with almost zero $. I'll be fine in a SHTF situation I can make fuel and electricity, I hunt, fish used to be a butcher used to be a welder, I could make knives and "much better" :) It really seems like my whole life has been preparing for that but... God I don't wish for it to happen. Man that got dark.

[@Pizza_Master]

@@heavymetalATC no doubt man.... i enjoy your content my bro.. thanks for sharing again... i get it... being short of cash tends to make a man quite resourceful i know thats how i ended up honing my MCGuiver Skills

[@heavymetalATC]

@@Pizza_Master uh oh, your another one. LOL folks like us are bad for the economy and good for ourselves :)

[@Ekelemen2]

I am gonna steal that "Apocalyptical Luthier" idea. Brilliant. So glad to see another vid from Clem! That is a strat neck in a tele-style neck pocket, but there's clearly more fun in it than meets the eye. Elves, would be my guess, given the season, and elven proclivity for mischief. Can't wait for the next video!

[@larsw4880]

Thanks for another gem of a video. 100% information and 0% BS (except the funny bits). Not having to buy new parts or spend money in order to fix something is not only an art form but an essential skill.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to write such a kind comment Lars. Heck having to fix things without parts or $ has been the story of my life Hahaha!

[@robertmay5091]

Body is a First Act ME302. Probably the most sought after of all the models of mass production First Act guitars.

[@twenty3electronics]

You are correct. I have this guitar. I see the bodies come up on Reverb as unknown.

[@Pizza_Master]

They may have been searching for a unheard of, never ever been used before, Alternate Tuning... with that String Placement.... Good to see ya posting again my friend

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for all the support Pizza Master. Yeah, I get bed ridden sick for a few months every year like clock work. I'm up again and going full blast. Hey, Keith Richards only uses 5 strings on his tele with a strange tuning. Hahaha.

[@larsw4880]

Watched your newest video today and had to go back and watch this one again. I wish I could like your videos more than once. Learning something and laughing my a$$ of everytime.

[@skullheadwater9839]

In my recollection Ambergris is a whale bile secretion that passes through the anus but is not dookie. As it ages it takes on a sweet smell and is used in perfume making.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment SHW. I see its not vomit its @sshole vomit, Hahahahaha

[@codelicious6590]

Right. Fucking. On.

[@vincenzoerriquenz2356]

I' m just copying and pasting a comment I made on your Epiphone Les Paul Junior with dogear p90 video: I personally dig your approach to guitar gear, sound, simplicity and practicality over the rest, great results!👌🏼

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment Vincenzo. I am so glad you enjoy the things happening on the channel. I kinda approach everything that way. I had to learn different ways to do things when I didn't have much... So now that I have stuff I just cant stop tinkering with it. Hahaha!

[@vincenzoerriquenz2356]

@@heavymetalATC great way of doing !👌🏼😊

[@eddiemanoeuver8899]

Clem these are the best videos on the tube I swear.

[@RobExNihilo]

Well hell yeah! I subbed a while back after I came across your ebay 6J1 tube pre-amp video (I got one btw, put a Marshall/Diezel-inspired tone stack in there and I love it). Then binged a bunch of others. Was hoping you'd drop a new video soon. I'm impressed you got that tele sounding as good as it did. I figured that neck would've been bowed, crooked, cupped, and twisted all at once lol. Gluing another magnet to the pickup was a slick idea. I'm glad I've got that idea in my back pocket now! Anyhow, I've been building/tweaking/bending gear for almost 20 years now, and I really like your common sense, anyone can do it kind of approach. Too many people try to make anything related to guitars out to be something more or other than it really is.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching, subbing and taking the time to write such a kind comment Rob. I am so glad the tube pre-amp worked out so well for you! That's what this is all about... I make a little $ and you save a little $ LOL I got lucky on this one turning out so well with such minimal tweaking, I usually try the laziest approach first. Hahahaha! Often it works out. If not I'll make a joke about it and move to the next difficulty level. Yes, I grew up surrounded by music and great musicians in the muscle shoals area. My parents hung around the studios when I was a kid and Ive gotten to touch and see and hear some awesome stuff... but alas I was poor... But I was always curious and good with my hands. So I learned to beg and trade the big guys outta parts and if you hang around them long enough and start showing them projects, they will eventually take a liking to you like a mascot or project and cut you a deal. I built my first partscaster as a young kid and traded previously found, and self modded equipment for the parts. I have released a few rap/pop/county albums as Clemintine under contract with BMI That's a cruel and tough business... I got into bad health after years of manual labor jobs like butcher, welder, construction, roofing etc etc you name it. Sooo I really dove back into the music to stay sane. (hints why I go off radar from time to time.. At these times I'm usually bed ridden. happens generally every fall) Later on I got into the electronics side of it only a hand full of years ago starting with a late 70s big screen TV that was in the garage of an abandoned house I moved into. I opened it up and it was Pure analog GOLD! For FREE! First thing I built was a simple synthesizer on a 2x4 bread board with nails as turrets. Never even knew what an op amp was before that day, never soldered more than a cable or guitar wiring but I stayed up the next 3 days on pure adrenaline reading, soldering and trying not to let the smoke out. Cranked it up and music came out and it was Hooked. This youtube channel is the result of all those things. Thanks again for all the kind words and support Rob. Yeah, I think the ooh look at my special knowledge this is so hard thing you often see is often people trying to feel special, or sell stuff. Id rather say I'm not special. I am lucky to have some natural talent which is just a roll of the dice and being sick and stuck working from home, forced me to take time and therefore trying to protect my mental health gave the drive to learn and experiment. So here it is all out on the table for others seeking to learn from the internet like I did. Maybe I can offer a shortcut to the ones too poor to buy or simply inclined to build for pride and a unique outcome.

[@b.rodclark334]

Modding a weak ceramic PU with a strong neodymium magnet makes the most perfect sense and as for the doctoring of the First Act Tele offspring (I missed two opportunities of buying one on FB marketplace before I got my cheap sunburst Tele)... COOL!

[@genesmith555]

It's definitely a First Act. I am building one now.

[@jherforth]

Best guitar channel on YT

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for all the kind words and support Jay!

[@codelicious6590]

I was gonna guess duck liver. Then when you said whale I was gonna say it was the whale foreskin but you gave it all away all at once. That IS what she said.

[@davidmarkham4391]

The Jim Varney clips are fucking hilarious

[@spaceandstuff]

Amazing work - There's so much memory to this piece and it doesn't neccessairly make sense commercially for shops to take it on, but you've basically brought it back from a piece that could be headed for the landfill to something that can well and truly be gigged. Well done! Didn't know you were having health issues but great to see you putting up content again. Some of the most enjoyable for me that's for sure!

[@TheBillStickers]

" Ambergris. Noun. A grease-like product of the sperm whales digestive tract that is used as a base in the finest perfumes. This has been Roseanne, your guide to the world of facts. " ~ Holo Roseanne

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to write a comment Bill. Absolutely, yeehaw spray that fermented marine mammal puke all over me, I'm going out on the town. Hahaha!

[@terrybanks5063]

another great watch, thank you for the upload. just so you know, sometimes cutting a couple spirals off the intonation spring can be a godsend at times. peace, hope to see more vids in the new year.. have a great one fella

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to write a kind comment Terry. Yes, I could have definitely cut off those and the screws as well but I was just looking out for the next guy. Can remove a washer cant grow a screw hahaha! Thanks again for all the support bro.

[@davidmarkham4391]

I have that exact guitar. It’s a First Act. They are cool

[@bubbafrump74]

AbsoF♡€|{¡Nlutely love your videos!!! Didn't know what my life was missin till just here today! I'll be watching um ALL! Thank ya kindly!!!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time leave such kind words bubba. I got me another problem guitar 4 shops couldnt fix but i will for a free at christmas on the table right now.... neck like a snake.

[@oqsy]

Did you point the little lady to a tip for that selector switch?

[@danhurst4100]

The body is a First Act ME302.

[@DeeTee79]

Great video, I love seeing diy repairs instead of forking more money out, look at Eddie’s frankenstrat. It was a mess but sounded great. I’m currently building a barncaster and using a box full of old shit to save money. But idc, I have many guitars and this one will have sentimental value up the ass and out the mouth.

[@heavymetalATC]

Awesome DT. I got some "barncaster" kinda stuff going myself in "secret" hahaha Yeah I also got another little cheap guitar here to repair for christmas been to 4 shops neck looks like a banana. ;)

[@pvdguitars2951]

You got your heart in the right place bro, God bless you Clem. That bridge pick up is as near dead as em old strings. The lady owner should consider a humbucker! Bridge pickup sound sweet! Only one thing, loosen the neck and change the angle a hair: the low E is too close to the side of the neck. Loved how you were able to fix the intonation!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much PVD. Yep I got another one here right now for similar issures. cheap little strat copy been to 3 repair shops neck looks like a damn banana... ill have it done before christmas, for free... again. hahaha

[@Cheguebuddha]

Ha! Glad to see someone wraps the low strings only once around the pole just like me! I never have issues with out of tune guitars!

[@heavymetalATC]

Hahaha 🤣 yeah it seems to lock it down on there just fine.

[@peterjohnson4932]

Aaaaand he's back! Some good simple solutions there. Hope your customer was pleased. EDIT: I've just been scrolling down reading comments. So sorry to hear of your health problems. I've spent most of my life in rude good health, then everything seemed to turn to shit when I hit 60. I've had more Doctor and hospital visits in the last 3 years than all my whole life previously. In the great scheme I'm really not too bad, but it's been a major readjustment for me. I never learned how to be sick! Still, the music keeps us going, doesn't it?

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to leave such kind words Peter. I receaved a comment from her and she seemed to be very pleased Man I hate to hear that you have been going through it. I am strong as a good team of Oxen 80% of the time and basically worthless the other 30% but Its been on a steady improvement curve year after year. I'm up again though and hitting the world at 130mph playing catch up and building my body up for spring and planting season. Music and messing with gear really has been the Key to keeping myself sane with many aspects of my life. Its truly a blessing! Thanks again Bro.

[@andrzejkoecki5431]

Super Twang z nowym magnesem 👍...

[@antoncentko6651]

Have a drink on me on a tele, badass

[@brownobservablephenomena]

I find that the dollar tree "greased lightning" will clean beautifully

[@heavymetalATC]

Yes, that stuff is eerily similar to westley's white wall cleaner. LOL

[@troythompson1621]

That's a First act body too.

[@mb102]

Joking aside I have enjoyed some good stuff from this channel....no ego just ideas, try, listen how it comes out ..no bullshit lol...remember aa guitar was made to kill politics...not speak for it....

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much MB for the time and kind words. Thats right I just try stuff and see what happens and most often its good. If it sucks I'll make a joke about it and keep trying. Ah, yeah no politics here, the problem with that is that you only get to pick between rich lying politicians with agendas. If ever seem to be getting political, I'm just disagreeing with politicians, I dont care if they wear a red tie or blue or grey... Last good politician we had was JFK and we all know what big daddy warbucks did to him, and his brother and John Lennon and a bunch of hippies and possibly me if I don't stop right there. LOLOLOLOL! Take It easy brother, Thanks again.

[@mb102]

@@heavymetalATC yea...biggest example is when DR. King widen shis view to the real big picture and boom...or hendrix getting offed by his label before he woke up and got to fixing himself..anyways yes thank you for the info. Is there a way we can talk shop...I have some ideas and you got the space, tools and patients...I am right outside DC so your far. If your down I got the units and just need to know what parts ect to buy..

[@ToolsAreToys]

Love your channel!

[@bposey69]

I've had the extra magnet idea floating around in my head and wasn't sure

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment Gringo. I was lucky to have seen that on the Jimmy Page video. Id have surely tried it at some point but seeing that telecaster pickup plate with a magnet already on it my head went.. Ding! Do what Page Did.

[@MAPIOH]

🏆🏆🏆👍🏻😎👌🏻

[@Pizza_Master]

That thing sounds Sick.... 🎅

[@heavymetalATC]

Thanks PM... I am often Just as or more surprised as everyone else. I really wouldn't mind to steal this MF. LOLOLOLOL I will record some parts with it before she gets it back.

[@jefferywarburton2116]

musta been a spit shine.

[@greylocke100]

Well since you gave away Ambergris, I'll give you another one "Verdigris".

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to write a comment GL100. Wow, I didn't know that one, Had to look that up. I asked my wife and she didnt know either and thats wild. She is a nail tech and painter has boxes and boxes of 50-100 year old pigment powders. I bet we have some but never knew the name. That is awesome, Thanks for the info. I learned something today.

[@greylocke100]

@@heavymetalATC Did you ever try that pickup tapping idea I commented about, I guess it was almost 2 years now?

[@TheRealDealBobbySteele]

Gotcha again 😂🦑

[@vincenticyfiregeetar7656]

youre southern, youve never heard of the magnum bullets?

[@heavymetalATC]

maybe... hahaha

[@topfacemod]

You sound like my cousin from the western part of NC. I'm in the East.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to write a comment Luke. I'm from the northwest tip corner of Alabama could walk to Tennessee from here if I wasn't so lazy Hahaha. I used to use the I'M FROM NOWHERE, announcer voice on here and people could still pick out the dirt roads and cotton fields in my voice. Surprisingly it seemed to get a 90%-10% I like the way you talk VS you stupid hillbilly reaction so I have decided to let it ride. Thanks again for your time Luke, I am jealous that im sure you are just a stones throw from the beach but I was lucky to have grown up around here steeped in music everywhere and spent many nights sleeping on that ugly vinyl pull out couch in the muscle shoals sound studio on Jackson hwy as a kid. Same one jagger and keith and hendrix and skynard and all them folks lounged on. Ive heard some crazy stories about that "infamous" couch so no telling what a caught from it but its a cool thing to be able to tell folks.

[@topfacemod]

@@heavymetalATC I am absolutely a coastal-country hybrid. I'm from New Bern and Black Beard sought a pardon from the NC governor here (as we were the colonial capital of NC) and Pepsi was invented on the street I live on in downtown New Bern. I love the history of everyplace in America. So damn interesting

[@debrabodzo1959]

Ty so much for fixing it, your awesome

[@heavymetalATC]

Merry Christmas Debra G. Your very much welcome. If You saw an ad I made nickel so Thank YOU for watching. Hahaha!

[@MuscleDad420]

This video is an elaborate troll, right???

[@heavymetalATC]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to write a comment MD. hahaha! Not at all. I show nothing but science, fact and rigging stuff up to perform well with the most basic approach on this channel. I'll admit the sound of it even surprised me quite a bit... but I mean heck Ive built a great sounding guitar pickup with nails and a ruler and a great amp from a medical ultrasound machine on this channel? Its all pretty simple stuff, a guitar is just wood and metal. People take it wayyy to seriously and treat them like magic, just simple physics. Most any one could build or repair guitars, amps and pedals. Just gotta learn as you go and take a crack at it.

[@glencooper1091]

Man you are hilariously accurate!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thanks glen... yeah I got another elcheapo mystery here right now thats been to 4 different shops and the neck looks like a banana... christmas freebee fix on problem guitar tradition has begun i reckon.

[@debrabodzo1959]

Dude I just heard it you may just be the best

[@heavymetalATC]

I think the guitar just made me look good. Thank you, I really enjoyed playing it. I'm definitely gonna record a song with it before Christmas.

[@troythompson1621]

Glad to have you back Clem! Check out a vid of first act Tele vs Fender. Those pickups didn't sound too bad in original condition. I think it's designation is ME302. Love the vid. It's like getting to witness your thought process. God bless you and keep you well.

[@marcomontiel3417]

You're inspiring. Never thought I'd laugh watching a guitar fix video.

[@billunger5590]

Hey Clem. Happy you're feeling better. Was wondering when/if another vid was coming. I read some of your other comments and I'm a little jealous of how surrounded you are in music culture. I love the do it yourself vibe. I've learned so much already. Thanks for the great videos.

[@peteytwofinger]

fun fact - perfume or fragrance manufacturers hire specialists to search the world around for the most foul smelling elements they can possibly find in nature. They like to have one SUPER foul smelling ingredient to add to the perfume as THAT is what kicks it off . At least this is what someone who was a lot smarter than me told me . That may in fact be how they discovered AMBERGRIS aka ambergrease, or grey amber is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor or something much similar to a said orgy in a zoo - good save super gluing the neo mag to the existing - i would not have thought of that unless i had a set down . Gomti is the one who always reminds me to use nail polish remover or acetone to break down dried super glue - and it eventually works- but i spose wouldnt want to apply it in this situation , especially once the magnet cracked . Good save on this one , it just needed a little extra tlc. The best part of the video - for me - was getting a glimpse at your hardware caddys . Merry Christmas

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment Petey. I am so glad I was able to capture that banter between my old lady and I. She is the B@tchiest most full of fire and well liked person I've ever known, appears to be the most comfortable person in any conversation (although I know shes really scared around crowds like me) defense mechanism I reckon... you'd never know but, turn on a camera: Silence. I caught her though, I got an average true cross section slice of our life on film like lightning in a bottle. Ive never smelled ambergris I don't think? I did have this cologne one time though that I got from a car-lot trade in car my mom was repainting and detailing for the salesman. I think it was a high end Volvo or a Beamer possibly Mercedes? either way, It had the name of some research lab on it and it was Human Pheromone spray for rich dudes. Smelled like Stetson or Black Suede mixed with rat piss. I was about 14... I though yeah ok BS I'll try this. Craziest thing ever. It may be placebo or maybe I was having conformation bias but from my own experience apparently for about $400-$600 a bottle, People not just girls, everyone... will walk up to you and look you square in the eyes and their pupils will turn large and black and they will complement you, hug you. Basically become minions LOLOLOL! Ah yes it didn't even become apparent to me to use a solvent to remove that magnet. They always pop right off? Im glad it happened though I got the TWANG formula now! Maybe people pupils will swell up when they hear the twang? Hahaha. If you walked into my house you would instantly think Hoarder! same with porch, garage etc etc all except bathroom and music room. Sh#t everywhere but, its not nasty as it appears. Just dusty, I'm kinda a germ-a-phoebe TBH. I have a soap machine on my wall like the gas station and McDonalds wash my hands too much but I can find you a 1/4 20 thread hex head bolt in 5 seconds, or a baby blue colored pencil. 1200 grit wet-dry. A razor blade, small block chevy intake gasket, spare carb jets for Makuni single barrel. I know where it all is... cant remember peoples names anymore but My chaos is actually organized in my mind. Merry Christmas Petey.

[@radfury23g32]

Thank you for the players circle points! Great work as well that's quite a fun guitar

[@touchthesun2448]

I love the Stage Right... I put a B-Bender on my Affinity Tele. I think I'm going back for the G-Bender. Oh I'm tuned to C6

[@heavymetalATC]

Wassup Uncle D. Yes I love that amp. Its a bulky heavy SOB but its great for doing demos. Not as loud as the Fender Tweed Clone but plenty enough to deafen yourself indoors. I bet with a lower wattage high-efficiency alnico speaker it could be loud enough to gig outdoors. I love the tone though so I wouldn't dare change it permanently. Yes, benders are freaking awesome. I have future plans to try to build a DIY G-bender in that Glarry Hollow Tele. That will make me sound like Brad Paisley right? LOLOLOL if I had 4x the talent, where do I buy that? I bet you really are getting an awesome sound with C6 and a bender. like a pedal steel. Thanks for always watching and taking the time to comment TTS.

[@touchthesun2448]

@@heavymetalATC I'm a little bit Country and a little bit Rock 'N Roll...have fun, good to hear from you! I hope the weather is OK over there! Be safe

[@Ekelemen2]

Okay, I was joking in my comment earlier about elves, but was serious about the neck-body style mismatch being a problem, and now I'm back to explain-I think it's what's causing the intonation troubles, for which you've provided an apocalyptic luthier-worthy fix with those washers. The issue is the a strat-style neck, while the same scale length as a tele-style neck, is designed to fit in a rounded neck pocket instead of a squared-off one, like the tele neck pocket. Notice the gaps between neck and pocket at the "shoulders." Put a rounded-off neck in a squared-off pocket and you get a slightly longer than normal scale length. At least, that's what I THINK is going on. Great video, as always!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment Erick. That is a highly astute observation. I saw the neck pocket gap but didnt consider it as an issue because Ive seen a strat neck on a tele a few times before... even a tele neck sanded to fit a strat body. hendrix had one and they seem to intonate. I've never measured one back to back I guess I could right now but Im too damn lazy... But its my understanding that they are the same length from heel to nut as well as nut to 12th fret. Just the strat has the corners knocked off. As you could see though the scale was WAY off. Like an extra fret off. Someone did say that it was a First act Tele body and those are 25" scale so that would explain the issue. I could have just hacked the screws down but, you can remove washers for free you cant regrow screws LOL. Man, you are definitely a thinker brother: hyper aware. I've been hacking up guitars so long I'm usually just like ahh that wont hurt nothing... Cracked neck, if it holds tune F-it, nut missing from rare mystery acoustic.. I'll carve a new nut from this plastic food tray etc. Hahaha.

[@Ekelemen2]

@@heavymetalATC Now that you explain it, I think I'm wrong. It's probably the FirstAct body-Fender-scale neck mismatch, as you say. Please disregard my comment!

[@heavymetalATC]

@@Ekelemen2 Nah, that was a damn good point. You are very astute.

[@FerAndersson]

Welcome back! You have been missed!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much David. My Stupidity, constant wide open attitude, work ethic and lack of care for my health in my younger days and resulting injuries nowadays... Unfortunately results in me usually being bed ridden for a few months every year but I'm back up and going full blast + playing catch up like always. It seems diet and exercise is shortening the down time every year but like clockwork I'm sure it'll happen next fall. I owe all of you quite a large bit of gratitude. When I'm down the ongoing views keep the groceries coming and the lights on. Couldn't wish for a better support system. Thank you for your interest and support David honestly and 100%

[@FerAndersson]

Yeah, it's best to take care of yourself.. we're here watching the videos! (Was fun hearing you banter with your wife! 🤣)

[@generalawareness101]

Welcome back. I get very sad when I see your vids because I had to give the guitar up. I honestly tried but it hurt me. I mean it hurt me bad so I will have pains for the rest of my life (I had lost motion, and 24x7 full on pain requiring surgery if I had went just a few more weeks on it). I still enjoy the vids so keep them going but it is a love I lost sort of feeling.

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment General. I really hate to hear that brother. I got shot through the left arm in a hunting accident many years ago and was lucky to have retained the ability to play. I cant feel my pinky its just tingly like a foot that fell asleep but it still works somehow even if it moves in a snappy robot motion. I remember telling the doctor; "Ive been playing the guitar since I could walk... like Hendrix and SRV kinda music" and then asking if I would be able to play ever again. He just opened his eyes where I could see the white all the way around, turned and walked out. I'll never forget that feeling. :*( I really appreciate the continued support. I feel like this is a sore subject and I may be over stepping my bounds but depending on your injury something that may be possible could be lap steel slide guitar or even pedal steel. May be worth trying one out in a music store just to see if you could manage it. Just please dont cause any further injury.

[@generalawareness101]

@@heavymetalATC My elderly mum has one but she just never used it. My fear is that the repetitive motion will finish me off. What first got me was my fretting hand as my knuckles joints in my thumb, plus the carpal tunnel made it where I was in dire pain with loss of motion (still in pain but I regained my motion). I took off for 6-8 months and tried it again from step zero (came easier this time) and my strumming/picking hand got me. I thought it was tennis elbow but learned it is Radial Tunnel Syndrome. I feel that pain all the time as well and forget about picking certain objects up as the pain sends me through the roof. What hurts me the worst is the fretting hand from the wrist through the joints in my thumb and the picking arm's radial tunnel. It is rough. Luckily I never got shot like you. Feel lucky you can still play, brother. :)

[@heavymetalATC]

@@generalawareness101 That's a tough break bro, I can completely understand why you would like to stay safe. It was my own damn fault I got shot. 🧐 I had a deer feeder set up and I was practicing the shot with a compound bow. So that when I removed the feeder and the deer came looking for it "got em" I was so poor at the time that the deer would have meant make or break for me that year. So my feeder was a used peanut butter jar with a hole in it. I had screwed a lid to the tree and every time id use up my peanut butter jar down to the bottom in the kitchen Id cut it take it out back and screw it where the last one was and let the deer lick it clean... Well I had done about 4 jars had a trail going and droppings all around my blind was in the root ball of a fallen oak with the last 3 years Christmas trees stacked as cover. Well on one of the practice shots the arrow hit the tree with the feeder and bent... It was an old aluminum arrow from the 70s. I straightened it but it didn't get straight enough to use. So I raised up to just fire it off somewhere as to not get it back in with the good ones. My wife said dont do that! Id done this 50 times... well she was right. What i didnt know is that it had a tiny dent in it. It snapped right at that dent and broke... the broadhead went out into the woods along with 6 inches of arrow. The whole back went straight through my forearm right to the fletchings with the power of a 70lb double compound Bear bow set on the E hole in the cams. Felt like I got ice water thrown on me. I didn't know what happened? Arm felt like electric shock.. looked down and oh my god! arrow disappearing into my arm still knocked to the bow string. I look at the other side and the skin is stretched way out 6 inches like a teepee with the broken tip barely showing. I screamed OH SH@T! Did the stupidest thing, panicked and jerked it out. SKREECH! and blood went into the trees like a super-soaker every heart beat. Grabbed tape from the nearest house I could run to and I bout bought the farm on the way to the hospital. The world was glitching like a bad internet connection. GOOD TIMES! whew I literally couldn't talk or think about it without shaking and getting nauseous for a long time.

[@heavymetalATC]

oh heres the kicker, at the hospital I guess I was just so ragged and poor looking that after I adamantly refused their addictive dope pills and shots. They got pissed off gave me a pink Darvoset and put a bandaid on the entrance wound and nothing at all on the exit. Wanted a deer cause I was broke and starved ended up with a $600 generic band-aid.

[@generalawareness101]

@@heavymetalATC In today's economy 20 grand. Yeah, all they wanted to do to me was drug me out so I could keep going back to big pharma for the rest of my life. You, and I, think the same about that shit.

[@TheBillStickers]

As far as I'm concerned, you're better than most luthiers I've met and I am one! My hero Clementine

[@heavymetalATC]

Wow Bill. I wouldn't really consider myself a professional luthier but I have rigged up some stuff in my day that had been deemed "irreparable" by a few pros. I prefer to buy my cars and bikes that way LOL $400 with only 4500 miles. Hasn't run for 9 years and has been to 15 mechanics and 3 owners in the last few years. Oh yeah, That'll be covered up with tons of brand new parts from all the attempts. Once I diagnose and fix the 2-3 original problems I'll have a practically brand new car/bike for about a grand. Hahaha!

[@dickstryker]

This channel is always a blast. Educational and entertaining. Thanks for keeping us up on the mad science!

[@heavymetalATC]

Thank you so much for watching and taking the time to leave such kind words Micah. I am so glad you dig all the crazy stuff on here. My heads been boiling with some wild ideas for upcoming videos. I may be about to bust out some "stuff". Shhhhh Its a Secret! Hahahahaha Thanks bro I really do appreciate all the support you have shown on this channel.