Building A Super Strat Out Of A $75 Guitar. Sharpen My Axe

[@kilroy2517]

A tip I picked up from another commenter on a different video- before taping the fretboard, run one long continuous piece of tape along the length of the fretboard on the side of the neck, then tape the fret board. That way, when you're done, you can peel off the one long piece and all the little ones will come off with it.

[@Markle2k]

Ben from Crimson picked that up from a student, I think. Works a treat, as the Brits say.

[@fritzherrmann762]

Kilroy Was Here..good information

[@jgmopar]

The good thing about Cheap guitars its fun to mod them and not worry about ruining a good guitar

[@jarrusjenkins]

Absolutely, and if seems like a load of cheap strat copies are coming out with bitching paint jobs on them so..... yeah why wouldn't you? Indio classic with the light blue burst comes to mind and now this.... I mean it's worth $75-100 just for the paint... throw the electronics and hardware away, add some nice stuff with a setup and you've got yourself a tailor made guitar for the price of a Fender Mex or possibly less....

[@jarrusjenkins]

Something that I also thought about is the diy guitar kits you can't get.... Why bother when you have decent cheap guitars like this to modify.... Obviously there are exceptions, Crimson guitars "kit" uses much nicer wood but still... why bother with the ebay/amazon kits

[@n34z3r]

Yup. Bought a cheap guitar about 2 years ago ($69) and bought a good $20 bridge and a $50 Dragonfire humbucker = banging cheap guitar with cheap upgrades. Maybe in a year or 2 I'll put in a new neck

[@skincookiez7576]

Yeah and the Glarry guitars are way cheaper than the DIY kits. I tricked mine out with a bunch of GF parts and Pickups. For the nut I just got a Tusq nut so I didn't need any expensive fret files. Also replaced the trees with Tusk. I ran into the same issue as Phillip did with the big brass block tremolo I ordered and just used a dremel with a sand barrel on it to clear it out. Should have used a router bit like he did. Would have gone much faster and cleaner. I got set of locking tuners as well for around $40 from GF. Be sure to check the bridge placement. Measure from the fretboard side of the nut back to 25 1/4" (double check that on the fender site). That is where the screws for a 6 hole strat style bridge should be placed for a 25 1/2" scale neck. If you do this correctly you should have no problems with intonation. I did this incorrectly at first so wanted to give fair warning. It was a lot of fun putting it together and learning to do all this stuff myself. Now I don't really play any of my other guitars. It sounds perfect and has stayed in tune for months thanks to the TUSK Graphite parts. One tip, Tusk has two different nut types. You want the flat one not the curved one with the tab in the middle. I used that type on the Glarry as well as a Bullet I bought recently.

[@visionop8]

If I knew how to install frets and do minor woodworking and all of that I could see this sort of thing becoming a hobby of mine

[@budgetguitarist]

For anyone thinking about doing a level/crown on your guitar, WATCH THIS VIDEO and bookmark it. This is a really, really good tutorial that shows all the steps. It took me a long time to learn this stuff on my own - this is great advice!

[@1sswoody]

The fretboard really should have been taped off before the leveling step.

[@budgetguitarist]

@@1sswoody Actually... you're right. If you don't hit the fretboard while leveling you won't scratch it, BUT you will get metal "dust" all over the fretboard while leveling. Taping it up first is a better idea.

[@stratmatt73]

@@1sswoody I love the channel, but that was drivin' me nuts too. Still love ya tho Phillip.

[@Chuck-Bob]

Yeah, I just butchered one.

[@void870]

There was actually quite a few things that he did that I’d rather do differently. Once I have my workbench setup a again, I’ll do a step by step video on fretwork and setup that I’ve done in the past. The problem with KZbin is that there’s a lot of videos that show a thousand ways to do things. And an inexperienced guy trying a lot of the stuff in this video would potentially ruin their guitar with a slip here and there.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

I saw a brand new "Strat" for $88. It's made by a company called Indy Guitars. The pickups are just steel slugs with kitchen magnets taped to the bottom. The electronics are so piss poor that they went into the trash can. The body has 6 seams, meaning six pieces of wood were used. The fretwork is nonexistent. They will draw blood they'e so sharp. And the list goes on. But I am doing the same thing Phil is doing here. It's actually going to be finished with the EVH striping pattern. I have a Super V Blade Runner bridge I am going to use, with a prebuilt pickguard that has three single coil sized humbuckers. A JB Jr. in between two Hot Rails. It's the Dave Murray of Iron Maiden's signature pickguard.

[@barnabywilde374]

Indy or Indio? I've re-done an INDIO telecaster and you could cut an artery with the frets. Not to mention the grittiness encountered on bends Smoothed 'em all out with 1000 grit sandpaper and it didn't take long at all. About an hour total, I'd say. and I'm playing it now. Thumbs up!

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

@@barnabywilde374 The one I am talking is called Indy Guitars, it's what's printed on the headstock. And it too was very rough. But you would be surprised what a little sanding paper and files can do to smooth it out.

[@sunriseshell]

6 seams would mean there's 7 pieces of wood.

[@Slomowo]

My man Phillip with the orange pants

[@bishlap]

you're thinking of Mario Batali

[@nealixd.3011]

We need Icon buttons like FB. I want to give your comment a ha.

[@choimdachoim9491]

I lived 3 blocks from Hollywood and Vine in 1976, 1977 and many musicians off the street flowed through my house and one of them convinced me to remove everything from my guitar except the pick-ups and to wire them directly into the out-jack. ...the sound was phenomenal. Completely different, much stronger. All my guitars were stolen when I took a one-month out-of-state job. I forgot about all that until I was viewing your great video. I appreciate how you don't waste time in it.

[@williamfreeman9995]

Thanks!

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you

[@stephbets]

“...and you know, everyone has a first day on the job.”

[@jarrusjenkins]

This made me properly laugh out loud... even if you aren't a guitarist.... it's totally relatable

[@Billy_bSLAYER]

Lol, I also let out a laugh when I heard this!

[@facurojas4477]

And hopefully a last day

[@WrinkledPlatypus]

Gets me every time, I've rewatched more times than I realize

[@sunriseshell]

SO loved that line! Savage yet polite.

[@CliffordMartinOnline]

Great video Phillip!

[@dannyconcarne972]

Great video Phil! I recently helped a family member move across the country to AZ and had your podcast playing the whole time I was driving the truck, I was happily entertained for the entire drive. Great channel! Please keep up the amazing work!

[@blaineadams7484]

I upgraded my 92 j steele starter guitar and had all of the same problems on the body. I also found out that the body of my guitar was made of plywood. I don't know if I should be proud of that or sad since it sounds really nice with its new clapton style lace pickups and mid boost.

[@tinaodonnell4575]

Its debatable but I believe that wood has absolutely no bearing on tone in an electric guitars sound. Just enjoy your axe and be proud of the work you did and the sounds you were able to produce with it.

[@perihelion7798]

Bravo! Good job. Every serious guitarist needs to learn this stuff. It's fun and very satisfying.

[@brucelangsteiner4599]

Lots of good tips, thanks!! For fret polishing I use a Dremel buffing wheel with Jeweler's Rouge. Less chance of damaging the fret board and polishes the frets to a mirror finish.

[@Russell_Optics]

I built a strat from a kit about 6 months ago because I wanted to learn all this and it was a very cool experience. I wish I could have watched this video back then because it would have saved me a lot of time researching methods. Funny thing is I spent more money on good quality tools than I did on the guitar even after upgrading a bunch of the hardware, but they are an investment and should last a lifetime. Building your own guitar is educational as well as great fun and really rewarding when you finally get to play it and say " I built that " .

[@iloveguitars9583]

I just did this with the Monoprice Indio Classic. The body of the Monoprice is not compatible with a "Fender or Squire" neck, but that didn't bother me as the neck was quite comfortable for me to begin with. I pretty much kept just the body and neck and modded everything else. The big Pro with the Monoprice is that it has a swimming pool routing so you can use any configuration of pickups you desire, its also deeper than a squire so a "Fender" bridge will fit properly.

[@gregorysabol4172]

Once again, Phillip McKnight with the winner. Thanks much!

[@talknrock9005]

Can't decide if I like the guitar or the orange pants better 🤔🤣 great video phil!

[@kellymichaels9379]

Definitely a tie,... but the Orange pants are definitely edging it out.

[@dezthescentlessapprentice]

Pants

[@pedrom6426]

Phil I have customized my Glarry in Green ! I am a lefty and it’s fun to do and learn 👍🏻Please keep these type of videos coming. You are still one of my favorites 😁🤘 Keep rocking ! Thanks P

[@adriandelacroix]

Love these videos Phil, thanks for the info.

[@felani1647]

I just got mine and I can't wait to upgrade the pickups and tuners and nut and neck and pickguard and body and bridge and strings and neck plate and tremolo system and strap buttons and jack and wiring and switchplate and knobs and gig bag and bubble wrap.

[@michaeledmonson4169]

You may want to double check the size of dowel and drill bit used to drill out/fill the holes for the bridge. I am pretty sure that that was not 11/16 inch diameter dowel. 11/64 inch is a better bet.

[@jayw7257]

yeah those definitely looked like about 1/4 inch dowels

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

I need to order some pots and stuff for mine. Like an f-spaced humbucker (because I don't want to start chopping up the body if I can avoid it), the electric gubbins, and then... it'll be ready for me to play terribly.

[@ss750f]

For fret polishing I use a dremel with cotton polishing wheel with rouge. Fast easy & safe for the frets, yet I still tape the fret board

[@schrenk]

That was the best demonstration of fret care I've ever seen. Thank you!

[@RockabillyRagsdale]

Hey Philip! Loving the superstrat series so far!

[@michaelgagnon8139]

i bought the exact same guitar for the same reason, i'll get to this winter, thanks so much for this tutorial

[@ebandcamp]

Those lights are available cheaper than $50 at Harbor Freight ! Use one everyday for 7 years on my welding table and only replaced 1 bulb ( I broke through the clear plastic hard ) others at work have them with no complaints other than a bulb was broken in one guys box . Ace hardware has the replacements and I’ve seen them in Home Depot .

[@doknox]

I have 3 glarrys all modded and 2 of them refinished. After some work and a little money they are amazing!

[@waynewalker1004]

I have upgraded my Glarry Burning Flame a bit. My guitar instructor has helped a lot. So far I did a setup and changed the strings. He swapped out the humbuckers with some Jacksons, never heard of them and plan on changing them to a Nazgul and sentient and maybe a hot rail. I have changed the tuners, not sure what else to do besides polishing the frets and sanding the neck.

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

Thanks Phillip you rock my friend !!

[@nealixd.3011]

You do budget friendly, labor knowledgeable projects. I nearly always spend too much, with little chance of returns, and erroneously figure I am going to keep the guitar forever, which doesn't necessarily happen, ha. My problem is I don't have the time, knowledge or patience anymore, so the labor cost for a finishing tech can drive things up. I am working to avoid projects altogether after my last three or so, ha.

[@stephenscharff6358]

After I tape off the front board I use nail blocks from the beauty shop I get different grits and I can buff out and polish the fronts to a beautiful shiny new nickel they're affordable and they last for quite a while

[@antoniomonteiro1203]

I don't see why to use a triple switch. Maybe because it was the one you had at hand? An interesting thing to do with this kind of switches is to use an on-of-on 3 pin switch. In the "off" (center) position you get the normal humbucker. In any of the "on" positions you get just one of the coils. The connections are simple: connect the common leads of the two coils to the center pin. Connect the hot to one side and the ground to the other. I find it very usable mainly in the bridge humbucker because you can use the coil closest to the bridge together with the neck pickup (HB or split) to get a straty 2 / 4 positions sound. And you can use the other coil to get a fatter single coil sound alone.

[@Markle2k]

For polishing frets that just needed some cleaning up, I used some fret rubbers and then finished with a dremel, and some jeweler’s rouge on a felt wheel. They came out looking like a freshly chromed bumper. Well, 22 bumpers. The abrasive is in a wax so it does spit a bit.

[@viking_playndisplay1979]

Hey man!! Got a G2 upgraded bass and I’m beyond please. The wood is good quality. And all around feels 100 more for what it’s worth.

[@joem6859]

Alot of good information and demo, thanks Mr. McKnight

[@conniechamberlain6586]

cloth metal polishing pads and a die grinder work great for polishing frets

[@cheezy8492]

I have a black aria pro stg, it was my first guitar, I'm working on modifying it with a hirk Hammet SSH emg pick guard and some locking grover tuners, I'm saving up for a trek system but idk which one

[@GrantJackson70USD]

I’m really enjoying this series.

[@gabrielledebourg2487]

This is a video that really makes me understand why a fret job costs quite a bit.

[@andrewbarker9773]

cool video man, although when you use your Dremel, for those of us who don't have one, I always just use electric drill in a vice, and have a sewn cloth polishing wheel with a 6" diameter attached in the drills chuck, via a mandrel adapter and some rouge or polishing compound and that works perfectly for the frets for an amazing shine.

[@patrickagan1071]

Hell yeah phil i am so excited to grab a white glarry and do this too, awesome!

[@GDubsPete]

I like to use the dremel extension for polishing the frets, then it’s more like holding a pen than a bulky tool

[@Billy_bSLAYER]

This is definitely getting saved! You definitely should pin this video up top of some list.

[@markboldman8203]

I learn so much watching your videos. Thank you and keep it up!

[@WE.R.NOT.OK.W.U.TRMP_GTFO]

the flexible extension for the Dremel tool would help a lot with that fret work.

[@Bob.W.]

Best explanations of how to do this.

[@rockdaddy2168]

Great stuff, Phil. The fret work especially interesting. I never thought about mixing 250k and 500k pots like that. Makes sense.

[@justinrayguitars6024]

I was almost afraid you were going to go with a two point trem. That soft wood sure wouldn't handle that. Gonna be a cool build!

[@dannyvawn7587]

EVH uses basswood, EVH Striped Series Frankie Solidbody Electric Guitar Features: Inspired by Eddie Van Halen’s iconic Frankenstrat A spot-on cosmetic duplicate of Eddie’s original with worn-in relic’d finish Basswood body delivers a warm, growling tone with rock-solid mids

[@killslay]

I won't be able to start my build for a few weeks but I'm excited, been wanting to do this for a long time!

[@grasshopperhawk]

This is you at your best, Phil!

[@stevewarren4813]

Thank you for sharing this transformation.

[@kuitaristi3003]

I carve humbucker hole to my squier affinity strat plate and put dimarzio 36th paf in. Rock!

[@pttrent123]

Lots of work went into this amazing!

[@nick3718]

phil is such a bro i love this dude

[@RobertNolan]

+1 on the shielding paint. It's so much faster and easier to get every single spot covered. The down side is it's best to wait 24 hours before doing anything further. So you lose at least a few hours if not a day for the extra professional look. Worth it in my opinion.

[@tuttuti123]

Using a polishing compound and a cloth wheel on your dremel works as well for polishing and you have no need to worry about accidentally cutting into your fret or accidentally unleveling your fret because one quick 10 sec go is all you need to polish it

[@fongy200]

I appreciate your videos Phil their great so thank you. I too made a super strat from an inexpensive guitar. It's a Sunn Mustang. The reason i chose that guitar was because i could get one on the verge of being vintage in age but not a great, but it is now. I think i may have gone for a Glary had i not finished the project a whiles back. Thanks again Phil always a pleasure.

[@brandonclevenger9177]

Just picked up my superstrat project yesterday! Found some kind of ibanez RG knockoff on craigslist for $10!!!

[@HighVybeTribe]

awesome job Phillip ! How about showing how to scallop the last 4 frets !!! That's be really cool

[@Zombie_13x33]

Thank you for doing these videos. I was inspired by KZbinrs like you to do things like this.

[@EvilMerlin]

I did something quite similar. Most of the gear was replaced with Mexican Strat parts I got from eBay. All the primary electronics were replaced by Obsidian Wire stuff, which is primo. Pickups from a Mexican Strat from eBay. Tremolo from a Mexican Strat from eBay. Found a slightly used set of tuning machines, Grovers. I'm just waiting on some neck attachment hardware now to finish it up.

[@WrinkledPlatypus]

Phillip has to be one of the nicest guys on the planet. If I ever run into you, I'd buy you a beer 🍺

[@brianmason9803]

Am just interested to know how good conductive paint is. I know it will drain static charges away, but does it work for Magnetic fields?

[@eigenbroetler321]

Good question. Also wondering if you paint the underside of the pick guard, or just the wood cavity?

[@brianmason9803]

@@eigenbroetler321 If the paint works the underside of the pick guard is a good candidate in my view. Last bass I worked on I used copper foil in the pickup cavities.

[@ringsystemmusic]

Magnetic fields and electricity are the same thing

[@cannonbalz]

I don't have the tools to do the work on the neck. Will the Glary body accommodate an after market fender replacement neck like a Warmoth?

[@trentfranks4507]

You can find plenty of cheap of brand strats in shop goodwill

[@williamacuna3996]

You do and demo some cool stuff and ideas Phillip!

[@deepspacetheater]

Great presentation, Phillip. As for fret polishing, I bought a felt jeweler's wheel and two bars of rouge at the local hardware store. The wheel attaches a drill--or to a Dremel-type device, I suppose--and does a beautiful job. Still, it's important to stay clear of the fretboard.

[@pabcrane]

I think the grain and knots on that fretboard have a lot of character and are actually quite pretty. Oh, and I do wish I had your skills Phil.

[@domformula1]

This is exactly the type of video I love to watch, I plan on doing my own project in the coming weeks, great vid !

[@Vamp_Tepez]

Fisch are some of the nicest forstner bits out there for wood working.

[@LorneVignettes]

Is the way you attached the neck to the body with the holes you drilled a better way then how it's done on a real Stratocaster?

[@davidjubbinternetmarketing1999]

Hi Philip why didn't you mount the Humbuckers direct onto the body like a LPaul for increased sustain? Or tell me it doesn't matter if I mount them onto a thin bit of plastic? I am quite happy to be educated. At least I think you are the right person to ask, having experience to wind your own Humbuckers, wow. I am a keen amateur with a hand built English HBuck solid mahogany body like a Gibson Melody Maker. Hoping for a reply, thanks David, England.

[@mr.erwinhamalainen2787]

Hey, greetings. I love learning things like these. Would you mind to tell what tools you used here? Thank you so much! 🙏

[@bryantcrawford214]

I want and need a set of those nut slot file's.wow those are nice.love the videos.cheers from Tennessee

[@JoshNotJohn0]

this takes me back, i got my glarry strat before the headstock redesigns (it even had the same finish as the one you have) it was my first guitar and i'm planning on doing something similar

[@40mmmikemike]

You sound just like steve carell and that made this video way funnier than it should have

[@christophercarty675]

I might use a Monoprice one or Glarry. Can’t decide yet. But I am going with one humbucker in mine.

[@perihelion7798]

Get the Glarry. It's cheaper, but has what you need. I took a $47 Glarry, added another 50 bucks worth of stuff, and turned it into a great looking and playing guitar. I replaced the tuning machines, and all electronics, and glued in a wooden block to negate the whammy unit. It's a very nice guitar now. You can buy a loaded pickguard and drop it right in.

[@andy_182]

Tom Delonge

[@christophercarty675]

@@perihelion7798, cool! I’ll keep that in mind!

[@christophercarty675]

@@andy_182, basically yes!

[@jayw7257]

I think the monoprice comes with very similar looking, but slightly better hardware. Like a decent Squier vs the glarry, the bridges look very similar but the Squier small pot metal trem block is much heavier, even though it is still very light. The bridge plate itself is heavier and stronger. The saddles are heavier and sturdier, the saddle screws less likely to strip, the bridge screws are better. Goes for everything, trem springs, claw, all that. So I guess I would personally decide between the two taking that into account. If I was replacing all of that stuff anyway, then absolute cheapest thing that has a playable neck and body, which Glarry's do. If you're thinking of, for example, leaving the saddles and bridge plate as-is, just buying a new brass or steel bigger block for the trem, then going with the one with the better bridge plate and saddles, bridge screws, etc. might be worth the price difference. One of my strap button screws stripped almost immediately on the Glarry. 3 of the pickguard screws were already stripped. I was pleased with the quality of the Glarry for $70, but for a player, especially if the guitar takes any kind of beating or you gig with it, you'll want to upgrade a lot of that anyway. Also, I think that the monoprice body shape is a bit closer to actual strat specs. The Glarry forearm cut is just that sharp, small corner slant with the slightly rounded edge, and the belly cut is small and very shallow, if that matters to you.

[@joaopedrofonseca5647]

Hey Phillip! I am currently turning a cheap strat I bought at toys R Us in 2009 into a frankenstrat! I have never done any soldering or anything like it, do you think i should take it to a luthier or can I do it myself? I want to do every step of the process, but I’m kinda scared about this part ahahah Great video man!

[@douglasholdenjr.45]

Watch some KZbin videos of soldering guitar electronics and practice.....only way to get good at things..... practice.

[@tornadofire1454]

Nice vid. Always a pleasure watching your cool vids. 👍 keep it up

[@mikebaird6788]

At least when you got your urlary to upgrade it like this your body was good on it my first Glory I got I had to completely refill almost a quarter inch because it was so jacked up on the pocket for the neck

[@joejoe1fucker962]

Great video. 10/10. But secure that neck from moving around. I've worked as a luthier for over 30 years. I was on the edge of my seat when he was polishing the frets with a drumel. DO IT BY HAND!

[@robertburgess1070]

Would it be cheaper to build a bass out of a start style guitar or buy one? I have a Donner strat style guitar. I purchased a Squier Classic 60s vibe Jazzmaster. I'm wanting to learn bass and have thought about turning my Donner strat into a bass. The Donner is like a $100 guitar. I bought the starter kit for around $150 and that included everything to start playing.

[@dontderockmeriz4546]

Go to autozone & buy some white pinstripe for the guitar. That’s a must!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Fantastic video. I almost think I could do this with practice and taking my time.

[@DaisyHollowBooks]

I’m inspired. This seems like a halfway point between a partscaster and building a guitar totally from scratch.

[@74dartman13]

I recently did similar upgrades to my favorite guitar. I used the Bournes pots...well worth the money. They're awesome!👍😎🎸🎶

[@karlozortega246]

Hello, do you think it would be an improvement if I change a pacífica pickups for Fender noiseless? Thanks

[@georgek659]

Hi Phillip, thank for the cool video. Both guitar and the pants are looking good!! :) If you were going to strip the paint, how would you go about it? Heat gun or sanding?

[@procrastinator6902]

So where's the link in the description for part 1?

[@bradyblackburn7877]

I don't own or play a guitar or any other musical instruments, but this series is still fun to watch just for the mod aspect.

[@rayrenfrow3352]

I have an Aria Pro2 Fullerton I've been wanting to do something with.

[@LeMans512]

I really like the new headstock.

[@carlosadame3888]

Phillip is a national treasure. We must protect him at all cost

[@ahmedbazbazat6504]

Is painting the cavities enought for shielding? Or should a copper tape the pickguard ? Thanks! I am planning on using the paint from guitar fetish any experience with that?

[@joshuabenoit3744]

Currently in the process of turning one of these into a tribute guitar to EVH. I am almost complete with it but have a few finishing touches to finish it up.

[@chrischwaz7788]

Where did you buy that light /magnify glass

[@UITATUBE]

Did you reshape the headstock to make it similar to a Pacer? I just did it to mine as it made a difference to the usual tele or strat.

[@JF-em6hr]

Phill went beyond "super strat" (Very high end Nut and Bridge,Sef-wound Pickups, and really fixing it up) to Super-Duper Strat. Only thing I'd do different would have black pickguard and black no coverpickups for a more aggresive look with the dark blue body. But to each his own.

[@0richbike]

dont soft brass nuts bind? be interested to see how that goes.

[@gtr1952]

I seem to 'collect' crowning files, and I bought a set of the SM 'fish shaped' ones about 6 years ago. They are very well made and have a lot of abrasive (diamond dust) on them. After 40ish uses they have very little wear, and I like the feel of them (control)! Nice things cost $$ is true with a lot of tools. JMHO... 8) --gary