StewMac Wilkinson Modern-S Kit Final Thoughts

[@randymiles904]

It comes with instructions!? Cool I may have to get one of these. I like the guitar a lot. I love the choice of color too. Nice video man.

[@darekn.9191]

I wrote below that I have two such guitars - but bought ready to play, finished and assembled (this is the British brand VINTAGE, designed by Trevor Wilkinson). In Poland, they cost below $ 300. I've had them for over ten years and I play every day. They have a great sound - I will not compare to Fender - although you could ... Tuning machines are O.K. and you don't have to change them at all, the bridges are much, much better than in guitars from Mexico, the pickups sound beautiful (I have two versions: classic vintage and overwound). One drawback: the frets are a bit too soft. I also have Tele and LP of the same brand - the same advantages. I can safely say that these guitars are better than SQ and Epi

[@Jmdeclue]

You don’t need or want a string tree for this build. Yes the headstock is flat but it is dropped enough and the string tree would bind the strings when using the tremolo. You should have a half turn on the locking tuner at most and the graphtech nut should keep the nut lubed.

[@jerbear1601]

I have a Vintage V6 with a Wikinson 6 screw trem with staggered string holes in the block and Wikinson EZlok tuners and they have two holes used to lock or winding high or low on the post. No string tree and my trem stays in tune great!

[@dlewtweentorla1210]

Congrats on the build. Strongly recommend get one or two string trees. If you are concerned about them bnding usingthe trem, try the Graphtech trees (same material as the lubricating nut) . Quite like the Guitar build. The pickups, have a lot to be desired IMO as a Strat guy for over 40 years. Since the wiring and pots are good quality and the guitar is quite nice. May want to spend the cash on a very good set of PUPs. There are a number of Very Good Strat pickups available for under $200.00 may sound like a lot in comparison to the cost of the guitar. However if the neck is as good as you say and you really like it. Certainly worth the extra cash to have an authentic Strat tone. Would Love to see that with a before and after video. Believe you'd be amazed. ALso... Two pedals you should check out, the BOSS DImension C original, made for approx five years from 1984 or the reissue Wasa Craft version that was introduced last year. Prince, SRV, Bryan Adams all used them in the 80's. One true way to get SRV's tone (most thinks Stevie used a Chorus, it was the Dim-C). Fantastic pedal. Another would be the Ibanez T808 Handwired, the most authentic Tube Screamer and closest to the original.

[@M5guitar1]

Looks great...Now I have an itch to try a build.

[@GilderGeek_Creations]

Every time I see a Wilkinson modern s I do a double take. The tele style Jack throws me off lol. Great job on your kit

[@simonkormendy849]

Here's a tip if you want a way to make setting-up the bridge easier, cut a piece of some scrap wood so that you end-up with a small block that's thin enough to fit in the space between the sustain block and the back of the trem spring routing that's closest to the six intonation screws, the block of wood should be thick enough so that the bottom of the bridge-plate sits, or floats parallel to the front surface of the guitar body, when you tune all the strings up to pitch, the string-tension should hold the block of wood in place, this also makes adjusting the individual string intonation easier too, after you have finished making the adjustments, gradually increase the trem-spring tension by tightening the two spring-claw screws untill the block of wood falls out, this indicates that the spring tension and string-tension are balanced-out, the bridge should then be floating parallel to the guitar's body.

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

Thanks for the tip. I might try that on the next build.

[@allenwebster6329]

It must have meant the body 11 64ths where the screws go through to the neck and the neck must be 1/8th " hole for the screw maybe that's what it meant or perhaps you may have misread it ,I've never bought a kit guitar I'm not familiar with them but when you purchase a kit guitar they might think the buyer most likely knows where things go and so on anyway great looking guitar

[@azcharlie2009]

I was right... Green just isn't.... well..... to each his own. Maybe if you'd left the head stock natural? What's wrong with the natural earth tones of wood? Well, it's still a beautiful guitar and it sounds good. The bridge pick up sounds fantastic! Well done..

[@ricknees1699]

Good info about the neck holes. For your knowledge, though, should you ever experience the hole becoming loose: this problem can be easily fixed without replacing the neck or the guitar. Stew-Mac, I believe, has a video showing the process. You basically just refill the holes with wooden dowel rod and then drill new holes. Sounds to me like your shielding is doing an ok job...I don’t hear anything major coming out that would be a shielding issue. All in all, looks like a pretty decent build. Are the tuners switchable? I’ve seen some other comments regarding tuners that looked to be left handed but were actually universal, allowing you to disassemble them and position the gear on the correct side for your guitar, and then reassemble.

[@christophorhill2320]

You installed the tuners backward, brother.

[@elephantcup]

They're tuners for a left hand/ reverse headstock. "I wondered why those tuners were so cheap..."!!!

[@imaxeman69]

Without a string tree, the tuners should have been staggered.

[@joegrillman]

I see. Those tuners are defiantly backwards. I have 3 Stratocaster Plus guitars without string trees and staggered locking tuners. The shortest one should be the high e.

[@joegrillman]

Definitely

[@doctoribanez]

Turned out pretty good. I would be pissed if I spent 450 and jacked something up. I'm not that great at painting so not sure what it would look like lol.

[@deanmlshredder]

The "Vintage G6" strats have string trees too. Also made by Wilkinson and are GREAT guitars for pretty much the same price.

[@NoLuckTheBand]

was ur action super low? i think im hearing string rattle on the frets. or something. that's my favorite trem system. love it

[@sebastionhawk5565]

It would be nice if they made a one-piece, neck and center body, set-through guitar.

[@livvyslandoftoys7433]

Concerning the string tree, It appears you have the pegs installed in reverse order…. Install the tallest for the low e….. all the way to the lowest for the high e I bet that would work out much better :)

[@BenBreard]

Great series. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Partscasters are a blast IMO.

[@rturney]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the StewMac kit! I've been curious about this one. I've built three kits, one from BYOGuitars and two from PrecisionGuitars and all three got Wudtone finishes. I really like Wudtone finishes and would recommend them to kit builders since they always produce a fantastic result and don't require a paint booth. Good job! Your green guitar looks and sounds great! I just subscribed and look forward to pedals and guitars vids. Stay safe and sane!

[@tyronejackson4509]

How do you like the precision’s? I almost bit on the es335 but pricey.

[@danno67]

Great Video and thanks for the tips! I ordered this kit exactly, before seeing this video. I also have replacement pickups ordered, Gibson dirty fingers for the bridge for sure, not sure what I'll do with the rest. Cheers!

[@djsbriscoe]

What's the difference between the "Modern S" and the "57 S-Style" Wilkinson guitar kits? Thanks.

[@RobGarlandLA]

Love the final product! Great work Reed.

[@JoseLuisVasquezGiraldo]

It turned out to be pretty good. The guitar is as good as the time and effort you put on. Keep the content coming.

[@darekn.9191]

Hey. I have two VINTAGE guitars (designed by Trevor Wilkinson). Both have different height tuners on the head - but E and A (bass) are higher!

[@sbrave]

Looks cool, great color!

[@erich.e.2971]

I was wondering about the string tree as well when you unpacked the hardware I then just figured the tuning machines were a staggered set since they were individually packed, I upgraded to the fender locking tuners on my MN2 Strat which are staggered which eliminated the string trees.

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

I also wondered if they were staggered height, but no, they are all the same length.

[@erich.e.2971]

Man Cave Guitar Pedal Mania string trees it is then, fortunately it’s a inexpensive upgrade.

[@erichurst7897]

I was skeptical about the green, but that does look amazing. I like the play of light where the body slopes.

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

You always questioned my aesthetic choices.

[@brookemccullough7490]

Great video I'll certainly check out more vids cheers

[@michaeljohnson7892]

YePp tuners reversed will give it the necessary angle, though wrong could yield a looser feel & if they don’t pop out of the nut it might actually make big string bends easier !!!

[@anthonyrosa5006]

My Reverend has string trees but they werre made befor Reverends huge retail expansion and resulting 40% price increases. I got mine when they hat around 50 distributors and mail order and they were much cheaper.

[@evantspurrell]

best green ive seen on an axe

[@robbiePhotard]

If you want to measure the output of the pickups, plug a cable into your guitar. Grab a multimeter and set it to 20k ohms. Then on the other side of the cable put one lead on the shaft (ring) and one on the tip. Need to have your volume wide open and the correct selection on the switch to measure each pickup. You'll probably see roughly 15 to 16k on the bridge and between 5 to 8k on the single coils.

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

I'll try that!

[@Stratisfied22]

Great job I love that shade of green you used. I do feel that these kits are a bit over priced and could have come with some better options. For that price I would have ordered from Warmoth.

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

Thank you. Don't get me wrong, I love Warmoth parts. On the other hand, sometimes it's good to check out the competition and see how it stacks up. I also would have loved to have paid less for the kit! That being said, I do not regret buying it and I'm extremely happy with the way it turned out.

[@xF1revolution]

You cant build a complete guitar on Warmoth at this price point. Bridge alone is a 100 bucks. The cheapest 2 piece alder bodies are still a couple hundred, etc etc.

[@Stratisfied22]

@@xF1revolution Yes you are correct in that respect but i really meant that ordering the body and neck from Warmoth and getting the rest of the parts from somewhere else wold have been a better option. You don't have to spend a $100 on a bridge and parts if you look around can be purchased for a reasonable amount. I guess what I'm saying is the little bit of extra money would be well spent on the Warmoth neck and body as you know the quality you are getting from them and possibly up the resale value.

[@satyakaamkatznelson8915]

Try using some groove lube on the string contact points(bridge and nut) to help keep strings in tune.

[@murpsman]

Big Bends Nut Sauce is highly recommended.

[@KarlKarsnark]

Just found your channel and subbed. Great job. If the tuners aren't staggered, I would add a string tree. It will improve the break angle of the strings and may make winding/installing the strings a bit. Worst case scenario, you can always take it back off, if need be. Thanks for the vids.

[@tonyd913guitar]

Not a big fan of green guitars, but this turned out great. Looks really good.

[@richardturk7162]

Maybe the tuners are staggered so you don't need string trees.Did you install them correctly? Tone break? what the heck is that? I have been building guitars for over 20 years and never heard that refer to downward angle at the nut.

[@Alex.Murphy0987]

You make every piece of gear sound horrendous. Very nice!

[@1rwjwith]

Cool...good review very helpful

[@Rogijimbex]

Nice videos in this series. Good information. I agree a lighter touch when demonstrating would be helpful. The sounds were much too loud and in the face. thanks though!

[@bluwng]

I’m looking for something light weight, what was the approximate weight of the end product?

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

Fully assembled and finished I get 7 lbs 9 ounces. That makes it a little lighter than an average strat, but well within standard weight range. I would not think of it as a "light weight" guitar if that really important to you.

[@jimslawnikowski1861]

You could do away with the string tree if you use staggered tuners.

[@JoseLuisVasquezGiraldo]

Hi Reed, stove your will be taking on pedals. Have you heard about a Bad monkey modification? Just asking in case you talk about this later. Thanks

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

Jose, I'm sorry but I don't understand what you're saying. Can you please re-phrase this for me?

[@JoseLuisVasquezGiraldo]

@@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008 the bad monkey is a DigiTech pedal, like an Ibanez tube screamer. Seems there are some mods to enhance it's tone. It could be something good to investigate.

[@datamouth]

it turned out great!

[@flat9design]

Do the strings align with the pickup poles?

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

They're not right down the middle of each pole piece, but they do line up pretty well.

[@christiankelly1981]

Shielding won't do anything unless it is grounded. Just a ground wire held down with a screw and washer into the shielding paint. Just putting that out there. Great build tho

[@butteredbiskit3497]

I dont even shield my builds unless they're way too noisy. They do make volume pedals.

[@pdp977]

I would prefer the bottom-mounted jack socket. Messing about with poorly cut holes for boat-type sockets is no fun at all.

[@mraycgz]

Wait that was $440? I’m glad you had a positive experience with it but you can find a pretty decent Fender for $440. It does sound good though. It’s pretty good looking too. Nice build guy, nice video too.

[@xF1revolution]

The hardware included in this kit is far superior to any 440 dollar fender

[@mraycgz]

Opethian that doesn’t make anything I said untrue.

[@ikarosdream5971]

No it just points out that what you said is stupid. Having a "fender" means shit all these days. Id take this kit, assembled well, over a Mexican strat any day.

[@gusetes7838]

would you get this kit or get warmoth parts?

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

No contest, really, I would go Warmoth all day long. I like customizing things too much!

[@gusetes7838]

@@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008 same here

[@ktrn2b]

very Nice

[@maxmustardman298]

go for Gotoh locking tuners next time, they have different options to stagger each tuner differently to actually avoid a stringtree

[@vibroverb64]

My 1996 Jeff Beck Strat does not have a string tree.

[@butteredbiskit3497]

Hang on to that one! Those Fenders made in the early to mid nineties are arguably the best ever made.

[@dragnasty540]

Great video! Just subscribed!

[@caseykittel]

2:41 my fender strat was $2,000 has locking tuners and no string tree. Not a need.

[@hautedaug]

I've been chat and this has been your chat section.

[@SavyBajaBuster]

Was that staying sane or stay insane😂😂👍👍 either way enjoyed..

[@nicolasmitch]

Super!!!!

[@shoredore]

I’m the 642nd subscriber!

[@patrickkeenan6331]

Fender DOES put a string tree on their guitars. I HATE them. MAJOR tuning issues. A Roller tree (or a Graph Tech) is better, but the best option is to NOT have it in the first place.

[@pleximanic]

String trees on a strat is only good if you want to be out of tune.

[@brolovelace1486]

That was a poor choice of color.. But to each their own.. I will say the build is good.. A guitar with flash keeps peoples attention.. Ask Billy Gibbons, Randy Rhodes, or Zak Wylde it is an extension of your stage clothes..

[@jakub553]

You remind me so much of Mike Mangini🤔

[@gregmize01]

HAS STAGGERED LOCKING TUNERS-PUTS EM' ON IN REVERSE AND WRONG ORDER...DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WASN'T A STRING TREE INCLUDED IN THE KIT...LOL!

[@mancaveguitarpedalmania4008]

The tuners are not staggered. Each post is exactly the same length. Thanks for the comment, though.

[@davidb.6681]

At 3:03 you can see clear as day they aren't staggered and put on in reverse. They're all the same height. Gregory has no clue what he's talking about. Gregory should stay away from commenting.

[@montygore]

Maybe try a single cable. You have way too much going on to be practical.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Hey build some pedals.

[@pskemster]

Plug and redrill

[@Slicklickz]

Body looks terrible.

[@theologian1456]

Finish on the body is awful bro