dual humbucker strat build - hardtail or vintage trem?

Thinking of doing a dual humbucker strat build (sort of a Big Apple strat or Charvel Model One takeoff). Wasn't sure if I should go w/ a vintage trem or a hardtail.

If I went w/ a trem, I'd go w/ a rear routed body, if I went hardtail, I'd go w/ a pickguard.

I already have a fender hardtail bridge here that I can use, and the difference in price between a hardtail or trem routed body is negligible ($20), plus I never use a bar, and I've always favored teles.

So all told, there's not much difference in total project cost if I went either way. If one was significantly cheaper than the other, it would make the decision alot easier. :)

you never use the bar, so why would you deny yourself the tuning stability and the added sustain??? simple, use the hardtail. the back of the body will also look sexier

indeed. if the trem is never used, the hardtail would be the better option

sounds almost like the '72 tele deluxe. :)

hardtail since you never use the trem. maybe put on graphtech saddles?

Brass saddles. Hardtail. CBS head.

Well, the hardtail body I'm looking at is about 4 lbs 4 oz, the trem body is about 8 ounces lighter than that. 8 ounces seems like a fairly substantial difference and it would be nice to have a really light strat.

I do dig the current single humbucker ESP strat that I have, and it has a vintage trem that's been tightened down to be flush w/ the body. If it's tightened down, effectivly blocking it, would the tuning be as stable as it would be on a hardtail? There's also that "something" about the springs on a strat trem adding to the sound/vibe.

If I had vintage tuners, graphite nut and a vintage strat trem, could it be set up to stay in tune relatively well if the bridge was set just flush w/ the body, but not tightened down too hard?