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macthestrat · February 2nd, 2013, 09:22 AM

Hi All,

For years now I wanted to build my own strat, just like Nils Lofgren's 1961 natural finish strat. But never had the confidence to get going on it. Up until last year all I did was collect wood stock and parts. I have followed Preeb's 1961 build and this has inspired me to give it a go.

What I know so far is that the guitar is a stock 1961 start with some mods:

The body was stripped by his brother and he made the Oak pickguard.
It has Bill Lawrence blade pick ups
The jack plate is not standard, as it has a toggle switch, similar to David Gilmour's start. I'm not sure if it does the same thing.

Has anyone got any more info or photo's that would help with my build?

TheDTrain · February 2nd, 2013, 09:17 PM

The jack plate is this http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/blaster.html

macthestrat · February 3rd, 2013, 03:58 AM

Many thanks for the info. Nils is a big user of volume swirl, so that's it. Mystery solved.

Thanks.

StoogeSurfer · February 3rd, 2013, 07:53 AM

I met that dude once, friend of a friend. He lived in my area and Grin was the big Bethesda, Maryland band back in the 70s. So cool when he hooked up with Springsteen and E Street.

jondanger · February 3rd, 2013, 09:20 AM

Cool project. Nils' S/T record is a rare treasure. Lots of Nils stories here in the Balto/DC area. One of the guys from Grin runs a pretty cool used record store in Catonsville MD, near Baltimore. I can't remember what it's called, think its on Frederick ave. Real nice guy, good shop.

macthestrat · February 3rd, 2013, 02:09 PM

Hi Stoogesurfer,
I also met him once when he was doing his first acoustic tour in the UK. I saw him at Ronnie Scott's, very small gig in Birmingham. My wife and I were some of the first in. He came up to us at the bar and we had a good chat. unfortunately it wasn't about his strat. I've now seen him many times since the early eighties.

I started cleaning my workshop/garage up today, so I can make a start on my templates.

Stratified · February 3rd, 2013, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDTrain

The jack plate is this http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/blaster.html

See here for the older style stratoblaster cover plate like Nils guitar:
http://www.12fret.com/content/2011/1...sical-history/

macthestrat · February 4th, 2013, 03:53 AM

Hi Stratified,

That is just what I'm after. I'm hoping someone has one gathering dust in a box somewhere.

One sold on Ebay just a few days ago, but until I started thie thread I didn't know what I was looking for.

jholcomb · February 6th, 2013, 07:45 PM

Neck pickup is now a Barden.

macthestrat · February 7th, 2013, 07:24 AM

Looking at the price of Barden's, I will have to stick with Bill Lawrence blades for now. ANd put the Barden on the wish list.

jholcomb · February 7th, 2013, 07:42 PM

I've seen Nils play that guitar a LOT. The last time was in November in Louisville, and I was REALLY close to him. You can tell he really bonds with that instrument, and it has always sounded great.

Joe Harris · April 6th, 2013, 03:01 PM

The volume knob is topped with an old MXR rubber knob cover.... helps him with controlling swells

PumpJockey · April 6th, 2013, 03:19 PM

While you're at it, build a replica trampoline as well.

February 2nd, 2013, 09:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
macthestrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hinckley UK Posts: 6	I'm planning to build a replica Nils Lofgren 61 strat Hi All, For years now I wanted to build my own strat, just like Nils Lofgren's 1961 natural finish strat. But never had the confidence to get going on it. Up until last year all I did was collect wood stock and parts. I have followed Preeb's 1961 build and this has inspired me to give it a go. What I know so far is that the guitar is a stock 1961 start with some mods: The body was stripped by his brother and he made the Oak pickguard. It has Bill Lawrence blade pick ups The jack plate is not standard, as it has a toggle switch, similar to David Gilmour's start. I'm not sure if it does the same thing. Has anyone got any more info or photo's that would help with my build? Attached Thumbnails Attached Images Last edited by macthestrat; February 2nd, 2013 at 12:29 PM.

February 2nd, 2013, 09:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheDTrain TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Old Bridge NJ Age: 28 Posts: 12	The jack plate is this http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/blaster.html __________________ Stay hard, stay hungry, stay alive....

February 3rd, 2013, 07:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
StoogeSurfer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: virginia Posts: 1,016	I met that dude once, friend of a friend. He lived in my area and Grin was the big Bethesda, Maryland band back in the 70s. So cool when he hooked up with Springsteen and E Street. __________________ I'm looking down on Wayne's basment But that's not Wayne's basement Isn't that weird? -Garth

February 3rd, 2013, 09:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
jondanger Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charm City, MD Posts: 1,018	Cool project. Nils' S/T record is a rare treasure. Lots of Nils stories here in the Balto/DC area. One of the guys from Grin runs a pretty cool used record store in Catonsville MD, near Baltimore. I can't remember what it's called, think its on Frederick ave. Real nice guy, good shop. __________________ I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.

April 6th, 2013, 03:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
PumpJockey Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 519	While you're at it, build a replica trampoline as well. __________________ "Let's take everything we think we know about solid body electrifying guitars and throw it out the window. Let's start over." ---Leo Fender

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February 3rd, 2013, 03:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
macthestrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hinckley UK Posts: 6	Many thanks for the info. Nils is a big user of volume swirl, so that's it. Mystery solved. Thanks.

February 3rd, 2013, 02:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
macthestrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hinckley UK Posts: 6	Hi Stoogesurfer, I also met him once when he was doing his first acoustic tour in the UK. I saw him at Ronnie Scott's, very small gig in Birmingham. My wife and I were some of the first in. He came up to us at the bar and we had a good chat. unfortunately it wasn't about his strat. I've now seen him many times since the early eighties. I started cleaning my workshop/garage up today, so I can make a start on my templates.

February 4th, 2013, 03:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
macthestrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hinckley UK Posts: 6	Hi Stratified, That is just what I'm after. I'm hoping someone has one gathering dust in a box somewhere. One sold on Ebay just a few days ago, but until I started thie thread I didn't know what I was looking for.

February 6th, 2013, 07:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
jholcomb Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 371	Neck pickup is now a Barden.

February 7th, 2013, 07:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
macthestrat TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hinckley UK Posts: 6	Looking at the price of Barden's, I will have to stick with Bill Lawrence blades for now. ANd put the Barden on the wish list.

February 7th, 2013, 07:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
jholcomb Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 371	I've seen Nils play that guitar a LOT. The last time was in November in Louisville, and I was REALLY close to him. You can tell he really bonds with that instrument, and it has always sounded great.

April 6th, 2013, 03:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Joe Harris Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 366	The volume knob is topped with an old MXR rubber knob cover.... helps him with controlling swells

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