Ash on a Strat....

[Jared Purdy]

I was just reading an ad for a AV 56' Strat (2012 model), and the write up on it stated that with all original Strats, alder was used. Is that true? I could have sworn that I've read recently in more than one book that ash was also used early on. Anyone have a definitive answer on this?

 

[Slip Kid]

I believe ash was used up until ‘56 and then switched to alder. I’m sure there were exceptions as well.

 

[Cjteleforum]

Ash from '54 to mid '56, and for all blonde finishes after that.

 

[Killing Floor]

Whatever was cheaper and easier to source at the time. Tonewood hadn’t been cultivated yet.

 

[fenderchamp]

the early strats and teles were both ash.

1 piece swamp ash 2 tone sunburst with a maple neck is the classic '54 strat.

 

[Jared Purdy]

the early strats and teles were both ash.

1 piece swamp ash 2 tone sunburst with a maple neck is the classic '54 strat.

I guess Fender this time around didn''t consider the AVII '57 Strat early enough as the two tone sunburst is made with alder (two piece) and the blonde version is made with ash. The 70th Anniversary 54' Custom Shop is made with two piece ash, and its advertised as having an offset seam, presumably the norm at the time.

I'm tempted with the AVII 57 or the 54 CS (having a hard time justifying the cost of the CS 54 though).

 

[fenderchamp]

I guess Fender this time around didn''t consider the AVII '57 Strat early enough as the two tone sunburst is made with alder (two piece) and the blonde version is made with ash. The 70th Anniversary 54' Custom Shop is made with two piece ash, and its advertised as having an offset seam, presumably the norm at the time.

I'm tempted with the AVII 57 or the 54 CS (having a hard time justifying the cost of the CS 54 though).

Do you have a strat already?

Fender custom shop guitars are very nice, if pricey. If I wanted a '54 style strat (and who doesn't) that would be the guitar to compare all others too.

I guess you have to decide why you want this yet to be purchased guitar.

One thing nice about relics is that you can play them without worrying about every little scratch, ding and nick, that's worth something in itself.

I'd like to assemble a 1 piece ash body/maple neck '54 style strat and give it a 2 tone sunburst and some '54 a3 staggers. I know we all believe that wood doesn't make much difference, but I've yet to not be impressed by the way 1 piece body guitars that I've had or made sound for some reason. Probably psychology at work but whatever.

I do have an AVRI '57 in Candy Apple Red, I assume it's alder and multi-piece. It's got the 57/62 pickups and it is a very good sounding guitar in my opinion. The 7.25'' radius chafes me a bit though. I think generally '57 reissues are alder, though I'd guess there are some exceptions.


As to justification of the cost, we (people that is) can get a little hung up on the "value" of guitars. If the goal is to have a good guitar to play, it's hard to justify a 5000 dollar instrument. If the goal is to buy a pricey custom shop guitar and to buy the satisfaction of the purchase, well.. there you go.

Lately I've been thinking the garage sale, sharpie scribbled on Squire Strat which my neighbor gave me plays and sounds as good as anything else I have. I put handwound A5 pickups (all three measure 5.1) in it and strung it with super-bullets, it just has a certain "zip". It also has, for whatever reason, at this point, a dead straight neck.

 

[Jared Purdy]

Do you have a strat already?

Fender custom shop guitars are very nice, if pricey. If I wanted a '54 style strat (and who doesn't) that would be the guitar to compare all others too.

I guess you have to decide why you want this yet to be purchased guitar.

One thing nice about relics is that you can play them without worrying about every little scratch, ding and nick, that's worth something in itself.

I'd like to assemble a 1 piece ash body/maple neck '54 style strat and give it a 2 tone sunburst and some '54 a3 staggers. I know we all believe that wood doesn't make much difference, but I've yet to not be impressed by the way 1 piece body guitars that I've had or made sound for some reason. Probably psychology at work but whatever.

I do have an AVRI '57 in Candy Apple Red, I assume it's alder and multi-piece. It's got the 57/62 pickups and it is a very good sounding guitar in my opinion. The 7.25'' radius chafes me a bit though. I think generally '57 reissues are alder, though I'd guess there are some exceptions.


As to justification of the cost, we (people that is) can get a little hung up on the "value" of guitars. If the goal is to have a good guitar to play, it's hard to justify a 5000 dollar instrument. If the goal is to buy a pricey custom shop guitar and to buy the satisfaction of the purchase, well.. there you go.

Lately I've been thinking the garage sale, sharpie scribbled on Squire Strat which my neighbor gave me plays and sounds as good as anything else I have. I put handwound A5 pickups (all three measure 5.1) in it and strung it with super-bullets, it just has a certain "zip". It also has, for whatever reason, at this point, a dead straight neck.

Words to think about. Yes, I do have a Strat, and I've had it for eleven years. It's a 2011 Custom Shop Deluxe in three colour sunburst. It's an interesting collection of different appointments. I'd say it's modern, with one or two "vintage" nods.

The body is two piece ash, with striking grain. A very well matched two piece. The neck is birds eye maple, also striking with the birds eye on the fret board and flame all over the back of the neck. It's a beefy 50's profile, 9.5" radius, medium jumbo frets with abalone fret markers and locking tuners.

The trem is the modern two point, and the PU's were Master Designed by former master builder John Cruz. I'm not sure what they are based on? They are not particularly hot, I'd say they lean more towards classic, but there is very clear distinction between each of the switch sections. All of the PU sections are very useable. Finished in urethane.

 

[peterlosangeles]

My '54 ash strat...

Guitar Mill ultra lightweight 3.2lb single piece swamp ash body,
Thin nitrocellulose 2 tone sunburst finish, dark grain fill
Musikraft .9-1” tapered D shaped maple neck, 7.25” radius,
Heavy rolled edges, vintage 6230 frets, 1 5/8” nut, thin nitro finish,
Unbleached bone nut, heel truss rod, rosewood dot inlays.
Gotoh tuners
Bareknuckle Apache strat pickups, (scatterwound alnico 3), regular polarity (non rw/rp middle)
CTS 250k pots
Vintage wax .1 200v capacitor
CRL 5 way switch
'54 Top Hat knobs & Football toggle
'54 Vintage trem cover
Cloth push back wiring
Fender Single ply white pickguard vintage correct
Aluminum shield plate for electronics section
Eric Johnson tremolo assembly with '54 correct saddles
Fender jack and customized neck plate

 

[Jared Purdy]

View attachment 1221598View attachment 1221600View attachment 1221601

My '54 ash strat...

Guitar Mill ultra lightweight 3.2lb single piece swamp ash body,
Thin nitrocellulose 2 tone sunburst finish, dark grain fill
Musikraft .9-1” tapered D shaped maple neck, 7.25” radius,
Heavy rolled edges, vintage 6230 frets, 1 5/8” nut, thin nitro finish,
Unbleached bone nut, heel truss rod, rosewood dot inlays.
Gotoh tuners
Bareknuckle Apache strat pickups, (scatterwound alnico 3), regular polarity (non rw/rp middle)
CTS 250k pots
Vintage wax .1 200v capacitor
CRL 5 way switch
'54 Top Hat knobs & Football toggle
'54 Vintage trem cover
Cloth push back wiring
Fender Single ply white pickguard vintage correct
Aluminum shield plate for electronics section
Eric Johnson tremolo assembly
Fender jack and customized neck plate

You put that together yourself? Nice looking guitar. What are the PU’s?

 

[peterlosangeles]

You put that together yourself? Nice looking guitar. What are the PU’s?

Bareknuckle Apache