Modded my hardtail strat to be a T-type!

[skhan007]

That is a fine piece of work! All the comfort and ergonomics of a Stratocaster, and all the twang and bite of a Telecaster. Best of both worlds!

That painted head stock face to match the body is a beautiful thing. Is this a partscaster, or is it a Fender reissue of some sort. Love that transition decal, too.

Ahhh, Brother from another Mother Bubba!

Curious what model Strat that is?
I keep hunting for hardtail Strat bodies and it's slim pickin's, there's the Robert Cray and then Squiers, must be others I missed.
I did the same guard mod to mount a Tele bridge pickup several years ago, and have since made my main guitar using a raw hardtail Strat body I fabbed up a three saddle bridge plate for from aluminum angle stock.
Just got a second hardtail body from the great Tauro Woodworks on ebay, and he made some spec changes for me including drilling for a four screw Tele bridge rather than the Strat hardtail bridge.

It’s a Warmoth body and neck, hardtail, that I built about 21 years ago. Very well-played and super worn in. I’ll post more up close pics soon.

 

[brookdalebill]

Kewl!

 

[jays0n]

I did this to an 80s Bullet. It’s a top load and the original 6 saddles without much tension on em would rattle. This solved it (two strings pressure on each saddle and maybe the width helps too).

 

[telemnemonics]

I did this to an 80s Bullet. It’s a top load and the original 6 saddles without much tension on em would rattle. This solved it (two strings pressure on each saddle and maybe the width helps too).
View attachment 938171

Looks like the saddles are sitting on the plastic guard?
Is there a metal bridge plate?
Cool however you made it work!

 

[jays0n]

Looks like the saddles are sitting on the plastic guard?
Is there a metal bridge plate?
Cool however you made it work!

Ahhh yeah, this guitar has a metal, pickguard/bridge plate that is all one piece. I drilled new holes between the existing 6.

 

[stilesg57]

Cool thread, I am interested in doing something like these for a future build someday.

Any noticed tonal effect by screwing the Tele pickup directly to a plastic pickguard on these Strat hybrids vs a Tele-style bridge or metal mounting plate that surrounds the pickup?

 

[telemnemonics]

Cool thread, I am interested in doing something like these for a future build someday.

Any noticed tonal effect by screwing the Tele pickup directly to a plastic pickguard on these Strat hybrids vs a Tele-style bridge or metal mounting plate that surrounds the pickup?

Yes for a number of reasons that combine.
No steel around the pickup.
Different bridge design whether Strat trem or hardtail plate. Break angle included in bridge design.
Different saddle type and material.

 

[skhan007]

Here are some up close pics of my hardtail strat bubba conversion. The neck is really worn-in naturally from about 20 years of hard playing. Check out the rosewood board.

 

[Sax-son]

No reason not to, Lowell George had a tele setup in his Strat years before all this hot rodding was being done. Ry Cooder has his Strats set up like a lap steel. Just other variations of the platform.

This is my variation of a Tele set up. Fender Custom Shop 54's wired like a Telecaster. but 2 single coils in tandem like the Robbie Robertson strat. Sounds awesome and has a lot of punch. The bottom tone knob is a dummy.

 

[bottlenecker]

We should all have a neighbor that is a "machinist who builds custom motorcycles..."

That's a fine looking guitar, my dude.
Peace - Deeve

I am that neighbor. Careful what you wish for.

 

[Sax-son]

It's nice to keep them as simple as possible. Tune it up, turn it up and wail.

 

[willietheweirdo]

Here are some up close pics of my hardtail strat bubba conversion. The neck is really worn-in naturally from about 20 years of hard playing. Check out the rosewood board.

Awesome. Fender should put (and keep) these in the catalogue...

What kind of switching did you opt for?

 

[skhan007]

Awesome. Fender should put (and keep) these in the catalogue...

What kind of switching did you opt for?

Just a regular three-way switch, one vol., two tones. Interestingly, it's a very bright sounding guitar (a good thing to me). I think it's easy to roll down the tone knob on a bright guitar, but can't add highs to a dark/dull sounding guitar. Somehow, this one twangs pretty nicely. Must be the combination of the bridge/saddle materials and Fralin pickups.

 

[CRigmaster]

That is the first time I have ever seen anything like that. Looks awesome.

 

[That Cal Webway]

Nize!!

 

[Chicago Matt]

After learning about the Bubba mod, I decided to have my hardtail strat bridge drilled to accommodate three brass saddles. My neighbor is machinist who builds/mods custom motorcycles, so he has all the fabrication equipment. I got some Wilkinson saddles, put in a set of Fralin Blues Specials (some of my favorite pickups ever made- manufactured right here in Virginia!) and had custom pickguard made. I really dig this guitar and since I don't have a rosewood board tele, it kind of satisfies that need! I guess I should call this a Bubbacaster.

Wow, very cool guitar!