Badger wrote:

RaistMagus wrote:

Stratdancer, did you do all these changes to your guitar? (saddles, nut, etc). If so, how do you like it now? Did you notice a big improvement?

I'm curious about this as well.

And rather than start a new thread I'd be curious of members' thoughts on choice of frets & material for a Strat re-fret? I had Jumbos once a light-year ago on a lovely '62 Japanese re-issue, but that was back in some bar-band southern/blues-rock times with lots of OD, bends, and not much musicianship.

I run 11's and a bit higher action now than standard, as I find the notes ring clearer and the guitar seems happier overall. Frets on it are standard "medium jumbo" - don't have an aversion to them but wondered if there was something that might last a bit longer in terms of material. Not sure of how sizes run; I played a CS '60 semi-relic (Fiesta Red, lovely neck ) and my guy at the shop said those were pretty much similar to '6105' but he could match whatever I pulled off the wall & liked. Some research indicates that 6105 is fairly common as a size; a bit taller, but not as wide as the "medium jumbo" dimension. I wonder if what I liked about the Fiesta (besides fresh frets) was the tiny bit of height, but with a more defined "point of the note" from the slightly smaller width.

I realize this is a very subjective area but thought I'd solicit some opinions. Thanks for listening.

I have been mainly a Jaguar/Jazzmaster guy for most of my surf-playing years (50 of them...) but usually also had a Strat or two in the inventory as well. During my final stint with The Surge! I was playing rhythm guitar and preferred the Strat in that role as it "cut though" the mix better with it's slightly more focused sound. I also used a Strat on some of the lead tracks on the second Mariners CD. I'm working on a new recording project now and am really enjoying the Strat's clarity on the more uptempo, aggressive songs.

One of my two current Strats is a MIM Road Worn '60's which I like a lot. It has outlasted two Custom Shop Strats and 5 or 6 AVRI ones, all of which have gone to new owners. The RW came with the 6105 frets which I like just fine. The 6105's make chording and bending strings a little easier and aren't intrusive like the Medium Jumbos. I also use 11's and like a slightly higher-then-usual action.

My "number one" Strat is an old (1984) Fullerton-built AVRI that I've had for nearly 20 years. It was already well-used when I got it but OMG, what a sound and what a great neck this one has, better than any Strat I've held or played. It still has the original vintage frets but the previous owner installed a set of Rio Grande "Muy Grande" pickups. They are aggressive without being harsh and the tone is just amazing. It's HUGE but not overwhelming for instrumental use.

I don't know of anyone else in the SG101 surf community that uses these pickups and discovering them was a happy accident since they were already in the guitar.

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

RaistMagus wrote:

Stratdancer, did you do all these changes to your guitar? (saddles, nut, etc). If so, how do you like it now? Did you notice a big improvement?

Wow, this thing is still going. Yes I replaced trems on both strats. One is a GFS with a large solid block that I had to squeeze into my seafoam after using a rasp for 15 minutes. I put a wilkie in my burst and although it doesn't have vintage saddles it came with solid steel saddles but more importantly it has the right alignment holes to add vintage saddles now.

As far as tone is concerned both guitars saw a major improvement and the burst with the TS's has more clarity and bite. I am thinking about leaving the TS's in it because they produce a harder edge growl which I like on some of my songs. I would like to put SD surf's into the seafoam. That guitar has no spank and quack to it with the Tex Mex's. I also want to add vintage saddles to the burst to see if I can raise a little more chime with it. Brighten it up.

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Wes,

Everybody has different preferences, but I've had a bunch of Strats with 6105 frets and always end up going back to vintage frets.

The 6105 frets definitely give you more ring than vintage. If you have a light touch they might work well because you don't have to squeeze as hard to form chords or play lead. So you might find them less tiring for your hands.

However, they can go sharp if you squeeze too hard. This is always my downfall with them.

Also, the vintage frets give you more contact with the wood and a different kind of tone.

I would definitely spend some time with a 6105 fret Strat before making that commitment. But good luck in any case.

Paul

Badger wrote:

A completely original '60 I played (see Unobtainium on the periodic table) is in my top-3 of lovely Strat necks ever, so....

If you have the opportunity, try a '60's (not a '50's) Road Worn Strat. Mine has a "small D" neck profile that is almost identical to the 1960 Custom Shop Strat I had until recently. That one was a 2002 model and I don't know if the newer CS 1960's have a similar neck profile. I don't have long, skinny fingers so I prefer a non-chunky neck.

Interestingly, the Fender site now shows that the Road Worn '60's now come with vintage frets and a 7.25" fingerboard radius. My 2008 version has 6105 frets and a 9.25" radius. Here are the current specs in case you are interested. These guitars are excellent value for money if you can live with the "used and slightly abused" look...

http://www.fender.com/series/road-worn/road-worn-60s-stratocaster-rosewood-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Jack, are you sure about the 9.5" radius on yours? I don't remember what year mine was, but it was definitely a 7.25" radius and lately I've been missing it. The Classic 60's I got in the trade + cash was a good deal, but that Road Worn was pretty exceptional. From what I hear, most of them are. I don't know what it is...some people attribute it to nitro. Mine was set up with DR Pure Blues 11's and played perfectly; a very solid and resonant guitar. It had a really comfortable C neck, not too chunky, and I think my Classic 60's is the same or very similar.

The Mystery Men?
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SSS Agent #31

Richard wrote:

Jack, are you sure about the 9.5" radius on yours? I don't remember what year mine was, but it was definitely a 7.25" radius and lately I've been missing it. The Classic 60's I got in the trade + cash was a good deal, but that Road Worn was pretty exceptional. From what I hear, most of them are. I don't know what it is...some people attribute it to nitro. Mine was set up with DR Pure Blues 11's and played perfectly; a very solid and resonant guitar. It had a really comfortable C neck, not too chunky, and I think my Classic 60's is the same or very similar.

Richard,

Yep, the earlier Road Worns had a 9.25" radius and 6105 frets. The specs on the current ones show 7.25" and vintage frets. Could be a misprint, though...check "Specs" on this page:

http://www.fender.com/series/road-worn/road-worn-60s-stratocaster-rosewood-fingerboard-3-color-sunburst/

Your white one was set up exactly the way mine is - DR Pure Blues 11's.
Aside from my trusty black Fullerton AVRI, my Road Worn will go toe-to-toe with ANY Strat I ever had, including 3 Custom Shop ones and several Corona-built '57 and '62 AVRI's. I'm not saying the RW is better than the high $$ ones, but they got sold and the RW is still here, so....

I do believe that the non-undercoated super thin nitro lacquer coupled with very good but lightweight body wood on the Road Worns makes a positive difference in the way they sound. And the Tex Mex pickups they come with are pretty hot but not strident at all. My RW is the only one I've ever played, so maybe I was lucky and ended up with a really good one but whatever. The dang thing makes me smile every time I pick it up!

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005), 2025
The Hula Hounds (1996-2000)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Last edited: Sep 27, 2014 19:10:51

The best Strat set up for surf is... to buy a Jazzmaster

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

Surf_Skater wrote:

surferjoemusic wrote:

The best Strat set up for surf is... to buy a Jazzmaster

Now Lorenzo, you're going to get Ivan all riled up!

I doubt that; I think Ivan is pretty secure in his own Stratification.

(Thread has kinda morphed from just surf to fret & neck discussions in general, but with valuable input, so...)

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Eh, to each his own.... As long as nobody's telling people that the Strat "is not a good guitar for surf." I draw a line at that - them are fighting words!

Ivan
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surferjoemusic wrote:

The best Strat set up for surf is... to buy a Jazzmaster

Oh! I wanted to write the same… Lorenzo was faster!

Twang cheers!

Ralf Kilauea

www.kilaueas.de

https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien