My "Super-Strat" project...

[T.L.]

Warmoth "Soloist" 2-piece alder body, USACG quarter-sawn maple neck with rosewood cap, C-shape, 10"-16" compound radius, graphite reinforcement rods, top adjust, 6150 SS frets, paua-abalone dot inlays, clear satin finish, Duncan TB-12 bridge pickup (direct-mounted), Dimarzio DP-181 neck pickup (direct-mounted), Original Floyd Rose, Sperzel locking tuners (not shown), Music Man 3-way selector switch with center-position coil tapping, one volume control (no tone), Dunlop Strap-Loks.

'Just need to get the body painted, then I can put it all together & string it up...

[fillmore nyc]

Nice!! I love guitars (and amps, for that matter) that dont have any bells and whistles... just straightforward, no "phase switches", B-Benders, LED's ( ), etc.

Im curious about the center position of the 3 way being coil tapping. How did you work that out? Does that switch have a multifunction to it, and assuming both pickups are on in the middle position, Im also wondering if you used the coils on each pickup that would make that position humbucking?

The only other thing I might have done is put a push/pull pot on the volume, with a small cap (like a .005-.01) on it for a nice simple tone circuit, only cause I use that sort of thing now and then for a little honk when using some gain.

[T.L.]

Is it the same switch that is on all the John Petrucci signature Music Man guitars. The center position turns off (grounds) the two outside coils. The two inside coils remain on and are "hum-canceling" as they are reverse-wound of each other. This provides a Tele middle-position tone that is true single-coil (but with no hum). The switch is about $30, and can be ordered direct from Ernie Ball Music man...

[T.L.]

Finished it...

[vanhalen5150]

Nice paint job. I think you should make a body out of that table.

[Tone Slinger]

Great spec's and a great job ! Very cool looking guitar.

[ray s.]

What took you so long?

[T.L.]

What took you so long?

'Took my sweet time. In fact, it hung on a wall during the entire summer of 2009; I didn't work on it at all. I also had to wait until my paint guy could schedule it in for the paint-job.

It actually sounds pretty good...

[ray s.]

What took you so long?

'Took my sweet time. In fact, it hung on a wall during the entire summer of 2009; I didn't work on it at all. I also had to wait until my paint guy could schedule it in for the paint-job.

It actually sounds pretty good...

I couldn't wait a whole summer lol! I'm getting anxious waiting 1 week for parts! Most impatient person ever.

[TONGA]

Yes very nice looking guitar! And I kinda agree with vanhalen5150, I think you could get a body or 2 out of that table! lol

[azazael]

Nice guitar!
Why ruin it with the ESP decal though?

[flieger67]

... one volume control (no tone) ...

I think you meant "one volume control (MORE tone)..."

Looks nice even without the green finish. Why did you put an ESP logo on it?

Hope you enjoy the guitar regardless.

[T.L.]

... one volume control (no tone) ...

I think you meant "one volume control (MORE tone)..."

Looks nice even without the green finish. Why did you put an ESP logo on it?

Hope you enjoy the guitar regardless.

Yes, that was EXACTLY what I meant!

I wanted an ESP M-series Custom Shop guitar (I already have an M-II Standard, and a EC series), but those idiots quoted me $6,000.00 ! There is NO WAY a new guitar made of non-exotic woods is worth that. I decided "Screw 'em, I'll just build MY OWN and it will be every bit as good!". This guitar cost me $1500, and I had the satisfaction of putting it together myself. ESPs are NOT all that they're hyped to be. I just like the way the M-series and EC series look.

It also has the ESP neck-plate and the heel is contoured. The headstock was cut to ESPs "vintage" shape. It's just slightly different enough that ESP can't sue USACG, but close enough that no one but myself would notice the difference.

I would never try to sell this guitar as a "real" ESP (I'm no scammer). In fact, I don't plan to ever sell it...