Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project Finished Pg. 2

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project Finished Pg. 2

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:03 pm

With all the guitars I have worked on, this is my first hardtail stratocaster. :D I got it pretty cheap off of ebay just now. I plan to use my loaded hotrail strat guard on it I have left over after sending on that turquoise Strat a ways back. The guard has been sitting waiting for a new home. :)

Image6 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

Image7 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210514_210139 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
Last edited by HNB on Thu Nov 04, 2021 1:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by marqueemoon » Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:16 pm

Nice. A lightweight hardtail Strat sounds pretty fun.

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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:23 pm

Seems up my alley. I have been on a tele kick lately but I don't like how they feel when standing. This kind of has a tele bridge of sorts, but strat body comfort. :)
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by Jan Deal » Fri Sep 17, 2021 4:12 am

This will be v cool! Maple fingerboard and 70's headstock please!
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Fri Sep 17, 2021 5:20 am

I am leaning along those lines. :)
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 22, 2021 7:50 am

The pickguard looks good on it. Bridge comes today. I will get those loaded in later.

ImageIMG_20210921_163158 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210921_163202 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210921_163210 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by Embenny » Wed Sep 22, 2021 3:25 pm

Hey, that looks familiar...
The artist formerly known as mbene085.

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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:00 pm

?
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:01 pm

Oh the blue strat? Hope it is still treating you well. :)
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by Embenny » Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:16 am

HNB wrote:
Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:01 pm
Oh the blue strat? Hope it is still treating you well. :)
It is :D

Yeah, I meant both my guitar and your pickups that used to live in it. FWIW, I think those black hot rails look 1000x better in this white strat than in the blue. I love the contrast between the black plastic knobs and pickups and the white body and pickguard. Very sharp!

I think hardtail strats are underrated. Like you said, they can end up essentially being "a Telecaster but more comfortable."

I got my first Tele recently and I'm in love with it but I do notice the lack of forearm contour pretty much constantly, so I get exactly what you're saying.
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:44 am

I feel like the telecaster is like the ultimate lap guitar, but I just can't figure out how to play them comfortably standing. Probably a result of my American sized belly.... LOL

I agree that the black and white contrast is working well. I am really digging it. I got the bridge installed.

ImageIMG_20210923_065507 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210923_065516 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210923_065512 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:05 pm

Just needs a neck now. :) Next month thing to do. :)

ImageIMG_20210928_125920 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210928_125925 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20210928_125936 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by Lame Pseudonym » Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:29 pm

HNB wrote:
Thu Sep 23, 2021 6:44 am
I feel like the telecaster is like the ultimate lap guitar, but I just can't figure out how to play them comfortably standing. Probably a result of my American sized belly.... LOL

I thought that the Jazzmaster was designed to be (uniquely) a lap guitar. I think that except for the horns the Stratocaster and the Telecaster are the exact same shape.

As for Telecasters and Junior and other sharp-edged guitars, I don't need the back contour as much as I need the front relief. Maybe I'm holding the guitar wrong but that edge cutting into my arm is not favorable.

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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Wed Oct 20, 2021 5:27 am

The only way a tele doesn't feel awful to me is if you have it up high like an acoustic guitar. Tom Morello plays them that way. My arm doesn't touch the edges if it is up high like that since your arm basically comes across the guitar from the bottom. Just feels weird to do it that way for me.

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Re: Blonde Hardtail MJT Stratocaster Project

Post by HNB » Fri Oct 29, 2021 7:41 am

Neck came in and I worked on dying and staining it. It turned out darker than I had planned, but I think it will still be cool with this body. :)

ImageIMG_20211028_112739 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr

ImageIMG_20211028_112745 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr


Added a bone nut. Will start wiping on finish once the stain is dry.

ImageIMG_20211029_083303 by Christopher Louck, on Flickr
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