Tom's Townsend Strat build thread
Discussion
Right. Had a new Guitarbuild body delivered with the right routing on it so it's time to start my build thread.
Inspiration for this is that I have a Clapton Strat which I love, but really prefer the versatility of the modified ones that Pete Townsend uses. For those that don't know these have an acoustic style Piezo pickup in the bridge, so he doesn't have to swap to an acoustic for songs like Pinball Wizard.
But I didn't want to cut around a Fender Artist series guitar for my first attempt at customising...
So instead I have a custom neck in the same Soft V profile from Northwest Guitars, but with a Telecaster heel from an aborted project. Body is a Guitarbuild 2 piece swamp ash Strat style, routed from the rear so no scratchplate. I'm going to oil the wood rather than paint it, partly for aesthetics and party because varnish and I don't get on well...
Townsend's guitars are the previous spec Clapton models with Lace Sensor Gold pickups and the mid-boost circuit. I've picked up a set of second hand Lace Sensors, but much hotter ones so I'm going to give it a try without the boost to start with. (partly as the boost circuit kits seem to be out of stock everywhere).
Bridge with built in pickup is a Fishman Powerbridge, with the Fishman Powerchip mixer control to blend between it and the electrics, or output via a stereo lead to send the sensors to an amp and the "acoustic" to a PA.
Photos tonight when I start collating bits...
Inspiration for this is that I have a Clapton Strat which I love, but really prefer the versatility of the modified ones that Pete Townsend uses. For those that don't know these have an acoustic style Piezo pickup in the bridge, so he doesn't have to swap to an acoustic for songs like Pinball Wizard.
But I didn't want to cut around a Fender Artist series guitar for my first attempt at customising...
So instead I have a custom neck in the same Soft V profile from Northwest Guitars, but with a Telecaster heel from an aborted project. Body is a Guitarbuild 2 piece swamp ash Strat style, routed from the rear so no scratchplate. I'm going to oil the wood rather than paint it, partly for aesthetics and party because varnish and I don't get on well...
Townsend's guitars are the previous spec Clapton models with Lace Sensor Gold pickups and the mid-boost circuit. I've picked up a set of second hand Lace Sensors, but much hotter ones so I'm going to give it a try without the boost to start with. (partly as the boost circuit kits seem to be out of stock everywhere).
Bridge with built in pickup is a Fishman Powerbridge, with the Fishman Powerchip mixer control to blend between it and the electrics, or output via a stereo lead to send the sensors to an amp and the "acoustic" to a PA.
Photos tonight when I start collating bits...
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