This is something that I have always had simmering away at the back of my mind. At the end of last year (or was it January? who knows!) I finally satisfied a longtime dream of buying a Les Paul (a black standard, goddamn it is perfect) and aside from a decent acoustic, other instruments don't really appeal to me. I'm not in a band, and don't play professionally, so my new Les Paul and the crappy old Ibanez I also have will be all I need in terms of personal use.
But to have a dream machine?
So far (and this may change in parts) I have decided on a Fender Mustang body shape.
The Mustang just looks so retro cool. I'll do away with the crazy switching found in a Mustang (either a 3 or 5 way switching system depending on what pickups I decide on) and either a pair of P-90s or Strat style single coils. I'll spring for top of the line Bareknuckle pickups in either case. I am thinking p-90s for the sake of not having to get four cavities routed in the body, but I already have 2 humbucking guitars, the variety of single coils is tempting.
For the bridge I want a stratocaster style tremolo. Why? Coz I haven't had one in fifteen years.
A standard Left Handed Stratocaster replacement neck and for the colour of the body I am thinking of a nice teal. Maybe a transparent teal if I get a piece of body wood with sexy grain.
All up the parts will probably cost a bit over a grand, which is still cheaper than if I were to buy something of similar quality. A Made in Mexico standard Stratocaster is over a grand AU. As I will be collecting the parts over a year (maybe less depending on my finances and schedule) it'll be a breeze. The main costs will be routing the electronics cavities and the pickups. I am pretty confident I can do this though. A labour of love is never hard work and all that jazz.
Once I get back from my Melbourne trip over Halloween, I will spring for the neck to get the project started.
Quite exciting!