Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:20 pm How terrible could this be?

https://www.dhgate.com/product/custom-4 ... 1-EALw_wcB

...

Like ... i know it's gonna be kinda shit, there's no way it couldnt be. But if you were a person like me that likes messing with gear and wouldnt mind fretwork, replacing parts, etc.....would it be too shit or could it be cool?

If I was going Fakenbass, I'd probably embrace the glaring inaccuracies and go for the Harley Benton one (RB-414) from Thomann...
There's a better than average chance it'll be playable, and mild fettling alone would get you somewhere in the heighbourhood of "good". Proper inlays would be nice, but honestly, I actually quite like what they've done with the body shape.

fatchance wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 3:45 pm Does anyone have a noise gate pedal they like? I'm wanting to add one to the pedal board so that i get feedback when distortion pedal is on and gate is off, but no feedback when distortion is on and gate is on.

I like my MXR Noise Clamp. Dip switches inside so you can change how it functions.

"Internal switch toggles between two bypass modes: Loop Bypass or Loop
On. When in Loop Bypass mode, the Send/Return effects loop is bypassed
when the pedal is off. In Loop On mode, the Send/Return effects loop is
active while the pedal is off. This can be accessed by removing the back
plate of the pedal."

Aftermarket Strat bodies! Anybody have a good source?

Prices on Fender parts have gone fucking bonkers, and since I'm in Canada, even if I manage to find something in stock/decently priced, I'm getting annihilated by an extra 20% import fees.
Allparts and Warmoth no longer seem to be an affordable alternative to Fender Mexico parts either.

Allen Eden looks okay, but I have read wildly polarized reviews. Half the reviews are "Wow, perfect fit! Amazing!" and others are "This piece of shit isn't right at all! This is a scam!" and I can't really tell if these negative reviews are just some fuddy duddy who is moaning over a couple millimetres of sanding.

brownreasontolive wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:22 am Aftermarket Strat bodies! Anybody have a good source?

Prices on Fender parts have gone fucking bonkers, and since I'm in Canada, even if I manage to find something in stock/decently priced, I'm getting annihilated by an extra 20% import fees.
Allparts and Warmoth no longer seem to be an affordable alternative to Fender Mexico parts either.

Allen Eden looks okay, but I have read wildly polarized reviews. Half the reviews are "Wow, perfect fit! Amazing!" and others are "This piece of shit isn't right at all! This is a scam!" and I can't really tell if these negative reviews are just some fuddy duddy who is moaning over a couple millimetres of sanding.

The GFS bodies are as affordable as it gets. I think they use pretty light/soft wood though so I wouldn't go that route if you do heavy bending (I worry about screws popping out) but if you keep it light, or prefer to go hard tail (which they offer) it's a good option.

https://www.guitarfetish.com/Lido-ST-Do ... _1128.html

penningtron wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:32 am

brownreasontolive wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:22 am Aftermarket Strat bodies! Anybody have a good source?

Prices on Fender parts have gone fucking bonkers, and since I'm in Canada, even if I manage to find something in stock/decently priced, I'm getting annihilated by an extra 20% import fees.
Allparts and Warmoth no longer seem to be an affordable alternative to Fender Mexico parts either.

Allen Eden looks okay, but I have read wildly polarized reviews. Half the reviews are "Wow, perfect fit! Amazing!" and others are "This piece of shit isn't right at all! This is a scam!" and I can't really tell if these negative reviews are just some fuddy duddy who is moaning over a couple millimetres of sanding.

The GFS bodies are as affordable as it gets. I think they use pretty light/soft wood though so I wouldn't go that route if you do heavy bending (I worry about screws popping out) but if you keep it light, or prefer to go hard tail (which they offer) it's a good option.

https://www.guitarfetish.com/Lido-ST-Do ... _1128.html

Nice one, FM Penningtron!
At roughly $300 USD cheaper than what I've been looking at, those are definitely worth a shot.
Cheers!

Yeah.. FM Tommy bought a hard tail one a few years back I think so hopefully he can offer more insight. Looks like they offer a better variety of woods now too (the translucent ash ones are cool)

I have also used the GFS bodies for 2 builds and they were just fine. A tele and a strat that I blocked up the trem caivity on. Routing was pretty good but not perfect. They are budget parts, SUPER light, as stated, but haven't had any issues with mine. I gotta recommend a place called Tauro Woodworks. I bought a DC tele body from them for $60 and it was so much nicer than I was expecting. Ash, I think? Don't know for sure but it was an absolute steal for the price and made the GFS stuff seem like it was from the dollar store in comparison. Here's a link to their ebay seller page.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/taurowoodworks ... 7675.l2559

They're on f book too. If you contact them I'm sure they would do something custom if you don't see what you're looking for. I have not seen anything else of their quality for the price.

Tom Wanderer wrote: I gotta recommend a place called Tauro Woodworks.

Another great rec! If I can find a decent place to paint, this may be the way to go.

Thanks!

penningtron wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:44 am Yeah.. FM Tommy bought a hard tail one a few years back I think so hopefully he can offer more insight. Looks like they offer a better variety of woods now too (the translucent ash ones are cool)

Yep, I bought a GFS XGP Fiesta Red Strat hardtail that I married an EGC neck and pickup to. I love that guitar. The body was $69. I had a luthier friend route it to fit a humbucker and it turned out great. I think he also had to lightly sand the neck pocket for that neck to fit. Looks like it's now $89 and has humbucker routes. Still an awesome deal.

The body itself wasn't perfect. If you looked at it from the side you could tell that it wasn't planed totally flat. And the finish was a little thin (if you look close enough you can faintly see grain). Not a big deal to me. It's held up well. Mine was poplar and is super light. I don't see them mention the wood now. Might be the same. Might be different.

No regrets.

https://www.guitarfetish.com/XGP-Premiu ... 39746.html

penningtron wrote: Fri Sep 17, 2021 9:32 amI think they use pretty light/soft wood though so I wouldn't go that route if you do heavy bending (I worry about screws popping out)

https://www.guitarfetish.com/Lido-ST-Do ... _1128.html

I had a Squier Strat from the 90's that was really soft. I and the screw holes stripped out all the time. if you hit the wood around the hole with some thin super glue and let it dry before threading a screw in there makes it tougher. I never had a problem after doing that. Might be a slick "mod" before completing a project with one of these cheapo bodies. I'm pretty tempted to buy one because Strats are fun.