Thread: Potential Stratocaster scales

RT you got me intrigued about Stratocaster scales so I did the usual web search for the shape.

Here is the stylized version based on the 1954 Stratocaster, since the real proportions have a much shorter body and would not protect the blade.

The plain outline is for the standard TI scale shape and I included it for reference and scale (no pun intended).

The body in this one would be 1/4" purpleheart carved and sanded closer to 1/8" and heat treating the perimeter would create a nice sunburst effect without resorting to stains or paints.

The white pickguard could be left out or a thin white plexiglass inlay could be used. Never did that so this would be an experiment.

The neck I would probably use a different wood or purpleheart without the heat treatment so it stays light. I only have 1/8" chechen and the neck needs 1/4" for strength and depth. I could always spend the $10-15 and order a 1/4" light wood for the neck.

The guitar face would be in the back of the razor to give more length to the body at the blade edge. Otherwise the edge may hang in the air.

The yellow elements in the picture would be brass inlays for more detail in the scales.

I would definitely steal the blade from the violin scales for these ones. These are much more beefy and that blade would look balanced here.



Is it worth the bother? What do you think?

Well if you really want to, but personally, I'd go with a Les Paul because it's classier.

Vlad, your efforts in making scales are real treat.

Personaly, I don't think i'd use one of them music theme scales. I hate distorting perfection, like the Strat and Strad(ivarius) bodies. That is like you perspective distort Picaso... And being guitar player my self, and owning one of those babies, it just looks fault to me, missing parts, frets, strings e.t.c...

Another thing. The scales on the razor are bult in the way they support the blade with tension created by the specific shape of the end spacer, which is wedge shaped. The reason it is done that way is to force fix the scales when open in shaving position, preventing them to dangle around, making the razor pain to control. The necks of this instruments contact the blades with small area, and are too thin to whitstand applyed presssure on them, or will flex too much and not fix the blade in position...

happy scaling,
Nenad

Make it Vlad! To improve the strength use some brass shim stock available at hobby stores. They have a wide variety of thickness'es.
This would be a showpiece to be used infrequently, it doesn't have to be built like a tank.

I'm with Randy on this one, I still get weak in the knees looking at that violin one. Personally, if I were you, I'd go into business .... fast. I would start looking at other designs too. Ducks?, motorcycles?, guns?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Ducks?, motorcycles?, guns?

Pea Pods?, Cactus?, Snake?

Great feedback guys. As always when it comes to taste everyone's is different. Nothing wrong with that, we don't all shave with the same soap, cream or gel either.

XMan you may kid but there is probably a guy or two out there that just must have a pea-pod scaled razor. Of course they would probably want it anonymously and shipped in a plain brown wrapper.

I agree the shape makes it harder to make a snug fit to the scales especially when the tang is uneven. The violin for example fits snug when closed and when the scales are 90 degrees up behind the blade for shaving. In between they fit loosely.

Strengthwise they are very sturdy. The neck is 1/4" on one side and 1/8" on the back. The 1/4" is dove tailed into the body with G2 epoxy which is a bit flexible (very little). The back of the neck is overlapped on the body and also epoxied in. The epoxy is stronger than the wood so no weakness there.

I considered using a metal liner but saw no need once the pieces were epoxied in.

As far as distortion is concerned it is a personal choice. Some will like it some will hate it. I made the violin simply because I was bored and wanted to try something different, especially something that would take longer than an hour or two for plain scales.

Out of curiosity I will put a W&B 6/8 blade into the violin scales to make it look more balanced and put it up on e-bay to see what it can fetch.

In the meantime I will start on the guitar scales for the same blade that is in the voilin scales now.

I tried the selective heating of purpleheart for the sunburst effect and it works well. I can get the outer part almost black with inner one fading from natural light purple. Being true to the Strat is not an option, the distortion takes care of that so why bother with the paint job. Purpleheart only needs to be heat treated and stays natural otherwise.

I'll keep you posted on the results.

Originally Posted by vladsch

I tried the selective heating of purpleheart for the sunburst effect and it works well. I can get the outer part almost black with inner one fading from natural light purple. Being true to the Strat is not an option, the distortion takes care of that so why bother with the paint job. Purpleheart only needs to be heat treated and stays natural otherwise.

I'll keep you posted on the results.

Well, you will end up not very far from this, still nice looking:



good luck with the scales, and don't forget to post them,
Nenad

Vlad, I'd love to see a Pea Pod scaled razor and especially a actus or anything else you can come up with. Your imagination and creativity are delightful! Don't think for a minute that I'm dis-ing this. I love what you're doing and am merely trying to inspire further lateral thoughts about scales to see where else it might lead your genius.

X