NGD

mkgearhead · 07-05-2010, 11:06 PM

I just picked up a Starcaster (I know

) at a pawn shop for $55. It has a full thickness solid wood body, and a 2 point tremolo. The single coils are alnico and the humbucker is ceramic. It has alpha 500k pots (gotta go). The satin gunmetal gray body doesn't have a scratch on it and the plastic was still on the pickguard and tuners. It even came with a really nice padded gigbag and a strap. The pickup cavity has sheilding paint that is actually conductive.

I had to tighten the trussrod almost a whole turn to get the bow out of it. It was really loose. The tuners were also loose. After all that it plays and sounds pretty good. I'm not impressed with the humbucker, but the singles sound great. I'm also having a little trouble getting used to the headstock shape. It feels like I'm carrying a spear.

Enough of my rambling, here's the pics.

Stratatattat · 07-05-2010, 11:11 PM

nice find! yeah, the headstock shape is different, but looks like it's got some decent mods there. u replacing the pots w/ CTS?

squierjosh · 07-05-2010, 11:15 PM

Nice looking axe!

pictoratus · 07-06-2010, 01:18 AM

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal there. The Alnico pups are better than I thought that model would have as stock. And a full thickness body to boot!

mkgearhead · 07-06-2010, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pictoratus

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal there. The Alnico pups are better than I thought that model would have as stock. And a full thickness body to boot!

I almost passed it over just looking at the headstock, but then I saw the 2 point trem and decided to take a closer look. I'm glad I did. Aside from the headstock, it's alot like a Squier Standard series.

YeahDoIt · 07-06-2010, 05:48 AM

Wow nice guitar! And it came with a nice gigbag and a strap too. You did good on this deal.

edandis · 07-06-2010, 08:38 AM

Congrats on your purchase. I agree, if not for the headstock it would look like a standard strat.

softwarejanitor · 07-06-2010, 03:17 PM

You don't see many of those around anymore with the bizzaro old "arrow" headstock. Just out of curiosity, what is the spacing between the posts on that two point trem? I'm wondering if I shouldn't keep my eyes out for one of those if I can get it cheap enough. Drop the right neck on it and a few other upgrades and it would be pretty nice... Maybe a Dave Murray-ish build.

mkgearhead · 07-07-2010, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

You don't see many of those around anymore with the bizzaro old "arrow" headstock. Just out of curiosity, what is the spacing between the posts on that two point trem? I'm wondering if I shouldn't keep my eyes out for one of those if I can get it cheap enough. Drop the right neck on it and a few other upgrades and it would be pretty nice... Maybe a Dave Murray-ish build.

The post spacing is 63mm (just under 2 1/2"). From what I've read, it's the same spacing as a Squier Standard. I just need to find a neck from a Standard before I accidentally impale myself on this headstock.

Squier?!? · 07-07-2010, 12:23 AM

Would an Affinity neck fit on a Starcaster body
or would it have to be a neck from a Standard?

mkgearhead · 07-07-2010, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squier?!?

Would an Affinity neck fit on a Starcaster body
or would it have to be a neck from a Standard?

As long as the heel is 2 3/16" wide it should fit fine.

mkgearhead · 07-24-2010, 02:26 PM

I just couldn't bond with the headstock shape on this thing, so it was off to ebay. I picked up an Affinity neck for $19.45 Shipped. Someone tried to scallop it at th 21st fret, but didn't go very far. I sanded it smooth and it isn't even noticable. It bolted right up without having to redrill the mounting holes. It even plays better now. I also got rid of the chrome knobs. They just didn't look right, besides, I needed them for another project.

So, for under $75, I have a really nice guitar. Now I just need to replace the humbucker. Any suggestions?

Before:

After:

squierjosh · 07-24-2010, 03:04 PM

I like my GFS Alnico Fat Pat. Under $30 for the black one. Can't beat that.

[QUOTE=mkgearhead;16473]I just couldn't bond with the headstock shape on this thing, so it was off to ebay. I picked up an Affinity neck for $19.45 Shipped. Someone tried to scallop it at th 21st fret, but didn't go very far. I sanded it smooth and it isn't even noticable. It bolted right up without having to redrill the mounting holes. It even plays better now. I also got rid of the chrome knobs. They just didn't look right, besides, I needed them for another project.

So, for under $75, I have a really nice guitar. Now I just need to replace the humbucker. Any suggestions?

motoman45 · 07-25-2010, 10:56 AM

50 bucks, nice , lots of money left over to mod!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mijstrat72 · 07-25-2010, 11:15 PM

I just bought (2 months ago) a GFS 59 PAF. I really like it alot. Around $30.

Robb. · 07-31-2010, 04:46 PM

Nice cheap find, im so glad you ditched that dreadfull headstock too, looks way better now. im sure it doesnt sounds that bad either?

Squier?!? · 07-31-2010, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkgearhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robb.

Nice cheap find, im so glad you ditched that dreadfull headstock too, looks way better now.

What Robb said. ^

That's a killer lookin' Fat Strat now... menacing,
in a classic Oakland/L.A. Raiders kind of a way.

Nice work, gearhead.

mkgearhead · 11-06-2010, 05:20 PM

I finally got around to replacing the tuners on this one. There was nothing wrong with the old ones, I just thought these were cool and I got them on eBay for $6.