So started in on this. Need some replacement nuts for output jack and under the knobs. Locking tuners and black string tree otw. Got a black replacement nut as well. Haven't decided on the bridge whether I'm getting some black saddles or just swapping the bridge. Doing an internal GK install. Should be cool once the Bumblebee is complete.

no yellow humbucker??

my strat gas is through the roof

If you do a yellow HB, order some yellow single coil covers from DiMarzio to match.

So I get the black hardware but also I wanted to keep the Strat bent steel saddles for that “strat” sound. I really feel those are fairly key to what sorta makes a strst sound like they do. Even if I have a higher output humbucker I’m the bridge now. The singles still deliver a true strat tone which is sumthin I like having these days. But I feel the stock saddles are a bit cheaply made. And had to upgrade them. I don’t think they sell black ones?? And if they did I think it would maybe defeat the purpose I just mentioned.

But I did put black locking tuners and after all my setup work, I really can get pretty heavy handed with the bar and stay in tune! Somehow I never REALLY thought it was possible despite Hendrix and even Evh back in the day being crazy bar guys and finding ways to keep it closely in tune. Anyway, all I’m saying, the black tuners look cool and I could see a black bridge being a good fit, but unless I get a wild hair one day and put a Floyd on it, I think I’m sticking with the stock bridge.

If you can handle a bit of chrome maybe just get the graphtech black block saddles for this. I’ve been pretty impressed having installed them a bunch at work. They def will change the tone from the bent steel but they still sound really good

I think the Gotoh 510 is a great option that comes in black. I have one on my Sterling JP150 and it's great. You could probably use the bent steel saddles on it as well.

Thanks for the info. Black graphtecs sound like a good call on the saddles. I think the chrome will blend a bit better if I go that route.

I am interested in having a bar on something. As is; this thing plays great. I'm gonna get back it next week once more parts get in.

I'll keep that in mind. I'm going to have to do some work on the gk install first. Ugh.

You should just use the Graphtech Ghost system with the 13 pin connection, that would be the cleanest way to have black saddles and MIDI

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... ng-spacing


https://sporthitech.com/products/graph- ... 20Shopping

Good idea. Never tried the ghost system. Always read it wasn't as good as the GK stuff because of the piezo factor?

No that's nonsense. I've worked a lot with MIDI over piezos when I was at Line 6 (that's how the Variax works) and it's completely fine.

Bumble Bee update

Graphtec nut, black fender locking tuners and graphtech saddles. Black screws, knobs and jackplate. Other than my "luthier" job on the pickguard and GK; it looks damn good I think \m/ I have a GK jackplate coming and down the road will install it and swap out the pickguard for a cleaner look. It plays GREAT and I think I have hobbled it enough that it's a keeper

Looks killer man!!!

I dig it! Action is super low. I might have to raise it up juuuuuuuuuust a hair. But plays great and looks killer other than the pickguard hatchet job

That’s a sexy Strat if there ever was!

That's the perfect color for a weird synth access guitar tbh

Looks epic

Thanks dudes \m/

Next step; when I feel like going more full blown is grabbing this

I will tie in an external GK to it and remove the body wart

I am going to end up with a 2ply pickguard and top mount the GK. I am going to pull off one of the tone knobs as well as just have the two knobs at the bottom. I need to raise the saddles jussssssssst a small hair.