Replicating A Vintage Stratocaster Body Part II... The Not So Easy Stuff, Round Overs & Contours 

Love your video and your contour cuts. When I started my parts company I didn’t have a clue how the factories made the bodies like the other company on the west coast. After establishing there was a real demand for replacement bodies I flew out to the west coast and found an open garage door of the music man factory which was at that time right next door to CLF Research, Leo’s office. I stood outside watching the flow of the bodies on the pin router and how they screwed the templates to the body blanks to route them. I didn’t get a chance to watch the contours cut and I missed the opportunity to meet Leo in person, damn it! I had to figure out the contours by myself as I did most of the process. I did have the help of my father who had a lifetime of experience in the building trade with architectural woodworking and custom furniture manufacturing and custom installations. It was an advantage I could get advice from him but only after I screwed the pooch. I used an angled stationary fence for the bandsaw cut for the contours too. I like your idea of a sled better. Thanks. I also used a pneumatic sander similar to the one you had. We had a flap sander on one side and the air filled drum on the other. I loved that machine. What a great day when I discovered that. I used to make more of a sexy cut like yours. It’s a very sensuous transition when done correctly, like a sculpture rather than a machined guitar part. And absolutely it varied by many factors but I always knew when a body had that gradual transition without the hard edge, that’s what I always wanted. I never had a template for the contours. The belly cut I’d pencil in on the edges where to enter and exit. The front arm contour were cut by eye. Sometimes there was very little edge left where belly met arm but that was a rarity. You are right on the money Matt with how there must’ve been variations in the individual bodies before CNC came along. People complain about CNC. I never had them nor have I used them yet, but I always found when I improved my workflow, when I created a systematic process that became more easily replicable, my quality always improved as did my efficiency. Making the time invested in figuring things out and setting things up always a more profitable way to spend time. Thanks Matt, I always enjoy your videos

Awesome results, not that I doubted you could do it. I think making a replica JJJ 57 would be killer.

Turning out absolutely beautiful!! Thanks for sharing this build. Couldn't been a serious challenge as we all know you guys have blown it away at TT for long time.

Sure enjoy your show and I’m going to order one of your guitars after the holidays.

I would love to see this 1957 strat body made from old 2x4's glued up in white knotty PINE.

Hands down your way Matt! Technology is cool, but the hand built mindset is where I live, looking forward to someday getting to TTG. Thanks for the outstanding content!!!

Love the variation achieved when a guitar is hand built. No doubt all of your Challengers would inherently have personalities of their own 💜💜💜💜💜💜 Sarah

Darn you guys! 😉 now I think I need to build one ! Great idea Doug! Great job Matt and Chris !

REALLY DIG THE GENEROUS ARM CONTOUR

hadn't seen the dead head sander in a while. glad it's back

I really dig that contour on your strat body. I think both of them will make someone very very happy

Good video. I happen to prefer your thinner edge tummy cut forearm contour. As a matter of fact, I did the same thing on a mahogany body by hand with a sanding block. I actually prefer sanding by hand because it's very therapeutic as well as allows me to put in the details and contours and edges that I prefer. Hopefully you will do a video on how to drill the trem screw holes and post holes on a two-post trem. That part still confuses me. Thanks

Came out great, very nice looking piece of ash! 😋

I think the copy to Steve's guitar you did is darn Good

Pretty close!! So cool body Mat!!

Thanks Matt and Chris!

Great video, I think you nailed it and the whole charm of the pre cnc era as well as the pre CBS era.......I would sign up if I were in the states! Would love to see this finished, neck , electrics etc

Awesome replica, Matt. I think the only fair judgement is you each owe the other lunch. And a beer.

I love yours...... Your contour is called a Bob body right...???? I have an 82 goldie strat that has that knife edge. I also have a 76 that has virtually no contours.

Commented before the end so just to add, pleasssssssssseeee pleassssseede do that 57 project. Would so love to see that

Nice job. Fantastic work my friend. Also like the new show and play of videos that you put out. Great job TTG

🙋I vote for cnc every time. I've never had an opportunity to use a cnc especially a full blown automatic and tool exchange one. But from a standpoint of accuracy, speed and chance of error it can not be beat. A handheld router or table mount will not come out as close no matter how hard I try. Now I got a question on the build, I did not see a mention to the wood used is it ash or spruce? It doesn't look like maple and is it a solid one piece or two or more glued? Same fore the neck hard rock maple? One piece? And lastly will you flame toast the neck?

Great job Matt! That body looks fantastic. I like the more narrow contour that you did. Also, doing the 57 strat sounds like a great video. I just found your channel last week and I love it. Thanks for sharing your talent.

I do forearm and belly contours on Teles with a 4.5" angle grinder, oscillating microtool and Random orbital sander, and finishing by hand with 220.

I think you got very close. It was interesting to see how much your physical movements looked like a CNC machine. It convinced me that a CNC should be used, unless someone wants the personal satisfaction of a more hands on approach.

Hey man, I love your videos. Thank you for making them. I searched through your uploads to find anything on a maxed out truss rod (single action, heel adjust, v. annoying) and wondered if you'd had luck with washers/spacers to get more adjustment. My MIJ Tele neck is permanently upbowed with no more motion in the adjustment nut so I'm a bit stumped on how to get the relief down. Any ideas?

Smasing video. i really like the excessive knife edge of the early 50's bodies. Sleek and swoopy.

Cool video! I’d definitely like to see the actual 57 replication! Eventually I’d like to get out for one of your classes!

I always thought it was weird that the tummy cuts were so much bigger in the 50's and 60's when people were skinnier. lol

What would that cost to buy and the cost of the wood if you dont mind. You do awsome work!

I’ve got one I need to get shaped

I think your arm contouring is closer to original spec, how thin it is at the top edge, lots extend past the halfway point too. The contouring on the old Strats really is beautiful, its a very elegant design.

Can someone tell me why vintage strats have a much more ruff finish in the cavities than all the newer strats? Were the router bits just dull from constant use?

Awesome!

Great video one again

Sre strat diffrent sizes ...or are they all the same ...I have noticed that they look bigger some times is it the burst on them

Wow, what a great result. Nice and very well pronounced contours, those are hard to find. Question, did you use a 1/2” round over bit or 7/16”? I want to emulate your results. Thanks

Dream . . . . . . . Reality Its our conclusive opinion that TTG has, in fact, connected those dots. Next!

Not a replica to me ,but just as good looking, and the thinner edge of the curved part on top looks real cool/beautifule.

If you haven't, try the new 3M RA sander. Quieter and much faster due to design. It's a pro tool so more expensive.

Of course, just put the neck in the pocket and route the body to fit. It hurts to think how many of those I’ve free handed or orbital sanded. Gosh!

nice one! :) Can i ask, what is the angle on that gig you made to cut the arm rest and belly cut parts?

I have one of those bladder sanding thingies for my lathe. Never thought to use it like that. How much do you inflate it when doing that? Would you say that it is aired up kind of hard like a football? Or kind of medium like a Tom Brady football? Or kind of soft like a Yoga ball?

I have a 2012 Fender Classic Series 60s strat and it's body is thick and the contours are crude, not deep and well done like you did them.😢

The strat you did is killer. It's much more relaxing watching you sand then me doing it 😂. Love the idea of doing JJJs 57 pretty sure it would be a hit. Wonder who's initials are on the neck?? Just taking that guitar apart for the measurements would be worth the price of admission.

So Steve's templates use a jack that is a Chinese replica instead of Fender sized? I would probably modify the template too. I don't like the metal that those Chinese replicas use. I love using hand tools for a lot of it myself, especially rasps for the contouring, my band saw isn't big enough to do the cutting how you guys do it on the sled - but again, I enjoy it!! Getting down and dirty. :)

Awesome....!!!

Do you use the red or gray scotch bright?

how many degrees is that sled you use for the arm rest ?

Great job, Matt! just a quick question, how much time involved for each of you to make the body to that point of completion?

Love that Swamp Ash - hope you don't paint over it...

You make a pretty darn nice Strat when you have to 🤘

​Waiting to see how Matt does these contours and round overs, and maybe how we can do them without A Beloved pin router??

Matt - You are a human CNC machine! HNC….

57 Strat replica reminds me of a story I heard on Tone-Talk RU-vid channel recently. Paul Reed Smith was in Motor City Guitar and they had a 55 strat. PRS convinced the owner to allow him to take the guitar and create a replica. Listen to the story at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WCH4toH0_is.html .

The flattery is still severe.

MATT !! at 16.30 ..... take care of your hair !! ! ! ! ! uuuhhhhh. 😧😳

Pre CBS contour? What...so CBS didn't use a contoured body? Wow LOL! I guess the Jimi Hendrix Woodstock Strat didn't have a contoured body LOL!