Reloading as a winter hobby

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I hear good things about the Texas Specials. Are those what SRV and Eric Johnson use? I really need to just build a Frankenstrat from the ground up. Apparently, the MIJ strats have a bit of a cult following so I'd kinda like to keep mine as original as I can. I saved all the old pots in case I ever want to reinstall them.

the beauty about swapping pup's is that you still have the originals. I could swap mine all back to stock in a couple hours. I hadn't heard about a big following of the Japan Strat. hmmm wonder why?

I believe the Texas Specials are the ones or similar to what SRV played. they definitely changed the sound of the Strat.

Around here the big thing is guys swapping out a neck and maybe pup's on a MIJ and then trying to pass it off as USA Strat.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Apparently the MIJ strats have a following due to their overall high quality fit and finishes. During the late 80s and early 90s they were building as good, if not better guitars than the American factories for half the price. While they did you slightly lesser grade electronics, the rest of the guitars were made to an insane level of detail and accuracy, particularly the vintage reissue models like mine. Of course, the Japanese have always been famous for their level of craftsmanship and borderline obsessive, attention to detail as well as an ability to replicate anything they see. I know I love my little seafoam green '57 reissue. I've never had so much as single buzzing fret, or loose screw. They're like the Honda of guitars they just keeps going, and going, and going, and going ............. I'm never getting rid of it.

http://www.strat-central.com/japan.htm

 

[thumpar]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I use a Lee Pro 1000 and Reloader. I am setup for .380, 9mm, .223, .270 and 30-30. When I was 12 my dad started reloading and I would help out. The Lee Pro 1000 has loaded tons of .223 and 9mm.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Apparently the MIJ strats have a following due to their overall high quality fit and finishes. During the late 80s and early 90s they were building as good, if not better guitars than the American factories for half the price. While they did you slightly lesser grade electronics, the rest of the guitars were made to an insane level of detail and accuracy, particularly the vintage reissue models like mine. Of course, the Japanese have always been famous for their level of craftsmanship and borderline obsessive, attention to detail as well as an ability to replicate anything they see. I know I love my little seafoam green '57 reissue. I've never had so much as single buzzing fret, or loose screw. They're like the Honda of guitars they just keeps going, and going, and going, and going ............. I'm never getting rid of it.

Strat Central - Japan

I know several session guys who regularly use the MIJ Fenders. Samick actually has several very nice guitars too.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Cool. I had no idea they were anything special when I got it. I just liked the way it looked and felt. It does have a very sharp V-profile neck as opposed to a thinner, flatter neck like more modern models, but it makes chordal playing very easy. I actually need to get it re-fretted, but I'm not sure where to have it done. I could just bolt on a new neck, I suppose, but the serial number is actually on the neck itself and I love the overall feel of it. Plus, the patina and wear pattern on the old nitro cellulose, oragney finish are just starting to come in nicely.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I know several session guys who regularly use the MIJ Fenders. Samick actually has several very nice guitars too.

I'm not sure of the validity of this, but, had a shop owner tell me that Samick actually made almost all of the MIJ guitars out there. Just different branding as it went down the line.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Cool. I had no idea they were anything special when I got it. I just liked the way it looked and felt. It does have a very sharp V-profile neck as opposed to a thinner, flatter neck like more modern models, but it makes chordal playing very easy. I actually need to get it re-fretted, but I'm not sure where to have it done. I could just bolt on a new neck, I suppose, but the serial number is actually on the neck itself and I love the overall feel of it. Plus, the patina and wear pattern on the old nitro cellulose, oragney finish are just starting to come in nicely.

Most shops should have a tech that is capable of refretting. I don't think I would change the neck.

My nephew had his tele refretted not too long ago by a local shop.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

I'm not sure of the validity of this, but, had a shop owner tell me that Samick actually made almost all of the MIJ guitars out there. Just different branding as it went down the line.

Checked that out and found out I goofed ... Samick is Korean not Japanese. To the best that the guitar guru I know here says the Squires are made in Japan. So, I'd say that's not true about Samick.

But check out a few of their guitars. The Greg Bennett stuff is particularly nice.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

probably true about them being Korean and they make most of the guitars there. It's been a number of years since I had that discussion with the shop owner.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

My new Hornady Lock N Load Ap arrived today. Can't wait to set it up. And the loads I made for my .44 29-2 are so sweet to shoot. Why rattle my arms loose if I'm just plinking paper?
I love working on the tube amps though. I can't believe there are so many of us here.


I rebuilt the Accuphase C200 preamp to use with the Dynaco's.


I've also rebuilt a tube tester. It makes working with tubes much easier.


And then I made this rack out of threaded rod and maple sheet.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

very cool looking set up there

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Schweeeeeeetnesss!!!!!! :-0 Is there an "Electronics for Idiots" book I can get to teach me the basics of amps and guitars? I've played them forever, but I'm useless when it comes to the black magic that makes them work.

What sort of music do you like to listen to with that set up? Jazz, Classical, Death Metal... : ) ?

I'm a Blues guy at hear, but I've been working on some "fancy" Northern Indian/Qawwalli scales a la Derek Trucks. I love the way the scales modulate slightly when ascending vs. descending. Check this sweetness out...jump to 5:43 and listen to pure beauty. Dat tone! Not bad for a Gibson

Derek Trucks talks guitar and plays incredible slide - YouTube

 

[ricohman]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

Schweeeeeeetnesss!!!!!! :-0 Is there an "Electronics for Idiots" book I can get to teach me the basics of amps and guitars? I've played them forever, but I'm useless when it comes to the black magic that makes them work.

What sort of music do you like to listen to with that set up? Jazz, Classical, Death Metal... : ) ?

I'm a Blues guy at hear, but I've been working on some "fancy" Northern Indian/Qawwalli scales a la Derek Trucks. I love the way the scales modulate slightly when ascending vs. descending. Check this sweetness out...jump to 5:43 and listen to pure beauty. Dat tone! Not bad for a Gibson

Derek Trucks talks guitar and plays incredible slide - YouTube

That is some nice sound.
I play blues, jazz, some classical and good old rock and roll. No death metal or rap. Although I am sure my sons would like that.
The speakers are Altec 19's that I restored from the dead as the PO butchered them.
I'm far from a pro and I fumble my way through these overhauls.

 

[gm280]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

ricohman, switching back to the reload segment of this thread, I have tons of RCBS reloading equipment with a few Lyman and even a Lee set of dies here and there. I use an RCBS Rock Chucker press with mostly RCBS dies as well. But I have both Lyman and RCBS bullet molds for the most part. I think my sizer/lubricator is Lyman as well. But I've been reloading since before I got married over 40 years ago. My father-in-law (since passed) got me interested in it while I was dating my wife, who also knows how to both reload and mold bullets and shoot. In fact we actually molded bullets for the local police department(s) when we first got married to make a little extra money. My father-in-law work as a SP for the DOD and owned a gun shop. So I have a lot of guns and everything to make my own ammo. Just another hobby I enjoy...

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Reloading as a winter hobby

There was an episode recently of one of the many "Survive in Alaska" type shows where they showed a family reloading and explaining the importance and necessity of it in an area where you can't just run down to the store and buy a box whenever you want. He said they were still using some of the same brass as their dad and grand dad. They had a super simple little manual setup, but it seemed to work well enough.