NGD I went to the Dark Side!!

Congrats Jethro! Your original photos in this thread are some of the #1 best I've ever seen of a difficult finish to capture.

I get three or four asks a year on this finish, because it's so hard to match. When people ask me again, your pics will be my new benchmark.
Aw gosh.....:giggle:
The strip light boxes are very cool. Works great. 2 flashes total for that, 3 for the later shots
 
I tried a few more shots. This is more like the photography thread than guitars.... I also peeled the sticker off the front. It lights up the horns better. 2 strip softboxes plus one flash on front with diffusion.

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That's a great guitar man. Watch out though, I had this happen to me about a year ago and now I play my Strats more than the Les Pauls.
Oh, and you might like a Telecaster Deluxe: two humbuckers and a belly cut. I ended up with a couple of those as well and also play them more than the Les Pauls now (they are serious hard rock machines).

You can thank me later Greg.:D
 
Longer scale length aside, I think my collection deserves a Strat.
Neck is a slimmer D neck, noiseless pickups and an HB in the bridge is a must. Locking tuners 2 point trem bridge I tightened up slightly to sit flat on body. It only had a likea quarter step up anyhow.

Finish is called Texas Tea - looks black but get it in the light. Kind of a low sparkle Gold green black! Really sexy. Will do some back pics tmrw, it has a different high fret access. I need to try n make room to set up my other strip light or try to do a ceiling reflection flash. Hard to photograph!


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vMjLjvr.jpg


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I'm a little late seeing this post, but congratulations!!!

I see it's an American Ultra. Does it have the contoured heel? My American Deluxe has the contoured heel and I really like it.

It looks like it may have the S1 switching, too. My Deluxe has that also. I really like that, too. It opens up a whole new range of tonal options not available on the typical Strat.

I agree with the others; that is a striking color.

Also, am I correct in thinking it has an ebony fingerboard? It almost looks like that to me, unless the rosewood is really dark.
 
I'm a little late seeing this post, but congratulations!!!

I see it's an American Ultra. Does it have the contoured heel? My American Deluxe has the contoured heel and I really like it.

It looks like it may have the S1 switching, too. My Deluxe has that also. I really like that, too. It opens up a whole new range of tonal options not available on the typical Strat.

I agree with the others; that is a striking color.

Also, am I correct in thinking it has an ebony fingerboard? It almost looks like that to me, unless the rosewood is really dark.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
:p
Does have contoured heel, ebony board and S1 switching. Odds of me playing a single coil on bridge is slim to none, preference to none, but it's there.
Should be fun.
 
You may not have even realized this yet, but the humbucker has two screws on one side which allow you to adjust the angle of the humbucker.

I say that you may not realize it yet because, honestly, I never caught that on mine until I started researching possible replacement pickguards.

That is such a cool, sensible feature it baffles me that others don't do that.
 
You may not have even realized this yet, but the humbucker has two screws on one side which allow you to adjust the angle of the humbucker.

I say that you may not realize it yet because, honestly, I never caught that on mine until I started researching possible replacement pickguards.

That is such a cool, sensible feature it baffles me that others don't do that.
I did see that a d wondered the same. You'd think more guitars would have that although in the end how much does it truly do.
 
and S1 switching. Odds of me playing a single coil on bridge is slim to none, preference to none, but it's there.
Just a question of curiosity.
Dose your S-1 switch coil split the bridge HB to a single coil?
And do you know if your S-1 is 250k or 500k?

My ultra started out as SSS, and the S-1 (250k) was wired to have the bridge always on, so you could have all 3 pups in position 4 or bridge & neck in position 5.
With the 5-way in position 1 & 2, the bridge is on anyway, and with the S-1 on, position 3 was the same a 2 (middle & bridge).

When I put in the bridge humbucker for HSS, I left the wiring the same and the 250k S-1 did not do justice to the bridge HB.
I completely eliminated the S-1 when I went to HH with 500k 1V & 1T.

If you're not using the S-1, I'd suggest considering changing the HB wiring to have a parallel option with the S-1.
It adds another tone with a lower pup resistance, but still humbucking - different than a split to single.
 
Just a question of curiosity.
Dose your S-1 switch coil split the bridge HB to a single coil?
And do you know if your S-1 is 250k or 500k?

My ultra started out as SSS, and the S-1 (250k) was wired to have the bridge always on, so you could have all 3 pups in position 4 or bridge & neck in position 5.
With the 5-way in position 1 & 2, the bridge is on anyway, and with the S-1 on, position 3 was the same a 2 (middle & bridge).

When I put in the bridge humbucker for HSS, I left the wiring the same and the 250k S-1 did not do justice to the bridge HB.
I completely eliminated the S-1 when I went to HH with 500k 1V & 1T.

If you're not using the S-1, I'd suggest considering changing the HB wiring to have a parallel option with the S-1.
It adds another tone with a lower pup resistance, but still humbucking - different than a split to single.
Tis a split, yes.
I guess if the Pup has S/P wiring, it would be easy enough. No idea any specs I am not taking off the pickguard unless necessary. I wonder if one could set it up for say neck and middle together but in series instead of parallel. Would be a higher output HB sort of arrangement. But, in an effort to keep it simple for my poor brain, I'll likely either leave it or see if PUp has S/P options.
Thanks!
 
Tis a split, yes.
I guess if the Pup has S/P wiring, it would be easy enough. No idea any specs I am not taking off the pickguard unless necessary. I wonder if one could set it up for say neck and middle together but in series instead of parallel. Would be a higher output HB sort of arrangement. But, in an effort to keep it simple for my poor brain, I'll likely either leave it or see if PUp has S/P options.
Thanks!
Since it can coil split, it a 4-wire pup - so yes, you have series / parallel options.

Not sure about the bridge / middle mega series humbucker idea along with the 5-way blade switch. :hmmm:
The S-1 button is just a different kind switch, like a push/pull pot or a separate DPDT switch.
It essentially does on/on (either/or) or on/off something.
 
Longer scale length aside, I think my collection deserves a Strat.
Neck is a slimmer D neck, noiseless pickups and an HB in the bridge is a must. Locking tuners 2 point trem bridge I tightened up slightly to sit flat on body. It only had a likea quarter step up anyhow.

Finish is called Texas Tea - looks black but get it in the light. Kind of a low sparkle Gold green black! Really sexy. Will do some back pics tmrw, it has a different high fret access. I need to try n make room to set up my other strip light or try to do a ceiling reflection flash. Hard to photograph!


xQ6DXH3.jpg


XvUKp7G.jpg


vMjLjvr.jpg


bI2738O.jpg
Dayum dude... that is HAWT!!!
 
Since it can coil split, it a 4-wire pup - so yes, you have series / parallel options.

Not sure about the bridge / middle mega series humbucker idea along with the 5-way blade switch. :hmmm:
The S-1 button is just a different kind switch, like a push/pull pot or a separate DPDT switch.
It essentially does on/on (either/or) or on/off something.
Right yes on the switch. I thought the 4 way wiring with coil tap meant either 2 coils or off for 1. I did not know you could do S/P with that with an on/off switch. How does that work?
EDIT I did look it up. Interesting.....
 
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