Von Herndon Custom Gibson Scale Stratocasters:

And the Rosewood neck Tele.

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Actually played one at GC ---I wasnt OVERLY impressed......and I THINK ---it was made in CHINA---- as is the F hole Semi Hollow Fender Telecaster I played as well. .......or Indonesia---- any way I played several ASIAN Fenders that day----not Squiers ......FENDERS MIC and MII ........wheel.....bus.........off.........
 
So, I been sketching out this guitar for the past few months. I'm thinking that building a prototype is in order.
 
Cool. Are you winding your own pickups for it?

And how is your self-wound pickups coming along, by the way? Looks like a very cool thing to do.

I took a little break from the pickups for a while.... :-) It's really not hard to wind and charge magnets, etc., but it is rather time consuming.

I was actually surprised my wife offered to fund this Stratocaster/Gibson Scale Project. I think she would like to see it become a side business....
 
but it is rather time consuming.
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Necessity is a mother.
 
I took a little break from the pickups for a while.... :-) It's really not hard to wind and charge magnets, etc., but it is rather time consuming.

I was actually surprised my wife offered to fund this Stratocaster/Gibson Scale Project. I think she would like to see it become a side business....

That sounds cool.

Just be careful not to call it a Strat or Stratocaster. Both of those names are trademarked by Fender.

Court cases have tended to not allow a manufacturer to sue another company for a similar shape, such as when Gibson tried to sue PRS over their single cut guitar.

But, using the same name anywhere in your description of the guitar would be an open door for a trademark violation suit.
 
That sounds cool.

Just be careful not to call it a Strat or Stratocaster. Both of those names are trademarked by Fender.

Court cases have tended to not allow a manufacturer to sue another company for a similar shape, such as when Gibson tried to sue PRS over their single cut guitar.

But, using the same name anywhere in your description of the guitar would be an open door for a trademark violation suit.

Good point. I only refer to it herein as such...but I would have to find a suitable name for it...
 
The pickups are lovely, tone dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to wind before I sleep....
 
Cool. Are you winding your own pickups for it?

And how is your self-wound pickups coming along, by the way? Looks like a very cool thing to do.

My prototype will be the early "big" strat body, like a 50's model made from Mahogany with a swimming pool rout, hardtail, wide spaced bridge and three humbuckers.

I may use Carvin pickups in the prototype because they offer the greatest variations in wiring.

The neck is mahogany, Gibson scale length, big headstock, dual adjustment truss, compound radius rosewood fretboard, smallest 6230 fretwire, Fender roller trees and vintage Fender tuners.

After the prototype is built, I may start making other custom models to order if there is continued interest in them.

Naturally, not everyone will want a Gibson voiced Stratocaster, but I have built a lot of regular Stratocaster's for people, so I can produce just about anything....
 
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My prototype will be the early "big" strat body, like a 50's model made from Mahogany with a swimming pool rout, hardtail, wide spaced bridge and three humbuckers.

I may use Carvin pickups in the prototype because they offer the greatest variations in wiring.

The neck is mahogany, Gibson scale length, big headstock, dual adjustment truss, compound radius rosewood fretboard, smallest 6230 fretwire, Fender roller trees and vintage Fender tuners.

After the prototype is built, I may start making other custom models to order if there is continued interest in them.

Naturally, not everyone will want a Gibson voiced Stratocaster, but I have built a lot of regular Stratocaster's for people, so I can produce just about anything....
The Herndon Gibsocaster!
 
Here are the measurements from my Gibson SG neck:

1.695" nut width

Rounded Profile

Thickness at 1st Fret 0.818"

Thickness at 12th fret: 0.963"

Sent these specs off to Spike at Warmoth for a quote on a CBS Strat Headstock 24-3/4" scale custom neck.... :-)
 
No Rosewood bodies available at present, but I can get a rosewood laminate top, but I think the mahogany on the back would look odd??? Thoughts???
 
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