Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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smjenkins
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Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by smjenkins » Wed May 25, 2022 8:02 pm

I've been obsessed with the idea of an offset strat for a minute and I really like what Fender did with the AR '66 body shape. It's like what a Strat always wanted to be after the Jazzmaster came into existence. But Fender f'd up the pickup selection and layout. And also, I like rotary switches.

This is an AR '66 that I had routed to accept three angled Strat pickups and a rotary switch. Copacetic sprayed the body in Sunset Mica Bronze (it's a metallic brown Toyota color) and WD made a custom guard. I wired up the Mojo gold foils and 6-way rotary switch this morning. I feel like three angled Strat pickups is the configuration this body style wanted all along. it plays more or less like a Strat. It's been a while since I've played a Strat trem and those gold foils sound so damn good.

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ryanthellama
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by ryanthellama » Wed May 25, 2022 10:22 pm

That’s a looker! Really cool color, looks like great work as usual by Copacetic. What’s the 6th position—neck and bridge?

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CROSS_guitars
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by CROSS_guitars » Wed May 25, 2022 10:57 pm

Still can't get onboard with that design but I love the brown, goldfoils combo.

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kimson
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by kimson » Wed May 25, 2022 11:00 pm

By far the best-looking Strat ever! Awesome work!

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raphaël
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by raphaël » Thu May 26, 2022 1:05 am

Oh wow yeah ! I love it very much !!

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GreenKnee
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by GreenKnee » Thu May 26, 2022 1:28 am

Awesome looking guitar! I'm a big advocate of Mojo Goldfoils, best pickups I've ever heard.
The single coil sized versions are goldfoil voiced as the form factor is too small for the traditional goldfoil design. I'd be super interested to hear what they sound like as I have a Telecaster that I've been thinking about trying them in.
Does it strat-quack in positions 2 and 4?

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CorporateDisguise
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by CorporateDisguise » Thu May 26, 2022 1:42 am

That’s awesome!

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smjenkins
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by smjenkins » Thu May 26, 2022 8:24 am

GreenKnee wrote:
Thu May 26, 2022 1:28 am
Awesome looking guitar! I'm a big advocate of Mojo Goldfoils, best pickups I've ever heard.
The single coil sized versions are goldfoil voiced as the form factor is too small for the traditional goldfoil design. I'd be super interested to hear what they sound like as I have a Telecaster that I've been thinking about trying them in.
Does it strat-quack in positions 2 and 4?
Yeah, you're right, they are not proper goldfoils given the surface area constraints of the strat pickup size. They sound more like mellow strat pickups. And yes, they defintely quack in positions 2 and 4. I noticed that almost immediately when I was playing it yesterday. What's the easiest way to share a sound clip these days? I can post a quick recording from my phone.
ryanthellama wrote:
Wed May 25, 2022 10:22 pm
That’s a looker! Really cool color, looks like great work as usual by Copacetic. What’s the 6th position—neck and bridge?
The sixth position is a .022uf tone cap on the bridge. I was trying to simulate the rhythm circuit of a JM / Jag. The switching order goes tone cap on neck, neck, neck+middle, middle, middle+bridge, bridge. As shown in the photo, it's in neck only. You flick the switch up to get the tone cap (kind like flipping the rhythm switch on a JM). I think the cap value is too high though. I'm going to swap it for a .01uf cap.
CROSS_guitars wrote:
Wed May 25, 2022 10:57 pm
Still can't get onboard with that design but I love the brown, goldfoils combo.
I know Pat. :) Your thoughts on this design are well documented and I mostly agree with. Your '69 body shape is a much better take on the concept. I scored a used deal on this AR '66 and couldn't resist trying to make the most out of it.

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Marc
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Re: Finally Finished: Moded Alternate Reality Sixty-Six

Post by Marc » Thu May 26, 2022 10:02 pm

Very cool! I know the colour well a friend had an early 80s Celica in that colour.

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