My New Project - A Sharkocaster

[Brett]

So I need a new project I’m bored.
I think I want to build another guitar.

I’ve never seen this done, although I don’t know why someone hasn’t tried it. I was inspired by Yaminub’s awesome Wolfgang version of Ed’s Shark.

What I am planning to do is build a Strat version of the Shark minus the chainsaw cuts of course. I don’t want a Floyd Rose, but I haven’t completely decided against it. I would like to try to keep it more towards the real Shark design. I’ve already got an inquiry out to Mitch at KNE to see if he can build me a body and neck with my vision, which will be one of two ways.

1. The easy way.
Simply a Kramer Pacer Imperial body, Floyd Rose trem, banana headstock, and rosewood fretboard. The Shark didn’t have a trem, but I feel like if I’m gonna go with the banana headstock, I should just do it with a Floyd Rose. I think a Pacer body with a banana headstock and no Floyd looks weird, but it is still an option.

2. The crazier way and the way I think I want to do it.
A Kramer Pacer Imperial body, Tune-O-Matic bridge, Strat headstock, rosewood fretboard, and obviously a standard nut. I might still go for a banana headstock here as well. I’m undecided. Obviously if I want to get closer to the Shark’s look, I should do the banana.

So I’m going to see what Mitch says and how much it’s going to cost to build #2. If it’s crazy I’ll probably go with some version close to #1.

I want to use this thread to follow my progress and have some discussion about it. So thought I would start it today.

I’ll update it next with what Mitch says.

I’m going to start doing some research on other things I need and prices. I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg doing this.

Cheers!

[turnbuckle]

If you do go with #2, you really should use a brass nut

...and the mis-matched tuners

...and good luck finding a harmonica TOM dude

[Brett]

Gotta have the mismatched tuners but I don’t think I’m going with a brass nut.

I’m not gonna be able to duplicate every part like the harmonica bridge, a regular TOM will be just fine, which I think is what it had way back anyway. Those harmonica bridges are expensive too.

[Brett]

For the pickups I think I going to go with a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and either an SD Jazz or ‘59 in the neck. And the neck pickup will work.

[Jedi McFly]

This is gonna be awesome - looking forward to seeing it.

My two cents is that either way you gotta go with a Banana or Destroyer style headstock.

Also, Pariah Pickups makes a set of original Destroyer pickup replicas. They’re called the Destruction ‘70.

[Brett]

This is gonna be awesome - looking forward to seeing it.

My two cents is that either way you gotta go with a Banana or Destroyer style headstock.

Also, Pariah Pickups makes a set of original Destroyer pickup replicas. They’re called the Destruction ‘70.

I know I’m leaning toward the banana. I really want to do it as a hardtail and not with a Floyd.

Man Pariah’s pickups are pricey, but maybe it’s worth it. I don’t care so much about the neck pickup, I may go with something cheaper there. We’ll see.

[Brett]

I’ll probably go with the Pariah in the bridge and maybe go with a Guitar Fetish pickup in the neck. That way I’m only spending about $140 bucks on both which is what my max was going to be.

If Mitch can pull off the TOM bridge on the Strat or Pacer body, this could turn out to be cheaper than I expected.

I got those two Duncans I pulled out of my Shell Pink Charvel. See if I can sell them I’ll never use them.

[Dave's Dreidel]

Are you going to do the cut out?

If I remember correctly, Ed once thought it never sounded good after he cut out the body.

[Jedi McFly]

What body wood are you going for? IIRC those original Destroyers were really Japanese Sen Ash.

If it helps when you're picking out paints, here is a pic of my buddy's build using Duplicolor Universal silver and Burgundy Berry Metallic. He even went all out and did the white and black coats underneath. Another red some guys recommend is Duplicolor Toreador Red Metallic. I think the Burgundy Berry is a tad bit darker and is probably a better match, but I'm only judging based on pics, I haven't used either.

[Brett]

Yep I’m going to scrimp there I really like the sound of my 5150 that is poplar I am going to go that route. It’s cheaper and really easy to paint and again I want to save a little money where I can. Ash is a lot more expensive.

I was actually going to ask some advice on the colors. I liked using Duplicolor it went on really well for my 5150. I think I just need to figure out what is the best looking ones for this.

[Brett]

Are you going to do the cut out?

If I remember correctly, Ed once thought it never sounded good after he cut out the body.

No I will not be ruining a Strat body and sound with that.

[Brett]

I’m actually concerned about painting the entire neck, I’ve never painted an entire back of the neck before, and I don’t want it to feel really crappy and rub off when I start to play on it. So I am might not paint the entire neck and just the headstock. I’m still debating.

[fudd]

Yep I’m going to scrimp there I really like the sound of my 5150 that is poplar I am going to go that route. It’s cheaper and really easy to paint and again I want to save a little money where I can. Ash is a lot more expensive.

I was actually going to ask some advice on the colors. I liked using Duplicolor it went on really well for my 5150. I think I just need to figure out what is the best looking ones for this.

I’ll fuck around in my paint department and see if I can help somehow.


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[Brett]

Are you going to do the cut out?

If I remember correctly, Ed once thought it never sounded good after he cut out the body.

With that said I’d like to figure out someway to do something shark influenced if I can somehow.

I know the truss rod that Mitch will make for me has a bottom adjuster, not top. Maybe I’ll put a fake truss rod cover on the top (assuming I do a banana) and do some kind of shark logo or something on it.

[Brett]

What body wood are you going for? IIRC those original Destroyers were really Japanese Sen Ash.

If it helps when you're picking out paints, here is a pic of my buddy's build using Duplicolor Universal silver and Burgundy Berry Metallic. He even went all out and did the white and black coats underneath. Another red some guys recommend is Duplicolor Toreador Red Metallic. I think the Burgundy Berry is a tad bit darker and is probably a better match, but I'm only judging based on pics, I haven't used either.

Geez that looks awesome I thought it was the real one.