did a recent "modification" project with my 7-year old Vantage strat copy (my first electric guitar), bought from Lazer SM North. named this guitar "Cliff".
(excerpts from my blog:)
this was Cliff version 1.0, with a Vans sticker and Selphie nunchuck figure on the headstock. (Yes that's a swastika shirt)
then decided to mod the hell out of it -- changed the pick-up configuration to an EMG-TC set. replaced the pickguard into a transluscent one, to accomodate bright LEDs (w/ a blinker circuit) inside the cavity. version 2.0 was a blue transluscent one, with medium bright LEDs.
shortly after, I changed it to a red one, with superbright LEDs. then from time to time I altered the switches and wiring schemes
so lately I decided to overhaul it all again, due to the hassles of the active setup (changing batteries, fragile electronics, etc). then bought some spraypaint, and covered all the chrome hardwares with candy red (and with clear coating later on).
removed all the LEDs and other battery-powered stuff, so I can turn it into a passive-pickup powered beast. covered the La Mesa dam cavity with shielding foil...
grabbed the original pickguard, which was sprayed black the last time. tried to remove the paint via sandpaper, but didn't worked... so I sprayed red on top of it, and another clear coating afterwards. resulted to this:
even the backplates were not saved from the red color contamination...
then added ordinary strap buttons on top of the cliplock, to accommodate ordinary straps.
retrieved some second-hand stock Ibanez pickups [INF3 + INF4] from [a friend], and a mint single coil from my other Fernandes guitar, for the HSH setup.
finished the wiring scheme last night. used [a modified 16-sounding wiring diagram, using 5-way + spst switch + blender pot]. acquired an Orange Drop-like 600V capacitor (for tone) from Deeco.
added a one-peso coin underneath the bridge pickup for added mojo, hahah!
lastly, added more trem springs at the back, since I'm planning not to use the bar anymore.
and now, Cliff version 3.0 is here... did a little photoshoot awhile ago:
the hardwares were not completely covered with paint -- I intentionally sanded off some parts to reveal the chrome, to have that "worn-out" look...
am still planning to change the knobs into red Strat top-hat ones. whew...
