lite ash mods

[johnnyninja]

Hi guys,

New to the forum and new to strats.

I just picked up a 04 LA off of CL. I've been searching for the past couple of days to try and get as much info on modding the guitar as I can. I haven't found much.

So far it looks like the trem could be replaced with a wilki/gotoh and schaller or planet waves locking tuners will fit. Can anyone confirm that? The neck is 1 5/8 at the nut and I assume a warmoth replacement strat neck would fit? I don't plan on replacing the neck but would like to know.

So has anyone done mods to this guitar and if so, what did you use?

Thanks

 

[stratphobic]

good luck finding a trem that will fit and as far as tuners, any tuners you find you'll have to drill for the set screws.

 

[johnnyninja]

I guess I'll have to take measurements to see where it's at.

Someone must have replaced one of these by now...

 

[otis66]

The "Fender" Schaller locking tuners should work without any mods if the guitar as made in USA or Mexico.

 

[otis66]

I can not find any info for a LA Strat. Can you post a pic of the guitar?

 

[johnnyninja]

Looks like this bridge (USA Strat- 2 Point Hardened Steel Upgrade Tremolo System) at guitar fetish will fit based on a thread I found from someone who used it. One thing I just learned is that the neck pocket is deeper than a stock strat. There's no overhang for the 22nd fret so a neck replacement other than "fender" would probably be difficult.

 

[otis66]

Here is a Fender Schaller tuner ,on the left Made in Gremany, that you would find on a USA American Deluxe Stratocaster. The Tuner on the right, non-locking tuner, is s ping tuner found on a lot of low end Fender/Squire guitars.The Fender/Schaller tuner on the left is a drop in replacement tuner that will fit in any American Standard or Mexican Standard Strat. I'm not sure what type of tuners you have in your LA Strat.

 

[stratphobic]

The "Fender" Schaller locking tuners should work without any mods if the guitar as made in USA or Mexico.

the light ash strat is korean and they have the same tuners as squiers, which won't take schaller tuners without drilling new holes for the set pins

Looks like this bridge (USA Strat- 2 Point Hardened Steel Upgrade Tremolo System) at guitar fetish will fit based on a thread I found from someone who used it. One thing I just learned is that the neck pocket is deeper than a stock strat. There's no overhang for the 22nd fret so a neck replacement other than "fender" would probably be difficult.

i think i read somewhere that the 2 point on those korean fenders don't have the same measurements as the american series 2 point trem.

if that neck is 22 frets w/o an overhang, most fender necks won't work on it as any american/mexican/japanese fender with 22 frets have an overhang for the 22nd fret.

 

[otis66]

At Guitar Center the new Fender locking tuners are not made in Germany but the will still drop into an American Standar or Mexican Standar Stratocaster. When you go to GC look at the back of the rack and you might find a set of Fender/Schaller made in Germany locking tuners. The packaging looks the same but the new Fender locking tuners are made in Tiawan.

 

[stratphobic]

At Guitar Center the new Fender locking tuners are not made in Germany but the will still drop into an American Standar or Mexican Standar Stratocaster. When you go to GC look at the back of the rack and you might find a set of Fender/Schaller made in Germany locking tuners. The packaging looks the same but the new Fender locking tuners are made in Tiawan.

there are 2 different sets of fender locking tuners

 

[otis66]

Fender changed the Locking tuners on the American Standard Deluxe Stratocaster a couple of years ago. There no longer made in Germany.

 

[otis66]

Stew-Mac makes a jig that places the pin hole in the headstock. The same jig is used for Schaller, Sprezel, Gotoh, Planet waves, and Ping tuners.

 

[johnnyninja]

Thanks for the info guys.

The bridge plate is fine so it's not a huge deal. I'll probably set it up and flip it for a mim. My setup was going to have a warmoth compound radius neck. I could still do it but don't want to hassle with adding wood to the neck pocket.

I got it for 300 and it's in great shape so it shouldn't be difficult to move it.

 

[JayFreddy]

Hi guys,

New to the forum and new to strats.

I just picked up a 04 LA off of CL. I've been searching for the past couple of days to try and get as much info on modding the guitar as I can. I haven't found much.

So far it looks like the trem could be replaced with a wilki/gotoh and schaller or planet waves locking tuners will fit. Can anyone confirm that? The neck is 1 5/8 at the nut and I assume a warmoth replacement strat neck would fit? I don't plan on replacing the neck but would like to know.

So has anyone done mods to this guitar and if so, what did you use?

Thanks

Those are nice guitars. Not sure what you are trying to upgrade, the MIK Lite Ash Strat is pretty decent straight from the factory.

They come standard with Seymour Duncan pickups, and the tremolo unit has a brass sustain block. The MIM's might be easier to upgrade, but with a MIK Lite Ash Strat, you should't really have to upgrade much. Factory stock, the MIK Lite Ash Strat is a better guitar than any of the MIM Standards, and that includes the new ones with the upgraded pickups, larger frets, and bigger sustain block.

Yes, locking tuners are an option, but I've gotten perfectly good results with the Pings too, and that's what you'll find on the MIMs too. Another possible upgrade would be the nut, but again, I don't think the nut on the MIK is any worse that what you'll find on the MIMs, or even most MIAs too.

I own a couple of MIK Lite Ash Teles, and I've been keeping my eyes open for a Lite Ash Strat. The ones with the two piece bodies are rarer than the three piece bodies. I've passed on a couple that had three piece bodies, but they are getting harder to find, so I might jump on the next one I find, even if it's got a three piece body.

You say you're new to Strats, so welcome to the menagerie! That MIK might not be the best candidate for upgrades, but the way they're built, there's isn't really much to upgrade. As I said at the beginning of this post, those are nice guitars!

 

[johnnyninja]

You say you're new to Strats, so welcome to the menagerie! That MIK might not be the best candidate for upgrades, but the way they're built, there's isn't really much to upgrade. As I said at the beginning of this post, those are nice guitars!

It is nice and it's a two piece body. I plan on setting it up this weekend and polishing the frets. I don't have room for more than a couple guitars so I just want to end up with one I can work on over the years. I want to end up with a strat with a warmoth radius neck with jumbo frets. Thats the main reason I want to replace it. I'll enjoy it while I have it.

I see a 2003 highway one I may grab.

 

[Tomahawk]

Hi,
I have a same Lite ash Strat. It's a delicius guitar. I boght a brand new pack Fender deluxe "F" locking tuner, and I say you, that it's great on this guitar. Hole size and holes measure is same, than USA and Mex. strat. But it's true,that is not Schaller it is PING modell may be it made in Asia. It has great look and, good work. End it isn't expensive it was 54USD on Ebay.

 

[Tomahawk]

Hi,
I have a same Lite ash Strat. It's a delicius guitar. I boght a brand new pack Fender deluxe "F" locking tuner, and I say you, that it's great on this guitar. Hole size and holes measure is same, than USA and Mex. strat. But it's true,that is not Schaller it is PING modell may be it made in Asia. It has great look and, good work. End it isn't expensive it was 54USD on Ebay.

 

[Tomahawk]

Hi guys,

New to the forum and new to strats.

I just picked up a 04 LA off of CL. I've been searching for the past couple of days to try and get as much info on modding the guitar as I can. I haven't found much.

So far it looks like the trem could be replaced with a wilki/gotoh and schaller or planet waves locking tuners will fit. Can anyone confirm that? The neck is 1 5/8 at the nut and I assume a warmoth replacement strat neck would fit? I don't plan on replacing the neck but would like to know.

So has anyone done mods to this guitar and if so, what did you use?

Thanks

Hi,

A correct answer for your question:

The Fender locking tuner is almost same as original korean basic tuner, but the two little holder pins are different distence as original. You should make two new bores maybe 5mm from original bores. Maybe this proced strange for you, but you will get a very good tuning machine on your guitar. I make a suggestion for you that you replace the basic nut with a Black Tusq XL lubricated nut. You can get an another better guitar! I highly recommended you.

All the best!

Tom a hawk

 

[wabashslim]

Hi, first time poster here, on this forum anyway. I have a Lite Ash body that I attached to a 60th Anniversary MIM neck. The neck pocket took a little routing & chiseling to get that puppy in there. The pocket's bottom corners were rounded some and the end had to be extended a bit as I recall, it's been a few years. My work wasn't perfect but the pickguard covers it nicely. Width-wise the neck was a nice snug, but not tight fit. I honestly don't remember if the screwholes all lined up. That neck has a nice aged amber tint and the frets are finished far better than the average MIMs that I've played. I think it looks better on the ash body than the pinkish birdseye they came with.

The trem sucks. It won't lay flat or return to zero without setting the springs too tight. I've adjusted the daylights out of it without success. A Callaham steel block did level out the tone & sustain slightly but now I'm looking at GFS's Wilkinson "fits-all" two point trem. It looks like the same one sold at Stewmac & Carvin for a lot more $$.

BTW these Lite Ash models were made by Cort, which is why standard Fender parts don't always fit.

 

[bmalo]

wabashslim, which callaham block did you use? I contacted them earlier in the year and they replied that they no longer make a trem block for our lite ash strats.
Thanks