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Does anybody know anything about these after market chambered Stratocaster bodies, Or the ones with a single "f" hole. What advantage in tone is gained from these if any? Obviously, they'd be lighter. I don't trust any manufacturer's claims. I'd like to hear it from somebody who actually uses one.
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02-28-2015 05:45 PM
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I have one from Warmoth (chambered, no f hole). Absolutely beautiful, light, great tone, great quality ... Certainly recommended!
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Before assembly. It has been assembled for a year or so and I love that guitar.
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I'm an old time jazz and blues player retired, and I'm reduced to playing a Mexican Strat with an after market neck with a 1&3/4 inch nut. Age and shoulder accidents have ended my arch top days. However, I can still get around on the strat, and get to what I hear as I hear it. so I'm still alive as a player. The Mexican Strat body weighs a ton. I don't know what kind of wood they use. I realize that Chambered Bodies are lighter, but that's not my main concern, I miss the Archtop sound, so I wonder if the chambering recaptures some of it. Your strat body is beautiful What difference do you hear between the standard strat body, and the chambered one. And by the way, thanks for contacting me.
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My favorite Strat bodies are the hollow aluminum ones Fender made as limited editions in the early '90's. The bodies were made by a company that made Harley Davidson gas tanks. There was also a limited run of aluminum Tele's. I played one of the Strats in a shop maybe six or seven years ago and it was nice and light and extremely resonant. I wish I had had the $600 in my pocket the store wanted for it.
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Dear Dave,
thank you very much and sorry to hear about your health issues. I honestly cannot tell the difference to a solid strat body as this is my only strat and I have not a lot of experience with strats. I do however, have quite some experience with archtops and would say my strat does not sound like one (but then there also are the pickups - all my archops have humbuckers). It sounds like a very nice solidbody guitar. With a decent pickup I am sure one could get a pleasing jazz tone. Perhaps the ticket would be the chambered telecaster with a neck humbucker? Warmoth will make pretty much anything - and to high quality. With their 'screaming deals' it can get also very inexpensive, in particular if one is willing to do the finish work (e.g. tru oil) oneself.
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Just a thought, but instead of a chambered Strat body have you maybe looked into smaller, thinline archtops?
For example, a used Eastman El Rey or T145 wouldn't require a big investment and they're both very comfortable to play while retaining the archtop vibe. They also have 1 3/4 nut widths.
Since you're in New York, would a trip to Guitars'n'Jazz be possible? They usually have these in stock so you could check them out.
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There is very little chance that it makes any difference at all. You could just as easily find a solid body made of something like bass wood that would sound softer than say maple but no one would ever be able to hear the difference between those too anyway.
So many things go into the final sound, that by simply saying its 'chambered' therefore it will sound different, imo doesn't work.
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Of the chamber guitars I've played sound was usually about the same the weight was the difference. Even the thinlines teles or stats sound pretty much alike. I would say resonance of the wood blank in use probably creates more of a difference. I think the thing with chambered not changing things a lot if the tops are still pretty thick piece of wood for structural reasons so they aren't really vibrating more like a flat or arch top would. But that is my opinion not a gutiar maker.
I love the MIM Fenders as much or more than the MIA ones, but they do vary in weight and sometimes drasticly. I remember the first Road Worn Tele's that came out weighted a ton. They eventually lightened up and one day I was in a store and found one that was light as a feather, but I passed on it. I realized I should of bought it and by time I got back to the store it was sold. All production guitars vary in weight. Which you might want to contact Warmoth about buy a replacement body, for and extra fee you can requests an extra light body. They will go through their blanks and find the lightest one they can.
I get shoulder and neck issues from time to time and what helps me is to stop playing with a strap, I use one all the time. I will play a bigger body guitar that is right height resting on my leg, or I use a leg support like those for classical guitar to raise the guitar. That way the weight is on my leg and not my neck and shoulder.
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+1. I actually have one of each and they're both small and light (heck, the T145 is a feather-weight!). Both have a really nice archtop tone with a wonderful build and playability, too. I found both guitars, used and minty, for less than $900.
Originally Posted by IbanezAS100
The chambering I've had in a few guitars has make a subtle difference (especially played solo in my living room), but out on a gig, those nuances can sometimes vanish. Also, the chambering doesn't guarantee any large degree of weight reduction either, IME. YMMV.
Good luck on your search.Last edited by ooglybong; 03-01-2015 at 03:45 PM.
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Agree with Achtop H and others. In the case of chambering a solid body, it will make little difference especially the way Warmoth does it. In my opinion, even the weight is negligible when you look at what is already routed for pickups and control e.g. the photo above. Nothing negative about Warmoth as I've bought a number of their products over the years and have been very pleased with their products. In fact I have a chambered Warmoth Tele with a basswood body and maple top and a Larrivee Tele which is solid ash. Both have identical pickups, controls and similar necks and one doesn't sound much different than the other. As others have said, it's a "system of systems" kind of thing where all the parts have some impact on the overall tone. My top 3 are player, pickups, scale length
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I have a solid tele and a chambered strat from Warmoth. The strat is noticeably lighter (and also louder unplugged. But many factors could go into that of course). It is a super-comfortable guitar to play standing since it is so light and the body contours make it fit like a glove. Together with the awesome necks and nice finishes, Warmoth is the real deal for me in terms of F-style guitars.
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Lots of good advice here, as per usual.
I bought a Fender Custom Shop Thinline Strat (1 f-hole) made of mahogany. The usual neck. Very pretty.
The usual weight, the usual tone, with Texas Special p/ups.
I was expecting beautiful tone and response, plus the snob appeal of all the above adornments.
The guitar was worth more $ as a conversation piece than it was a great musical instrument.
Sold it soon for good $$$.
Thinline Fenders are not hollow sounding. I would look elsewheres. Have you considered the Epiphone 339,390 etc.?
Smaller bodies, hollow, or semi-hollow, lighter in weight.
The reason they intrigue me is, I gave up on Strats and Teles and Les Pauls - I need a hollow body tone.
I've had so many guitars now, and I truly need hollow bodies.
I sold a Gibson Les Paul Custom 57 RI ($$$) in favor of a cheap Epiphone Lucille. Excellent quality and tone, big neck, and all the trimmings of the LP Custom, plus less weight. Still playing it at gigs and at home weekly.
I must learn to forget snob appeal, and go for comfort and tone
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I sure wouldn't mind a chambered hardtail strat. Hmmm... I have maybe 6 strats I don't play much to pull parts off :-)
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I had this and the moment me and my friend plugged it in, we both agreed it sounded exactly like a thin line tele. Go figure
It was a pancake construction and was hollow for the most part except under the bridge.
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how much does the warmouth chambered body weigh?
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Sorry, never weighed it.
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