Uploaded December 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Strat type guitar is a long time icon. But custom guitars are expensive. Solution? Make a walnut Strat style guitar with Fishman Fluence pickups and a Halon tremolo system with a genuine Fender Stratocaster maple neck. Do good and make a monster guitar with a natural walnut body.
Get answers and info for questions like:
Why make a guitar?
What tools or equipment do I need?
Which parts should I choose?
Where do I buy the parts?
Walnut body and maple neck for specific tones?
How does the Halon tremolo actually work?
What's inside the Fluence pickups?
How do I set the intonation?
Do Fluence pickups sound good for rock?
Watch as Tony Mckenzie takes you through the main aspects of building a walnut Strat type guitar that is customized and different than the original guitar. He included a brand new Fender maple neck, a Halon tremolo ( halonguitarparts.com ) that surpasses other tremolo's and is a tone hounds dream; he also included the Fishman Fluence single width pickup kit with all the switches and controls. Lastly Tony also showed and fit a Fishman battery ( from scan.co.uk ) for the Fluence guitar pickups that can operate for up to 250 hours.
The guitar body used is solid walnut. In three other videos you will learn about the component parts, what benefits each device offers over other parts and brands, and of course how to make the guitar. All components were bought in and not physically made by Tony.
Many guitarists are often frightened at the thought of making a guitar and failing; but that thought is usually unfounded and with simple tools and some care with the help of this video you too can create a wonderful custom guitar just like the one Tony has made for himself here.
Lastly listen to the results with audio comparisons of the Halon bridge and saddles made from different materials and how they affect the tones of the guitar. Tony uses a Mezzabarba M-Zero One tube amplifier, a Roland Boss DD-500 delay unit, a Dunlop Jerry Cantrell wah pedal, with a Sure SM57 microphone in to a Studio-master recording desk and in to the camera for the highest sound quality possible.
Through out this video Tony has striven to make things simple for any guitarist to finally decide to create a guitar for themselves. And while these components are specific to this particular guitar, its possible to make a guitar for far less money than this one has cost.
Other videos in the series:
How to TruOil the walnut guitar body:
youtu.be/sNGx0GhpNsA
The Halon tremolo unit in depth:
youtu.be/8vQVXy1Q7TI
Fishman Fluence single width pickups youtu.be/1y4vNlrgCJc
Tony's "How to build a guitar" Playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD38427759E821683
and this playlist includes a number of examples - all first class custom guitars and each one differently specified.
Tony says that he has been told so many times about the build videos that he has made how they have helped different viewers to finally step up and make their own guitar and how the tips and hints he has mentioned have helped tremendously. This video is no exception.
One important hint is that when you want to start to make a guitar, have a completely clear view about what style of music you want to play, and also a clear understanding of the final guitar; then buy the best parts you can to get the guitar completed without skimping in any area. Always remember that bad quality parts that you might buy will always be bad quality parts!
Tony says "There is nothing simpler than completing a guitar that you can use for a lifetime, no matter what you might currently think, so sit back, watch this and the associated videos to inspire you to create and complete your own incredible guitar."
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND RING THE BELL. And if you like the video then thumbs up! Thanks - its always appreciated and I won't bombard you with reviews!
Visit tonymckenzie.com for other non YouTube reviews of fine guitars, amps and other gear, and of course Tony's YouTube channel for up to 300 reviews online right now!
Tony Mckenzie buys all of the equipment and his reviews are not sponsored by third parties so he always creates trustworthy reviews and will always 'tell it the way it is' about all reviewed equipment based on his own personal experiences.
(c) 1997-2020 A B Mckenzie & tonymckenzie.com
All Rights Reserved. All Trademarks Acknowledged.
The Strat type guitar is a long time icon. But custom guitars are expensive. Solution? Make a walnut Strat style guitar with Fishman Fluence pickups and a Halon tremolo system with a genuine Fender Stratocaster maple neck. Do good and make a monster guitar with a natural walnut body.
Get answers and info for questions like:
Why make a guitar?
What tools or equipment do I need?
Which parts should I choose?
Where do I buy the parts?
Walnut body and maple neck for specific tones?
How does the Halon tremolo actually work?
What's inside the Fluence pickups?
How do I set the intonation?
Do Fluence pickups sound good for rock?
Watch as Tony Mckenzie takes you through the main aspects of building a walnut Strat type guitar that is customized and different than the original guitar. He included a brand new Fender maple neck, a Halon tremolo ( halonguitarparts.com ) that surpasses other tremolo's and is a tone hounds dream; he also included the Fishman Fluence single width pickup kit with all the switches and controls. Lastly Tony also showed and fit a Fishman battery ( from scan.co.uk ) for the Fluence guitar pickups that can operate for up to 250 hours.
The guitar body used is solid walnut. In three other videos you will learn about the component parts, what benefits each device offers over other parts and brands, and of course how to make the guitar. All components were bought in and not physically made by Tony.
Many guitarists are often frightened at the thought of making a guitar and failing; but that thought is usually unfounded and with simple tools and some care with the help of this video you too can create a wonderful custom guitar just like the one Tony has made for himself here.
Lastly listen to the results with audio comparisons of the Halon bridge and saddles made from different materials and how they affect the tones of the guitar. Tony uses a Mezzabarba M-Zero One tube amplifier, a Roland Boss DD-500 delay unit, a Dunlop Jerry Cantrell wah pedal, with a Sure SM57 microphone in to a Studio-master recording desk and in to the camera for the highest sound quality possible.
Through out this video Tony has striven to make things simple for any guitarist to finally decide to create a guitar for themselves. And while these components are specific to this particular guitar, its possible to make a guitar for far less money than this one has cost.
Other videos in the series:
How to TruOil the walnut guitar body:
youtu.be/sNGx0GhpNsA
The Halon tremolo unit in depth:
youtu.be/8vQVXy1Q7TI
Fishman Fluence single width pickups youtu.be/1y4vNlrgCJc
Tony's "How to build a guitar" Playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD38427759E821683
and this playlist includes a number of examples - all first class custom guitars and each one differently specified.
Tony says that he has been told so many times about the build videos that he has made how they have helped different viewers to finally step up and make their own guitar and how the tips and hints he has mentioned have helped tremendously. This video is no exception.
One important hint is that when you want to start to make a guitar, have a completely clear view about what style of music you want to play, and also a clear understanding of the final guitar; then buy the best parts you can to get the guitar completed without skimping in any area. Always remember that bad quality parts that you might buy will always be bad quality parts!
Tony says "There is nothing simpler than completing a guitar that you can use for a lifetime, no matter what you might currently think, so sit back, watch this and the associated videos to inspire you to create and complete your own incredible guitar."
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE AND RING THE BELL. And if you like the video then thumbs up! Thanks - its always appreciated and I won't bombard you with reviews!
Visit tonymckenzie.com for other non YouTube reviews of fine guitars, amps and other gear, and of course Tony's YouTube channel for up to 300 reviews online right now!
Tony Mckenzie buys all of the equipment and his reviews are not sponsored by third parties so he always creates trustworthy reviews and will always 'tell it the way it is' about all reviewed equipment based on his own personal experiences.
(c) 1997-2020 A B Mckenzie & tonymckenzie.com
All Rights Reserved. All Trademarks Acknowledged.
