10 Steps to build a Pro-grade EMG + Graphtech Acoustic-Electric-MIDI Stratocaster

Below is a parts list to build a pro grade Stratocaster MIDI guitar. Knock yourselves out making one! 🙂 Just go to each website and search for the part numbers below. The options for some parts can be chrome or gold, I have put down black parts. There are also two more colors available for the body – Cherry Burst and Blue Burst. The neck could be maple or rosewood, and you could pick a standard neck instead of a compound radius neck too. There are other prewired pickguards for strats available besides the Vince Gill one shown here on musiciansfriend.com as well.

1. Stewmac.com Part 5751, Tobacco Burst Body $208.59
2. Stewmac.com Part 5713 Rosewood Compound Radius Neck $124
3. Musiciansfriend.com Part 300267000000000 EMG VG20 Vince Gill Prewired  Pickguard $ 279
4. Graphtech.com Part PN-0080-B0 LB63 Bridge with Piezo Pickup Saddles +  Floyd Rose Black $315
5. Graphtech.com Part PK-0680-00 Ghost Complete Kit for Guitar (Acoustiphonic + Hexpander) $419.95
6. Graphtech.com LB63 Tremolo Arm for Floyd Rose $11.95
7. Musiciansfriend.com Part  101539000000000 Elixir Nanoweb Electric Guitar medium strings $10.79
8. Stewmac.com Part 5460-B Steinberger Gearless Tuners Black $99.98
9. Assemble the guitar (Priceless)
10. Tune it (Priceless)

Total cost of this guitar: $1469.26. This guitar will surpass Roland Ready Strats ($1200) in tracking as the Graphtech MIDI system tracks much faster due to the piezo saddle pickup approach as opposed to the Roland GK-3 humbucker approach. This is the same MIDI/A/E system found in Carvin SH-575, 675 guitars, which sell for around $2000 – $3000 depending on extent of customization. Its tuning stability will be very high given the Steinberger gearless tuners, and so tremolo arm use will not throw it out of tune easily.

You will need a Roland GR-55 ($ 699) or VG-99 ($1599) to play it.