A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Tobben on April 13, 2016, 06:59:13 PM

Title: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Tobben on April 13, 2016, 06:59:13 PM
Hi all guitar interested people :)

I came across this picture on Instagram yesterday. It looks very much alike the Red Alchemy strat. Anyone know anything about it? Or tried one? Can't find any info  about it... Would be nice to have one though  ::)

Tobben
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Hoops McCann on April 13, 2016, 07:58:14 PM
More info here...

http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=4050

and here...

http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=4602



Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: 3Strats on April 16, 2016, 10:09:56 AM
The model pictured has the modern Schecter headstock - for legal reasons.  Mark's original Schecters had the Fender shape headstocks which makes these recent models less desirable, (apart from the big issue that the current company has little to do with the company that made the guitars in the '80s ). 
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Ingo on April 16, 2016, 04:49:45 PM
All the basic specs are wrong, it has not much to do with Mark's guitar except a similar look
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Terry82 on April 20, 2016, 11:17:39 PM
In fact, the guitar used on Alchemy didn´t it the Shecter Dream Machine Stratocaster?
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Silvertown on April 21, 2016, 06:53:11 AM
In fact, the guitar used on Alchemy didn´t it the Shecter Dream Machine Stratocaster?

Yes, it was.
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: JF on April 21, 2016, 02:31:45 PM
In fact, the guitar used on Alchemy didn´t it the Shecter Dream Machine Stratocaster?

Yes, it was.

yes but with different PUs : seymour duncan instead of original schecter tapped PUs (like seen on the 1980 dortmund  gig)
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Ingo on April 25, 2016, 02:48:52 PM
Finally, I am building myself some MK guitar replicas. I think they are closer to the original specs than anything I have ever seen, plus I avoided anything that might compromise tone, plus some 'secrets' I think that might contribute to the original sound. I could not wait until all details are finished (the nuts are not even shaped and groved properly yet ;) ) but assembled them for some first sound checks and experiments.

They all have the dream machine body shape and contours, one-piece bodies, a unique neck profile, the correct kind of wood, the right frets etc.,  and generally differ from a Fender Strat in various details.

I am still experimenting with the mahogani for the CAR Strat (mahogani is rather a trade name, for different tree species) and other factors.

from left to right: 8218 (mahogani, CAR), 8136 (birch, the stolen sunburst), 8218 (mahogani, CAR), 8001 (ash, the replacement sunburst with the jack on the side)

If you wonder why the 8136 has no dots: I still might swap necks, so I will do these last (or leave it without?) And I had no silver output jacks so I took golden ones for now.

Sound: All have a lot in common, due to the same brass hardware and birdseye maple I guess but each one sounds clearly different from the others (note that I always judge the sound unplugged, of course they have different pickups that also sound different). The birch is the heaviest guitar and has the softest sound with a typical midrange, while the ash body makes a crsiper sound. The mahogani bodies are heavy but the aluminium pickguards are much lighter than the brass pickguards. I put Duncan SSL1s into the mahogani guitars. Both mahogani Strats sound similar yet very different! One more guitar with an ash body is still in the pipeline.

I have not decided if I will keep these all for myself or not, and I might make more. Unfortunately they take me sooo long to build...
I am already planning the finish. Especially the correct red will require some tests.
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Tobben on April 25, 2016, 03:43:41 PM
NOW we are talking! Look at these.. Beautiful! What kind of bodyparts did you use? Did you make them yourself? Is it possible to get more pictures?

Sorry for all the questions  ;D

I have to do this too 👍🤔😉
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Ingo on April 25, 2016, 04:05:32 PM
What kind of bodyparts did you use? Did you make them yourself? Is it possible to get more pictures?

Yes, I built everything myself 'by hand' (which means with machines like a router led by hand with templates of course, just like Schecter did, in contrast to CNC)
They are still too raw to take many pictures, what you see in the center of the right one for example is the pencilled center line, there will be quality pictures later I guess.
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: JF on April 25, 2016, 04:28:46 PM
great  :clap

the solen one had dots on the neck. will you do the same ?
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Ingo on April 25, 2016, 07:41:36 PM
the solen one had dots on the neck. will you do the same ?

see above: 'f you wonder why the 8136 has no dots: I still might swap necks, so I will do these last (or leave it without?)'
Title: Re: Alchemy Schecter Strat replica?
Post by: Justme on April 25, 2016, 08:37:34 PM
These are real beauties. I wonder what they will sound like, when the finishing touches have been done.  :clap