My 'crate' tele is underway - build thread. EDIT: FINISHED!

axisus · August 2017

My 'difficult' second guitar proved too difficult. I haven't given up but after quite a few setbacks I left it for a number of months whilst I sulked. It's bloody complicated and I'd been attempting challenging things with success in some areas but cock-ups in others. Anyway, on a whim I decided a few weeks ago to make a 'standard' telecaster, something simple as guitar no 3, before returning to no. 2 with (hopefully) renewed vigour.

It didn't take long to divert from standard. Inspired by some guitars I saw on t'interweb I decided to use a wooden crate as a top. Further weirdness ensued when I decided to use available wood, basically a Mahogany fireplace that someone threw into the street - for both body and neck, then an ebony fretboard. Yup, quite far from trad tele territory now!

The crate top in question holds a special place in my heart. It was a Mateus Rose box from my uncle's old off-license. He was my dad's best friend but sadly he died from cancer 20 years ago. It's a nice reminder of my uncle and his shop - a fantastic aladdin's cave of curiosity to my young self.

Well, things are well under way so I thought I'd share some pics. Nothing has gone wrong (yet!) - still plenty of time! So without further ado ....

Just getting started - the template that I made last year, a couple of my dads clamps and three bits of mahogany fireplace for the body.

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20543759_10154851231609632_4116208493660140932_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=953f7da4a50693dc521230666d0851f5&oe=5C31C9FB

Body wood glued together, only just big enough!

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20545336_10154859066004632_4021459962445090047_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=8d0d0ab23f0bae9dd4086445a20ca995&oe=5C345104

Taken down to approx thickness a day later

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20626816_10154859065674632_8261328495854329446_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=7c9ef8961b9df7547a6bfef51e119b12&oe=5BF9673D

axisus · August 2017

Neck piece cut to size, thickness sorted then planed flat

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20622306_10154859065929632_129082986464783868_n.jpg?oh=5c15d1c8c0b373bda718010e7f12566c&oe=5A1B1E26

Truss rod channel cut, outline marked on using template made previously

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20604500_10154859065684632_80155941747856299_n.jpg?oh=f5fbe6c1598a3b956fd6aa4fa0185894&oe=5A35295D

shape sorted with router/template

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20604330_10154859065669632_7607119289351371898_n.jpg?oh=00781c79661a7b24ef86d9467b217d30&oe=5A125D64

axisus · August 2017

Various parts ordered

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20638869_10154869376334632_2081834702761025250_n.jpg?oh=499bc772820957a1081189e54064e0b5&oe=5A24AF8D

Neck thickness done

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20841142_10154887473014632_7263200504523584320_n.jpg?oh=d35aeb1135e225d88935cf2eac38e682&oe=5A145FDC

making a template for the machineheads

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20915426_10154887472674632_2057483611905960045_n.jpg?oh=334bb47618127b6010f6cc4cae5ac4e7&oe=5A31B422

impmann · August 2017

Lovely story on the crate.

Good luck with the build.

axisus · August 2017

Template works OK!

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20882078_10154887475844632_4222169786628580105_n.jpg?oh=56ed16aa2874a8ef69883cae7413512e&oe=5A208805

drilling holes

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20842286_10154887472669632_8416277304793846896_n.jpg?oh=55f07dd1b3e9c20d011ad5a45ab38534&oe=5A1B1C84

Top glued onto the body and rough shape cut out with band saw.

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20915135_10154887472959632_7298250408417107477_n.jpg?oh=132fb218272abdeb1102e7b50e4e4ba4&oe=5A32703E

axisus · August 2017

I'm going for a somewhat aged look, so I have aged the metalwork using acid fumes. The wilkinson chrome bridgeplate was particularly resilient so that involved direct covering in acid, bicarb of soda and attacking with a blowtorch!

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20800367_10154887472659632_7753267093540804112_n.jpg?oh=30ccdc466060572b08f3936c8f59ffcf&oe=5A1F8976

Headstock thickness sorted

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20953417_10154898696354632_244983411994927805_n.jpg?oh=89238331ff264845f2e1d66396f004e2&oe=5A344927

template made out of MDF for cutouts

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20915552_10154898696369632_1110314913179983454_n.jpg?oh=682d653feb4ffdfc46f55d74e551a8c2&oe=5A2A5CA0

Teyeplayer · August 2017

Looks awesome, I'll be following this thread...

breakstuff · August 2017

Great stuff @axisus ;

Love these build threads.

Gagaryn · August 2017

axisus said:

The crate top in question holds a special place in my heart. It was a Mateus Rose box from my uncle's old off-license. He was my dad's best friend but sadly he died from cancer 20 years ago. It's a nice reminder of my uncle and his shop - a fantastic aladdin's cave of curiosity to my young self.

Jimi Hendrix's favourite tipple apparently. :-)

Image: https://i2.wp.com/dondayinsma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/image-62.jpeg?resize=1080%2C558

Funkfingers · August 2017

Er, what exactly is Jimi pointing towards?

Winny_Pooh · August 2017

Top looks really nice, will be great with a hand rubbed stain/oil

paulnb57 · August 2017

Looks great, watching this one!

Deadman · August 2017

Love it.

axisus · August 2017

Winny_Pooh said:

Top looks really nice, will be great with a hand rubbed stain/oil

Yeah possibly, but I'm leaning towards gloss varnish with some degree of ageing at the moment.

AustrianJohn · August 2017

Great start to the project - I'm following with interest!

axisus · August 2017

Truss rod sealed in, planed flat

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20994368_10154910671674632_5000076378816316590_n.jpg?oh=1e125d2576ef000d91f5cc853f6b5796&oe=5A1BB346

Fretboard glued on to neck

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21034272_10154910671959632_5207689420485255839_n.jpg?oh=7fce069e469dbb4e79d580bde0ee3a96&oe=5A305F98

Sides trimmed

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21078777_10154910671679632_1001223599448705764_n.jpg?oh=4237ff0441f935a38e25164035d8a9de&oe=5A314E7E

axisus · August 2017

Body trimmed to shape

Image: https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21032833_10154910671694632_2940403693737817288_n.jpg?oh=238940bc63b4c42931d023ba4f88db3e&oe=5A1BC315

I decided to make my own clay-type fret markers. I drilled holes in a spare bit of aluminium, mixed some skin coloured clay with pure white, pushed it into the holes and flattened off. Stuck it in the oven for about 25mins to harden the clay then pushed them out. Look OK (once sanded off).