NGD - Telecaster Relic Build

Bridgehouse · December 2016

I bagged a body and neck from GSPBASSES - and did a bit of a build thread over in Making & Modding.

Now it's (nearly) done, I thought I'd post the results here - seeing as it's a new guitar to me, and my first Tele (!?!)

It's an obeche body and maple/rosewood neck - and it's 6lb 4oz dripping wet..

All the parts are cheapo no brand from Allparts or the like, and the Nitro is courtesy of the wonderful @SteveRobinson ;;

I relic'd everything from pretty much brand new - some parts I'm really pleased with - others not so much. The whole thing was a learning and experimenting exercise, so it's been really really useful.

I have to get a string tee for the E+B and the nut needs a bit of filing - other than that it's done.

I'm considering lacquer checking it but I need to wait for the nitro to harden before I do. Should I do it, or leave as it is?

Here you go:

DannyP · December 2016

I like it.

thegummy · December 2016

Love the baby blue.

What's going on with the saddles?

richardhomer · December 2016

Daphne Blue? Very nice indeed....

BRISTOL86 · December 2016

Looks great!

IvisonGuitars · December 2016

Nice!

Let it gas off for a month then get it in the freezer! Authentic checking ahoy :-)

Bridgehouse · December 2016

thegummy said:

Love the baby blue.

What's going on with the saddles?

Apparently they are compensating saddles - I appear to have ordered the bridge with wonky ones

Bridgehouse · December 2016

richardhomer said:

Daphne Blue? Very nice indeed....

Daphne Blue indeed!

guitargeek62 · December 2016

Nice work! Would it not make sense to have done lacquer checking before (most of) the relic treatment though?

Bridgehouse · December 2016

guitargeek62 said:

Nice work! Would it not make sense to have done lacquer checking before (most of) the relic treatment though?

I'm experimenting a bit - apparently the dings and cracks applied by my toolbox favourites can help bring it out and a lot of cracks will start from there..

Also, after checking I will prob do a little more light relic'ing as I'm trying to do the damage in the order it would have happened naturally.

I'm not actually expecting this one to turn out that well TBH as its a proper test bed - things like egg white as grain filler, vinegar for acetic acid ageing and a whole variety of implements and stains for the wood.

The most difficult bit is the obeche - it's like balsa and squishes very easily - in an unnatural way compared to ash etc..

usedtobe · December 2016

Looks fantastic. Lovely colour!

Bridgehouse · December 2016

Oh, and I can't wait to see what @WezV does with his matching Black Friday special as well - I suspect it will look a lot more authentic than my effort

hoops · December 2016

Good job!

WezV · December 2016

Bridgehouse said:

Oh, and I can't wait to see what @WezV does with his matching Black Friday special as well - I suspect it will look a lot more authentic than my effort

Probably not. I think you have got the wear pretty spot on here. It suits the colour and hardware choices really well

I will go slightly further. Mine is definitely going in the freezer, and I just sprayed a coat of tint over the blue with the hardware in place

Bridgehouse · December 2016

WezV said:

Bridgehouse said:

Oh, and I can't wait to see what @WezV does with his matching Black Friday special as well - I suspect it will look a lot more authentic than my effort

Probably not. I think you have got the wear pretty spot on here. It suits the colour and hardware choices really well

I will go slightly further. Mine is definitely going in the freezer, and I just sprayed a coat of tint over the blue with the hardware in place

Hah! I thought about a light tint over the body with pickguard in place

I will freezer and then reassess I think!

Looking forward to seeing yours!

mark123 · December 2016

How did you age the new bridge and contols ?

Voxman · December 2016

Looking nice and I like the colour.
Whats the relevance to the freezer...is that how you relic laqueur checking?

Bridgehouse · December 2016

Ok - hardware is vapour relic'd - you put the parts in a tub and then put the tub in a bath of vinegar: the acetic acid vapour etches and ages the hardware. Very effective. Scrub first with a green scourer and away you go

The freezer is to contract then rapidly expand the lacquer finish - actually the most effective way of doing it is hair dryer then a super cold blast from a fire extinguisher. However freezing then hair drier will give a good subtle effect..

WezV · December 2016

Voxman said:

Looking nice and I like the colour.
Whats the relevance to the freezer...is that how you relic laqueur checking?

That and the razor blade method are the only semi-realistic ways to check a finish.

freeze sprays will check it, but it will look more like old pottery than guitar lacquer

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NGD - Telecaster Relic Build

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