After doing 3 parts caster type tele builds I decided to graduate to scratch building mainly for my own enjoyment however I have however since set up my own website just in case it goes anywhere.
The first build was a TC style solid body with a mahogany body, 3 piece laminated neck (blanks bought from
@TTony some time ago) zebrano finger board with twin SD humbuckers. Although have pictures I decided not to do a build diary. was going to sell it and posted it on FB then couldn't get rid as i got too attached
http://i.imgur.com/sER0kOw.jpg
Onto the difficult second build!
Double cut Tele style with ash body and purple heart Top, pair of Bare Knuckle blue note P90 pickups, Schaller 3D bridge and Schaller Devinci tuners, all hardware will be black.
So The wood
Purple Heart
http://i.imgur.com/7JfcuqS.jpg
I have had to re-saw this and have book matched it as best as possible. Problems it bowed after cutting and thicknessing. thanks to @octatonic for running through his drum sander. it now looks like this
http://i.imgur.com/ZwF2p6q.jpg
The ash - European ash sourced locally to me at GoodTimber
This was cut and then thicknessed using my home made sled (dont Laugh but it worked)
http://i.imgur.com/aNvQw7U.jpg
And now looks like this
http://i.imgur.com/ttSdwyK.jpg
Body glued together and top glued together, and then glued together using my homemade guitar press, Scissor jack on the drill press and lots of clamps (no photos though), i have drawn the out line on there just to see what it looked like
And now looks like this
http://i.imgur.com/TJ61M8a.jpg
Next I band sawed and routed out the body shape and am quite please with the look, doing some research Fender actually did a DC telecaster in 2014 but then stopped so its not a unique shape but i am quite happy with it.
http://i.imgur.com/JKso6Z7.jpg
Thats it for now, apologies for my spelling I have got a little further but will update in another post in a day or so. Quite image heavy.
I will also post pictures of the hardware however Bare knuckle are currently building the pick ups.
Comments
Feedback
And top ingenuity marks for the thicknessing jig!
What are you plans for the finish? Just oil?
as for finish I am torn between Crimson finishing oil and Nitro lacquer as I really want a glass finish to compliment the Purple Heart @BigMonka
update on this build later today
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
Pickup routes have been done, plus the neck pocket
http://i.imgur.com/YZDtL7p.jpg
Pickups arrived from Bare Knuckle and look really nice against the top
http://i.imgur.com/18Qw3YL.jpg
I have now also got photos of the hardware as well so first up is the Schaller Davinci machine heads
http://i.imgur.com/MXDaX5Y.jpg
and the Schaller 3D Bridge I have had to remove a couple of the saddles in order to mark the hole positions
http://i.imgur.com/UTHV0lJ.jpg
Next update will be the belly carve and body round overs so stay tuned
Thanks again for all the positive comments
https://i.imgur.com/H5GfIOJ.jpg
back plate plate has also been made although the fit is not as good as I hoped due to the router bit being to big for the template and so had a little wander on the back plate recess
https://i.imgur.com/u1IwRnP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ySWzQ9q.jpg
Round over also complete on the top
http://i.imgur.com/9f0BDDW.jpg
Also as seen in the pictures the neck counter sinks have also been machined as well
http://i.imgur.com/JnK2koZ.jpg
Now comes the finishing
Oil ?
Or Nitro Lacquer
http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/preventing-color-changes-in-exotic-woods/
Instagram
I have grain filled the ash and also Purple Heart and was going to put some sanding sealer once I have sanded back
I do like oil finishes and have been using Crimson guitar finishing oil for the first build however found it not to gloss up as much as I hoped (maybe not enough coats albeit it did have 15 on there )
thanks again for the tips and comments
Cool build.. I recently found this vid about how to make tru oil a bit thinner and will give you a much glossier finish
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
My Youtube page
After a evening in the workshop (ahem Garage!) I have decided to go with a Nitro finish, this is only as I want to preserve the colour of the wood and if i am honest want to have a go at a Nitro finish at home (please dont laugh i am a sucker for punishment )
Anyway i have grain filled the whole guitar and have now sanded back to 320 and then a light brush over with 600 grit paper (god that was messy!), oh i forgot to mention i mixed a little black dye in with the grain fill to enhance the grain on the ash I quite like the result considering I am going with black hardware.
http://i.imgur.com/mtdFSEF.jpg
Next I applied one coat of cellulose sanding sealer and am quite surprised how its turned out
http://i.imgur.com/WHayxUS.jpg
The back looks really nice
http://i.imgur.com/oQdG2kX.jpg
I wont have much of an update for a few days now as its finish and then onto
THE NECK.....GULP!