Wonderboy

[DrNomis_44]

Hey Everyone,
I've gotten a bit bogged down in the set-up, and any advice is welcome.
First, the nut slots were all too high off the fretboard, so I thought I could lower them all uniformly by taking the nut out and sanding the back. Clearly I was leaning too hard on one end, as when I put it back to check the B and E were buzzing like a sitar - I had sanded off too much on the high side. I tried to put a very thin shim in, but that raised it too much. I ordered a bone nut from Pit Bull, and I'm going to try again. If I have to lower the nut slots, what's the best way to do that - get a set of nut files?
Also, the neck was absolutely flat, and I wanted to introduce a slight bow. I have cranked the truss rod a number of times(counter-clockwise, please tell me I'm doing it right!) and the result is incredibly slight.
Once I get the nut in I will adjust string height and intonation - my fingers are crossed as there is not much travel in the bridge saddles.
Right now it plays fine in the middle of the neck, but not in open chord positions. The B and E strings sound great if you're into that Coral Electric Sitar thing...but I'm not.
Fingers crossed! If all of this fails I may have to learn slide.

Attachment 10145

When I go to adjust the nut slots on my guitars, I use a set of Automotive Feeler Gauges, a X10 Magnifying Loupe, and a set of Nut-Slot Files of the correct gauge for the gauge of strings I'm using, so your best bet is a set of Nut-Slot Files, since you can adjust the height of the individual strings, what I do is I use the Feeler Gauges to measure the gap between the underside of each string and the top of the first fret, for a Fender-style guitar I adjust the gap so that a .020 inch Feeler Gauge just slides into the gap.

[DMorrison]

Thanks - great, clear directions.

[DMorrison]

Hey Friends,
Wonderboy is done. I put a bone nut in, tapped down a rising fret, made some adjustments, and I think we are ready to roll. The guitar has surprising sustain (the tailpiece probably helps), and the pickups are big and warm like a PAF - go figure. I'm happy with the result, and I want to thank everyone for your help and friendship, Adam in particular.









Cheers!

[FrankenWashie]

Wonderful finish to that build, really unique instrument you have crafted.

[Swanny]

That looks gorgeous, Dave! I've got a preference for guitars with a bit of hollow in the body, and never knew of this design before finding this site. I think you've done it proud, with how it's turned out. The colour scheme looks like the beach, in a way. I don't know... I love it.

[Dedman]

Came up a treat! Great work!

[wokkaboy]

love the colour Dave a very cool axe, how does it sound and play ?

some pretty cool grain in the headstock and an original shape suits the axe

[Brendan]

That looks great - you going to enter it into the guitar of the month comp?

[Andy40]

Mate what a fantastic build! you gotta be proud of that!

[gavinturner]

Love it Dave! I cant go past a tasty semi-hollow guitar, and thinline Tele's in particular. Any chance of a sound demo? The blue really suits the style. How do you find the Chinese tremolo? Great job man!

cheers,
Gav.