Something rare... Denim & Pearl Tele

[Sonic Mountain]

Punching the holes slightly larger than required might work. You'd just have to be careful about any errant threads. Maybe you could tape over that area and then punch the holes, hopefully the tape will secure the threads then you can very carefully drill the holes.

[Marcel]

Not having a suitable drill press is one hurdle...

But I had the thought - of first once I have the bridge position set then clearing the bridge side hole areas of denim, then drilling 1.5mm holes through to the other side essentially to mark the positions on the back, then clearing the denim on the back for the ferrules and then drilling the full sized holes. The thinking being that initially using a 1.5mm drill should remain straight enough through the body to maintain even spacing and would be least likely to tear very much at the denim.

[Marcel]

Some progress shots. General fit out to asses issues and the copper foil in the cavities has been done. No drilling yet.

The 3 screw mount bridge in the photos is just being used to re-ascertain centre and is not the btidge that will finally be fitted. It does provide a good impression of the final overall look...

[Simon Barden]

Looking very good.

With rear-stringing, one problem you'll have is stopping the denim from fraying around the ferrule holes, and I don't think the ferrules generally have a big enough lip to clamp the denim in place securely. You could probably fit a small brass plate with rounded ends over the back of the body where the ferrules will go, screw that down with a couple of brass screws (maybe make them rivet-looking with some cupped washers) at each end and then drill and install the ferrules on top of that. Should hold the denim in place and flat. Use the holes in the bridge to get 6 holes nicely centred on the brass before drilling ferrule-sized holes in the brass.

The best way to drill the through-body holes is to drill the two outer holes from the top, then drill the inner 4 holes in from the top by about 2/3. then turn the body over and use the bridge as a template to mark the 4 inner holes (using the two outer holes to position the bridge). and drill in about 1/2 way on those 4 holes. Allows you to get a much neater ferrule line and of course you can start with thinner pilot drill sizes, then cut the denim away before drilling bigger string- and ferrule-sized holes.

[Fretworn]

I kind on want it to have the full ashtray style bridge, but I don't think you can get those that aren't string-thru bridges.

[Marcel]

The bridge I intend using hasn't arrived yet but it is a chrome '62 Fender ash tray string thru with brass saddles. Hopefully it and the Grovers will get here this week.

It will be getting the 4 wire bridge rails PU. ... HB/split pull switch on the Vol knob and 3 way selector.

[wazkelly]

I kind on want it to have the full ashtray style bridge, but I don't think you can get those that aren't string-thru bridges.

Hi Fretty, you can get a combo top or string through from Real Parts, ash tray style. I have them on both my Tele's set up as top strung.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[Marcel]

It's strung up, and tuned to pitch. Full setup to be done soon... and so far only my electronic tuner knows how this build sounds...

Being my first string through, well, that turned out okay except it sorta got messed up a little with the usual issues of being as straight as a dogs back leg...

[vh2580]

Awesome and unique finish. looks classy as.

[Sonic Mountain]

That's come up really nicely.