Derek82's GTL-1

[Derek82]

I ordered my GTL-1 with maple fretboard on Sunday. I'm busting to get that box in front of me and crack it open.

My plans:
Clear neutral (or close to clear aka slightly amber tone) glassy or just shiny finish. Dingotone colourless, wipe on poly or tru-oil are the contenders for me. For sealer, I need to do more research, but I know poly and tru-oil can be used to seal (albeit with several additional coats). Grain filler, probably aquacoat (clear) or timbermate (unsure of exact colour yet).

Mods wise, I've ordered the locking rotomatics. In time I may change the pick guard, but I'm actually unsure of the colour I'll be getting as Adam was out of chrome GTL hardware kits that the plate comes with. I hope I get a black one!

I plan to replace pickups eventually with the tonerider vintage plus set. Wiring, treble bleed, 4 way switch etc are things I like to do as well, but I'd like to fluff around with the default wiring and hardware if I can before doing any upgrades. Bridge, I'm thinking string through body, but it would be great to get a bridge that I can do both with.

Belly and arm contours will be done because this kit weighs a tonne and I love the strat body feel more than the tele! I have to admit though, to being a bit of a fan of the Tele ice-pick sound. I have a bad back right now so I need to take some of the mass off it. I will probably route out some of the back to get rid of addition weight if I'm able and maybe cover the cavity with some sort of veneer... It's pretty ambitious, but it's nice to dream!

I'll post again with pics when I get the kit.

I better read up on the Pit Bull guitar kit manual too!

Those are my plans. Stay tuned to see them all fall apart over the next three years while I finish it. LOL!

Cheers,

Derek.

[Dedman]

congrats on your first kit, Tele is a great way to start your addiction, ...did I say addiction, I meant hobby....really I did.

[Fretworn]

congrats on your first kit, Tele is a great way to start your addiction, ...did I say addiction, I meant hobby....really I did.

Your's probably qualifies as an addiction Deddy. It's only taken you three years to build those 14 guitars!

Welcome Derek! Enjoy the ride.

[Derek82]

Cheers Fretworn and Dedman,

Seeing the work being done all over this forum has made it impossible not to buy a kit. I'm resisting looking at colour coats. I know I want a natural finish tele but with so many stains, tints, dyes, it's getting harder. I may just need another kit!

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[wazkelly]

Nothing wrong with a Nude finish.....looks even better with no scratch plate and minimal hardware.

I have built a couple of Teles and not bothered with string through. Stock bridge is rubbish and impossible to intonate and ended up with one from Real Parts on each build that you can string load from on top or through body, and it has 6 adjustable saddles, just like a Strat which makes intonation a whole lot more accurate...... https://www.realparts.com.au/bridges...ge-nickel.html


Totally recommend Tonerider Hot Classics, they sound great.

[Derek82]

That's not a bad bridge, Waz. I'm thinking a, flat plate bridge. I love the Babicz Z series tele bridge but it costs a fortune. I'd go a US standard bridge but in Aus, the price for them is stupidly inflated, in which case I may as well do Babicz if the $$$ is there when I come to it. If worst comes to worst id probably go for the wilkinson bridge and hippie I can intonate it properly.


I've been thinking and googling. All of these images are supposedly Tru-oil finishes. I love the first one, but it didn't look amber enough to be tru-oil.

This is the color I would love.


This is the layout I'm thinking about.


This is the mirror finish in a perfect world I'd like to achieve on the body.


Not ambitious at all. If I screw it up at least I had fun sound it.

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[blinddrew]

That kind of finish should be achievable. I'm doing a tru-oil finish on the kit in my signature and I'm not far off that standard.

[Derek82]

Wow, Drew. That finish if nice! Looks like you're almost there... And on an arch top!

That kind of finish should be achievable. I'm doing a tru-oil finish on the kit in my signature and I'm not far off that standard.

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[wazkelly]

Hi Derek, builds 5 & 6 in my signature have that level of shine from using Tru Oil.
The MMB4 was done on Basswood & Maple neck and should give you an idea of the amount of subtle tint when done natural.

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[Derek82]

Ok my end I can only see builds from 1 to 3 in your sig. Maybe it's a tapatalk glitch

Hi Derek, builds 5 & 6 in my signature have that level of shine from using Tru Oil.
The MMB4 was done on Basswood & Maple neck and should give you an idea of the amount of subtle tint when done natural.

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