MetalMatts Cherry Flamenco Telecaster build

[MetalMatt]

Ok, so here is the build diary of my very first Pitbull Guitar kit. It's a Telecaster TL-1 kit that I've decided to build straight out of the box, no modifications, small steps etc. The colour choice is the Wudtone Cherry Flamenco, with the silver highlights and extra gloss/no ageing as the final tint. I went for the colourless tint for the neck finish because I want a more 'white' look for the neck than the more common aged yellow (which I plan to do on a Strat build later anyway).

I know there's been some conjecture on here about putting Fender/Gibson decals on these bodies but I'm only making it for myself so for now I'll just copy the logos, but I DO plan to scratch build my own designs down the track and they will definitely have their own brandname/logo.

I must admit it was bloody exciting receiving the box from the posty and opening it for the first time to reveal all the goodies contained within! Apart from the actual guitar parts, a nice touch was the branded Pitbull stuff in there aswell, which gave the feeling that someone had actually prepared the kit with a bit of love. I should also say that there was brilliant communication from Adam too during the purchasing process. Very happy.

Anyway, I did a bit of dummy assembly that night and decided to work out my scale/bridge position etc and to drill the holes for the bridge and neck before I started to stain it, just incase it buggered the finish up later.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele4.jpg

I didn't go nuts with hours of sanding because it looked/felt pretty good to me after going through the different grades a paper/steel wool and feeling by hand, but who knows, maybe it will come back to bite me that I didn't spend hours - I guess it's all a learning curve. I actually spent more time evening out the edge curves around the body to look get it all looking uniform.

Next it came to time to start-a-staining! I gotta say I was a bit hesitant to start with the colour but it's amazing how easy it goes on! Unfortunately once I applied the first bit of colour I discovered I had a pretty large glue spot towards the bottom of the body that I didn't notice when damp ragging the body beforehand. I went and bought myself a set of those cheapo wire brushes and worked the area up a bit as suggested in a post by someone in the glue thread. I then applied what I had left of the deep colour coat and manage to mask/mottle the glue spot up a bit. As you can see in the pics it's still there but I suppose it's not as bad as before.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele9.jpg


Hit the neck with it's base coat of colourless stain tonight which gave the neck grains just enough colour to stand out a bit more. So I'm pretty happy with the progress so far, just have to be patient for a couple of days before moving onto the next coats.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele10.jpg

[keloooe]

Haha yeah, I got a few butterflies when I applied the first coat on my LP!!! The mess will clean up after about 3 or so coats, so don't get worried now, it's actually pretty noice already!!!

Yes, Gavin's wire brush trick is the best, don't rush this build either!!! If you take your time you will have a sexy Tele that Adam might steal :P

[Walrus]

Looks really good.

[Bass Guy]

Great job on the glue spot, MetalMatt! Looking terrific!

[Gavin1393]

Nice progress, that Cherry Flamenco is going to "pop" soon and you will be delighted!

[wokkaboy]

well done MetalMatt, great effort for 1st build and wudtone application, yes next deep colour coat and following base coats you will get a deeper colour.
Hope you haven't drilled the holes into the neck without lining up the upper and lower E strings on ?
These holes should be drilled later in the setup so you get the outer string offsets as even as possible along the fretboard.
Whats with the list of Queens of the Stoneage songs on your board ? I like them too !

[MetalMatt]

yeah I checked (and rechecked!) the alignment of the outer strings in relation to the fretboard/bridge before drilling and I think I've got it pretty close - fingers crossed! ;)


Whats with the list of Queens of the Stoneage songs on your board ? I like them too !

ahh yes even though I'm a huge metal fan there is ONE band that I am infatuated with that's not metal and that's Queens Of The Stone Age! Infact anything that Josh Homme is/was involved with from Kyuss/early Queens through to Later Queens/EODM/Vultures has got me hooked - there's just something about the guy and the music/bands he can bring together. Amazing.

That setlist was actually their own stage setlist from when they played Soundwave 2011 and at the end of the set one of the guys on stage folded it into a paper aeroplane and chucked it out into the crowd and I managed to grab it. I've just put it up on the board in my humble little guitar building area for some inspiration ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/queenssetlist.jpg

[MetalMatt]

/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Gavin1393 on June 12, 2013, 07:13
Nice progress, that Cherry Flamenco is going to "pop" soon and you will be delighted!
Just hit the body with the first base coat (with some of the silver highlight mixed in) and you're right - immediately a nicer deeper red! Very happy and it will only get nicer with each coat. Awesome stuff!

[wokkaboy]

good score Matt the set list for QOTSA. Any idea what the 'e' and 'c' mean on the right ?

I'd recommend if you are going to mix the silver highlights with the base coat do it on your last base coat as you want the highlights applied just before the top gloss coat, and don't rush the process, cooler temps need more curing time !

[MetalMatt]

Any idea what the 'e' and 'c' mean on the right ?

I'm not 100% but I assume it's the key the songs are in so the guitar techs could hand the band members the correct guitars for the correct songs?

Yeah I know I should have put all the highlight in the last base coat but I wanted to try a bit to see what it would look like, I only used a smidge so hopefully there's enough left for the last coat.

[wokkaboy]

yer ok, you don't need much highlights to get a good effect so you should have plenty for after or mix into the last base coat.
Thats all I could think of the 'e' and 'c' being key of the song.
Can you see the silver highlights ?
I'm doing the same colours on a PBH bass and the silver highlights look good, got 1st top gloss coat on lastnight

[MetalMatt]

I can just see the small amount of silver I put in but I can tell it will look good at the end coats with the remainder added.

[MetalMatt]

Haven't had a chance to work on the guitar for a few weeks but now I'm at the stage where I've used up all my base coats, tops coats and clear coats and it's sat for a good week and a half so now the next part.

First thing, I have learnt the hard way about 'sand, sand and sand some more' - I obviously didn't sand enough because I can see a few imperfections - yes I know I was told and will sand for TWICE as long next time - it still looks pretty good though.

Second thing, I have applied the Wudtone extra gloss clear coat but it's not that glossy. I know we can never achieve a proper gloss but does anyone have any quick tips to maybe get a little bit more gloss on the guitar? (bearing in mind I don't have anymore Wudtone left) Buff it with something? Or apply another clear oil product?

It's not a biggy but if I'm going to do something I need to do it now before I move on.
Thanks

[WeirdBits]

DB's Achieving a high gloss with Wudtone (http://pitbullguitars.com/?page_id=42&mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=216#postid-2394)

As you're out of top coat you may just have to skip directly to the photocopy paper method, or resort to some sort of polish... but I'm sure DB will have a workaround.

[MetalMatt]

actually I just threw in some hardware and I'm pretty happy with the way it looks in the flesh so I might just leave it - the next build will have hardcore sanding ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele11.jpg

[Gavin1393]

If you have applied your coats with the proper intervals and very thinly you should have a fairly decent gloss. If you put the guitar onto a buffer it will shine like glass......

[MetalMatt]

I think the top coats on the front are unfortunately a little thick/streaky but the back is quite a nice gloss finish so at least I know what to aim for next time. All coming together pretty well though. Just finished shielding tonight - now I just have to learn how to solder ;-)

[MetalMatt]

FINISHED! I'm pretty damn happy with the result to be honest - great feeling finishing something like this. Definitely learnt a few lessons for the next one (like sand, sand and sand some more ;) ) but all in all it came out pretty good. I will spend some time setting it up correctly but it plays nicely as is for now.

If you're wondering, 'Pravus Guitars' is the name I've come up with for my guitar brand when I start designing and making my own guitars in the future - hey a fella has to dream doesn't he? ;) Small steps....

Here are the photos (I'm not sure if they're showing up?)

Edit: just on the work computer and I can't see the images, will try to repost

[MetalMatt]

Hope these show up

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele17.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/oldval/telecaster/tele18.jpg

[wokkaboy]

great effort Matt, for a first build this looks excellent. Sure you always learn something each build you will improve

[DanMade]

I hope my first build I've just started turns out as stellar as yours. Looks hot.

The main thing though is how does she play.

[MetalMatt]

thanks fellas - I'm pretty chuffed with it myself ;)

Funny you mention 'how does she play'? Well I'm used to guitars that I can play super fast double picking thrash stuff or chuggy djenty palm muted stuff but of course there's none of that with a Tele, so I found myself reaching for a bit of straw to put in my teeth and twanged away contently for a while - nice how different guitars bring out different styles. I will endeavour to learn the correct way to setup/intonation and it will no doubt be refined even more.

[gavinturner]

Hey Matt,
The Tele looks fantastic. That Carmine Gypsy really comes up a treat!
Amazing job. I've got to get myself a Tele kit ASAP!

Cheers,
Gavin.

[keloooe]

Awesome work Matt, let's hope the TAS doesn't come around!!!

[Bass Guy]

That is a knockout. But I have always had a thing for redheads... ;)

Do I detect a Meshuggah influence in the name Pravus??

[MetalMatt]

thanks again guys, now I just have to polish her up, take some better pics and maybe enter it in one of the GOTM comps.


/<\\/p>[]<\\/p>/Quote from Bass Guy on July 23, 2013, 17:57
Do I detect a Meshuggah influence in the name Pravus??

Yep I'd be lying if I said I didn't get the idea from the Meshuggah song 'Pravus' - one of my favourite bands.

However the word Pravus is a Latin word that loosely means depraved/wicked/evil/perverse, so it ties in well with the type of guitars I'd like to design/build in the future as they'll no doubt have a metal look and feel to them.

[dingobass]

Oi vey! That is one Shishka biatch!
Nice work, for a first build that is amazing!

[MetalMatt]

I'm certainly hooked now! Just ordered my next kit! ;)

[gavinturner]

Matt, where did you order your custom decal?

thanks,
Gavin.

[MetalMatt]

Made it myself actually!

I designed the logo using a vector graphics program we use at work called CorelDRAW, ordered some of that water slide decal paper for laser printers, printed it out, applied it to the headstock and voila!

[gavinturner]

Cool! Will have to give it a try. Thanks.

[robin]

A very tasty Tele Matt, well done mate.

rob

[adam]

How did I miss this one? Gorgeous. Hope this one's going in the August GOTM Comp.

[WeirdBits]

Uh oh... Adam's noticed it.

[adam]

Is this really your first build Matt? Do you mind if I post your photos on our Facebook page to show what can be done with a first build?

[MetalMatt]

Yep honest injuns - this is my first build!
I'd be absolutely chuffed for you to use the photos of the Tele on the facebook site - do you want me to take some better pics of it?

[adam]

Yeah, the photos you've posted are good, but if you can get a few more shots with some better light, that would be great. Email them to me at adam@pitbullguitars.com.

[MetalMatt]

It'll have to wait until Saturday (working like a madman at the moment) - which is a good thing as I can then enter them in the GOTM comp too.

[keloooe]

Looks bloody awesome there Matt!

[Andyport]

I love it Matt.
That Cherry Flamenco with the white pearloid guard looks superb.
Congrats.

[adam]

Hey Matt, I posted a "Before and After" of your build on Facebook, looks great. I might make this a bit of a theme for first time builders. I think people visiting the site need to see what amazing results can be achieved when you've never attempted a kit build before.

[MetalMatt]

Sweet!