Recreating the telecaster that string through ruined

My second build is almost similar to my first. I am taking the telecaster body and filling in the unsuccessful string through drilling and making it into a top loader. I’m thinking of a spray nitrocellulose finish. Was thinking, originally, to do a white nitro base

Specifically, this

http://www.sydneyguitarsetups.com/ni...stralia-guitar


with a butterscotch blonde topcoat...although, traditionally, butterscotch blonde tends to show the grain though and with all the hole filling, I want an opaque colour.

While very not traditional fender, I have always liked a vintage Gibson (yes...I know..traitorous idea) broadcast yellow. The same place as the nitro white base, also does a vintage broadcast yellow, that they have modelled on a 1962 Gibson, where they took off the control cavity plate to get an unfaded but aged broadcast yellow colour.

This one, actually

http://www.sydneyguitarsetups.com/ni...stralia-guitar

I’m going to couple it with a maple neck, which I will order from pitbull in a week or two, an original fender ashtray bridge with top load, a 4 way switch ...Malibu switching ( Malibu, like Ken and Barbie?) and some analogman pickups.

These ones.

https://www.buyanalogman.com/category_s/628.htm

These are as faithful a recreation of a 1950’s tele as it is apparently possible to get.

Attachment 39852


Top surface holes filled and more grain filler applied. Waiting for everything to dry, then yet more grain filler and sanding back.

It lives!

Hole filling complete and grain filling in progress.

I have the Aqua coat grain filller and I have found it shrinks quite a lot. My strategy for the frankencaster was to apply thin and scrape off while wet with a scraper. While this seemed to work, the shrinkage has left tiny, tiny elements of the grain show through and with this one, opacity is key.

I have opted this time to layer on the aqua coat, fairly thick and leave it to dry for several days before I sand off. I think this will leave a complete layer of grain filler on top of the already filled grains, so, if shrinkage happens, hopefully it will still be above the wood’s surface.

If that doesn’t work, I have plenty of time and I can apply more coats of aqua coat until I am happy that it is perfectly smooth.

Attachment 39857

This time, to allow for that

Interesting project. Look forward to seeing this one progress.

Good to know that first body isn't going to waste!

A mistake is just an opportunity to learn.

I was going to do a stringthough on my TL-1 but having second thought now. I dont have a drill press and dont trust myself to do it by hand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nitroburner1000

I was going to do a stringthough on my TL-1 but having second thought now. I dont have a drill press and dont trust myself to do it by hand.

---

I had a go a this and had reasonable success. I used a drill guide and a lot of practice before I was more confident my method with would.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Groovyman32

I had a go a this and had reasonable success. I used a drill guide and a lot of practice before I was more confident my method with would.

---

Yes, will have to think long and hard on this one.

I did a string-through on my first kit build (TLA-1) before I got an adequately sized drill press and it turned out well.
I had a drill press, but the throat depth was too short. Yes, it was a bit stressful, but going slowly and methodically, it's completely doable. Lots of tips & tricks here and on YT.

I did have the advantage of being able to make my drill guide/jig with the small drill press though. That helped.

Edit:

Pro Tip: Don't make your drill guide out of PINE!!!

My maple neck arrived in the mail today. Good timing. Doing the clear coat on my first build, so I can clear coat the fretboard at the same time. Bonus.

Attachment 40330

Attachment 40331

The neck is nice and level, all across the fretboard, so no twist and only 5 frets needed levelling. Will try to fit neck and body together and see if there is a need for extra work on the base of the neck to fit snugly into the pocket.

All good, except, I forgot, I have a handle installed and the neck pocket taped off for painting. I will have to do that later, I guess.

Clear coating of the neck should happen later this afternoon.