My First Build - TLA-1

This is just a really quick video update to show the jump from final sanding to primer being applied

https://youtu.be/hQ5jYlL6Bp8

It’s looking good Superpuffin. Your taking your time which is good.


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Its one of those times where having been busy at work has been in my favour and stopped me from rushing.

Getting to the colour stage is pretty stressful though but will do my best

I am so glad to see the colour of yours - I know I made the right decision on mine now - they should look almost identical in the end.

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Originally Posted by supapuffin

Its one of those times where having been busy at work has been in my favour and stopped me from rushing.

Getting to the colour stage is pretty stressful though but will do my best

I am so glad to see the colour of yours - I know I made the right decision on mine now - they should look almost identical in the end.

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Yeah, I was originally looking at surf green but because I wasn’t sure where to get the colour from and the cost I changed my mind. Then when I saw that you had ordered the same it pushed me to go back to my original colour choice. [emoji1303]


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Attachment 31257

Finally applying the colour. I know it won't be to everyone's taste but it is exactly the colour I was hoping for. So one down, another 5 or 6 to go.

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Originally Posted by supapuffin

Attachment 31257

Finally applying the colour. I know it won't be to everyone's taste but it is exactly the colour I was hoping for. So one down, another 5 or 6 to go.

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I like the Colour, hope you have more success than myself, 3 steps forward and 5 back. Looking forward to seeing your end result.


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Originally Posted by I’ll give it a go

I like the Colour, hope you have more success than myself, 3 steps forward and 5 back. Looking forward to seeing your end result.


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Thanks a lot for your kind words - I am optimistic but soooo careful considering how easily it can go wrong

Off to buy more 400 grit paper - the hidden cost of guitar building.

Mine has gone totally pear shaped. Every time I spray clear coat I’m getting debris from somewhere floating around and sticking to the body. I keep having to sand it back, I even sanded it too far and a tiny piece of wood showed through, and had to repaint it. I’ve gone through 2 cans of paint and 1 can of clear. Looks like I’ve got to sand back the clear coat again and maybe repaint it. It’s driving me nuts.


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Originally Posted by I’ll give it a go

Mine has gone totally pear shaped. Every time I spray clear coat I’m getting debris from somewhere floating around and sticking to the body. I keep having to sand it back, I even sanded it too far and a tiny piece of wood showed through, and had to repaint it. I’ve gone through 2 cans of paint and 1 can of clear. Looks like I’ve got to sand back the clear coat again and maybe repaint it. It’s driving me nuts.


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I have been following the troubles you have been having and it must be so frustrating. Hopefully the next go will deliver the right outcome. Will hopefully make your next build a breeze.

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Originally Posted by supapuffin

I have been following the troubles you have been having and it must be so frustrating. Hopefully the next go will deliver the right outcome. Will hopefully make your next build a breeze.

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Thanks supapuffin, I hope so.
My next build will be spring when it’s warmer.


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Attachment 31270

Progress as measured by colour of footwear

Judging by the dusting of green over white I reckon the second coat must have been done.

Snap, the one side of my garage has a surf green dusting. [emoji23][emoji23]


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Originally Posted by I’ll give it a go

Snap, the one side of my garage has a surf green dusting.

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I'd explain to any visitors that I had an Italian landlord.

I try not to get bogged down with particulates landing on the finish.
Just layer about 4-5 coats of clear and leave it to dry.
Once the fine sandpaper is done there's little evidence at all.

cheers, Mark.

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Originally Posted by supapuffin

Attachment 31270

Progress as measured by colour of footwear

Judging by the dusting of green over white I reckon the second coat must have been done.

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Workcover Samoa certified?

Well - I am all done on my Tele kit build

Attached are some photos of the finished product and a short video of how it sounds.

Attachment 32023

https://youtu.be/C2nWLLT5yPA

Thanks for the support from everyone along the way.

That looks and sound so awesome, looks and sounds just like mine too.
Well done [emoji450][emoji450][emoji481][emoji481]


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Originally Posted by I’ll give it a go

That looks and sound so awesome, looks and sounds just like mine too.
Well done [emoji450][emoji450][emoji481][emoji481]


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Thanks a lot - I finally got a block of time to finish it up

I am so happy with the colour

I have learned a lot though (plenty of mistakes made) and am planning the next one

Are you building another one do you think?

Great work - love the colour

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Originally Posted by supapuffin

Thanks a lot - I finally got a block of time to finish it up

I am so happy with the colour

I have learned a lot though (plenty of mistakes made) and am planning the next one

Are you building another one do you think?

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I only mentioned this the other day to my mate. I enjoyed building mine although I had lots of frustrating moments. But I’m having so much fun learning to play the thing that if I did another build it would take away from my playing time.

So I won’t be doing another build soon, I will wait a while.

When I do do another it would be another Tele but a natural finish more like the one Albert Collins used.


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Originally Posted by FCD

Great work - love the colour

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Thanks very much

I am thrilled with that colour - it just screams vintage tele to me

That sounds like a great idea - like you I think the natural finish will be the go - especially if you find a great piece of timber.

I would like to build one from scratch next - another Tele with relief cuts in it but will a MusicMan style headstock (4 tuners on top and 2 below) - trying to get a piece of Queensland Maple for the purpose

Like you say though - there is only so much time in the day.....

Hi everyone - I put together a video talking about the mistakes that I made and some of the lessons that I learned along the way whilst building my Tele kit. Hopefully it will be of value to some of you who are currently dealing with some of the same issues.

https://youtu.be/owv_3ieCIYo

There is a lot still to learn but my thanks again to all the support I got from the other builders here along the way.

I have to agree that you have to witness the mistakes first hand to learn from them.

Also I can't remember who pointed it out (could have been FW?) but after discarding the black plastic 'washer' under the neck plate, I was able to tighten up slight gaps in the neck pocket.

cheers, Mark.

Thanks for the reminder - I will take the washer off at the first string change and see what happens

Otherwise it can remain as 'character'

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Originally Posted by supapuffin

Thanks for the reminder - I will take the washer off at the first string change and see what happens

Otherwise it can remain as 'character'

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You have more patience than me.
I just slackened the strings, removed the plate, discarded the plastic and re-tightened it.

cheers, Mark.

It's a great looking guitar. I really enjoyed the video too - there are so many little things that go wrong with these builds, but it's all part of the fun!

Thanks a lot

Hopefully after another 15 or 20 builds I will start to iron out the kinks :)