TLA-1 "Plus" (First Build, FINISHED)

Wow that colour combo is sensational, the black hardware on the body against the vintage looking neck. Looks a million bucks...and some!

Hey guys, I am up to soldering, just need to work out how some of it gets wired. Then I have lots of metal drilling to do (including knobs and control plates).

A general action question... I have some fretbuzz problems for the two strings I have on. The saddles are up. The strings only buzz when fretting #1, #2 and sometimes #3 if I really dig in. I am using the stock nut at for the moment.

How do I diagnose if this is a nut problem or a neck angle problem?

The neck will flex slightly with full string tension, so you can't really judge with just two on. Read through Gav's tutorial on setting up your guitar in the setup section. This will give you all the measurements you need to take and where. http://www.pitbullguitars.com/commun...iewtopic&t=186

You should probably check the fret levelling tutorial as well to tackle fret buzz.:) http://www.pitbullguitars.com/commun...iewtopic&t=179

Okay well I stringed it up. Mock up again (for the control plate this time). The knobs are a bit crowded with 2x 2P4T rotary switches (the two smaller knobs by themselves). So I need to get on the wiring redo - or try to find a smaller 3P4T.

Capo is on because the stock nut is giving me some trouble. The body green turned out neon in the webcam photo (no batteries around). That's definitely not how it looks in real life, but at least you can see where I am mocking up knobs. The "larger" knobs are stacked concentric knobs which I need to drill (the bigger of the two, anyway).

Intonation is done.

I've started wiring some pots (grounds mostly). Next step is drilling metal.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...6-21-44-41.jpg

Now I need to find a way to get the spaghetti in there without shorting everything

:)
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-10-40.444.jpg

The other thing I need to do is work out how to raise the pickups higher (since they're fairly weak and the manufacturer recommends about 2.5mm). At the moment they're about 4 from the strings.

I was thinking either shaving down the neck some so the fretboard is lower, or gutting the spare pickup rings pablo made and using them on the outside as a little "booster" for the pickup. Thoughts?

First attempt at the control plate. I drilled it myself, and also drilled the fatter knob on the bottom. I have not quite decided if I will be using the fatter knobs or if I will get some more of the small knobs and drilling through them for the concentric pots.

I also need to enlarge the holes in the control plate slightly (about 0.5mm) so I can push the threaded part of the pots/switches through.

The drilled knobs wobble off centre with the set screw so I am going to add some blutak to the shafts to even them out.


Overall a little ways off from perfect, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't very happy with the result.
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-34-45.524.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-37-27.796.jpg
http://www.pitbullguitars.com/wp-con...-40-02.698.jpg

Wow, she looks a million bucks! can't wait to hear how she sounds with the pickups and wiring mods!

cheers,
Gav.

Thanks Gavin. Sounds really good (save for a niggling noise problem I am going to look at). I'm going to get more of the mini knobs as I forgot to account for the bigger knob on the control plate I just drilled.

I'll give that a go and see how I like it when it's all done up, otherwise I'll just drill the second blank plate I have so it fits the larger knobs on the bottom.

those colours go great together, looks good!

THAT is sweet!! Are those knobs wooden? I really like that, great job.