Custom TL-1A

Here is my custom order Tele.
I spec'd and ordered this last year for delivery in March.
I am very happy with what showed up.
The body is amazing, neck fit very precise and the fret board has great figuring.
It has been in my workshop since to acclimate the wood.

NECK
7 String Maple Neck - bolt on
27″ Scale length
C profile,
Rosewood fret board
24 medium jumbo frets
MOP offset dot inlays
Reverse paddle head stock – No pre-drilled holes
Bone Nut

BODY
TL style guitar - alder body
Rear control cavity and layout as per IB-1F model

Attachment 43021

I have big plans for this.

Headstock

Attachment 43022
The headstock is reverse cut and curved. This matches a Strat style i build a few years ago.

The only thing i didn't like was the nut. It has been distpatched and a Black Tusq nut is ready to go.
Attachment 43023

Plans for the body.....
Shorten the traditional Tele by about 10mm and narrow it by about 15mm.
Reshape the lower horn and do a load of carving and contouring.

Template first
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Body cut and carving done. Lots of sanding over the next few weeks to get it ready for painting.

Refining the horn and upper curve. Comfort carve to heel and neck pockets area
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Rear cavity adjustment and control area
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This is fantastic! Can't wait to see it ifinished

Nice work John!

Trying something new this time. Dupli-color Metalcast.

I have learnt i would never want to paint a whole car with this stuff. It is incredibly wet to spray compared to regular paints. So small light passes and build it up slowly. Which is difficult, but that's what trying something new is all about.

Base coat first which is a silver-ish metallic look. Then orange. This color really didn't like the end grain. Last is a grey for the burst.

It works a bit like nitro.

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Looks good enough to eat! Like caramel or toffee!

Pick ups
DiMarzio DP706 D Sonic in the Bridge - 12.03 Kohm Ceramic magnet
DiMarzio DP713 Titan in the Neck - 10.09 Kohm Ceramic magnet

Attachment 43115

I make the template for routing like a frame. The tabs for screws are done freehand
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Really happy with the finished guitar. The sound is huge.
Really deep low end tones and very clear highs.

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Polished up and tuned. I will wait a week or so to do the final set up.
dadario 10-64s
wiring is a 3 way blade , volume and a mini toggle for the bridge (north split, HB, south split)

Attachment 43121

I don't have any interest in 7-strings, but from purely a build point of view, nice work!
I like the alterations to the body. Nice break from tradition.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by McCreed

I don't have any interest in 7-strings, but from purely a build point of view, nice work!
I like the alterations to the body. Nice break from tradition.

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Ditto. I also think the reverse headstock with a longer lead on the bass strings aids the deep lows you've achieved. Nice job!

Peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bassdude

Ditto. I also think the reverse headstock with a longer lead on the bass strings aids the deep lows you've achieved. Nice job!

Peter

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by McCreed

I don't have any interest in 7-strings, but from purely a build point of view, nice work!
I like the alterations to the body. Nice break from tradition.

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Thank you both for the kind feedback.

I also think this will be my last 7 string as I have 4 now! (I don't know how that happened)

Spending more on the pick ups than the rest of the build certainly makes the biggest tonal difference.
I think of it like wood properties - only i call it "TONE ELECTRONICS" ;)

As long as the guitar feels good to play, then you rarely go wrong by spending money on decent pickups. Pickups definitely make most of the sound of the guitar.

Wood is rarely a factor in the sound, though occasionally some bits of wood can adversely affect the sound and suck the brightness and sustain from a guitar.

I have a couple go to woods depending on the style i want.

Basswood and (in this case) Alder are the easiest to paint
Asian mahogany for lighter weight guitars
Ash for mad figuring and raw finishes - they are heavy so I don't use it as much
Pallets and tables for mad designs ideas i come up with