Hi
TL 1 Kit
Chrome Babicz Bridge
Chrome control plate
Upgraded Electronics
Tonerider Vintage Plus set
Black Grovers
Black Neckplate
Black Strap Buttons
Clear Pick Guard - we will see how that ends up
The journey begins
David
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Hi
TL 1 Kit
Chrome Babicz Bridge
Chrome control plate
Upgraded Electronics
Tonerider Vintage Plus set
Black Grovers
Black Neckplate
Black Strap Buttons
Clear Pick Guard - we will see how that ends up
The journey begins
David
Welcome David, looking forward to your build mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by LADAVE
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Hi David, welcome to the forum and wish you luck with your new toy which contains some serious upgrades.
Cheers, Waz
Welcome David
Hi
Lots of measuring, thinking, measuring, thinking, reading online etc etc. Just to add a bit of excitement to my first build the ToneRider Bridge pickup base plate is slightly bigger than the routed cavity. The upgraded pots are also a tiny bit wider than the cavity and the 4 way switch is very close to the bottom.
Act of bravery - out with the dremel. Put the dremel away and measure, think, measure etc etc.
Before
Attachment 31185
After
Attachment 31186
and
Attachment 31187
Attachment 31188
I'm installing the controls the wrong way around to personalise it a bit. I may have to take out a bit more under the switch to allow for shielding. Need to be accurate as there's not that much room for error.
All good, still enthusiastic
Regards
David
Thanks Waz
Love your work
I figure that I don't have a lot of chances at this (hard to sneak anything past the missus) - plus I'm getting to an age where I reckon I can treat myself
Regards
David
Well done so far, looking good mate.
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4 way switches are quite deep and need a bit more depth to allow for attached wires too.
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Drilled the through string holes
My portable drill press would only reach the outer holes. Had to make a jig - lots of test holes and here we are:
Attachment 31203 Attachment 31204
Bit of tear around the ferrule holes - will be tidied up when filling for painting but a good lesson if I do a natural finish on another project
What next? that would be sanding
The reverse control plate is a common mod for country players, puts the volume pot in a better position to wrap your pinky around for swells
Looking good mate, well drilled.
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Hi
I had to do it and unfortunately you can't practice shaping the headstock. No disasters - bit of rasping and sanding needed to fix the odd ugly corner. That little curve is a real pain - fits the theme pretty well without being an exact tele
I'm coming to enjoy sanding -no real risks attached
Attachment 31216
I also routed out a bit more under the 4 way switch - not a lot of room to move there
First coat of primer. Had forgotten that spray painting requires a bit of technique - Thank the lord for sandpaper.
Attachment 31273
And whoops - forgot about my nice black screws - luckily i have black metal paint
Attachment 31274
Hi
slightly refined the headstock
Attachment 31289
Getting there - body primed - had forgotten I was going to paint the headstock so it needs a couple more coats
Attachment 31432
Attachment 31433
Nice one, it’s coming along really well.
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I couldn't get happy with my string through ferrule holes. When I did a test run they weren't straight - not out by much but enough to cause an itch.
Filled them and redid the guide holes - made a perfect jig to drill the holes - no problem (the universe loves this sort of confidence)
Managed somehow to get the body off level when drilling one of the guide holes. Ok we can cope - just need a new jig.
Make jig - test drill, Make new jig - test drill - make new jig - test drill
we have:
Attachment 31588
Hole that looks a bit rough is fine and covered by the ferrule.
Next build thoughts:
Not string through;
wildly staggered maybe even free form;
Use my still perfect unused first jig.
I'm learning - head hurts a bit.
David
Hi
Drilled out the fretboard markers.
Will be colouring neck with dingo tone bloodwood which should give me the contrast needed for the red abalone dots.
Otherwise it will be a statement ie I don't like/need fret markers
Side dots more of a challenge they are small and also don't line up. I'm replacing them with 2.35mm which should allow me to get them lined up properly hmmm might use the drill press for that.
In picture 1 - in checking whether the dot would fit I got it stuck so had to proceed - didn't need glue.
Should I leave the rest until after I colour the neck? shouldn't be an issue either way?
Attachment 31667
Attachment 31668
Sorry not to have posted. Have a few things going on ie life.
Had ideas of doing a swirl finish - (the web makes things look easy.) Did a few test runs which turned out ok. Carved a trolling bird and swirled it
Attachment 34302
But as I tried bigger things it became clear that this was a technique that required a whole next level of skill. Also when I clear coated there was a nasty reaction with the paint
So fall back option is to paint the body Blue (Other half has some say in this)
Attachment 34303
Have been struggling to get a decent finish - nearly there - Next build will be dyed or natural
I had read a tip which was to swirl the back of a clear guard. I did a couple of test runs and couldn't get a decent effect so another idea.
Cut a pick guard out of .3mm copper. Gives me a canvas and shielding. Remember I still have a clear guard and am determined to use it.
Attachment 34304
Decided to give this a go. Guitar colour base with red glitter over the top.
Attachment 34305
This has a bit of a chameleon effect.
Decided to do the head stock as well - Its my first build - lots of thinking with no experience.Will skip to the end as I don't have any images of the in between steps.
Painted it, cleaned up the little bits that leaked through the masking tape. Couple of coats of single pack clear to protect it a bit.
Taking too long to finish - able to get new ideas. Found metal letters so can add my initials. Added to head stock. Managed to rub some of the red glitter off when cleaning up around the initials. Partner said it was too obvious. Easy fix - hit it with a bit of red.
Partner says - way too red. Easy fix - just repaint.
Masked it up - know how to do this now. Hit it with the blue then immediately the red glitter. Strange things began to happen - realised there was an incompatibility between the Dulux Blue and Rust-Oleum Red Glitter. Then remembered that when i painted it originally I had allowed a break of an hour or so. However I like this as an effect The crazing effect is over the headstock and shows up more clearly in shots at different angles and lighting.
Attachment 34306
Can't attach any more pictures will do in another post - this also looks different shades of blue and red depending on the angle and light. Hopefully next post will be an assembled guitar.
David
I think you’ve invented a pretty cool paint effect on that headstock.
Hi
Invent is pretty kind - I haven't been game to see if I can replicate it - if you make enough mistakes you will eventually make one that works, I've made a lot - been painting sanding changing my mind - always seems to involve more sanding and painting.
Have finally worked out how to get a decent finish using spray cans - and have used a lot of them. Hopefully will have this thing finished inside 12 months.
I did say to the other half "maybe I could do this on the whole guitar" I'm not doing that.............
Hi
Have finally got there. To recap
TL 1 Kit
Chrome Babicz Bridge
Chrome control plate
Upgraded Electronics
Tonerider Vintage Plus set
Black Grovers
Black Strap Buttons
Recessed String Ferrules
Freeway 6 Way switch
Pickguard is copper sheet, painted, epoxy and polished
Neck and jack plates and headstock finished as per the pick guard
Attachment 40654Attachment 40655Attachment 40656
Very nice! I'd say it was worth waiting 2 years 10 days for the reveal!
Thanks McCreed
The missus thought that was very funny.
I was happiest that it sounds good - still working on the set-up but it will get there:cool:
Yeah, there's almost nothing worse than a guitar that looks great, but is an absolute tone turd!Quote:
Originally Posted by LADAVE
looks great! That headstock is killer