Custom 12 String Semi Hollow Tele

[DrJackalope]

Hi All,

I had my first bass build at the beginning of this year and found it thoroughly relaxing and fun so I had ordered another to keep me occupied for the next few months.
I liked elements of a few of the kits PitBull had, so I figured I would ask what the cost would be to put together a custom build mixing all of the things I liked across the kits.

The Build:
Semi hollow TL style
12 String set up for neck and string through body to accommodate extra strings with Hardtail Bridge
Cut for 2 humbucker pick ups
Horizontal/Straight control cavity route
Spalted Maple veneer
Black Binding
Bolt on Maple Neck/Fretboard
Black Dot Inlays

Mock build between the neck and body fits perfectly. Below is a photo of the body together, and then the body, lightly sanded with a layer of tung oil applied.




I sanded the back of the body to 320 and applied a wood conditioner and then an ebony stain. Once this has dried I will be using a satin wipe on poly to finish the body.
Currently debating what I want to do with the neck.

[ozzbike]

Wow what a magnificent tele....envy lots here.

[JohnH]

That's going to look great!

[robin]

Hey Doc, that spalted Maple veneer looks fabulous. Great looking project.

[DrJackalope]

Thank you all!

A few poly coats in and it's starting to really look like a beaut. I did about 4 thinned coats to start and I am about to do my second un-diluted coat this evening.

I am waiting for a fret rocker to see if I will need to work on the frets at all, the look straight and even, but we will see.

As for finishing the neck, I have been pouring through forums and trying to decide on how I want to color and seal it, and wow are there too many options. I would like to avoid any nitro, mainly out of laziness of making a spraying and hanging set up. I have a ton of Minwax stain & wipe on poly so that is the route I have been considering. I also have tung oil, danish oil, and orange oil lying around but have read that an oil finish might need to be reapplied over time. Since the body is a spalted top that is darkening a little with to poly, and an ebony back I would like to darken the neck a little bit instead of the natural maple. Nothing too nuts, just slightly more amber or yellow.
Are there any suggestions on a certain method or any experience on coloring the neck at all?

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[DrJackalope]

Hi All,

Been a while since I have been able to post. Not long after my last post I welcomed my first child, so free time and energy has been almost non existent. I have finally finished up the remaining bits of getting this wonderful project perfect.

I used a Golden Oak stain on the neck and Ebony stain on the back of the body. Topped off with a couple dozen layers of satin poly.

Upgraded to a Gotoh 12 string bridge that intonates each string individually
Hipshot staggered locking tuners. One post that really stuck with me while doing my research was "with a 12 string, you spend half your time tuning and the other half playing out of tune" this led me to get the locking tuners and upgraded bridge
I liked the look of the speed knobs so I used those instead of the top hat style
GFS Surf 90 pickups which sound amazing

I have really enjoyed getting to play around with this and love the extra depth this gives over my normal 6 string. I couldnt be happier with the outcome of this project

Thank you all for the help and the active community that has helped guide my decisions in the background of this whole adventure.

[DrJackalope]

Not sure why some came out sideways, but if you click on them they open in the normal view

[Trevor Davies]

Great outcome. The colours go well together.