TLA-1 First Build

[Andy40]

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a router, but I'm cautiously confident I can do it with pilot holes and a sharp chisel.

Bridge has been placed and I've just finished the through-body string holes. Unfortunately the drill press won't reach that far into the guitar's body but my improvised vertical drilling gig worked well (basically a 2x4 with a vertical hole clamped against the guitar body). I've got the two E string holes all the way through pretty straight. The other four holes I started from each side and had them meet halfway through. This was the scariest part but I'm quite happy with the result so far.

Next step, routing the bridge pickup cavity.

ll try uploading some photos later.

If you can find my TLA-1R diary I have a photo of my drill press "contraption" to reach far enough for the string through holes etc

[mcamelo]

If you can find my TLA-1R diary I have a photo of my drill press "contraption" to reach far enough for the string through holes etc

Found that post. Oh, the magic of Google. Not applicable to my type of drill, unfortunately.

My jig worked almost all of the way until I got too confident and didn't double check the location of my last hole and misplaced it by about .5 mm. Arrrghh!!! Used a dowel to plug the mislaligned hole and drilled it again in the right place. Ferrules are not spaced exactly perfectly but it's quite close.

Next, the mock build.

[mcamelo]

Neck and strings are in and I have a problem. Neck angle is not right. Even with a concave bow, strings are touching the 22nd fret. I could try to raise the saddles very high to make up for it but it doesn't sound like the correct fix. Should I shim the neck or should I shave the neck pocket at the correct angle (sounds hard to do)? Any body here had to deal with that?

[wazkelly]

Neck and strings are in and I have a problem. Neck angle is not right. Even with a concave bow, strings are touching the 22nd fret. I could try to raise the saddles very high to make up for it but it doesn't sound like the correct fix. Should I shim the neck or should I shave the neck pocket at the correct angle (sounds hard to do)? Any body here had to deal with that?

If you are already touching at 22nd fret a shim only raises the fretboard even higher so that probably won't work.
On both my Tele's i had to sand down between 5mm to 7mm in the neck pocket on both to make them playable.
Best to check measure height on a similar store bought guitar to act as a reference point.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[Simon Barden]

If you are already touching at 22nd fret a shim only raises the fretboard even higher so that probably won't work.

A neck pocket has two ends, Waz, so you simply put the shim at the headstock end of the pocket to lower the angle.